"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2 ESV
'Fulfill the law of Christ' is very interesting when you look at it in the Greek. It could easily be translated, 'function in the principle of the anointed One.' Bearing burdens is what the anointed One came to do. He was anointed for that purpose. Jesus healed because He bore the burden of Love and the virtue of who He was poured out of Him to heal.
"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load." - Galatians 6:1-5 ESV
Jesus lived in His calling. In the anointing He was yoked to the Father and boar the burden of His own life and His cup overflowed to bear the burdens of others to bring them to a place where they could choose to function in their calling.
The woman at the well is a great example of this principle.
"So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, 'Give me a drink.' (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) ... They went out of the town and were coming to him. Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, 'Rabbi, eat.' But he said to them, 'I have food to eat that you do not know about.' So the disciples said to one another, 'Has anyone brought him something to eat?' Jesus said to them, 'My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, then comes the harvest'? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.' " - John 4:5-8, 30-38 ESV
The disciples went into town but Jesus was functioning in the principle of the anointing. He was a sent one. He had food and drink that they had no clue existed.
Let's face it our own life is to heavy for us to carry alone. People hire therapists to carry the burden. They drink and eat in excess. They seek distractions because the burden of one life is so heavy.
God would have us 'function in the principle of the anointed One.' As sent ones we have someone who bears our heavy load for us.
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:28-30 ESV
Help us Lord. God we need rest for our souls. Direct us today as sent ones. We have been bought with a precious price. We do not belong to ourselves. Teach us to function in the principle of the anointed One. As we look at Him we surrender to the transformation into His image. Make us like Jesus in our experience. We are already like Him in our position. We want to walk in our circles like He did in His 2,000 years ago. In the anointing He walks with us today. Thank You God.
--
Monday, July 11, 2016
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Pearls Before Swine
I'm going on outreach today but I had a quick thought I've been meditating on as I think and pray about talking to people today.
Have you ever been frustrated or perplexed about something and spoken to someone only to find yourself more frustrated and perplexed afterwards? I have. Perhaps the person you spoke to wanted to help but it was just the wrong time to talk or the person had a frame of reference that was not helpful.
If someone comes to me and they need to talk I want to be ready.
"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Matthew 7:6-8 ESV
I guess what I am saying is that I don't want to be a swine when someone is sharing things that matter to them. I need to go to God first and cast my care on Him and get his mind on something... anything He wants to give me. Whatever crumbs He wants to give are more than good enough. If I knock and have a thought from Heaven to chew on then I can be in the flow for all the things He has ever given me to rise to the surface of my mind. Then when I run into someone who is at a crossroads the door into eternal perspective will already be clearly in sight by faith.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " - John 14:6 ESV
Yes. The maker of all things also has a resolution for all perplexities. Will we be dogs or grace and mercy people who carry seed that will produce an eternal harvest?
--
Have you ever been frustrated or perplexed about something and spoken to someone only to find yourself more frustrated and perplexed afterwards? I have. Perhaps the person you spoke to wanted to help but it was just the wrong time to talk or the person had a frame of reference that was not helpful.
If someone comes to me and they need to talk I want to be ready.
"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." - Matthew 7:6-8 ESV
I guess what I am saying is that I don't want to be a swine when someone is sharing things that matter to them. I need to go to God first and cast my care on Him and get his mind on something... anything He wants to give me. Whatever crumbs He wants to give are more than good enough. If I knock and have a thought from Heaven to chew on then I can be in the flow for all the things He has ever given me to rise to the surface of my mind. Then when I run into someone who is at a crossroads the door into eternal perspective will already be clearly in sight by faith.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " - John 14:6 ESV
Yes. The maker of all things also has a resolution for all perplexities. Will we be dogs or grace and mercy people who carry seed that will produce an eternal harvest?
--
Friday, July 8, 2016
Knowing A Person
Knowing someone's value system is a key part of knowing them. Their value system is just below the surface of their actions. It is very possible to see someone everyday and joke with them but not know them very well. Then they say something that gives a glimpse of what is under the surface and the person is seen.
I think it is shocking that you can know someone for just a short times and become fast friends but with other people you spend years and years with them but never really know them.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 ESV
"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end." - Hebrews 3:12-14 ESV
This morning I was musing about the difference between faith and 'hyper-spirituality'. A hyper-spiritual person reads meaning into every action and relationship. There are demons lurking in the shadows. God is doing this and He is not doing that.
