Loving AS… Jesus loved, co-operating with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love.

Romans 12:9 “Love must be sincere…”

How can we love this way? 
It is about the source of our joy and life… It is about being rooted and established in Jesus, His Person and saving work; in the kingdom God; and being careful to not merely enjoy the benefits of the kingdom)

17”The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20

So, what does this mean for me?

God granted me dominion.  I have dominion in one world, my world.  First, having been made in the image and likeness of God, God gave mankind the gift of overseer and caregiver of this world, their world - under the umbrella of His sovereignty, mankind was to rule.  But sin tangled all of that up - until, Jesus.  

STOP!!  Wait a minute!  What do you mean by “given dominion”?

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:28

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15

But, there arose a problem - sin: expressed as a desire to go beyond dominion with God, to replace sovereignty over self in place of God - ruling oneself without God

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Genesis 3:6

...even wanting sovereignty, to rule alone, over our own care and covering… our saving of - self.

“ 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. ” Genesis 3:7

In Jesus…

Having received his offer of life in Him and surrendering to His sovereignty, I have been restored to dominion - which is accompanied by free will.  So, now, in Christ, I have a true and actual choice: righteous or not righteous.  As this is the only choice that truly matters.

As I have come to Jesus, freed by His mercy and grace, He has given me rule, or dominion, over my life, my choices, whether I will act on the love, the righteousness, the very goodness, He, and His Spirit in me has made me to act on.

And because I now have a choice, I must decide who and what I will entertain and indulge, who and what it is I will follow, emulate, align myself with, and give my allegiance and affection to.  This is what Paul is referring to when he admonishes us in regard to who and whose we are and instructs on the choosing of the course of our lives - here - in this world, with the dominion, I am granted (having had it restored in Jesus) in “my” part of it.

This dominion necessitates something for it to not become the Garden’s sin of self-sovereignty -  and that is co-operation. 

That is what God granted in the beginning, and now, restores to us in Jesus.  Our choice looks like this:

• Walk with God, the Spirit and eat from the tree of life - Jesus - bearing the fruit of that spirit (Gal 5:22-23)

• Walk in the way of the flesh according to the ways of this world, forgoing the Spirit, and eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - the desires of the flesh, or, our humanity. (Gal 5:16-21)

It is in this world, the world given to me, and for which I am responsible, that in order for me to love AS and sincerely, I must cooperate with the Holy Spirit to govern me and my responses. This is not only true in how I act in and toward the world itself but even more importantly, how I act with and toward the “worlds” of others who intersect with mine - remembering that world that is mine, is not just mine, but God’s and mine - together.  As... 

• “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20
  ...and, 

• “...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phil 2:13 
  ...and,

• I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13
  ...all...

• “...because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Rom 5:5

• Now I can, and must, in order to “walk in the way of love”, walk with, or, entertain and indulge, or, co-operate with, the Holy Spirit

This co-operation, that enables me to love AS Jesus has loved me and to do this with a sincere love is a matter of the furthering and repeated surrendering of my life, my world, my dominion, to Jesus’ sovereignty as King. 

This choice is the choice, first and foremost, to love God with a humbled and astonished heart of gratefulness.  To not obey the commands of God, to not bow to his sovereignty, to choose to not sincerely love AS  is to undervalue or underappreciate His love - for me, and them.  It is to forget that we have been loved, and how.  It is to take for granted being loved and go on as if…  (Luke 7:36-50,  1John 2:53-11; 4:7-12,16-21)

In being granted dominion, I have been given choice, the freedom to choose to indulge my flesh or the Spirit.  This all has to do with...

Who or what I choose to love, to indulge - my flesh or the Holy Spirit 

13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ...Love your neighbor AS you yourself” Galatians 5:13-14

Here are some of the choices we get to make - to love or not love; to love AS Jesus loved me, or to love as I prefer; to love sincerely, or merely put up with and go through the motions.

