Understanding is only part of it. . . .

 

For about seventeen years, I read the Bible every day without understanding anything in it. Then came that day when Jesus entered my life. It was not a request on my part; He surprised me. After that day, after realizing who Jesus is and why He came, I began to understand what I was reading.

Today’s devotional says it is good to read the Bible regularly, learn the facts of Bible history, memorize as much of the Bible as you can and study the blessed doctrines of the Bible, then adds that it is possible to do all this yet gain no spiritual benefit. The author says this benefit comes only to the degree that we understand it. The author adds that this understanding can only be gained by the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:11–16)

Various lists tell how the mind of Christ affects a believer’s life. For instance, any love for worldly things will change. Instead of the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life, the mind of Christ calls me to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of my mind” for this will help me discern the will of God and what is “good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

Another list says His mind creates a humble, submissive, and obedient faith. The list of spiritual fruit point to new attitudes that include love for others, peace in my heart, joy, and more (Galatians 5:22-23).

Included in that ‘love for others’ is a new desire to seek their salvation by sharing with them His love in action and words that explain the good news of the gospel.

Another example of what will change: New knowledge of who Jesus is and what He has done, submission to His lordship expressed in obedience, trusting Him alone and not my own works, or goodness, or my efforts, along with a deepening rejection of sin and not wanting to run my own life.

As the book of James says, this thinking is more than new attitudes. It creates new actions such as caring for the needs of widows, orphans, the poor, and not being a respecter of persons but treating all with the same loving care.

For this reason, I’m convinced that I cannot limit the changes in my life to attitude only or even understanding. While actions flow from the heart, if they are not there, I have to look in the mirror (God’s Word) and not forget what I see, but do something about it.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:22–27)

PRAY: Lord, I’ve known for a long time that thinking and saying what I know is good, but doing it is vital. It is often easier to keep my mouth shut when I want to speak, or keep my mental focus on You rather than worldly or selfish stuff, than it is to simply do what You say. May Your mind rule my actions as well as all other parts of my life.

What holiness looks like…

 
Since ‘holy’ is about purity and about being set apart and unlike or ‘other than’ this means the people of God are not like what we were once like. Our life “hid with Christ in God” is a hidden life as to its source, at least to those who do not focus on Jesus, but that life with Jesus must not be hidden as to its outward results. People ought to see that I walk as Christ walked. Even in challenges, my life will be different. It should prove that I possess what I profess. This means turning my back on everything that is contrary to the perfect will of God and being what some translations call “peculiar people” in the eyes of the people around me.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11–14)

Wherever I go, this “other than” ought to be seen in my habits, state of mind, values, interests, conversations, and activities. For instance, because I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, I must  no longer look on my money as mine, but as belonging to the Lord to be used in His service. I must not use my energies in the pursuit of worldly means, but “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” knowing that God will take care of my needs. (Matthew 6:33)

God does not ask me to seek prominence or worldly advantages. I’m not to make myself the center of my thoughts and goals. My days are not to be spent serving me or my I-wants but in serving the Lord. He calls me to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. All my daily duties are to have His attitude, “not as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord” (Ephesians 6:5–8) The will of God is not only different but perfect, yet it does require something from me:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)

First, I must yield to Him, not with eye-service as to impress others by looking good, but from the heart. This is “spiritual worship” and therefore from the spirit, the deepest part that is made alive in redemption and is my connection with the Spirit of God. My worship cannot be outward actions, or merely intellectual or emotional in nature. I can choose to worship but true worship is from the heart and all of my being, yielded totally to the Lord.

Also, I’m to say no to the world and its values, motivations, and the ways of expressing them:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

All this means being different, ‘other than’ and often mocked by those who cannot fathom why anyone would live this way. It makes no sense to them. In our culture, our Christian ways are ignored, sometimes ridiculed or even opposed. In many parts of the world, this way is persecuted and many Christians die at the hands of those who see this ‘other than’ way of life as a threat to their own.

PRAY: Jesus, thank You for new life with its great challenge to be holy because You are holy. Keep my focus on You during these days of confusion and so many needs in others who ask for prayer and in those who deny that You even exist. Grant me the strength to persevere, not only in prayer but in being what You want me to be — holy and set apart for You.

What difference does it make . . . ?

READ 2 Timothy

A television drama featured a group of people who worshipped ‘astral’ beings who gave them ‘light’ and ‘purpose’ and separation from the world. Totally convinced that they had heard truth and must live by it, they had a pastoral leader, a special book from their gods (who lived in the sun) and rites that included a ‘baptism’ and much secrecy. I thought of the Christian message and how it could be interpreted with a similar description but with an overwhelming difference; Jesus Christ.