The spiritual people I have known share a couple of qualities. Those qualities are expressed in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6. They recognize God's presence in situations and have knowledge and/or awareness of His value system. Spiritual people are friends of God. They may be to humble to admit it... but they are. They 'think with God' on some level.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
A very simple minded person can be friends with a genius. The simple minded person can't know what a genius will do to solve a complex problem because the two don't think on the same level but the simple man can know his friend's character and value system and they can have oneness on a primal level.
I don't know what God is going to do today. His level of thinking is beyond me. I feel privileged to get glimpses. He tells me it pleases Him if I trust Him. He reveals that His value system is grace based. His merit system is based on His Son's perfect performance and not on my flawed performance.
"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." - 1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29 ESV
Let's have a day (and weekend) where our words fall into two categories. Let's tell of the good news that God has a grace value system and let's build each other up in grace.
God Is here right now. He Is with you in Your room. That awareness is primary.
Knowing that we can ponder what He is like and then act on it and He will be very pleased that we are trusting Him. He is already pleased with us because of His Son but we can enter into that pleasure in our experience when we trust Him knowing something about what He values and cares about.
--
I think it is shocking that you can know someone for just a short times and become fast friends but with other people you spend years and years with them but never really know them.
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." - Hebrews 11:6 ESV
"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end." - Hebrews 3:12-14 ESV
This morning I was musing about the difference between faith and 'hyper-spirituality'. A hyper-spiritual person reads meaning into every action and relationship. There are demons lurking in the shadows. God is doing this and He is not doing that.
The spiritual people I have known share a couple of qualities. Those qualities are expressed in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6. They recognize God's presence in situations and have knowledge and/or awareness of His value system. Spiritual people are friends of God. They may be to humble to admit it... but they are. They 'think with God' on some level.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
A very simple minded person can be friends with a genius. The simple minded person can't know what a genius will do to solve a complex problem because the two don't think on the same level but the simple man can know his friend's character and value system and they can have oneness on a primal level.
I don't know what God is going to do today. His level of thinking is beyond me. I feel privileged to get glimpses. He tells me it pleases Him if I trust Him. He reveals that His value system is grace based. His merit system is based on His Son's perfect performance and not on my flawed performance.
"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." - 1 Corinthians 1:17 ESV
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29 ESV
Let's have a day (and weekend) where our words fall into two categories. Let's tell of the good news that God has a grace value system and let's build each other up in grace.
God Is here right now. He Is with you in Your room. That awareness is primary.
Knowing that we can ponder what He is like and then act on it and He will be very pleased that we are trusting Him. He is already pleased with us because of His Son but we can enter into that pleasure in our experience when we trust Him knowing something about what He values and cares about.
--
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Fictional Families
I awoke with a clear idea in my mind. In this time we live in people are more involved with fictional relationships than they are with real connections. Television friendships have stolen the intimacy of real friendships. Doctors in fictional hospitals model dysfunction weekly. People know and care about who a singer is dating and was seen with on the 4th of July in an unhealthy way and it robs them.
Here is an interesting passage. I will give the context directly afterwards.
"But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler." - 1 Peter 4:15 ESV
That word 'meddler' is translated 'busybody' in the King James. The Greek word is allotriepiskopos (Strong's G244) and it is a combination of two concepts, stranger and overseer. It is an interesting list isn't it? The first steals life. The second steals property. The third corrupts order and the fourth exercises power over strange people.
Here is the context.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1 Peter 4:12-17 ESV
The fiery trial isn't the normal day to day one. It is the hurricane that strikes with fury. It is the flood that forces evacuation. It that day the fictions will fail us but the true connections have a chance of holding fast.
"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:13-21 ESV
There is a divine attachment and detachment that we are made for as people. Do we care about real things and real people? Perhaps that can make us vulnerable. Real people can hurt us. The world is a crowded place filled with isolated people. Smart phones create social zombies with fast thumbs and slow tongues.
Real attachments create real anxieties also and God would be our buffer so that we don't worship people or relationships.
"But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." - 1 Corinthians 7:28-34 ESV
God's grace is the balance.
God knows that wrong focus creates anxiety. Grace keeps us from being meddlers. We do not need to have control over strangers. It connects us but in a healthy way where God is in the middle as a buffer.
How strange it would sound if a public figure said in a public interview, 'Let's stop caring about who your favorite movie star is dating and start initiating Godly friendships with one another. That is none of your business. Let's evangelize people and get our heads out of our phones.' It would be scandalous.
God give us a new friend this week... not someone we meddle with... not some wrong connection that will cause anxiety... make us like salmon that swim against the current of our world... here and present be not 'of the world' in it's whims and obsessions... make us grace and mercy people who love and are involved in a healthy Godly way in what is real. We worship you and that is real worship. You are our anchor into what is lasting and actual. You are our God. Thank You Lord. We love you. You are the sun that lights our world. Illuminate our path today. We believe You will. Thank You God.
