words of wisdom

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LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

(Romans 13:8-10) Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.  The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “you shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Love does no harm to a neighbor.  Therefor love is the fulfillment of the law.

In its simplest form the definition of righteousness is doing what is right.  These words from Paul’s letter to the Romans connect us to the relationship of love and righteousness.  If we love, we will be motivated to do the right thing toward others. If we don’t love, the desire to do right is overshadowed by the desire for self-indulgence.  Therefore, we can conclude that love is necessary in our quest to be righteous. 

When we love others, we please God because we are following his commands.  Jesus said that loving God and loving your neighbor covers all the commands of God.  In the familiar scripture from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul defines love.  This is a great passage to help us clarify what it means to love others.

To achieve righteousness, these scriptures give us all that we need.  The Holy Spirit will work God’s love into us.  The more we humble ourselves, and receive the work of the Holy Spirit, the more we will be filled with God’s love and be vessels of his love to others.

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THE FEAR OF THE LORD

(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and all the features that now exist on the earth.  According to the Word, all these things he spoke into existence.  There is one exception- the creation of man.  God formed man with his hands from the soil of the earth.  There was something about mankind that required his personal touch.  After the completion of creation, the Bible focuses on God’s interaction with mankind. 

God created a special garden for the first man and woman; he gave them purpose by commanding them to keep and till the earth and to populate the earth, and he gave them one thou shalt not.  He told them not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  They eventually decided to ignore God’s warning, and they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  That decision was the first sin, it brought separation between God and his created ones, and evil and death to all of creation. God brought judgement on Adam and Eve, but he immediately began his plan to redeem them.

From that very day and continuing to today, sin has wrought immense havoc on the earth.  There were times when God had had enough and brought judgement to the people. The worldwide flood was the first example.  Only eight people survived to repopulate the world.  Sodom and Gomorrah experienced annihilation as God rained fire and brim stone upon them.  There are other recorded examples of God’s sovereign interventions that demonstrate his power over his creation.  Through it all, God’s plan of redemption for his people was progressing.

Finally, God’s plan to redeem us was completed with the coming of his Son.  Jesus lived for 33 years among us and then he even experienced death.  His death was not the same as ours, in as much as he who was without sin, took our sins upon himself.  Then the power of God raised him from the dead.  God’s plan to redeem us from our sins was completed. 

So, let’s visit our topic of fearing the Lord.  Should we fear God?  Yes, the one who has ultimate power over his creation deserves reverent respect.  We should also love God.  He gave us life, redeemed us from our sins and rebellion, forgave us, and offered us a life in heaven with him for all eternity.  All of this is because he loves us and has always desired to be with us.

Unlike other things we fear that make us want to run away, the fear of God should draw us closer to him.  He is the eternal source of truth and knowledge.  It is foolishness to deny God his desire to be close to us.

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LIVING A GODLY LIFE – OUR OBLIGATION TO JESUS

(2 Peter 1:3-8) His divine power has given us everything we need for a Godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I often write about the grace and love we have in Jesus, and that we have been forgiven of our sins through Jesus Christ.  I love to dwell on the good news of what Jesus has done for us, but what do we owe him in return.  Our salvation is a gift, and Jesus has done all that is necessary for us to receive it.  All we need to do is believe.  Peter points out, “His (Jesus’) divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.”  Don’t we have an obligation in response to what Jesus has done for us?  Shouldn’t we endeavor to lead a Godly life? 

Peter thinks so because he tells us, “Make every effort to add to your faith …”  Then he gives us a list of what we are adding: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love.  These qualities are all about what it means to live a Godly life.  Peter knew that these qualities don’t appear in our lives instantaneously.  That is why he said, “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure…” 

I owe it to Jesus to make every effort to lead a Godly life.  For I truly love Jesus, and I desire to be increasingly closer to him. However, I understand that I am relying on his divine power to accomplish the goal of living a Godly life.  

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IS LIFE MEANINGLESS?

(Ecclesiastes 12:13) Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

(Matthew 22:37-40) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.    

In The Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon called all that he saw and experienced in this life meaningless, a chasing after the wind.  As I read through the book of Ecclesiastes, I can see his point.  Yet, the most compelling part of Ecclesiastes is the conclusion, “fear God and keep his commandments.”

Fearing God can be more broadly explained as showing reverence and respect for the one who created us and by receiving the love he displayed by dying to save us.  Appropriate fear then would be to recognize that God has complete ownership, power and control over the entire universe.  He is worthy of our humble praise and worship.

