Grief?

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18)

More than fifty years ago the Lord taught me something about grief. My dear mentor  experienced the death of her husband. She missed him, but she said that most of her grief was feeling sorry for herself, not him. He was in heaven with Jesus and how could she grieve over that?

It is not the same with the death of a person who rejects Him, yet how can grief change anything? It is too late. Regrets will not bring them back. Nor will inventing a waiting place where that person can be redeemed if the survivors give enough money to their ‘church’ that will pay for it.

Regret is not much of a biblical word. In the OT it is said that God regretted or grieved in His heart that He made man after sin took over the world, and that He regretting making Saul kin over Israel. But the OT also says: “And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret.” (1 Samuel 15:29)

The sense of this word can mean “feeling sorry” or wishing something had been done differently. I suppose that God can feel sad about sin, yet is exempt from grief because He can use the foolishness of it to reveal the greatness of His mercy and grace. 

In other words, as my mentor said, genuine grief is not about feeling sorry for yourself. How could Almighty God have that going on when He can use all things for our good? Even the mistakes and sinful stuff he uses to convict me of my need for Him!

All the junk going on in the world and the sad news every day should have the same result — to put me on my knees. And if someone I love goes to be with Jesus, should I not rejoice that they are with Him and no longer suffering nor needing to cope with sin — in the world or in their own life?

We say, “I am sorry for your loss” and can cry with them, yet it seems God wants me to add these words: “yet I am so glad for your loved one’s gain.” Not only that, for us who believe in Jesus, we will join them and forever be with the Lord.

Jesus, it is easy, even normal, to be so earthbound that death seems like an enemy. I thank You that it is not the end of life but the beginning of eternity without sorrow or pain or even regrets. You have made that move a relocation into perfection! Thank You.

 

God's instructions never change…

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:10)

In the days when all devotions were written by hand, I kept them in file folders sorted by the books of the Bible. For some unknown reason, I want to those files today and this is the first one I read. It was written in August 20, 1983, over forty years ago… on this same passage!
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“When I stand before Jesus Christ, what will be my joy, my hope,The thing that I glory in? Will it be the stack of notebooks filled with Bible study? Or the paintings on the wall? Or the garments made, or the sweaters knitted?
No, it will be the Wallaces, and the Dons, and the Ginas. It will be people. It will be (names of my children) maybe my husband (dare I say I influenced him?) and will be perhaps others that for my pride God could not even show me.
So to hang on to the hobbies, to anything too tightly may be to miss the opportunity to grab hold of someone that could stand with me in the presence of the dear Lord Jesus Christ when He comes.
Lord, help me to put people first, and to be ever sensitive to their feelings and their needs. Help me to not miss any opportunities but to always be listening and watching — to You and for them. Just get with it with people.”
_____

Since 1983, we have moved many times and often found people unwilling to get too close since they knew we would be moving, sometimes in a year, sometimes in a few weeks or months. However, the list of people we have met and spent time with is long. Some names on those older prayer lists are now unknown. Today, I must define faith as God knows who they are and where they are in their spiritual journey. My hubby is solid and spends time with other men, both saved and not there yet, who appreciate his faith and care for them. I’m not as involved as he is but still caring for people, giving time when I can, and praying for those in need when hands-on is not the answer. 

Lord Jesus. I’m still learning how to put people first, especially those who resist all Your goodness and seem upset or angry all the time. I still need wisdom and still need to keep my focus on You so I know what to do, when and how to do it, and how to deal with so many who reject Your grace and wisdom. Sometimes the darkness in this world is overwhelming. Please enable me to keep in Your will and not give up.

 

Pressing On

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Colossians 2:13–23)

In learning what it means to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, I’ve found this is not about outward actions as much as inward motivations. Am I listening to God and doing what He commands, or am I doing what I do for personal reasons?

At my age, I’m aware that if I don’t eat right and exercise, my body will suffer. So do I eat right and exercise to avoid suffering? Or to avoid problems that will keep me from serving the Lord?

I make quilts to give to needy people. Does the desire to show off the design skills God gave me motivate my sewing sessions, or am a motivated by a love for those who suffer from various things, including a lack of love?

Am I polite to telemarketers just to be nice, or to show compassion to a caller who may be in a slave situation and making the same calls over and over because they cannot escape?
Closer to home, do I help my hubby with his computer woes because I love him, or to stop his complaining so I can get on with my own work?

The Bible often uses extremes and outward behaviors to identify the flesh:

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. (Colossians 3:5–10)

Yet I know that all of these begin inside my head if I walk in the flesh. Most of them might never show up in actions, but God wants a pure heart. How much easier to walk in the Spirit who gives these attitudes than to fake it with “right” actions: 

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Colossians 3:12–15)

The rest of this reading says I’m to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” for such thinking and the results are from His thoughts, not the selfishness of my flesh.

