John 13:35 (ESV) “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
During World War I the Marines fought with such ferocity that the Germans started calling them Devils Dogs. There are other names are synonymous with US Marines. Leathernecks, Jarheads and Gyrenes are among these names. When folks think of Marines they generally think of a trained fighting man who is disciplined and tough. They picture one who stands tall and proud. They think of the dress blue uniform filled with combat ribbons and marksmanship badges. They think of the popular slogan used in Marine recruiting commercials, “The Few. The Proud. The Marines.”
When you think of think of a Christian, what comes to mind? You can ask several different people and get several different answers. Here are just a few that I have heard over the years. Stuck up. Bible thumper. Holy roller. Bigoted. Narrow-minded. Hypocrite. Self-righteous. I could go on and on but I think we all get the picture. Some of these labels are given to us by folks with no knowledge of what and who Christians really are. Unfortunately, some of these labels have been earned by Christians who have a faulty view of what it means to live a Christian life.
So what should be the “mark” of a Christian, a Believer, a Follower of Christ? Simply put, Jesus said it is our love for each other. In John 13:34 Jesus said “just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” He said it was this love that would show the world that we are His disciples.
Love is arguably the most important ingredient in the Christian’s life. Love draws together those in the church. Colossians 2:2 (ESV) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love…. Love is the ultimate fulfillment of the Law, Galatians 5:14 (ESV) For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” We are to walk in love. We are to sacrifice for love. We are to “increase and abound in love towards one another and for all“. We are to provoke or stir up one another unto love.
Love is indeed the true “mark” of a Christian. It’s not always easy, in fact, it can be downright hard sometimes. People who commit horrible crimes, loved ones who irritate us and fellow church members who “fall into” ungodliness are all examples of times when it is difficult to love. Love is hard but it is not optional. It is our “mark”, and it is possible to live in love because He first loved us. He gave His all for us. He lovingly paid the price for our sin on the cross.
In this coming New Year, may it be our goal to live in love. May the “mark” of love be displayed through our lives in brilliant colors for all the world to see. May others know that we are Christians by our love. May other see and experience God’s love through interaction with God’s people. Amen!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Facing the Unknown
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers his future was completely unknown to him. Not only was it unknown, it appeared to be a hopeless situation. He would be a slave in a foreign land. He would have no friends, no family, no rights, no standing and no income. He would be without hope. In the midst of his dark, hopeless time he did not know the end of the story as we do now. We can look back and know he was eventually lifted up to be 2nd in command of all Egypt under the Pharaoh. We look back and can see that God used Joseph’s “hopeless” situation to provide for his own family and people.
You may be facing an unknown, uncertain future. Hope may be a fleeting thing, hard for you to grasp. You may be wondering just how, and even if, it will all work out. May the following brief thoughts about the unknown bring you some encouragement.
Whatever is unknown to us is NOT unknown to our Father in Heaven! In Jeremiah 29:11, He says “I know My plans for you….” God is the Great Planner. He certainly knows our future. He wrote the plans. The future is never unknown to Him. He wants us to know that His plans are plans of peace and not calamity. The future is one of expectant hope. It is a hope that is sure and unwavering. We can put it in the bank. We can stake our claim on it and know that it will be there in the end.
However, the promise of a hope-filled future does not mean we won’t walk “..through the valley of the shadow of death…” Often the path we travel will appear to be an uncertain one filled with anxiety. The Israelites still endured 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Joseph did spend time as a slave and in prison. We may still look down the road and see darkness, uncertainty and hopelessness but from God’s perspective the future is one a hope, peace and blessing.
Furthermore, the promise of a hope-filled future does not relieve us of all responsibility. Verses 12 and 13 of Jeremiah 29 says “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Often God’s purpose in leading us through what appear to be hopeless situations, is to drive us to our knees in prayer. He wants us to grow so desperate that we have no place to look but to seek Him with all our heart. He is not deaf to our prayer and He is not hard to find. To find Him is to find His will. To find Him is to know the peace that comes because He is right there with us. To find Him is to be able to rest in His mighty arms.
Remember that our view of the unknown often changes when we are looking back at it. I t is only unknown because of our limited perspective. It may be unknown because we have never faced it before. It is never, ever unknown to God. Trust him, pray to Him, seek Him with all your heart and the unknown, uncertain, hopeless future will be one of expectation, peace and hope. Amen!!
When Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers his future was completely unknown to him. Not only was it unknown, it appeared to be a hopeless situation. He would be a slave in a foreign land. He would have no friends, no family, no rights, no standing and no income. He would be without hope. In the midst of his dark, hopeless time he did not know the end of the story as we do now. We can look back and know he was eventually lifted up to be 2nd in command of all Egypt under the Pharaoh. We look back and can see that God used Joseph’s “hopeless” situation to provide for his own family and people.
You may be facing an unknown, uncertain future. Hope may be a fleeting thing, hard for you to grasp. You may be wondering just how, and even if, it will all work out. May the following brief thoughts about the unknown bring you some encouragement.
Whatever is unknown to us is NOT unknown to our Father in Heaven! In Jeremiah 29:11, He says “I know My plans for you….” God is the Great Planner. He certainly knows our future. He wrote the plans. The future is never unknown to Him. He wants us to know that His plans are plans of peace and not calamity. The future is one of expectant hope. It is a hope that is sure and unwavering. We can put it in the bank. We can stake our claim on it and know that it will be there in the end.
However, the promise of a hope-filled future does not mean we won’t walk “..through the valley of the shadow of death…” Often the path we travel will appear to be an uncertain one filled with anxiety. The Israelites still endured 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Joseph did spend time as a slave and in prison. We may still look down the road and see darkness, uncertainty and hopelessness but from God’s perspective the future is one a hope, peace and blessing.