--
Here is an interesting passage. I will give the context directly afterwards.
"But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler." - 1 Peter 4:15 ESV
That word 'meddler' is translated 'busybody' in the King James. The Greek word is allotriepiskopos (Strong's G244) and it is a combination of two concepts, stranger and overseer. It is an interesting list isn't it? The first steals life. The second steals property. The third corrupts order and the fourth exercises power over strange people.
Here is the context.
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" - 1 Peter 4:12-17 ESV
The fiery trial isn't the normal day to day one. It is the hurricane that strikes with fury. It is the flood that forces evacuation. It that day the fictions will fail us but the true connections have a chance of holding fast.
"Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:13-21 ESV
There is a divine attachment and detachment that we are made for as people. Do we care about real things and real people? Perhaps that can make us vulnerable. Real people can hurt us. The world is a crowded place filled with isolated people. Smart phones create social zombies with fast thumbs and slow tongues.
Real attachments create real anxieties also and God would be our buffer so that we don't worship people or relationships.
"But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband." - 1 Corinthians 7:28-34 ESV
God's grace is the balance.
God knows that wrong focus creates anxiety. Grace keeps us from being meddlers. We do not need to have control over strangers. It connects us but in a healthy way where God is in the middle as a buffer.
How strange it would sound if a public figure said in a public interview, 'Let's stop caring about who your favorite movie star is dating and start initiating Godly friendships with one another. That is none of your business. Let's evangelize people and get our heads out of our phones.' It would be scandalous.
God give us a new friend this week... not someone we meddle with... not some wrong connection that will cause anxiety... make us like salmon that swim against the current of our world... here and present be not 'of the world' in it's whims and obsessions... make us grace and mercy people who love and are involved in a healthy Godly way in what is real. We worship you and that is real worship. You are our anchor into what is lasting and actual. You are our God. Thank You Lord. We love you. You are the sun that lights our world. Illuminate our path today. We believe You will. Thank You God.
--
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Spiritual Gravity
This morning My thoughts drift to the gravity of Heaven. Jesus was drawn into Heaven. His nature had a buoyancy.
"He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." - Acts 1:7-9 ESV
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]." 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
This new creation has a buoyant nature. It is a new identity with new characteristics.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:29 ESV
"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." - Colossians 1:18 ESV
The old nature had a different pull.
"O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." - Psalm 30:3 KJV
Even though we are new we can still live in the old. The new must be lived out by faith. The new finds it's identity in the one who came first. Grace is for the new. The old has no use for it really.
I feel the draw this morning. I don't want to die. I want to live and be among the living. What a privilege it is to be a Heavenly citizen!
God keeps us alive in spite of ourselves doesn't he? There will be a day when the time is just right and the frail sting that holds us to the Earth will be severed. Angels will guide us, help us, then the cloud will receive us just like it received Him. We will be drawn to the One who loves us... the One who wants us... the One who is complete in Himself but desires our companionship.
Thank You God. Help us through our days on Earth. Some days the cords that hold us feel like anchors. Be our buoyancy today. Thank You for loving us and all those who have gone before us. We long for You and know by faith You are always with us.
--
"He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." - Acts 1:7-9 ESV
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]." 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
This new creation has a buoyant nature. It is a new identity with new characteristics.
"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." - Romans 8:29 ESV
"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." - Colossians 1:18 ESV
The old nature had a different pull.
"O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit." - Psalm 30:3 KJV
Even though we are new we can still live in the old. The new must be lived out by faith. The new finds it's identity in the one who came first. Grace is for the new. The old has no use for it really.
I feel the draw this morning. I don't want to die. I want to live and be among the living. What a privilege it is to be a Heavenly citizen!
God keeps us alive in spite of ourselves doesn't he? There will be a day when the time is just right and the frail sting that holds us to the Earth will be severed. Angels will guide us, help us, then the cloud will receive us just like it received Him. We will be drawn to the One who loves us... the One who wants us... the One who is complete in Himself but desires our companionship.
Thank You God. Help us through our days on Earth. Some days the cords that hold us feel like anchors. Be our buoyancy today. Thank You for loving us and all those who have gone before us. We long for You and know by faith You are always with us.
--
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
When Forgiveness Is In The Past Tense
Kindness. Isn't it beautiful when people are kind to one another in difficult situations?
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV
I like that it says, 'Let no... Let all... Be kind... '
Animals can get mean when they are in pain. Why? They are protecting something.