Lord, sometimes I put on the right behavior, but having it flow from Your Spirit which motivates all parts of me is what You really want. Not that I have arrived, but I’m so thankful that You have shown me the difference as You persist in changing my heart. I will keep pressing on and looking forward to being like You when I see You face to face.

 

Walking in Christ

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 1:24–2:7)

How did I receive Christ? I was searching for answers to what happens when I die, even reading a book on reincarnation. Then Jesus came into the room and into my heart. It was a surprise, and without any thoughts on my part to say NO. Walking in Him has become just like that. He appears in words, thoughts, actions, and I respond without protest. Well, most of the time.

Part of that response is having a mother whose mantra was, “We must need it or we would not be getting it” so accepting what is happening is reasonably easy for me. But the greater influence is that Jesus wants the best for me. He showed it to the Colossian church in the love and care for them by the Apostle Paul. 

To learn this love can be a battle. Many Christians think that the best life for them is comfortable, secure, and without stress. When trials come, prayer is for their removal, and sometimes God does that because the trial may be from the enemy who says God does not want the best for me, so stop trusting Him, Otherwise, like mom said, if God has a purpose for it, I need to seek that and track with Him to accomplish it.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

This is why Paul could rejoice in his sufferings. He had it figured out. Not only were those trials for his spiritual growth, but he was sharing in what Christ suffered — and His suffering had an even greater purpose. Without it, there would be no salvation or eternal life for anyone. Paul knew that his own obedience also could be used by the Lord to reach many people with His good news!

Jesus, I cannot duplicate my salvation experience except to wait on You to tell me what to do and then do it, in faith that You will use it as only You can. May You be glorified in whatever any trial happens to be.

 

Impossible situations…

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. (Philippians 3:12–4:1)

When a person is hurting because of the actions of others, trusting the Lord seems the best counsel. However, if that person keeps tossing out self-help ideas what do they need to hear? What if they insist on being right and the others are wrong, yet most of their ideas to “fix” it are also far from godly? 

I remember asking a pastor why God kept giving me such tough cases to disciple. He said it was because I was such a tough case myself. That was decades ago, yet it taught me to also ask the Lord what He trying to teach me as I work with this person who continues to ask me what she should do. I’ve learned that what I think is not always from the mind of God. 

Paul writes that he is not perfect but pressing on because he belongs to Jesus. Good advice. Yesterdays sermon suggested that when people ask me what I do, I should first tell them who I belong to and therefore, this is what I do. This person knows who she belongs to, yet cannot seem to focus on that truth and is doing many foolish things.

Paul says: Forget the past and press on. And if not able to do that, He will reveal why not. The lady who keeps rehashing her problem needs to do that too — focus on  what she knows is true. Her faith is there, but continually challenged by anger, revenge, and self-pity, all prodded by the enemy’s lies and reminders. She cannot stay with “I trust Jesus” for more than a few seconds. She needs to confess all that and see it for what it is — lack of faith in Him to take care of these problems she cannot fix.

This applies to me too. I cannot change her life or the lives of those who set themselves against her. I can only trust Jesus, only being a silly word in this case. What else is there? No one and nothing.

Pressing on in the face of problems bigger than myself requires faith. The Bible says that if we do our own thing rather than trusting God that “whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23) I told this woman, and tell myself, that if she tries to fix this in her way and without His direction, she needs to confess that as sin.

Jesus, this situation seems impossible to me. I ask You to also make it seem so impossible for her that she has to fall on her knees before You and stop all personal effort. For me, that is also my need, but not an excuse to stop encouraging her to recognize her own sin, to keep short accounts, and to trust You with all her heart. She knows Proverbs 3:5. (Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding) Play it over and over in her mind seems a good idea, yet I don’t know what is best for her and will bring You glory. May Your will be done — in me too.

 

Yielded = obedience plus more…

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life. . . .  (Philippians 2:12–16)

Thinking about Jesus being fully human and fully God raises a question: in which nature did He do His work here on earth? Without including many Scripture references, I have to say it was in His human nature He obeyed His Father (“not my will, but thine be done”) yet He was totally yielded not only to the will of God, but relied on Holy Spirit power to speak, heal, pray, and die for us.

In other words, Jesus perfectly demonstrated what the above passage tells me to do. He didn’t need to “work out His own salvation” for He is sinless, yet the nature of God worked in Him. He did all things without complaining or debating, shining as the Light of the world and totally fulfilling the Word of God without any sin or resistance to it. I’m to live the same way.

For me, the fear and trembling comes in because my human nature tends to want its own will. Not only that, until I know the will of God through His Word, the enemy lies to me in subtle ways. His devices are not always easy to spot when I cling to my ideas or the values of the world. My spiritual battles are only won the same way as Jesus won them — by holding fast to what His Word says and by letting Him rule my thoughts, words, and actions.

