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Here we are again, with a message that I believe will really bless and encourage you. You will learn not only how to read a verse in the Bible, but also that God does really care about every part of your life. Thanks for letting us share this with you.
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He Cares For You!
Many times over many decades I've been lifted in a challenging time by just one verse of scripture. And I'm not alone, as an internet search will quickly reveal. Here's the verse I'm talking about, and its not even a complete sentence: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7 NKJV). You could read it in any other essentially literal translation, like ESV, NASB, CSB, ASV, NET, and of course the KJV, "good enough for the apostle Paul and good enough for me!"
The key is to simply read what is written and then think about it. Take it on its face value, and most times you will have God's truth and be blessed and encouraged. Don't try to dissect it or check several translations. Just read it several times and be encouraged. "David was greatly distressed... but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" (I Samuel 30:6 KJV).
 God (verse 6) "cares for you" -- that is truth, and truth is reality. So if you fulfill any stated condition, then it is reality in your life right now.
It is immediately obvious that there is a correspondence between the two phrases in the verse. I'll quote it this way as a simple introversion:
A. Casting all your care
B. upon him;
B. for he
A. cares for you.
Another way to show it would be:
A. Casting
B. all your care
C. upon him;
C. for he
B. cares for you.
A. [Result: no cares left to cast!]
Now let us think about the English words used. "Casting" means "to cast out or off something," and other usages derive from that simple meaning. The "something" in this case is "all your care."
A "care" is a matter that right now is a burden or concern to you, something you are anxious and worried about. I've often said that unless the word "all" is modified (like "all Americans"), you can study it until you are blue in the face but "all" still means "all." Not one care is omitted, so it doesn't matter whether the care is large or small, chronic or casual, your part is to cast it on God, "upon him," and take your hands off it.
And why does he encourage us to take this action? Because he "cares for you." Its just that simple. No need for two people or even the whole church to share the burden, for once you cast it on him, God has you covered. So let him take care of the situation.
Notice that I haven't strayed from the plain English translation or even turned the page in my Bible, and already I'm too blessed to be distressed! Oh, if the church would teach their attendees to just read the Bible and believe what they read!
Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
God will take care of you.
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
Chorus:
God will take care of you,
Through every day, o'er all the way,
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.
(Civilla Martin, 1904)
If you want me to take it further, leave a comment in the blog at our website, https://www.peterwade.com/blog/ . I can see a number of issues that could be dealt with if you are a real student of the Word:
1. Why do modern translations use the word "cast" instead of "casting," and why does it make a difference?
2. Is there a clear biblical illustration of the word "casting"?
3. How do the paraphrase versions handle this verse?
4. Are the two words translated "care" the same Greek word?
5. Is there more to be said about the word "all?"
[ Leave your comments online] -- Peter Wade. |
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RECALL:
"Surely You Know"
It is only a repeat if you didn't read it the first time! Here is an teaching from one of our books:
"Surely you know that Christ Jesus is in you?" (GNB). "Do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" (II Corinthians 13:5b ESV).
It would seem that Paul found it difficult to understand a Christian who was unsure of the presence of Christ within. This is a verse and a context that needs examination. If only the world could see what a Christian really is -- a container of Christ, not a religious devotee. The only Christ people will see is the one expressing himself through you!
You need to "realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you" (AMP). Is the Christ in you concerned about the cost of fuel you put in your car? Is the Christ in you worried about interest rates? No, of course not. He does knows about them and he wants you to be IN-dependent and trust the power of his life within.
Paul instructed earlier in verse 5, "Test yourselves," and then in the next verse, "I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test."
The phrase "surely you know" or "do you not know" (KJV) is used by Paul three times in Romans (6:3, 6:16, and 7:1) and 11 times in I Corinthians (six of those in chapter 6), and just once in II Corinthians (see above). It would be a profitable study to discover what Paul expected his readers to know. -- From the book Completely Satisfied in Christ by Peter Wade.
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Kindle books and ePubs
We have started to make our books available as ebooks for the Kindle, and ePubs for the Nook, Kobo, iBooks and other eReaders. Titles available at the time of writing are listed below:
In Christ, A New Creation
En Cristo: Una New Creacion [Spanish]
Living in the Flow of God's Supply
La Dinamica del Vivir Positivo [Spanish]
Available next week: God's Seeds of Greatness
All titles are US$2.99 or less and Kindle ebooks can be found on our Amazon Author Page at http://www.amazon.com/author/peterwade/. Look for "Kindle Edition" below the cover picture. You can also download a free Kindle Reader for your tablet or computer from the Amazon Home Page and select the Kindle Books category.
However, if you want an ePub version for Nook, Kobo, iBooks etc., at present you need to buy the Kindle edition and then forward the Amazon confirmation email to epub@peterwade.com and we will send you the ePub version as an attachment. You can then use the USB cable that came with your reader to transfer the book from your computer to the reader (you can find many tutorials on YouTube.com).
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