Some of those real-life choices being… 

• What I will eat and drink - only bread or the word of God - 

  • “He humbled you, and in your hunger, He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”  (Luke 4:4 (Deut 8:3); Ephesians 5:26; Heb 6:7; Ex 17:6; Rom 14; 1Cor 10:3-4)

• What I will wear - tattered and stained clothes or a robe of righteousness (Jude 1:23; Rev 3:4; Isa 61:10; Colossians 3)

  • “10I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isa 61:10
    

  • “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead… 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God… But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.  4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.”  Rev 3:1-4
    

  • 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight… submitting themselves…”  ultimately to God’s will and purposes  1Peter 3:3-5

• How I will speak about and to others - unwholesome and disparaging, empty and idle, or edifying and encouraging, loving and gracious (Eph 4; Col 4:6; Rom 14:9; 15:2)

  • “The good man brings good things out of his good store of treasure, and the evil man brings evil things out of his evil store of treasure.  But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” Matt 12:35-37

  • “29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Eph 4:29

  • “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”  Col 4:6

• How I will treat others - don’t do to anyone what you would not have them do to you or do unto others… OR “Do to others AS…”  Luke 6:31; Col 3; Jude 1:2

  • 27“But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.”  Luke 27-31

With what are we to clothe ourselves?

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

This love not only loves its enemies but also, sincerely and carefully, takes into consideration the heart and soul of the other - yes, an enemy, but also a brother or sister.  This sincere love, chooses, out of a moral preference, to seek to please the one loved, not desiring to hurt or harm.  This takes wisdom - the seeking and development of knowledge, insight, discernment, discretion, understanding, and the kind of Godly wisdom that is governed by that consideration - that is prudence - and then lovingly enacted with wisdom, consideration, caring.  (Prov 1;2;8)  Sincere, love. 

“2Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3For even Christ did not please himself” Romans 15:2-3

It is not enough to “not do bad” or even to “do good”. 

But, it is ours to “do the good work prepared in advance for me to do”, being created in Christ Jesus, filled with His Spirit of Love, I am to strive with Jesus in such a way that produces in and from me the fruit of righteousness - that Spirit - and live a life of Christ’s love - doing unto others - the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason, with the right manner.

1Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God… 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Eph 5:1-2, 15-20

When we’re struggling there are three things we need to ask ourselves

1.) Am I in sin?
2.)Am I not abiding with Christ closely
3.)Is this a season that God is testing me?

Sincere Love Perseveres: 1Cor 13; Rom 12:9

Love each other AS I have loved you.  Remembering that that love must be sincere. 

What is love then? Sincere love, at that. 

1Cor 13:4-8

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8Love never fails.

If love, sincere love, is “patient, kind, not rude, persevering, etc.” wouldn't it be true that there is not a single one of this love’s attributes or virtues that cannot truly prove themselves unless they are tested?  And, that, to be tested, it must be tested by the one we are to love?  Or else the very defining principles that make love what it is, would be fanciful, at best. 

So, if it is true, that love is not love unless and until it is tested…

...we should expect our love, patience, faithfulness, temperament to be tested.  Isn’t this what happened in the Garden?  Would this not be the purpose behind the one prohibitive command given to the man and the woman?  “Do not eat…” 

We take a moment to ask ourselves…

What is the best kind of love?  The most profound expression of love?  The love that can be most trusted?  Is it not that which lasts?  Which stays?  Which waits?  Which cares?  Which is patient, tolerating our stupidity?  Which is kind in the face of unsolicited attacks, neglect, rudeness, selfishness, etc.?  

Is this not a love, the love, that can actually be trusted?  Leaned upon?  Leaned into?  Relied on?  And isn’t that because this love has been tested AND, for the most part, consistently passed, that test?

Why though?  Why is this the kind of love that we are to exhibit?  That we can trust?

Well, this is an earthly expression of a kingdom truth.  This is the love that God loves with.  This is the love that God desires to be loved by.  I believe we too often underestimate just how committed God is to such an authentic and real expression of affection, care, consideration, dedication, commitment, that our more fully grasping that truth - would aid us in our seeing love for what it really is and we might not be so surprised at what it actually takes to express love - AS Jesus loved us, really and truly, loves. 

We, through Christ who strengthens us, can do this - we can love AS we have been loved…

We must remember that the vast majority of the commands and instructions in the N.T. have to do with how Christians are to conduct themselves with one another - in other words - the epistles are the instructions and correctives in living out our proof of being Jesus’ disciples.  

John 13:34-35

34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

It is that the New Testament, the epistles, in particular, is an entire educational and vocational training on the “loving (of) one another” and having that loving be a sincere act that demonstrates our being transformed and miraculously empowered to transcend our flesh and its desires to love one another as Jesus loved us - when, where, and how Jesus loved us - to make a body, a fellowship, that declares to the world that there is a God among them, that Jesus’ death, life, and resurrection is real, that the power of the Holy Spirit does exist in us - Peter calls this “participating in the divine nature”  2Peter 1

The power of the Holy Spirit in us is not best displayed by random demonstrations of charisma, but by the consistent overcoming of our flesh and its selfish desires, the miraculous power to enable disparate people to be one in spirit, mind, and mission.  Amen! This is proof of living a life that is not our own. 

