I used to think that I Cor 13 was a beautiful love passage, and it is, but it's implications reach further than your spouse.
Paul never says, okay, now husbands and wives love like this.
It's incredibly important, even essential to love others this way. He basically says it trumps the other spiritual gifts of prophecy and tongues. So if I don't then my outreach is in trouble.
I'm supposed to love like those verses say. And not just on my good days! Maybe I'm just especially selfish, but that is way hard to even contemplate. Let's take a look at a few characteristics:
I'm supposed to be "patient" even with annoying people, "kind" to people who are not kind to me, not envious when my brother in Christ who has more musical talent than me, not boastful when I've accomplished something even if someone else is always bragging and putting me down, not be rude even if I'm exhausted, and the one that really gets me: does not insist on its own way.
I don't know about you, but I get pretty upset when my plans get overturned or overruled by others. I don't naturally put people's desires above myself.
No, not easy to do. And we're supposed to show this kind of love to others? Seems like a high order. But what has Christ done?
Yeah, I think we can handle it through Him, for Him, and because of Him.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Prisonbreak--compliments of God
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. 18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
It's almost comical...in a sad way. But isn't God powerful?!
They get thrown in prison and get taken out. Why do we fear? What holds us back? You can witness in prisons too. Or God may do something completely spectacular, like taking you out of the enemies' hold and telling you to get back out there.
Yeah, he's amazing.
It's almost comical...in a sad way. But isn't God powerful?!
They get thrown in prison and get taken out. Why do we fear? What holds us back? You can witness in prisons too. Or God may do something completely spectacular, like taking you out of the enemies' hold and telling you to get back out there.
Yeah, he's amazing.
God is the greatest denominator no matter what the opposition's strength
Being a strong, vocal leader invites criticism as well as followers, but God's praise and rewarding smile is worth much more than the sting of man's taunts. You always have Divine support for right even if your enemies malign you, make up rumors, and falsely condemn you.
Sometimes, even people who should be standing with you are too fearful:
Acts 5:12-14 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
But look, God worked anyways.
When you fight for the truth, you never fight alone. We only have like, you know, the Almighty Creator backing us up, even if we can't always see how him working.
The whole world may stand against you, but God stands behind you.
As was said around 2,000 years ago:Romans 8:31b "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Ephesians 6:10-11
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Sometimes, even people who should be standing with you are too fearful:
Acts 5:12-14 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
But look, God worked anyways.
When you fight for the truth, you never fight alone. We only have like, you know, the Almighty Creator backing us up, even if we can't always see how him working.
The whole world may stand against you, but God stands behind you.
As was said around 2,000 years ago:Romans 8:31b "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Ephesians 6:10-11
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Laymen for the Gospel: You Don't Have to be Called to the Ministry to Minister to Those Around You
"Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word,” Acts 6:3-4.
Context: Need arose for the widows to be part of the "distribution of daily food" because the Hebraic Jews weren't meeting this need. So the apostles responded with, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables" (vv. 1-2). Similar to Jethro's advice to his son-in-law, Moses, responsibility needed to be divided up.
Specifications: Seven was the number of men to be chosen, and "known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" were the criteria. They weren't supposed to be "thought" to be filled with the Spirit and wisdom, but known to be. The importance of the duty necessitated the presence of these characteristics. These men would represent the ministry, Christians as a whole, and most importantly, the caring Savior Jesus Christ. It was no light duty.
We all fulfill different positions within reaching out to the world or within the church. Sometimes, I think we get this view, especially if having been raised fundamentally or having attended a Bible college, that only pastors fill a vital place in the ministry. Plumbers, mechanics, dentists, and so on tend to feel as if they do not have a place in the ministry of the church becuase they are just laymen. But that is the profession God has led them to fulfill (if they followed his leading to get there). He gives us different talents and abilities to enjoy and perform different jobs. However, he uses people with greasy hands to fufill work in his church, even if that doesn't mean he is called to preach. Really? Even if you don't preach?
The apostles didn't say, "Get the preachers, the eloquent speakers, the orators." No, they desired certain spiritual qualities.
So if you fix a car, you can help in a church. If you install refrigerators, you can help in a church. Focus on having a heart that is ready to be used as a blessing and clean vessel. A dirty vessel cannot be used because just as an unpolished mirror distorts the image, so a dirty mirror who is a Christian will distort its reflection of Christ, thereby obstruction unbelievers to have a clear view of Him.
You don't have to be called to the ministry to minister. We are the ministry. Not everyone is called to preach and pastor, but we are needed to help those around us.
Context: Need arose for the widows to be part of the "distribution of daily food" because the Hebraic Jews weren't meeting this need. So the apostles responded with, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables" (vv. 1-2). Similar to Jethro's advice to his son-in-law, Moses, responsibility needed to be divided up.
