Love conquers division

Differing beliefs can divide people, including Christians. We disagree on how and when the Second Coming will happen (even though Jesus said no one will know when that will happen!). We disagree on other less important issues too. One of them concerns spiritual gifts, particularly healing, miracles, and speaking in tongues. Sad but true, those on each end of the spectrum can become insistent and vocal about their stance.

It seems strange that we can be different from one another on many other issues and still be united in Christ and worship together, yet these issues have split churches. I’m not certain I have any special insight on this, but I do know one thing: such polarity is not from God.

As for the spiritual gifts argument, we do agree that these gifts are from the Holy Spirit. The Bible is clear on that in several passages, including this one:

“It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:3–4)

Nevertheless, the church in Corinth had problems with these gifts. They had them, but fought about who had the ‘greatest’ gifts. Right away, that reveals pride. I know from Scripture and from personal experience that pride has a way of blinding my eyes so I cannot see where I’ve gone wrong. Pride convinces me that I cannot make mistakes. This is folly. In that early church it was also folly and needed some strong admonition. Paul wrote at least two letters to them to correct their errors. In regard to the gifts, he said . . .

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 12:29–13:13)

Some think that “we know in part . . .  but when the perfect comes” refers to the completed Bible. Yet how did Paul even know that part of the future? And if “knowing in part” equals a body of believers without a New Testament yet living for Christ as they did, how can we who have the entire Bible claim to be “perfect” when we fight over what that Bible says and means?

Others insist that these verses mean prophetic gifts and tongues will pass away, but it does not say when, only that sometime in the future, perfect will come and partially perfect will pass away. Using this passage to argue it has already happened seems to miss the point. Paul is telling the Christians at Corinth (and us today) to drop pride and stop thinking some gifts make you a better Christian than others. Those gifts are from God, not the recipient. The bottom line: all should be excelling in love for one another!

Regardless of my understanding of these matters, I realize that arguing about them is folly. I’ve been at both ends of the spectrum and thought at the time that those at the other end were fakes and deceivers. Now I realize that this is also foolish because this is not a soapbox issue. To make it one is not God’s idea. He unifies us in Christ. It is the liar called Satan who divides.

The devil’s tool is pride. If he can get me to assume I am correct and everyone else does not know what they are talking about causes serious rifts. Pride cuts apart the Body of Christ. It separates me from trusting in the Holy Spirit to give me gifts that I seriously need, such as the most important gift: the loving patience of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus, You are not at all concerned about our differences. You are far more interested in uniting us through love, joy, peace and the other character qualities of Your Spirit. Sometimes we are right, sometimes we are wrong, but that never interferes with Your love for us. May it be true also of our love for each other.

How can an open book be closed — or truly open?

I’ve heard that there are people in Israel who have memorized the entire Old Testament. Given my difficulty with rote memorization, I find that entirely amazing. However, even more amazing is that memorizing, even just reading, does not equal understanding. My own experience proves it. So does this incident from the New Testament . . .

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:26–39)

This man could not understand the Scripture even though he was educated, worshiped God and could read! As for me, I read the Bible for seventeen years before Jesus walked into my living room and instructed me to its meaning. Prior to that, it was merely a jumble of words read partly as a ritual and partly because of my mother’s example. As today’s devotional reading says, it is quite possible to read and even memorize it and yet gain no spiritual benefit from the Word of God. For that, everyone needs the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 2:11–16)

Understanding the Word of God is about seeing Christ in everything. Philip preached Jesus to that man. As for me, I didn’t know Jesus and missed really seeing Him in the Bible. Therefore, what I read made no sense to me.

Understanding the Scriptures is about reading with a humble, submissive, and obedient faith in Christ. The eunuch showed those qualities as he willingly surrendered to believer’s baptism. I can recall my ‘pre-Christ’ days — full of pride, resistance, disobedience. No wonder I didn’t get it.

Understanding the Word of God also causes rejoicing in Christ. Once the eunuch understood, ‘He went on his way rejoicing.’ In those early years of my life, I read out of duty so I could check it off as done. Such a routine did not produce in me the joy of knowing Jesus.

Understanding the Scriptures ought to cause a reader to seek the salvation of others. This eunuch went on his way back to Africa and history says he took the gospel to many. I read the Bible but didn’t tell anyone I was reading it and couldn’t share with others what I didn’t understand myself.

Jesus, on that day when You changed my life You also began teaching me what Your Word means. Now I can see You in its pages. Now I want to obey you and appreciate Your great joy. I also want to share You with others. Surely Your Word is remarkable, but even greater is Your amazing ability to keep it closed to those who have no faith in You and yet open up its wonders to those who by faith have been transformed.

Bad news, Good news!

So far, the devotional material I’m reading is about foundational truths. What it says often lines up with the material in two books I’m reading and the Bible study I attend. This seems mysterious until I realize that foundational truths are just that — they join hands and form a strong wall around my heart.