Philippians 2:1-3
“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to transform lives is evidenced in His ability to produce love in the hearts and lives of human beings for one another - period.  That is what will attract the lost to Jesus, it is this sincere love expressed to the “one another” that testifies to Jesus’ reality, His ability, nay, His desire to save, to redeem, and transform.

Philippians 2:4-7
“3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value, or consider, others above yourselves, 4not (only) looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  6Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant...: and became obedient to death…”

When?  When love is actually - patient and kind.  And… Love is sincere when love has come through all, every, and each of these thresholds, and (this) love actually, and really, perseveres…

1Corinthians 13

1If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

But how?  How do we love sincerely, when I do not sincerely feel love?

Join with Jesus, by His Spirit, to the glory of the Father… God wants this for us more than we do.  And of this, there is no doubt - as our flesh would always say otherwise.  So, let us not indulge the flesh and its ways, but instead the Spirit of God (Gal 5)

• Stop: examine, take an inventory of your thoughts and feelings.  What words and feelings are circling in your heart and head?  Remember, this love we speak of is a choice, a moral preference, an expression of the sacrificial love Jesus has shown you.  So it is important to know what you are thinking and feeling to discern rightly how to love. 

  • “Take captive every thought and make obedient to Jesus, the Truth, according to the Spirit” 2Cor 10:3-5

  • Grow in wisdom - collecting: insight, discernment, discretion, understanding, wisdom - well garnished with prudence. Prov 1;2;8

• Ask: God to assist you, to activate the Spirit in you to bear its fruit, but bear in mind, for these fruits to be born, we must submit to the Spirit’s leading (Gal 5:13) 

  • “...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Gal 5:22-23

  • James 1:16-18
    “16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

• Listen: to the Spirit (this is a type of testing the Spirit/spirit). I ask myself “Would Satan move me to do this?” Is this of Christ’s character or of the enemy’s. Remember the enemy is a thief, not a giver not is he generous. He kills and destroys. He doesn’t bring life or create.) 

The testing of the spirits in this context (1John 4:1-6) has to do with discerning by what spirit this person is directed to speak and act - as in hearing or seeing someone, who, in the name of God or calling oneself a Christian, or claims to have the Holy Spirit, whether this person’s message (consistently) reflects that truth - learning to discern by what spirit that is person is being led and prompted.  Is this person under the influence of the Holy Spirit or a “spirit of deception”? 

With that said, it is necessary, for sure, to test what is prompting me - am I being led by the Spirit or am I being deceived by another?  It is essential that we take this prompting, these thoughts and inclinations captive and make obedient to Christ - subject it to truth - to see if that prompting stands in accordance with the truth.

Testing one’s motives certainly involves the spirit - one’s own as well as the Holy Spirit, but this is much self and internal - true assessment: honesty and transparency

• God’s Spirit with my spirit

• The spirit of the world tempting my flesh or my fleshes’ desire to do its own thing - the testing of motives

  • “When you pray, do not stand on a street corner - but go to your closet where God sees in secret” 

  • “When you do your act of righteousness do so in a way that your left-hand does not know what your right hand is doing”

  • “...mercy, not sacrifice…”

  • Simon the Sorcerer 

  • Doing righteous things that I may tell of it or for the purpose of bringing someone pain or harm

***Jesus often spoke of doing things in secret - not only protecting the doer from pride and loss of rewards, but, perhaps even more profoundly loving, to protect the dignity of the one helped - whether it be purely protective or to keep the one given aid from becoming a side-show. ***

The servant takes the lowest seat, does his business quietly without braggadocio 

Jesus was clear in regard to His desires for His disciples to have a properly humble attitude of heart that would express itself with (the) dignity and honor of those served in mind “honor one another above yourself” 

So it is essential that we take time and effort to humble ourselves, to develop an attitude of humility toward God and others - in service and prayer

As we do so, our lives will more accurately reflect Jesus in its attitude (Phil 2) and consistency as we begin to more and more “naturally” display these characteristics - we will more readily, almost automatically, act with Christlikeness, humility, others’-centered, protective of another’s dignity - as it becomes a value in our lives, a conviction of sorts, that which is so developed that it is what governs our thoughts, motives, and actions. 