Jesus summed up what it means to keep God’s commandments, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  …Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Learning to love God has been an ongoing experience for me.  I grew closer to God as I recognized how he guided my life.  I have experienced his blessing and his discipline.  All his kindness and love for me drew me ever closer to him.  There was a time when I wasn’t sure I could say I love God, but that has changed.  Now, I can express my abiding love for him.

It would be quite easy to write a book about loving your neighbor as yourself.  First, you need to explore whether you indeed love yourself.  I don’t think you can love your neighbor if you don’t love yourself.  Loving yourself involves the natural self-preservation that is a part of our makeup, but learning to appreciate and accept the person God has made us to be brings about an inner confidence that leads to loving who we are.  Then, we can share ourselves with others.

So how do you transfer self-love to your neighbor?  I find that giving my time and talents to help my neighbors is a way of loving them.  It is the kind of love that Jesus gives to us.  I think that loving our neighbors actually helps us to love ourselves.  It’s seated in that wonderful feeling when you know you have blessed your neighbor.

Is life meaningless?  It is not meaningless if we are in a loving relationship with our creator, loving who God has created us to be, and sharing all that we are with our neighbors.  This results in a meaningful life.

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FOLLOW THE LORD OR GO YOUR OWN WAY

(Proverbs 3:5&6) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Learning from our mistakes is sometimes quite painful.  Years ago, I had the opportunity to learn to wait on the Lord’s directions, rather than choosing my own way.

This opportunity began when out of anger and frustration, I quit my job at a Christian school where I worked as a high school teacher and administrator. God had placed me in this Christian school right out of college, but I always had this thought that I would be more useful in the public-school setting. Quitting, however, was not the Lord’s direction for me; but in my pride, I chose to go my own way. For the next three years, I taught in public schools at the elementary level.

The result of going my own way was that I learned just how it feels to be inadequate. I was a fish out of water at the elementary level, and public school was a whole new experience of frustration.  I still have nightmares about those three years.  God allowed me to find out what happens when one of his children goes their own way.

When my time of discipline was over and I reached a humble place of repentance before my Father, I was allowed to return to a Christian school, and to again teach high school students.  I returned to the place where I was gifted; I was grateful to be back where I belonged.

This three-year diversion was a great and terrible time. It was difficult to walk through, but it proved to be a valuable lesson that I will never forget.  I am now a child who waits upon the Lord and more carefully follows his directions. 

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JESUS’ INVITATION

(Matthew 11:28-30) Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

 This is one of my favorite scriptures, but like all the sayings of Jesus, I find that fully understanding and experiencing what he says can take a lifetime.  I’ve learned that his invitation, “come to me,” doesn’t mean drop by when you’re not busy.  It means come and stay forever.  When I take his yoke upon me, it is a permanent fitting.  I find that learning from Jesus is indeed a lifetime pursuit.  The very words that impact me today, may have a whole new meaning at a later time.  There is always something deeper for the Holy Spirit to reveal.

When Jesus says he is “gentle and humble in heart”, he is telling me that his teachings are not meant to place a heavy burden on me.  They are leading me to a place of rest for my soul.  He assures me by saying his yoke is easy, and his burden is light.

I say that this is one of my favorite scriptures, yet be assured, I have wrestled with it throughout my walk with Jesus. At one point, I remember saying to Jesus that his yoke was not easy, and his burden was not light.  I’m very grateful that he is always patient with me.  I now find his words consoling.  It’s not that I’m required to do something on my own; I’m supposed to relax and receive from him direction, encouragement, and help.  Jesus loves me, and he desires to lead me toward a full and peaceful life.

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THE ROCK

(Matthew 7:24-27) “Therefore who ever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall.”

On the central coast of California, there is a place where large outcroppings of rock face off against the mighty waves of the Pacific Ocean. I have a favorite place there where one of these outcroppings is accessible from the beach.  To reach this rock formation, I climb down to the beach from a small parking lot, jump across a small inlet stream, and then ascend to the top.  As I move around to face the waves, there is a perfect seat etched into the rock.  There I sit, surrounded by awesome power, completely protected by my rock fortress.   This provides space for a spiritual experience every time I visit there.

Only a rock can afford this kind of experience.  Sand is easily washed away providing no protection from the waves.  Jesus’ analogy comparing the rock and sand is quite succinct.  Listening to Jesus’ words and doing them provides us with a firm foundation upon which we can build our lives.  Choosing to not live according to Jesus’ words leaves us with no solid foundation.

Our scripture from Matthew chapter 7 comes from the end of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount”.  So, Jesus is saying that all the words he spoke, as recorded in Matthew chapters five through seven, are given to us that we might have a firm foundation on which to build our lives.  If we read the words and do them, we’re on solid ground – built on the Rock.

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HARMONY

(Genesis 1:31) God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.  And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day.

