Jesus

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THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY

(Proverbs 22:6) Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

I was a child in the 1950’s.  Even though my family did not consistently attend church, I was well aware of the Ten commandments and Christian morality.  I was disciplined when I did wrong, so there was a clear understanding of what was acceptable behavior. All the people around me were aware of what was right behavior. Since then, our society has greatly diminished moral training and discipline. What do we have in place of these things?

My answer to this question is the government.  It seems to be the goal of the liberal agenda to replace God’s laws with the government’s confusing definition of morality.  Right and wrong placed in the hands of sinful man spells disaster and opens an opportunity for Satan to carry out his evil plans to kill, steal and destroy.  The lines of right behavior have already been greatly blurred.  We have created an environment of confusion for our younger generations, and the daily news is full of the results of this confusion.  The government is supposed to support correct behavior not define it.

This world belongs to God, and he is the ultimate authority.  He has defined for us the right way to conduct ourselves.  We cannot replace God and expect a good outcome.  God alone is righteous, and he alone has the ability and the right to define our morality.

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THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD

(Ephesians 2:19-22) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

I was reading this verse last week during our worldwide prayer for the church.  I was intrigued by the idea that all the true Christians across the entire earth are built into a living temple, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone.  Construction of this temple began on the day of Pentecost.  Since then, each new brother or sister who enters the kingdom of God is filled with the Holy Spirit, and they become a part of this temple.

Imagine the earth with a worldwide temple full of prayers and worship rising toward heaven.  What an awesome image, with every born-again Christian across the whole earth having a part in the prayers and worship being sent to our Father in heaven. 

In this fallen world, we know that the enemy must be working to interfere with this glorious work of the temple of Christ.  I believe his main weapon is to keep Christians at odds with each other.  I’m not referring to those who suffer under false doctrines, the enemy has no problem with them; but to those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we are to love all people. We are to love and be in unity with those who are of the family of God.

We are of the same building, and we are filled with the power of Jesus to love and bear witness of his love to the world. Yet, if we are at odds with each other, the walls begin to crumble, and our power is hindered.  In Psalm 133:1 David reminds us, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY 3

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

(Colossians 4:5&6 MSG) Use your heads as you live and work with outsiders.  Don’t miss a trick.  Make the most of every opportunity.  Be gracious in your speech.  The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

Last week we talked about praying for those who are in full-time ministry.  Here in verses 5 and 6, the Apostle Paul transitions to talking about how we ourselves should approach opportunities for sharing the Gospel. 

Paul tells us to be wise in our interactions with non-believers.  We should maintain a positive interaction that will allow us to take advantage of any opportunity to share about Jesus.  Our conversation should be full of grace, which means kind, non-judgmental, and avoiding a “holier than thou” attitude.  As The Message puts it, “The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.”

The humble place of remembering that we were once outsiders is always the right demeanor for approaching the unsaved. The saying goes, “But for the grace of God, there go I.”  Genuine love, compassion, and understanding is what people need from us. Judgement is in the hands of Jesus who is the perfect judge.  

 I like to think of non-believers as being in a temporary situation.  They are just a prayer away from being a brother or sister in the family of God.  How wonderful to think that God would give us the honor of leading them to Jesus and eternal life.

Paul gave the Colossians sound advice in how to lead a daily Christian life.  Isn’t it an amazing blessing that we still have the advantage of his words today. 

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY 2

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Last week we looked at this passage from Colossians, and I focused on verse two which is about devoting ourselves to prayer.  Let’s continue by looking at verses three and four.

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

The mystery of Christ is simply the Gospel message of what Jesus did for our salvation.  It is the most beautiful message ever heard by mankind.  Sharing this message requires presenting it with the recipient in mind and always being attuned to the Holy Spirits guidance.  Paul is asking the Colossians to pray that God would open opportunities for sharing, and that he would do it clearly.

We are still called to this prayer today.  We pray for those we know who are sharing the Gospel message – our pastors, missionaries, and evangelist.  As the Colossians did for Paul, we pray that the Lord will open doors for them to share, and that they will be able to share the Gospel clearly.  We also pray for their safety.

Next week let’s look at verses 5 and 6.  We’ll talk about Paul’s instructions for us, as we share the mystery of Christ.