• If it's good and right and just and fair, then it comes from the Spirit of Truth that speaks only of Jesus… John 14:26

• If it’s not good or right it’s of the flesh - because the flesh is always contrary, or at odds, with the Spirit Gal 5:13

• Ask and listen some more, again, and again, if necessary

• Go: love - whoever, however, God has commanded and prompted and enabled

So again, we must ask ourselves… 

John 15:12-14
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.”

This is not an easy love.  This is not a “feel-good” love.  This is not a love that necessarily gets loved back.  

This is divine love.  This is a right love - the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons kind-of love. 

This a love that is rewarding and rewarded, but maybe not in this lifetime.

This is a love that changes and transforms lives - our own and the lives of those who this love touches - even if it is only a matter of “burning coals”.

How Should I Love... Who? Rom 12; Luke 6

Loving as Jesus loves… The truth of our ability to love others, or “each other as…” lies right at the root of God‘s love for us, His heart’s divine nature that expresses this divine love - and He has placed His divine love in our hearts by his Spirit, but not just so we can ourselves experience it, but that as we have experienced it, we can now express it too. It is this type of love they God can then rightly and justly command us to demonstrate, to express, to others - the privilege of “participating in Gods divine nature” (2Peter 1).  

And this love… must be sincere - Romans 12:9-21

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”   21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What is sincere love?  What is love that is unfeigned?

Sincere: not a phony ("put on"), describing sincere behavior free from hidden agendas (selfish motives) – literally, "without hypocrisy" (unfeigned).

This is a distinctly Christian and or biblical word or phrase. It does not exist in secular literature in the Greek.

It is because Paul, in essence, had to make up a word that described genuine and authentic, Spirit-prompted and empowered, Jesus enacted and thus imitated, a divine love, emitting from God and His Spirit, that Jesus lived and commanded (of) His Spirit empowered siblings to be) divinely expressed - agape love 

Love: love that centers on moral preference. Prefer you and your well-being over my rights and liberties (Rom 14)

It is important that we come to recognize this truth. That God would make up a word that did not exist in humanity before to describe his love to mankind, in particular, his children (Rom 5:8; Eph 3:9) and then demand of his Spirit-filled children. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Romans 5:5 “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Whose responsibility is it to love: it is mine, it is always mine.  I have no control over someone’s else’s loving or their responses to my loving them. 

Who am I responsible to love?  This is not a new question: 

Luke 10:25-29-37

29But he (the expert in the Law) wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Why? Why would I ask that question?  

Because only I can control what I do.  And God, holds me, only, responsible for my love and loving.  How someone else loves or receives or responds to my love, is none of my business.  And even more so, does not in any way permit me to then choose whether I love or not. 

The principal lies in the “as long as it is up to you…“ Rom 12:18-21 Command tied together with the “do you to others…“ Command of this love Luke 6:32-36

• 32“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  Luke 6:32-36

So, maybe we need to ask ourselves this question…

Can love be sincere, as the scriptures talk about and define sincere love, if once that love is tested, or even opposed, that that love ceases?

When we cannot nor should not be near someone, we need to remember that - this does not mean we cannot nor should not - agape - them.  This is when Jesus’s command to pray for those who mistreat you becomes real and we can come to understand that…

“Prayer is closer than and as loving as loving as physical proximity - we have to trust the Holy Spirit get inside the person when we cannot or should not be beside the person…

...remembering that our Father lovers them more than we do, more than we can, and does wo with no risk to Himself… so, let Him, truth Him, and join Him in loving them - in and with prayer.”

Matt 5:44; Luke 6:28; 1Thes 5:16-18; 1Sam 12:23

As for the rest of those who are or have been in our lives, it is ours, as long as it is up to us, to live at peace with them, to love them through difficulty and disagreement, even if they choose to not love in return. (Matt 5; Luke 6)

Well, what are the specifics?  Is there a limit?

Another question as old as humanity’s existence.  Well, what did Jesus tell Peter when Peter tried to impress Jesus with his magnanimity (bountiful display of forgiveness)?  “Oh, no, 70X’s7 times”?  What do we think He meant by that? (see the wicked servant)

Matthew 21-35

“21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

What is love then?  If it is “patient, kind, not rude, persevering, etc.” wouldn't it be true that there is not a single one of its virtues that cannot prove themselves unless they are tested?

We must remember that the vast majority of the commands and instructions in the N.T. have to do with how Christians are to conduct themselves with one another - in other words - the epistles are the instructions and correctives in living out our proof of being Jesus’ disciples.  