The Bible study is about prayer and the need for spiritual armor. Without God’s protection, I will fail — not only in praying but in living for Christ.

One of the books is about ‘respectable sins’ — those things that Christians, myself included, so easily do without thinking and without condemnation. Without the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I will fall into these and they will pull me deeper and deeper — and I will fail to live for Christ.

The other book is called “Listening to the Voice of God” written by a pastor who shares his struggles to pray. He appeared successful to others, but was often on the brink of disaster because of pride and other problems. I cannot relate to his job description, but I can relate to his problems. As God sets him free, my prayers are for the same deliverance lest I also get dragged down and fail to live for Christ.

Today’s devotional material sets my heart singing. This passage is rich, a favorite that calms my anxiety and concerns about being a total failure . . .  

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:28–39)

Without Jesus, I would be condemned already because of my sin. With Jesus, there is no possibility for condemnation. The Scriptures encourage me with verses like these . . .

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:19–20)

God knows that I am called, justified, and will eventually be like Jesus. He knows that Jesus died for me, that all my sin is covered. No one can accuse me or condemn me before Him because He hears the intercessory prayers of His Son.

As for the trials of life, nothing can separate me from the love of God, and He even uses all of what threatens me for my good, to aid in the process of transforming me into the image of His Son.

Not only that, God is the only one with the power and authority to condemn anyone (woe to me for doing any so-called respectable sin), but since my sin has been put on Christ, there is no condemnation. I am pardoned and every sin forgiven.

Jesus, the odd thing about this wonderful salvation is that a true understanding of it does not make me assume that I can sin and it doesn’t matter. Rather, knowing what You have done puts a deep desire in my heart to never sin again. While that is not going to happen in this life, You declare that in eternity, I shall have that desire fulfilled. Praise Your name!

Overcome lies with truth

“What’s true for you is not true for me” has now become, “If a lie is told often enough, people will believe it and then it becomes true.”

With fewer standards of measurement, who can be sure what is true? Uncertainty is bad enough, but twisting the definition of truth makes me feel a bit sick. For one thing, it is dangerous. Many are telling themselves lies like taking certain drugs will not hurt them, then dying because their lie was not based on facts.

I could fill the page with examples, but am more concerned with how truth is measured. These days, it is too often about personal feelings, desires, and other subjective elements rather than factual, outside, black and white, objective sources. For centuries, the Word of God was the truth and even if people didn’t follow it, most knew it was, and that their own sense of right and wrong agreed. Not anymore.

I’m in a Bible study called The Armor of God. The first week is about identifying the source of lies and how our enemy works to throw us off by telling us lies so we will not agree with or believe what God says.  While many of the lies that we hear are out of human mouths, those people are not the actual enemy, the one who Jesus called “the father of lies.”

“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.” (Ephesians 6:10–12)

Prior to this declaration of war against the liar and his cohorts, Ephesians has several chapters of truth from God that I am to believe, live by, and defend. However, I need the power that God gives to do that. Without Him, I cannot stand against the evil schemes that are determined to mess with my thinking and my life.

Some of those truths spill out in passages like the first chapter of Ephesians. Since it is so rich, I’ve tried to put some of what it says them in list form. It begins with praise: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ  who has . . .  

·         blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places

·         chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.

·         predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ

·         (according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us)

·         redeemed us through His blood and forgiven our trespasses

·         lavished on us the riches of His grace

·         made known to us the mystery of His will according to His purpose set forth in Christ

·         planned in the fullness of time to unite all things in Him

·         given us an inheritance (which is eternal)

·         predestined all according His purpose so we might be to the praise of His glory.

·         sealed us with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:3–14)

The liar is busy convincing people that Christ is only a swear word, God does not exist, the Bible is just a book, sin is a non-issue, eternity with God is a human idea, religion is a farce, and a host of other innuendos and suggestions that are not only contrary to what God says, but destructive to human life. Worse yet, without having and using God’s Word as a weapon against them, these lies win. They totally defeat people and keep them from knowing about or enjoying this list of blessings.

The world is in a confusing mess. The Liar excels at directing attention away from his lies as the cause of that mess. He points to everything from politicians to climate change, technology to terrorism, from declining this to over-dependence on that. The bottom line of evil is and always has been the tendency of humanity to turn from objective truth to the so-called comfort of subjective lies. The devil loves and exploits this tendency and throws in more of his lies and stirs the mix.

No one person can win the war, but everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and knows how to wear His armor and will pray can extinguish those lies. The trouble is, that liar works with a greater fervency on God’s people so we can think of a million excuses for not believing in the power of God, and not standing against the enemy’s evil schemes in prayer.

Ask me how I know.

Jesus, You are "the truth" — bless You for being my anchor in a world that has wandered far from truth and into confusion and uncertainty.