Human nature, called the flesh or old nature in the NT, tends to want to be in charge:

Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. (2 Chronicles 30:8)

However, Jesus did not give into “my will” as to do anything His Father wanted, even to the point that He “cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.” (Matthew 27:50) He had to do this because with the indwelling Spirit of God, no one can die. (See 1 John 5:11-12)

He also said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:18)

Jesus, because You live in me, I can yield all to You, even my very life. Last week I told my pastor I wanted to live to 100 and “so far God hasn’t argued with me” yet I know that one day You will ask for Your Spirit to return to Yourself, but rather than leaving me, I will go with it and spend eternity with You.

 

The way up is down…

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5–11)

God is one unique being in three persons. Human beings are many persons, but one being — human. We cannot change our being but in redemption God changes the nature of those persons who put their faith in Him. He unites Himself to them and in doing that, we are partakers of His divine nature and can behave like Him.

Put that the other way. Jesus is God who took on human likeness. He took on the personhood of man making it possible for humans to see what God is like. Not only that, He was obedient to the necessity that human sin must be punished by a human being taking sin’s death penalty. But that person could not do it if he had his own sin. 

The sacrifice must be spotless. Only the sinless Son of God who took on human form could bear that shame and set humanity free from out guilt. Our part in all this is to realize what He has done — and the Holy Spirit makes that happen, and enables us to believe it by the gift of faith that God grants to those who hear Him.

This Jesus, fully man and fully God, is highly exalted. My puny mind can scarcely grasp the truth of who He is and what He has done. Yet He has made it plain to me. He even says that someday every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that this is true. God became a man without losing His being as God yet taking on the being of human so He could save us from sin. And He did it by humble obedience.

The wonder of this causes my knees to bow and my tongue to confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father. I know it is true, not because I am special. Human beings and God's Beings are not in the same category and only the triune God has the power, ability, or even the right to communicate with humans. Sin put us in a state of not listening, not even wanting to listen, only to want to run our own lives. 

Some fear God as in being terrified of what He would do to them. Some say He does not exist. Some think He is an old man in the sky that loves us too much to punish us. Whatever the human view of God might be, the God-view of humans is:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

And that God-man came to empty Himself and die to give us life. This is the example: to have that life, each human needs also to humble ourselves and admit our need and our inability to make that life happen without Him.

Jesus, You are Lord to the glory of God and You did that by becoming a servant, my example of how to live with this new life of Yours. Humility is not a normal choice for most humans, including me, but with You, all things are possible. Thank You.

 

The Major Task…

 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10–20)

This passage seems to have been written directly to me. Even though prayer is hard work, difficult to maintain, and easy to put off until later, I’m very aware of the wrestling match. Last night I dreamt that evil people were trying to take my children. It was a physical battle with prayer warriors from our church helping me. I woke up feeling exhausted.

The instructions above list commands related to correct theology. No one prays if they think they can handle all issues by themselves rather than being strong in the Lord and wearing His armor. No one prays well unless they realize who the true enemies are — not other people or the distractions and allurements of life, but spiritual forces of the devil and his minions. 

Not only that, if I believe a lie of any sort, or think I am good in myself, or worry all the time, or have trouble trusting God with everything, prayer will not be easy or even happen. I need to be filled with His Spirit and praying with His Word and truths, and directing most of my prayers for the effectiveness of God's people and myself in sharing the gospel with great boldness.

Paul did it while in prison. Even there, he considered himself an ambassador, a citizen of heaven living in a foreign land and speaking for his King. He battled the darts of the evil one that bombarded him with all sorts of lies in an attempt to get him to stop. I relate to this and to the idea that I won’t always know what to say. Yet God promises to protect me, not allow me to be tempted without a way of escape, and always gives me words to say as well as the boldness needed to say them.

Jesus, trusting You is far easier when I don’t foolishly trust myself. Any ambitions that I can handle any issues without prayer make the devil clap his hands. He knows that persisting in my will messes with Your will being done, and he knows when Your will is done, he is a loser. Keep me alert to the identity of my real enemy and not put that tag on other people. Keep my heart certain of all that You have done to give me warrior status that I can stand and speak for truth and support others who do the same. We cannot do it without You or the armor that You have so wondrously supplied. Help me overcome any tendency to shirk this incredible responsibility.

 

Want to bless the world?

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22–33)

Many women protest this passage from the NT because in their mind, submission means a ‘yes’ person, no choices, and no say about anything. A doormat. While the dialog is missing, it seems obvious that if Eve had done what the NT says, that forbidden fruit would not have been eaten and sin would not have affected their relationship with God.

After over fifty-five years of marriage, I am totally convinced that God knows what He is talking about. If I interact with my hubby the way the church is supposed to relate to Jesus Christ, nothing could be more rewarding and secure. Sure, I get upset when he doesn’t listen or behaves in a way that does not honor the Lord, yet my challenge is the same as the people of God. He shocks us now and then. I must wait and trust Him, let the Holy Spirit deal with it. By listening to the Lord and doing what He says in every situation, I am closer to Him and closer to him. Respect for him cannot mean reproving, correcting, insisting on my own way — none of that works with Jesus nor does it reflect a humble relationship toward Him.