John 13:34-35

34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

It is that the New Testament is an entire educational and vocational training on the “loving one another” and having that loving be a sincere act that demonstrates our being transformed and miraculously empowered to transcend our flesh and its desires to love one another as Jesus loved us - when and how Jesus loved us - to make a body, a fellowship, that declares to the world that there is a God among them, that Jesus’ death, life, and resurrection is real, that the power of the Holy Spirit does exist in us

The power of the Holy Spirit in us is not best displayed by random demonstrations of charisma, but by the consistent overcoming of our flesh and its selfish desires, the miraculous power to enable disparate people to be one in spirit, mind, and mission.  

Philippians 2:1-3

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to transform lives is His ability to produce love in the hearts and lives of human beings - period.  That is what will attract the lost to Jesus, it is this sincere love that testifies to Jesus’ reality, His ability, nay, His desire to save, to redeem, and transform.

Philippians 2:4-7

“3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value, or consider, others above yourselves, 4not (only) looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  6Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant...: and became obedient to death…”

When?  When love is actually - patient and kind.  And… 

Love is sincere when love has come through all, every, and each of these thresholds, and (this) love actually, and really, perseveres…

1Corinthians 13

1If I speak in the tongues a of men or of angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, b but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So again, we must ask ourselves… 

John 15:12-14

12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Loving As We Have Been Loved : Mercy - Compassion & Comfort

Loving as… At a time like this, we must continue to keep at the forefront of our minds, the mercy of our God. (Romans 12:1) what we have experienced with Jesus, and the grand privilege of being his disciple, being formed and shaped into His image and likeness, created to be like him by the hands of our father.

What did that, does that, look like? 

John 15: 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.”

No greater love than laying one’s life down for a friend… what can it mean “to lay one’s life down?

Could it be, that we can lay down our lives for our friends, and not even “die”?  Could it be, that the most difficult way to lay down one’s life for a friend is actually to “die to self”?  And that, on their behalf?  For their good?  And that, out of a love that prefers someone else’s well-being, well-fare, the ultimate good, over my own?  Maybe even at the expense of my own?  My own life?

1Peter 2:24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds, you have been healed."

Rom 12:1-21Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.

This truth lies right at the root of God‘s love for us, and the divine love He has placed in our hearts by his Spirit, and the type of love he can then rightly and justly command us to demonstrate, to express, to others.  And this love…

Rom 5

And this...

Love must be sincere - Romans 12:9

9Love must be sincere.

How can we love this way?

17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

So, what does this mean for me?

God granted me dominion.  I have dominion in one world, my world.  It is in that world that I cooperate with the Holy Spirit to govern me and my responses to the worlds that intersect with mine (or better stated, ours God’s and mine) - as 

• “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20 ...and, 

• “...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phil 2:13  ...and,

• I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13

In being granted dominion, I have been given choice, the freedom to choose to indulge my flesh or the Spirit.

• Who or what to indulge - my flesh or the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:13)

• What I will eat and drink - only bread or the word of God (Luke 4:4 (Deut 8:3); Ephesians 5:26; Heb 6:7; Ex 17:6; 1Cor 10:3-4)

• What I will wear - tattered and stained clothes or a robe of righteousness (Jude 1:23; Rev 3:4; Isa 61:10; Colossians 3)

• How I will speak about and to others - unwholesome and disparaging or edifying and encouraging (Eph 4; Col 4:6)

• How I will treat others - don’t do to anyone what you would not have them do to you or do unto others… Luke 6:31; Col 3; Jude 1:2

Colossians 3:12-17

12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Clothe yourself with compassion…

• deep feeling about someone's difficulty or misfortune

• “visceral compassions" the deep feelings God has for all of us, and powerfully shows and shares in those following Him.

This command is no different than to love others as I have loved you, is the cash and where to share, the comfort the proceeds from it, he is the same compassionate comfort offered to us by her father

2Corinthians 1:3-7

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

So, AS, God has shown us compassion, we are to show others compassion. And, AS, God has comforted of us, we are to comfort others.

What’s most astonishing here, is that God chooses to comfort us just as often by internal means comfort us directly by the spirit to comfort us with, to comfort us through the hands and hearts of others.

Hence the command, and to “love as“, close yourself with compassion, as, and comfort others, As, you have been comforted…

The word as, then, is it self magnified by hits the sponsor ability to challenge, and by it being magnified, it further magnifies what we’ve experienced, and therefore what we are to give.

And us, none of us have an excuse.

So as, certainly means for us to look at God and his grace and his mercy and his love, but not only so, the wind in the way, when he did such a thing – while I was his enemy. And the way he did such a thing. Certainly through the Spirit, but really, just as often, He chooses to comfort us by that same Spirit through the heart - the hands and feet and resources of another - one of the “one another”.