Furthermore, the promise of a hope-filled future does not relieve us of all responsibility. Verses 12 and 13 of Jeremiah 29 says “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Often God’s purpose in leading us through what appear to be hopeless situations, is to drive us to our knees in prayer. He wants us to grow so desperate that we have no place to look but to seek Him with all our heart. He is not deaf to our prayer and He is not hard to find. To find Him is to find His will. To find Him is to know the peace that comes because He is right there with us. To find Him is to be able to rest in His mighty arms.
Remember that our view of the unknown often changes when we are looking back at it. I t is only unknown because of our limited perspective. It may be unknown because we have never faced it before. It is never, ever unknown to God. Trust him, pray to Him, seek Him with all your heart and the unknown, uncertain, hopeless future will be one of expectation, peace and hope. Amen!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Stirring the Pot
Hebrews 10:24 (ESV)
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"
Have you ever been in a situation or with a group of people and everything is running smoothly? Everyone is getting along. Conversation is pleasant and even stimulating. Then someone interjects a controversial subject. Some political or moral topic such as health care, raising taxes, abortion or any of a number of topics where opinions are strong and emotions run hot. Suddenly the pleasant meeting and conversation is no longer pleasant. Folks are getting angry. People are shouting. Verbal fighting is taking place.
Someone stirred the pot. With the introduction of the controversial topic they incited or provoked a heated debate. This is the idea of the word used in Hebrews 10:24 “to stir up”, also translated provoke in the KJV. It is a strong word. The root meaning of the word deals with sharpening. Thus, it could be said that to “stir up” or “provoke” is to sharpen the feelings of another. The word is only used here and in Acts 15:39 where Paul and Barnabas were divided over the usefulness of John Mark. The “contention was sharp” between them. They had a “sharp disagreement” about it.
When the writer of Hebrews uses this word here, he obviously wants to get across to his readers the seriousness of the point. He tells us to think about how we can stir up, provoke, or incite others in the Body of Christ to love and good works. This implies that it is never an easy task. In our human condition it is not natural to want to love the unlovely, or love when we don’t feel like it, or to do good deeds when we have so much life to live.
Both love and good works are vital components of the Christian life. Jesus said in John 13:35 (ESV) “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is the main ingredient of a church or a family or an individual that defines them as Christians to the lost world. Those outside the church see our love for one another and come to conclude that we are followers of Christ. Over and over again throughout my life I have talked with folks who gave up on church and the reason I hear most often is that there was little of no difference between how Church people treated each other and how people treated each other outside of church. This ought not to be!!! We need to love one another. Sometimes we need to stir each other up to loving others.
Jesus also said in Matthew 5:16 (ESV) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
He is telling us that our good works shine a light for all to see and in doing so they will glorify God the Father. If we love God we will obey Him. And if we obey Him, we will live lives filled with good works. And these good works bring Him glory.
We must keep in mind that when we stir each other up it might for a time be contentious. There may be some sparks. It won’t be easy to do the stirring or to be the one stirred. However, being easy isn’t requisite to the doing of it. It is when things are hard to do that we must strive all the more to do them. We must stand ready to “stir the pot”. We must be willing to love our brothers and sisters in Christ enough to give them some stirring if need be. The world needs us to be stirred up. Let us “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,"
Have you ever been in a situation or with a group of people and everything is running smoothly? Everyone is getting along. Conversation is pleasant and even stimulating. Then someone interjects a controversial subject. Some political or moral topic such as health care, raising taxes, abortion or any of a number of topics where opinions are strong and emotions run hot. Suddenly the pleasant meeting and conversation is no longer pleasant. Folks are getting angry. People are shouting. Verbal fighting is taking place.
Someone stirred the pot. With the introduction of the controversial topic they incited or provoked a heated debate. This is the idea of the word used in Hebrews 10:24 “to stir up”, also translated provoke in the KJV. It is a strong word. The root meaning of the word deals with sharpening. Thus, it could be said that to “stir up” or “provoke” is to sharpen the feelings of another. The word is only used here and in Acts 15:39 where Paul and Barnabas were divided over the usefulness of John Mark. The “contention was sharp” between them. They had a “sharp disagreement” about it.
When the writer of Hebrews uses this word here, he obviously wants to get across to his readers the seriousness of the point. He tells us to think about how we can stir up, provoke, or incite others in the Body of Christ to love and good works. This implies that it is never an easy task. In our human condition it is not natural to want to love the unlovely, or love when we don’t feel like it, or to do good deeds when we have so much life to live.
Both love and good works are vital components of the Christian life. Jesus said in John 13:35 (ESV) “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Love is the main ingredient of a church or a family or an individual that defines them as Christians to the lost world. Those outside the church see our love for one another and come to conclude that we are followers of Christ. Over and over again throughout my life I have talked with folks who gave up on church and the reason I hear most often is that there was little of no difference between how Church people treated each other and how people treated each other outside of church. This ought not to be!!! We need to love one another. Sometimes we need to stir each other up to loving others.
Jesus also said in Matthew 5:16 (ESV) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
He is telling us that our good works shine a light for all to see and in doing so they will glorify God the Father. If we love God we will obey Him. And if we obey Him, we will live lives filled with good works. And these good works bring Him glory.
We must keep in mind that when we stir each other up it might for a time be contentious. There may be some sparks. It won’t be easy to do the stirring or to be the one stirred. However, being easy isn’t requisite to the doing of it. It is when things are hard to do that we must strive all the more to do them. We must stand ready to “stir the pot”. We must be willing to love our brothers and sisters in Christ enough to give them some stirring if need be. The world needs us to be stirred up. Let us “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.”
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