One friend said, “I’ll submit to my husband when he starts acting like Jesus.” Does Jesus always do what I tell Him? He answers my prayers but every answer is a surprise and always for my good. However, the quickest way to silence Him is to stop doing what He tells me to do. Applying that, is it not easier for a man to love his wife if she determines to be lovable? Rather than hard to please, a manipulator, always complaining and wanting her way ‘or else’? Blessed are the peacemakers.

Sin began a conflict. God said to Eve that she would suffer pain in childbirth, and also that her “desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3:16) The conflict about who is the boss has ruined many marriages because the essence of sin is, “I will have my own way” and that applies to both husbands and wives. Created to be his helper takes on great significance after realizing God calls Himself our Helper. Only by looking to Him can I understand what that means and how to do it.

Jesus, when You said, “Not my will but thine be done” in Your prayer, I wondered why. What is wrong with Your will? You are sinless. But that statement was not about Your ability but about Your willingness to yield and to trust the Father’s plan. Trusting You with my hubby has brought him to a walk with You that is a blessing to both of us and to the people around us. How can I not say AMEN to being a submissive helper when You show me how Jesus did it and it became Your the way to bless the world!

Imitating God is not play-acting

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:1–21)

Since Jesus put me in God's family, I’m to behave as a child of God, not living like an unsaved person or going along with them in what they think and do. My godly behavior is intended to contrast the things of darkness so people can see the difference. I’m not to be foolish, but understand God's will. My source of joy is in Him, in being thankful, and in being submissive to the needs of others because of my reference of Christ. 

While all this sounds lofty, it can be very down to earth. The old nature has this idea that having my own way is better than meeting needs, or even doing the will of God. That means making supper for my hubby or family when I don’t feel like it. It means being generous rather than a fat bank account. It means making a call when I dislike talking on the phone. It also means saying NO when I want to say YES, or saying YES when I would rather not. This is related to what Jesus says: 

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:25–33)

Being a Christian is not going through the motions. It is about being not just doing. I cannot fake it or act like it. I must be it. 

Jesus, the longer I walk with You the more I am aware of the cost. It is mostly time, sometimes finances, but always giving up my own wants and desires in daily activities. Yesterday I wanted to create a new project, but You had other plans that took all the time available. Also, I had asked for a surprise, no expectations or wants, and You surprised me with an opportunity that scares me silly, but I knew I had to say yes. I just shake my head at the wonder of You. 

Christian life is not a DIY project…

Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 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. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 4:22–5:2)

Therefore basically means ‘because of this, do this” and refers to the consequences based on an event or truth. In the NT, this word usually relates to a prior statement, and because of that truth, I should respond a certain way. 

If I apply that to the way I should respond without considering or being motivated by the “why” of it, my effort is sinful. I would be trying to act like a Christian without relying on the Holy Spirit but only my own desire to be a good person or impress others. God does not honor that because He is left out of it. The term for such behavior is hypocrisy.

Since only God knows the human heart, it is seldom easy to evaluate motivations, however the person doing life this way can make themselves obvious by what they say and do. Considering the above list, anyone lacking the motivation of God can fudge the truth, hurt people when they are angry, cheat on their finances (like take home stuff from the office), not apt to share, will put people down instead of building them up, grieve the Holy Spirit instead of being filled with His joy, express bitterness, even slander others, and show an unforgiving attitude.

This is quite a list, yet if read with honesty, it is easy to realize the importance of  putting off the old self. This is not about sins like robbing banks, adultery, lying or other actions that are obvious sins. It is about being nice on Sunday or at Bible study group and not so nice when Christian friends are not around, or when others I am with are doing the same things. 

The new self is like Jesus. It cannot sin. It does not steal, hold on to anger, be lazy, unselfish, or gossip. It does not give the devil an opportunity. Instead, it reflects the One who lives in me. I have no excuse. From this passage it is easy to see the importance of modeling His love as an example and reminder to those who find it far too easy to walk in the flesh and just work hard to be ‘nice’ people. 

Jesus, You are patient with our fumbling and false idea that this Christian life is like a DIY project. Colossians 2:6 says: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” I received You by saying YES to Your invitation. I must walk with You the same way by saying YES to all that You tell me and not try to save myself or be godly without You doing it by Your power rather than this useless glove trying to be good without Your hand in it. 

 

God heals the hopeless and uses the useless…

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. . . . And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 3:20–4:16)

Two stories. The first was about a woman with advanced MS. She could no longer walk, see, or do much of anything. A call to prayer went out. Those who joined in prayer replied to record their participation. More than 400 Christians responded. In a short time, the woman was in a prayer meeting in her wheelchair. She tells of hearing God speak to her from the corner of the room. He said, “Get up and walk.” As she stood, her family and friends tried to stop her but she said God told her. She walked. And could see. She was totally healed.