This astral group did not have a Savior who came to reveal to them the God that created all things and who died for their sin and rose from the dead. They did not have the One who “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10) nor did they know the One who banishes fear and replaces it with power, love and self-control (1:7). This became more evident in the drama as their selfishness was exposed.

Jesus makes the difference. No matter the claims of any other religion, He is the only one who walked out of a tomb, gives us Himself and that same powerful life, and then guards that which He has entrusted to us (1:14). We who believe are “strengthened by His grace” and “given understanding in everything” (2:1; 7). He is totally faithful, keeping His promises as He delivers us from our sin and leads us in our journey to spend eternity with Him.

The world looks on and sees a mixed bag in the kingdom of God. Not everyone is as godly as they are supposed to be, but for Jesus, this is not an issue. We are not saved by our performance but by His death and resurrection, and by His grace . . .

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:19–21)

As each believer allows the work of God in them, each are at varying places in our spiritual growth. We are supposed to “flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace” calling on the Lord with a pure heart and escaping the snare of the devil who had previously captured us to do his will — a will involving lies and destruction, not truth and life. We are doing it because the difference is Jesus.

This reading warns that in the last days (which we are in since Jesus ascended to heaven) there would be difficulties:

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:2–5)

We are to avoid them, following the Bible’s teaching and trusting the Lord to lead us in a godly life, even though godliness invites persecution and “evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” (3:13). Instead, we are to continue in what we have learned — knowing from whom we learned it, not through strange visions or lofty ideas contrary to the Word of God but relying on Him who makes us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (3:15) Jesus makes the difference.

The book makes the difference too. Only the Word of God can make us what God wants us to be: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (3:16–17) Remember, Jesus is the “Word made flesh” (see John 1) and it is Jesus who makes the difference.

God tells me that whatever He gives me to do, I must do it. “For the time is coming (and isn’t it already here?) when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work . . .”  (4:3–5) that God gave me. Timothy was an evangelist and my role is not the same, but I’m still to “fight the good fight” until Jesus returns, trusting Him to “rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom” — and in all of life give Him glory because He is the One who makes the difference.

 

Changed lives make a difference

 

2 Samuel 15; Psalm 69; Ezekiel 22; 2 Corinthians 8

 The first passage today tells how the son of king David betrayed him. Pretending to be glad because he was brought home after he fled from killing his half-brother, Absalom began to woo the people of Israel with the intent of taking over his father’s throne.

The second passage is David’s prayer for God to act against those who turned against God and against him. There is no indication when he wrote this psalm yet it could express how he felt as Absalom did what he did. I can scarce imagine it yet admire this man because he was more concerned about God’s people suffering persecution and the city of Jerusalem being harmed than he was for his own life.

The third passage is not any happier. This one sounds much like today’s news and gives me a knot in my stomach. God soundly condemns His people for their sin. He calls them a reproach to the nations for their idolatry, shameful treatment of their elders, orphans and widows, profaning the Sabbaths, lewd sexual sins, dishonest financial gain and extortion, false teaching, lying divinations from the prophets, and religious profanity and hypocrisy. He says:

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 22:30–31)

This time the Lord is going to severely deal with this sin by sending the people into exile in Babylon. Babylon was and still is a symbol of all that opposes God and righteousness. Even though the stories of David and of Israel and exile are from long ago, they have elements of contemporary life. The news of what is happening in our world is much the same yet the cry of godly people is also the same. Those who listen to the Lord are praying and warning God’s people. Those who have drifted into disobedience and sin have put a black mark on the reputation of the church.

We need to get our act together lest we become like the ancient people of God whose lives wound up being no different than the idolatry and sin of their enemies. Instead of a physical exile, ours is spiritual, an exile into living in the world and opposing God rather than being distinctive as God’s people.

The New Testament passage is about generosity and taking care of one another. This is a command to Christians illustrating to a sinful world that having Jesus Christ in our lives makes a difference. Paul said:

“ . . . . it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, ‘Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.’” (2 Corinthians 8:12–15)

In a dog-eat-dog world, Christians caring for one another makes a powerful statement. These verses are followed by the example of some, not significant leaders as we might define significance, but they show us how to be bright lights in a dark place . . .

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. (2 Corinthians 8:16–24, italics mine)

APPLY: Care for other Christians like these people who made God’s glory and loving others a priority. Be an honorable person, earnest and confident in other Christians, not critical but seeking their benefit to the glory of God.