Everything in God’s creation was very good.  All of creation was in harmony.  Harmony denotes a flowing togetherness that is continually in sync like a well-practiced choir.  Though the various members sing different notes, they mesh together to produce a beautiful melody.  If one person hits a wrong note, a trained hear will catch it. But what happens if everybody in the choir refuses to follow the sheet music and sings whatever note they want.  Harmony is gone and only noise and chaos persist.  It kind of sounds like our current world.

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, all of creation was in harmony.  Man and woman were in harmony with each other and themselves.  They were in harmony with the multitude of animals and creatures God had created as well as with the earth itself.

I believe you would agree that the harmony that once existed has been greatly distorted. 

Jesus taught us to consider others more highly than ourselves, along with many other teachings that would help us promote harmony. Even we who have received the seal of his Holy Spirit find it impossible to maintain harmony.  Jesus came because we are incapable of restoring harmony on our own.    Restoring harmony to all of creation can only be done by our creator.  He’s working on it.  Jesus’ death and resurrection accomplished the most important step. He opened the door for us to be in harmony with our God.

Jesus is coming again, and he will restore harmony to all creation.  The Bible tells us that this will include the ushering in of a new heaven and earth.  God has made it so we can choose to be a part of this new harmonious world by confessing Jesus as Lord and receiving the forgiveness for which he gave his life.

I can’t even comprehend what this new harmonious world will be like, but I really want to be a part of it.

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DEPRESSION

(1 Kings 19:4&5) …He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.  “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.  “Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

Did you ever have an amazingly successful day, and find yourself fighting depression the very next day?  I have, and it reminds me of what happened to Elijah.   He and God had demonstrated to the divided nation of Israel the truth that God is the only God.  He had shown King Ahab and all who had assembled on Mt. Carmel that Baal was not a god.  Then he eliminated the 450 false prophets of Baal.  As a climax, Elijah Prayed to God, and God brought rain to end a three year drought.  Elijah was at the top of his prophetic life, and he was filled with hope that the Northern Kingdom would return to worshiping the true God.

Then the enemy stepped in.  The enemy was manifested in the person of Queen Jezebel who was outraged that he had killed all her prophets of Baal.  She sent Elijah a message saying she was going to kill him before the sun set.  In fear he ran, and wound up under the broom bush very depressed.

The beauty in this story is what God did for his depressed prophet.  He sent an angel with bread and water to care for him.  He sent the angel a second time to provide nourishment, and then send him on a journey.  For forty days and forty nights Elijah traveled until he arrived at Mt. Horeb. He found a cave and sequestered himself.   God continued to provide him with food and water, and when the time was right, God began to speak to Elijah.

First God asked Elijah what he was doing there.  Elijah responded with an inventory of what was going wrong with the Israelites and concluded with, “they are now trying to kill me”.  God didn’t respond to his complaints directly.  What he did was to say, “Go back the way you came, and go to the desert of Damascus.  When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.  Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”  (See 1 Kings 19:15&16) Finally, God added, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”  (See verse 18)

God’s response to Elijah’s depressed state was to give him a new set of directions, a plan for retirement, and reassurance that all Israelites were not lost.  God redirected Elijah with a new purpose taking his thoughts off of his perceived dilemma.  

What I derived from this story is that God deals with his children separately and individually. So if you’re at the point of thinking all is lost, stop and seek God for help.  Let God help you to find your bearings.  His method for Elijah was effective for ending his depression.  God can help you because he knows you much better that you know yourself.  When I’m depressed, God tends to change my perspective by showing me another way of see the situation. 

I have learned that when I’m down, trusting God is the way out.  Which leads me to believe that trusting God is the best way out for all of us.

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FOOLISNESS OR RELATIONSHIP

(1 Corinthians 1:18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There are those who think that Christianity is a myth, and that those who follow the teachings of Jesus are week people who need a crutch in life.  They do not see the wonders of God in his creation.  The people who see life this way have no hope of eternal life, for they are perishing.

As a Christian, I have a relationship with God.  Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins, and he opened the way to connect me with the God who created me.  I am promised eternal life with him.  I talk to him, and he talks to me.  He guides my life, and he is always with me.

Many people are walking down the wide road to destruction, not knowing that a relationship with their creator is waiting for them.  All they need to do is divert to the narrow road that leads to eternal life.  On the narrow road, they will find relationship with their creator and a renewal that begins in this life.

We who have found the Lord carry a great secret that can easily be revealed.  Having the opportunity to present this secret is the ultimate experience.  The truth is that it is no longer a secret.  The message of the cross is opened to everyone.  Even though they may consider us the foolish ones, when a person is willing to seek and find out if it’s foolishness, a soul finds eternal life.