The other story was about a woman who had polio. Her pastor told her she was not welcome at church as people were afraid of getting it. He also said her life was useless. She protested that God uses useless people but he didn’t change his tune. Later, a new pastor came. He said the church had a Sunday School but no children. Would she like to be in charge of that? She said yes, starting it with her own two children. More came, and then she had a plan. She asked a local bus company for a bus and was given the use of two buses with drivers for one Sunday. The NT “far more abundantly” happened and in a couple years, it was 35 buses and 35 drivers, and no less than 5000 children each Sunday with this useless woman in leadership.  

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think… what do I do with these stories? Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love and be equipped by the gifted people who pray for me and trust me with whatever jobs the Lord gives me, not for my sake but to build up the body of Christ until we are united in faith and the fullness of our Lord and Savior. Trust Him for the little things but also for those wonderful surprises that bring Him great glory. 

Not everyone is healed nor does every idea for ministry become fruitful, yet the stress is not on bigger, better, and more, but on an attitude of humility, gentleness, patience, love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Jesus, I’m to focus on being godly and You take care of both that and doing far more abundantly with a life of obedience. I could not imagine the healing of diseases that have no cure, or supplying buses to a woman who was told she is useless. I am amazed at You, the One who can do more than I ask or can even imagine.

Amazingly Blessed

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, . . . . by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:1–22)

Read it again and again. The marvel of the gospel means that the OT Israelites chosen by God to reveal Him to the world, and those who believe in Jesus as their messiah are now one group — God's people. Back then, the people of God were identified by circumcision and law-keeping. Now we are identified by faith, a grace-gift from the God who loves us and sent His Son to take our punishment for sin and give us life.

I picture in my mind the people of God who trust Jesus and at that moment of faith, He comes to live in us. No matter what we look like or the color of our skin, or our age, or our culture, or our background, or what our sins looked like, His very presence in our hearts and lives puts us in His family. We are one.

I see it visually during communion when hundreds go forward to remember His death for us. I experience it in my prayer group when the four of us are filled with the Spirit and incredible harmony in our understanding. It happens when I meet a stranger and we talk about our relationship with God with mutual agreement of how He is working in our lives. And I am overwhelmed by it when I read these verses just after hearing the daily news filled with reports of the conflict and troubles in this world. No matter what, the family of God is united in Jesus Christ. The news can fill me with negative emotions, but thinking about who God’s family is and our togetherness in Him gives me great joy and peace. He takes care of us and our confidence is in Him, not in our own abilities. Such a wonder.

Again, how I love You, Jesus. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, yet no special day is needed to be thankful for You, the only One who blesses and keeps us in Your care because of Your great love. May each family member that You have blessed be truly thankful, for we have such an amazing Father who loves us and sent You to die and rise again so we can be with You forever. 

 

Complete salvation…

Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.” So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 4:28–5:6)

Paul’s illustration comes from OT history, a story that is current today. The offspring of the slave woman are still persecuting the offspring of Abraham, the man who is called the father of faith. They are not members of the same family as those who have the faith of Abraham.

Faith removes the yoke of “I must do it myself” that carries the load of keeping all the laws in order to be right with God. Jesus Christ removes that yoke and sets me free by doing it for me. Being “in Christ” means this is how God sees me — sinless because I am hidden in His Son by faith because He loves me.

In the NT, many verses speak of what faith working through love looks like, but no one can take credit for that; it is the work of Christ who works in us like a hand in a glove. This is why Paul could say God's strength is perfected in weakness (gloves are useless without the hand) and that he was the chief of sinners, yet his life was one of amazing obedience.

These verses build me up. I know that without Him, I cannot do anything that warrants approval. Obviously not circumcision, but even the love He speaks of and demonstrates is beyond me. Everything I do apart from faith is not only useless, it is also sin. (Romans 14:23) The NT also says:

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22)

Yes, I still sin, yet the wonder of faith in Christ, He also promises:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Therefore, God's salvation is utterly amazing and total. He takes care of every possible issue or argument that anyone might give or use as an excuse to say NO to the invitation of Jesus Christ to put their faith in Him.

Lord, doubts come. It is easier to walk by sight and give up hope when prayers go unanswered or even are not prayed. We humans want what we want right now. But You love us and take care of us and use even trials to transform our lives that we are more like You. Jesus, You are so easy to love with all my heart! Thank You for such a total salvation!

The Source of True Power

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7–10)

It has taken fifty years of being a conceited Christian to being able to recognize and be glad of my weaknesses, to even be accused of being “too humble” which makes me laugh. It seems almost all of my life others have expected me to excel and if I did, praised me. Of course my ego demanded the praise so the pressure to excel interfered with my ability to trust God. If I could do it, why ask for His help?