I think as believers we talk about forgiveness a lot. I remember back when my concept of evangelical Christianity centered around televangelists shown on late night channels. It was before I was a believer. I thought all this talk of forgiveness was so overemphasized.
'These people must be very guilty if they talk about this so much.'
I don't think I was wrong either. Religion makes people feel guilty. It misses something so important in it's standards and programs.
"...as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32b ESV
Forgave is in the past tense.
Kindness is simple when forgiveness is in the past tense. What if the annoying thing is instantly past tense? What if judgement about the pain we feel is in the past tense and covered in forgiveness?
When judgement is out of the way we can live grateful to God and in fullness instead of mean and protective.
I'm not always kind. I often forget how much pain I have caused God that He has forgotten because of His Son. In my self orientation convenience becomes king and I feel entitled to lash out. But today I decide to let kindness flow through me. I decide to let God's kindness fill me until there is no room for bitterness. I decide to remember the value of people.
People need kindness. Oh, Yes they do. They need it more than they need correction. Life is going to beat people down. Our help is not needed in that area. People need the ministry of the Spirit of God. The hungry get fed when Christ is revealed. The sick get healed. The blind see. The deaf hear.
Fill us God. Open our eyes. Let judgement be in the past tense for us. We want people to see Your kindness through us. Only you can make that happen. We pray you would do that today. Surprise us today with what You can do. Give us words that feed the hungry. We ask this in the precious name of Your Son who has made forgiveness possible for us. Thank You God.
--
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:29-32 ESV
I like that it says, 'Let no... Let all... Be kind... '
Animals can get mean when they are in pain. Why? They are protecting something.
I think as believers we talk about forgiveness a lot. I remember back when my concept of evangelical Christianity centered around televangelists shown on late night channels. It was before I was a believer. I thought all this talk of forgiveness was so overemphasized.
'These people must be very guilty if they talk about this so much.'
I don't think I was wrong either. Religion makes people feel guilty. It misses something so important in it's standards and programs.
"...as God in Christ forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32b ESV
Forgave is in the past tense.
Kindness is simple when forgiveness is in the past tense. What if the annoying thing is instantly past tense? What if judgement about the pain we feel is in the past tense and covered in forgiveness?
When judgement is out of the way we can live grateful to God and in fullness instead of mean and protective.
I'm not always kind. I often forget how much pain I have caused God that He has forgotten because of His Son. In my self orientation convenience becomes king and I feel entitled to lash out. But today I decide to let kindness flow through me. I decide to let God's kindness fill me until there is no room for bitterness. I decide to remember the value of people.
People need kindness. Oh, Yes they do. They need it more than they need correction. Life is going to beat people down. Our help is not needed in that area. People need the ministry of the Spirit of God. The hungry get fed when Christ is revealed. The sick get healed. The blind see. The deaf hear.
Fill us God. Open our eyes. Let judgement be in the past tense for us. We want people to see Your kindness through us. Only you can make that happen. We pray you would do that today. Surprise us today with what You can do. Give us words that feed the hungry. We ask this in the precious name of Your Son who has made forgiveness possible for us. Thank You God.
--
Friday, July 1, 2016
The Noise Of The Archers
"They that are delivered from the noise of archers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse the righteous acts of the LORD, even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel: then shall the people of the LORD go down to the gates." - Judges 5:11 KJV
This passage is from Debra's song... She was a judge in Israel... A person raised up during the time when an oppressor had Israel under it's thumb... this is her victory song.
... the noise of the archers... it could also be translated the voice of the divider... the sound of an arrow as it passed you was a terrifying sound... a common tactic of bandits was to fire arrows just past a group of people so that they would drop what they were carrying and run for shelter then the bandits would take what ever they could with little or no loss of life.
In an age without telephones the places of drawing water were places were you met your neighbors and shared information as you got your provision for the day.
Have we been delivered from the 'noise of the archers' or have we been forced away from our places of drawing water?
Those who have been delivered from fear have something to say about God's righteous acts. The have liberty and access.
--
This passage is from Debra's song... She was a judge in Israel... A person raised up during the time when an oppressor had Israel under it's thumb... this is her victory song.
... the noise of the archers... it could also be translated the voice of the divider... the sound of an arrow as it passed you was a terrifying sound... a common tactic of bandits was to fire arrows just past a group of people so that they would drop what they were carrying and run for shelter then the bandits would take what ever they could with little or no loss of life.
In an age without telephones the places of drawing water were places were you met your neighbors and shared information as you got your provision for the day.
Have we been delivered from the 'noise of the archers' or have we been forced away from our places of drawing water?
Those who have been delivered from fear have something to say about God's righteous acts. The have liberty and access.
--
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)