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EVERYDAY CHRISTIANITY

 (Colossians 4:2-6) Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.  Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

When I was a newly committed Christian, I was often perplexed about how I should act.  As time went on, how to act as a Christian seemed to fall into place.  Here in this scripture the Apostle Paul gives clear instructions of how a Christian should conduct life each day.  Don’t worry, most of us fall painfully short of these challenges.  However, these challenges do guide us to a more Kingdom of God consciousness and away from the cares of the world.

It’s easy to get lost in the cares of our everyday life, but let’s begin to break down what Paul is calling us to do. “Devote yourself to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  My take on this is to begin each day by having a special time with the Lord.  Prayer after all is talking to the Lord.  Then, throughout the day, pray for those we know are in need of prayer and pray as we encounter situation that call for prayer.

As an example, This morning I was sitting on the patio at Starbucks, enjoying my coffee, when I noticed a young couple having what appeared to be a very stressful conversation.  I was drawn to pray for them.  When I left, I stopped by their table.  I said to them, “Pardon the interruption, but I noticed that there was some distress here at your table, so I prayed for you.”   Not knowing what response to expect, I was pleasantly surprised at their reaction.  They both lit up with big smiles and thanked me.  I smiled back and said, “God bless you.”  I continued on to my truck and headed home.

On the way home I was reliving the scene, and it occurred to me, this encounter is what Paul meant by being watchful.  I thanked God for the opportunity and prayed some more for that couple.

I think that devoting yourself to prayer is something we all do as Christians.  Are we perfect at it?  Well, since we are not perfect, let’s stay ever increasingly alert for opportunities.  In our everyday life as Christians, God will guide us into situations that need our prayers.  We need to be watchful and thankful.

I have posted the complete section of this scripture with the idea to continue focusing on what the Apostle Paul reveals to us in this passage. I’m looking forward to digging into his words for the treasures they hold.

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GOD DOES NOT ABANDON US

(Hebrews 13:5) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

When we go through a time of struggle, does God abandon us?  For example, a struggle can be with our faith, our situation, or our emotions.  There are many things we can struggle with in our walk with God.  I recently struggled through an emotional stretch.  At times, I couldn’t even feel the presence of God.  I eventually discovered, God was there all the time.  He was just waiting for the right time to help me.

As an object lesson on what I went through, I have a kitten story to share.  It helped me understand God’s timing, and why he sometimes delays his intervention.

I have three kittens growing up in my garage.  They are very cute, and their antics are quite entertaining.  They have now reached the time of introduction to the backyard.  While exploring the backyard, they have discovered trees. They’ve discovered that climbing trees is easy; getting down is much more problematic.  Two of them have worked that out, but the third one got scared and needed to be rescued.  Her first three climbs ended in a rescue mission.  However, on the fourth climb, I just pulled up a chair and watched her struggle.

She made at least a half dozen attempts, moved forward then backed up.  Finally, she made it.  Since then, I’ve seen her do another tree and come down all on her own.  The lesson has been learned.

 I think in my case, God pulled up a chair and watched.  He was right there to save me, but he wanted me to learn how to handle the situation.  I gained a great deal from the experience.  The best part was that I recognized God did not abandon me; he just gave me time to learn.

God never leaves us or forsakes us. He is always there.  However, he might just wait in the background giving us time to learn.

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FORGIVENESS

(Matthew 6:14&15) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, you Father will not forgive your sins.

Jesus made it quite clear that we need to forgive others of their sins.  Forgiving is difficult for us.  Even simple things like being cut off in traffic challenge our forgivability, but we must overcome our self-righteous need for revenge.  Forgiving is not optional.

 Beyond the simple things, there are many worse things to challenge our ability to forgive.  I can think of some very horrible sins that seem impossible to forgive. I’ll leave the magnitude of that to your imagination.  Yet, since God forgives “all” of our sins, there seems to be no limitation on which sins we can forgive.

So, let’s talk about family relations and the forgiveness that must take place in these close relationships.  I’m reminded of an old song that stated, “You always hurt the one you love; the one you shouldn’t hurt at all.”  Isn’t it true that those closest to us often take the blunt of our ill moods and self-protective responses.  I know my wife has lots of opportunities to forgive me, and, dare I say, I have a share of opportunities to forgive her.   If we chose not to forgive each other, these sins would build a wall of unforgiveness between us.  This would put our relationship on a downward slide, eventually this could lead to divorce.