But then comes that “messenger of Satan” who often uses flattery to distract me from trusting God. The other option is “my way” or just don’t do anything. After many lessons, and re-reading this passage or having it come to mind while I attempted and failed, the purpose and benefit of weaknesses finally sunk in.

This is not just about Christian ministry. It is about everything. I’m making quilts and pray for wisdom, noting when things need another technique, or to not make an error (that seam ripper is not a favorite tool), and for the ability to use color and design wisely. Then the fun of having my bobbin thread not run out when expected, or two pieces to sew together turn out to be the exact right size without trimming them at all, or I have a scrap that fits without cutting off the excess. This might seem silly to a non-sewer, but admitting my needs to God changes efficiency and more. 

This confession of not being able has to be real and honest. God does not answer prayer designed to make me look good. He wants a genuine sense of being unable, weak, ignorant. But who likes feeling that way? Who can be content with always saying “duh” instead of patting their own back?

This is one of the “His ways are not our ways” truths even though many Christians fall for the DIY lie rather than see the benefits of being weak so the Lord can shine through. And He does. The lack of skill and confidence become the doorway to the power of Jesus Christ. 

So whether the cause of weakness is age-related, forgetfulness, distractions, being overcome by too much to do, bombardment of new responsibilities, or Paul’s list of insults, hardships, persecutions, or calamities, being unable is a friend, not an enemy.

Lord, the best part is that You never let me down to drown in my inability to deal with the challenges of life. You are faithful to grant what I need, always surprising me and often bringing tears of gratitude and certainly words of praise. Truly, You are my hiding place. You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You, I will trust in You. Let the weak say I am strong, in the strength of the Lord… 

Saved by and living by confession and repentance…

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. (2 Corinthians 7:8–13)

Everyone knows worldly grief. I got caught. Everyone knows. I feel shame and want to hide, or make excuses, or blame someone else, like Adam and Eve did after their sin.

Godly grief is different. While it too wants to clear myself, it also wants to change, to do it right. As a new Christian, I felt guilt about yelling at my children and  confessed it as sin. Trying harder didn’t work so I followed what has become a life-changing verse:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

The forgive part is often highlighted; the cleansed part too often become “try harder” but God showed me this amazing second thing He does when sin is confessed. A few weeks after bringing my selfishness at being annoyed at little ones to Him, I noticed that I was not doing it any longer! He cleansed it also!

A certain cult believes Jesus died to give us the right to earn our salvation. This belief system is not biblical. It only makes them try harder. For true Christians, this is a trap we can fall into. The book of Galatians was written to those who figured certain behaviors must be performed in order to keep the salvation and forgiveness they had. 

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:1–6)

Too easily human pride wants a part in salvation and boosts about what I do rather than what God has done. Someone said to me, “Isn’t (name) amazing!” And I replied, “God is amazing; He has made her what she is.” I was given a funny look and that person walked away. 

A few times I’ve confessed a sin that the Lord convicted me about and those who heard it refused it by trying to define it as okay. My sister heard, “Oh no, not you” and her confession was rejected.

Jesus, I’m sad that praising You is sometimes replaced by praising people that Your grace has changed or when genuine confession is replaced by refusal to call sin for what it is. How can we overcome it without acknowledging it? Or even enjoy the freedom of being forgiven and cleansed? I’m so thankful that You do not give up in Your work of being our Savior. You invite us just as we are, yet love us too much to leave is that way.

 

Unequally yoked NO, yet bold YES…

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1)

Yesterday we went to a neighborhood gathering involving wine, cheese and other nibbles, and visiting. I sat with several people and we talked about current events, both in our community, and in the world. Some of these folks are Christians, others not, but there was mostly harmony in opinions, particularly an upcoming referendum that would affect all of us. Here, the agreement was obvious. Christian or not, we did have the same views on most issues.

Is that being unequally yoked? Most say not. One definition is says unequally yoked means do not have a close, binding partnership with someone who has a fundamentally different faith, moral center, or worldview, or anything that would pull me away from faith in Christ. 

In other words, friendships with unbelievers is okay. Otherwise how could I speak to anyone about being reconciled to God? Unequally yoked  is more about marriage, business partnerships or relationships with those who live and promote ungodly lifestyles. We watched a drama last night where the police talked with a man guilty of incest and that man said, “Pardon me for not sharing your moral values.” Even thinking about his nonchalance over such sin makes me feel ill. He had no idea of how such thinking brings pain into many lives.

The only positive in realizing such darkness exists is that it increases my burden to pray and to be as totally dedicated to Christ as possible. I’ve already realized that even two who disagree on spiritual issues walk and talk differently and pull in different directions. Such a partnership cannot be effective in any endeavor. Even having food together requires the grace of God in ordinary conversation. Sometimes I just want to stay home rather than be challenged by the words and ideas of those who reject Jesus.