Specifications: Seven was the number of men to be chosen, and "known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom" were the criteria. They weren't supposed to be "thought" to be filled with the Spirit and wisdom, but known to be. The importance of the duty necessitated the presence of these characteristics. These men would represent the ministry, Christians as a whole, and most importantly, the caring Savior Jesus Christ. It was no light duty.
We all fulfill different positions within reaching out to the world or within the church. Sometimes, I think we get this view, especially if having been raised fundamentally or having attended a Bible college, that only pastors fill a vital place in the ministry. Plumbers, mechanics, dentists, and so on tend to feel as if they do not have a place in the ministry of the church becuase they are just laymen. But that is the profession God has led them to fulfill (if they followed his leading to get there). He gives us different talents and abilities to enjoy and perform different jobs. However, he uses people with greasy hands to fufill work in his church, even if that doesn't mean he is called to preach. Really? Even if you don't preach?
The apostles didn't say, "Get the preachers, the eloquent speakers, the orators." No, they desired certain spiritual qualities.
So if you fix a car, you can help in a church. If you install refrigerators, you can help in a church. Focus on having a heart that is ready to be used as a blessing and clean vessel. A dirty vessel cannot be used because just as an unpolished mirror distorts the image, so a dirty mirror who is a Christian will distort its reflection of Christ, thereby obstruction unbelievers to have a clear view of Him.
You don't have to be called to the ministry to minister. We are the ministry. Not everyone is called to preach and pastor, but we are needed to help those around us.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Don't Look for Thanks
The ministry is not about being thanked and recognized for our labor and sacrificial efforts, although those are what propel the ministry. The ministry is about obeying God's call to minister to his people. It is primarily about fulfilling that call: seeking the lost and tending the members of the flock.
But a simple "thanks" and a little less judging sure would be nice. At least every now and then. Remember the story of the lepers? Christ healed ten and how many came back and expressed gratitude. One. Just one.
Receiving criticism is never easy, especially when directed at your family.
We also have trouble with being reviled. But not everyone liked Christ either. His response?
"When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (I Peter 2:23)
God is a God of justice. We are to expect criticism, even from the nice old ladies who come with their toddling grandchildren. We can expect thanklessness from those we counseled last Friday. We can expect gossiping and slander over something misconstrued which we said. But the response is not vindiction. The response we need is love and forgiveness. That's a tall order. Only the grace of God can give that too us.
I think part of the hurt can be lessened by trying not to take things personally. By bringing it to God right away and forgiving through his strength (Psalm 62:8). We are all human, all "prone to wander," and all capable of making mistakes. But our place in the ministry is not to judge, but to uplift; to follow the example of Christ who forgave heinous sins, even Peter's betrayal.
People's actions never justify an unChristlike response -- no matter how much it hurts.
We must pray for the love as evidenced in I Corinthians 13. Don't keep a running total in your head of how many times you've forgiven sister _________ or brother __________. Since God doesn't keep a record then neither should we. (Psalm 130:2-4) We can only achieve this kind of love throuh him. Remember the compassion of Christ, the tirelessness, the patience. Seek to imitate. Seek to serve. Seek to love.
------------
Psalm 62:7-8
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah
Psalm 130:2-4
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
But a simple "thanks" and a little less judging sure would be nice. At least every now and then. Remember the story of the lepers? Christ healed ten and how many came back and expressed gratitude. One. Just one.
Receiving criticism is never easy, especially when directed at your family.
We also have trouble with being reviled. But not everyone liked Christ either. His response?
"When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly" (I Peter 2:23)
God is a God of justice. We are to expect criticism, even from the nice old ladies who come with their toddling grandchildren. We can expect thanklessness from those we counseled last Friday. We can expect gossiping and slander over something misconstrued which we said. But the response is not vindiction. The response we need is love and forgiveness. That's a tall order. Only the grace of God can give that too us.
I think part of the hurt can be lessened by trying not to take things personally. By bringing it to God right away and forgiving through his strength (Psalm 62:8). We are all human, all "prone to wander," and all capable of making mistakes. But our place in the ministry is not to judge, but to uplift; to follow the example of Christ who forgave heinous sins, even Peter's betrayal.
People's actions never justify an unChristlike response -- no matter how much it hurts.
We must pray for the love as evidenced in I Corinthians 13. Don't keep a running total in your head of how many times you've forgiven sister _________ or brother __________. Since God doesn't keep a record then neither should we. (Psalm 130:2-4) We can only achieve this kind of love throuh him. Remember the compassion of Christ, the tirelessness, the patience. Seek to imitate. Seek to serve. Seek to love.
------------
Psalm 62:7-8
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
Selah
Psalm 130:2-4
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
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