From the family outward, the need to forgive becomes obvious.  If we hold unforgiveness in our heart, then it will fester, rob us of relationships, and make us bitter and alone. Our lack of forgiving others hurts us. Understanding this, I can begin to comprehend why Jesus was so adamant about us forgiving one another.

 God loves us and forgives us.  He sent his Son to pay for our sins, so he could forgive us and restore relationship with us.  Forgiveness is God’s way of dealing with sin.  The only alternative is eternal punishment.  God doesn’t want that for any of us.

God is love.  Forgiveness makes room for Love.

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HOPE IN GOD

(Romans 8:24&25) For in this hope we were saved.  But hope that is seen is no hope at all.  Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait patiently.

 (Hebrews 11:1) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

(Romans 4:18) Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

If you say, “I hope it rains tomorrow.”  What are the chances that what you hope for will happen? Now, if the weather man says it’s going to rain tomorrow, and the radar map show a giant storm coming, you have a fair chance it will rain tomorrow.  You have put your hope in the weather man and what you have seen.  But, if the weather man says there is no rain possible for the next 7 days, and he shows you the radar map and there is not a cloud showing for at least a thousand miles.  Your hope is not likely to come about.  However, the weather man is not always right, and neither are we.  We need to hope in a higher power.

Hope, “to desire with expectation of fulfillment” (from Webster’s dictionary).  Our expectation of what we hope for is only as strong as our faith in the power behind our hopes.  Christians put there hope in God.  When we hope in God, we hope in he who is very patient.  As in the case of Abraham and Sarah, they waited well past their childbearing years for the son that had been promised to them. They waited in faith.  They hoped in God’s ability to do what he promised.  In faith, they believed God, and the promised son was born.

Faith provides confidence in what we hope for.  Faith is built when we seek God and find him.  That allows us to be confident in hoping for his promises. We can be confident that Jesus will return and make all things right. Two thousand years ago, he promised he would return.  In faith, we are patiently waiting. Our hope is therefore the assurance we have until we see him coming in the clouds.  Then we will no longer need hope, for what we have hoped for will have been revealed.  It is wise to hope in God. 

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FELLOWSHIP

(Acts 2:42) They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Last week, I talked about the wisdom of having friends and God’s recognition that man should not be alone.  To continue that thought, I want to talk about the value of fellowship.  From the very beginning of Christianity followers of Jesus have met together to strengthen and encourage each other.

Due to the need to travel over the last two months, I’ve often missed Sunday morning fellowship at my church.  Also, with my wife being away, I’ve spent a lot of time alone.  Being alone with very limited fellowship has caused a noticeable change in me.  I’m more self-focused, resulting in being less compassionate toward others.  This change has also dampened my relationship with the Lord.  The lesson here is that I need fellowship.

  I think that being surrounded by a family of believers offers what we all need, “fellowship”.  I am reminded from last week that we were not created to be alone.  This encouragement found in Hebrews chapter 10 say it clearly.   (Hebrews 10:24&25) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Meeting together includes, going out for coffee, visiting family, Bible study, prayer meetings, and church services.  Anytime we come together with other believers constitutes fellowship.  Fellowship is a vital part of a successful Christian life.  I’m grateful to the Holy Spirit for reminding me of this truth.

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THE CORD OF THREE STRANDS

(Genesis 2:18) The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Throughout our 44 years of marriage, there have been times when my wife and I have spent time away from each other.  We are currently in one of those seasons. My wife is away tending to a sick brother. I find it emotionally painful to be apart, but it is somewhat beneficial in that our desire for each other is heightened.  From the beginning God acknowledged that man has need for a companion.  Though not clearly stated, our companionship was never meant to exclude God.

Forty-four years ago, two sinners came together to form an intimate relationship.  Would this relationship last?  Ah, they had a distinct advantage.  They both had recently formed a strong relationship with their creator. From the start, God was at the center of their union. What that meant is that in hard, difficult times, they had God to turn to.  When times went well, they knew who to thank. 

So here I am sitting alone at my desk, and what is on my mind?  Gratefulness to God for this beautiful, wonderful woman he brought to me those many years ago.  God has been so good to us.  I am thoroughly convinced that God has been at the center of our successful marriage.

(Proverbs 18:22) He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

(Ecclesiastes 4:12) Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

God’s presence in any relationship is vital, because with him you can form a strong bond. Thus, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” In marriage his presence makes all the difference.