The NT speaks of a boldness from the Holy Spirit. Even though I’m not nearly so fearful of being rejected as I once was, I know that I need the Spirit to boldly speak  when unbelievers need to hear about Jesus.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. . . . And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness. . . . And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:13-31)

When the Spirit gives boldness, it is often a surprise and always has a positive result. In other words, it cannot be mustered up, or faked, or a product of my own determination. It is one of those “only God” things for which I praise Him!

Lord Jesus, sometimes I want to hide and not be with unbelieving people. You are not like that, and I need to be more like You. Grant me the attitudes You desire, and a boldness that removes all that blocks me from faithfully sharing You with others, and not sliding into any agreements that would deny my faith in You. 

Christians are ambassadors…

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:10–21)

Two judgements; the Great White Throne where the unsaved are judged: “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15) and the Bema judgement where Christians are rewarded, yet suffer loss for things done that have no eternal value…

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10–15)

This is called the Bema judgement, a NT term to describe human judges. This passage tells of the rewards and the verses above it describes how to build a life that does not suffer a great deal of loss. Basically it says to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh. 

The work I do in my own strength and apart from God's direction and will is useless. As God does, I am to disregard anything done in the flesh. That old life stuff has no value. I have a new life and living it as He directs is the way to be righteous here and rewarded later.

Oh Jesus, this is a perspective that is so easily forgotten, the victim of distraction. I need to think more about the eternal value of my affections and activities and allow those thoughts to govern the more important task of being an ambassador for You. One online definition says: “An ambassador is the highest-ranking diplomatic official who represents their home government while living and working in a foreign country.” 
More details both convict me and instruct me in confession and change. For instance: Christians live in this world, but our true citizenship and ultimate allegiance belong to heaven and to You. My core duty is to urge people to be reconciled to God through trusting You, and not share personal opinions but faithfully deliver the exact words and official position of You, my King. Because You are physically absent from earth, my lifestyle, character, and actions must reflect You to those around me. Enable me to be an obedient and effective ambassador.     

Do not change God’s Word — let it change you!

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17–4:6)

Too often Christians say “I accepted Christ” even though Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide. . . .” (John 15:16) A better wording would be, “I accepted Jesus’ invitation” which honors Him for making the first steps. The Bible is clear; salvation is not up to me. If that were the case, there is no evidence that I have the ability to say YES without the Spirit of God giving it to me. 

This passage says we refuse to tamper with the Word of God. Taking credit for being saved is a form of tampering.

I know the cults do it. One of them rewrites the Bible to suit their belief system so they can proudly claim, “Jesus died to give us the right to earn our salvation.” The Bible does not support that or the other changes they make that takes credit for what only God can do.

Paul is clear; what we proclaim is not ourselves. God shone His light so we could see Him and know His glory, and without any veil over our eyes that glory is transforming us into His image. We do not become like Jesus by ourselves apart from Him.

I read this passage with both sorrow and outrageous joy, sorrow for those who are blind to the truth and are perishing, and joy because Jesus opened my heart to who He is and what He is doing. 

People ask, why doesn’t God save everyone? Yet this is a better question: Why does God save anyone? We all fall short. We all turn to our own way. But “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) and invites us to seek Him for His grace and mercy, 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

Oh, the deep, deep love of Jesus, Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free. Rolling as a mighty ocean, In its fullness over me! Underneath me, all around me, Is the current of His love. Leading onward, leading homeward to His glorious rest above.

Jesus, even though You do the choosing, my prayer is that Your voice is heard and those who hear You will seek You because You promise that all who seek will find You — and You can change their darkness to light, loving them into Your family and into eternal life. Oh yes, Your love is deep!

Labor for Jesus

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:51–58)

This passage is positive and speaks of death as a victory. Most of my devotions are not about the next life but usually the challenges of this life and the things I need to do or change as I live as a Christian. It is about saying goodbye to sin more than about the eternal victory of immortality.

However, for the past few days I’ve had an amusing conversation with one granddaughter about what will happen to my possessions when I die. She wants my hubby’s golf clubs and his Lego castle. However, as I look at some of these things and consider death will separate me from everything I enjoy in this life except Jesus, I’ve had a bit of a grieving process. 

I also like the work I do. Two major activities are God-given. He has me making quilts to show His love to needy people, the homeless, ill, grieving, poor, in wheel chairs, with dementia, kids who sleep on the floor, and so on. Some days this work is hard and I’m exhausted, but never doubt that is what He wants from me during this stage of my life.

Yet there are days when I just want to quit. Is this task doing any good? Are people being blessed? Sometimes I can see the results, but not usually.

The other task is prayer. Steadfast is a challenge. I’m easily distracted. I cannot see the results as much as I’d like. Yet I know the answers are far more important than quilts that will eventually perish. Prayer involves eternal matters, including the battle here against sin, but also the destiny of those on my prayer list. I so easily give up, yet today Jesus surprises me with “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

Thank You Jesus for this encouragement. Prayer is a labor and while I cannot always see the results, You grant me faith to know that You hear and that You are working in the lives of the people I pray for and in the challenging situations in this sin-filled world. Often there is no explanation and no specific request except “Thy will be done.” Elements of vanity can creep into quilt-making, but sincere and stedfast prayer needs humility and because You hear and answer, in prayer is never in vain because it definitely glorifies You. 

Using gifts as God intends…

So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. (1 Corinthians 14:9–28)

While this passage focuses mostly on one spiritual gift, it points to all of them by explaining the purpose of tongues. Gifts are to be used and clear in building up others. That is, they are for believers. Outsiders will not see them as from God and could even think the exercise of any gift is strange or that we Christians are out of our minds. Yet if they experience any gift that is used properly, they may be drawn to worship God… and that we worship Him is the whole purpose of any gift, including tongues.

Therefore, there are some rules. Do what will accomplish His will. If no one understands my words or actions, it might be that I’ve not paid attention to the guidelines of this passage. Tongues require an interpretation. Even our hymns, lessons, and revelations may need explanations. If no one else understands and can explain what I say (or sing) or if it just confuses others, then keep it to myself. God gave it to me for my edification.

Jesus, You teach me much and at Bible study I sometimes share it and no one gets it, so I’m learning to be quiet and not push it. Other times, one or two in the group speak up and explain what I said in their words and others are edified too. This is the principle of this passage. Paul used tongues as an example, likely because the church at Corinth was having an issue over that gift. Other Christians may struggle with the use of a prophetic statement, or certain music, or some teaching. The principle is the same; You desire edification and peace, and You are not the author of confusion (vs. 33).

 

Use gifts without imitating gifts

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:1–11)

A college course and seminar material shared with me from my sister have taught me that spiritual gifts come in three categories: motivational, manifesting, and ministry, based on the three NT passages that mention them. While some lump the gifts listed in those passages, I’ve found this three-fold distinction very helpful.

The gifts in the above passage are called manifestation gifts. The Spirit gives them to God's people on various occasions. They are not permanent but for the need of the moment. That is, some one who demonstrates them this week may not do the same thing next week.

The reasoning behind that could be related to the old nature’s tendency to take a skill and make it a trademark. That is, if I was involved in working a miracle, I might want to become “a miracle worker” for the rest of my life. This is the same with healing and speaking in tongues and others of this list of gifts. They are for “common good” yet easily grasped and even imitated by the flesh. (Read Watchman Nee’s book, “The Latent Power of the Soul”)

I remember blurting out advice on how to sleep well to a medical student. Saying what I said was a shock to me, and he could have been angry or retaliated, but he was not. The Spirit gave those words that hit a hot button, yet he was glad. That was a “word of wisdom” completely a surprise, yet obviously not from me and not a usual way I would talk. Besides, most of the time, wise words are not my forte.

Speaking in tongues is another example. The Bible says they are given only with an interpreter. It is not given to be a requirement for salvation as some claim. If this gift or any other gift does not make people more like Jesus, then it is a flesh imitation.

Lord, I’m cautious to write this, yet do realize that our old nature has the ability to look good, even seemingly do good, yet what does not come from faith is sin. True goodness comes only from You and glorifies You. Anything else is ego-serving and only looks good to us. No wonder You sweat blood as You felt the weight of our sin. Yet the gifts of the Spirit are necessary. In many ways we cannot bless others without them.
 

The Lord’s Supper

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:23–32)

After moving many times and taking communion in many churches, it has become a great blessing to be involved in this special event. Various churches do it in a variety of ways: every Sunday, one Sunday a month, ushers passing out the elements, members coming forward to take the bread and wine from the pastor, or from a table. Most give the instructions from this passage.

While at least one congregation hurried through and seemed to treat it as a nuisance ritual, most congregations treat it as seriously special. In our church it is serious, but so much a coming together of God's family that watching a few hundred people remembering what Christ has done always blesses my heart. 

The warning is important. It isn’t just for those who do not believe in Jesus but for anyone who is in conflict with others, or who has other unconfessed sin in their lives. I remember a mother upset with her adult son for not participating although he usually did. He told her he had a bad attitude that day and needed to get right with God first. Rather than taking the bread and juice and hiding a sin issue is to be admired.

Our rules are not otherwise strict. If people are watching at home on YouTube, they are encouraged to participate when it is okay for them to do so. This stresses that the Lord’s supper is a time to focus on the sacrifice Jesus made for our salvation, no matter where we are. 

The church at Corinth had other problems. Some were weak, ill, or had died because they had not dealt with their sin. Communion is a good reminder that Jesus died for that sin and I must therefore die to it — and live for Him.

Lord God, how I am blessed to participate with several hundred people in this most precious ordinance. While thinking about the Body of Your Son who died for me and who lives for me is not limited to one Sunday a month, in the busyness of life, the reality of all that You have done can easily slip out of my mind. Thank Your for keeping me me close with such an important and special ritual.