That’s the point of the commands, they are meant to lead us to be the same thing for others AS He has done for us through others AS He has prompted them - and they have “loved AS… they have been loved”.  To become “imitators of God AS dearly loved children…” (Eph 5:1-2)

This should also cause us to reflect on those in my life presently. Certainly with an eye to love, bring compassion, bring care and comfort.

And, certainly by God’s hand in it.

But, just as importantly, we see God’s working in and through the lives of others in our life. Those in the past, the present, and, now, having experienced such a faithful love, trusting that God will bring others into our lives for the same purpose, in the future.

As we experience these beautiful attributes of God, and that by His Spirit and through the lives of the brotherhood - the one another, the fellowship of believers - our faith grows, our trust grows, our hope increases, the peace we experience becomes transcendent, our minds are changed and transformed, or beliefs are solidified, or assurance is increased, producing in us, as we reflect on these truths, a heart of gratefulness, and a passion to tell others of this great love - expressed in compassion and comfort. 

And to increase the privilege of blessing - others… Loving AS

And tangibly, all of this opens our eyes to those around us to whom we are to bring compassion and comfort, by the love we ourselves have experienced AS God has loved us, shown his compassion, and brought us comfort.

That we would not only look at the “great cloud of witnesses that have gone before us“, I want to see the cloud of witnesses the minister to us now, that we can be a part, that others may see, be encouraged, and follow.

What the World Needs Now is Love, Sincere Love - Romans 12:9-21

John 15:12-14 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.”

No greater love than laying one’s life down for a friend… what can it mean “to lay one’s life down?

Could it be, that we can lay down our lives for our friends, and not even “die”?  Could it be, that the most difficult way to lay down one’s life for a friend is actually to “die to self”?  And that, on their behalf?  For their good?  And that, out of a love that prefers someone else’s well-being, welfare, ultimate good, over my own?  Maybe even at the expense of my own?  My own life?

This truth lies right at the route of God‘s love for us, and the divine love he has placed in our hearts by his Spirit, and the type of love he can then rightly and justly command us to demonstrate, to express, to others.  And this love…

Love must be sincere - Romans 12:9-21

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”   21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What is sincere love?  What is love that is unfeigned?

Sincere: not a phony ("put on"), describing sincere behavior free from hidden agendas (selfish motives) – literally, "without hypocrisy" (unfeigned).

This is a distinctly Christian and or biblical word or phrase. It does not exist in secular literature in the Greek.

It is because Paul, in essence, had to make up a word that described genuine and authentic, Spirit-prompted and empowered, Jesus enacted and thus imitated, a divine love, emitting from God and His Spirit, that Jesus lived and commanded (of) His Spirit empowered siblings to be) divinely expressed - agape love 

Love: love which centers in moral preference. Prefer you and your well-being over mine rights and liberties (Rom 14)

It is important that we come to recognize this truth. That God would make up a word that did not exist in humanity before to describe his love to mankind, in particular his children (Rom 5:8; Eph 3:9) and then demand of his Spirit-filled children. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

Romans 5:5 “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

Whose responsibility is it to love: it is mine, it is always mine.  I have no control over someone else’s loving or their responses to my loving them. 

Who am I responsible to love?

this is not a new question: Luke 10:25-29-37

29But he (the expert in the Law) wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Why? Why would I ask that question?  

Because only I can control what I do.  And God, holds me, only, responsible for my love and loving.  How someone else loves or receives or responds to my love, is none of my business.  And even moreso, does not in any way permit me to then choose whether I love or not. 

So, maybe we need to ask ourselves this question…

Can love be sincere, as the scriptures talk about and define sincere love, if once that love is tested, or even opposed, that that love ceases?

As for the rest of those who are or have been in our lives, it is ours, as long as it is up to us, to live at peace with them, to love them through difficulty and disagreement, even if they choose to not love in return. (Matt 5; Luke 6)

Well, what are the specifics?  Is there a limit?

Another question as old as humanity’s existence.  Well, what did Jesus tell Peter when Peter tried to impress Jesus with his magnanimity (bountiful display of forgiveness)?  “Oh, no, 70X’s7 times”?  What do we think He meant by that? (see the wicked servant)

Matthew 21-35 “21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”  22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

What is love then?  If it is “patient, kind, not rude, persevering, etc.” wouldn't it be true that there is not a single one of its virtues that cannot prove themselves unless they are tested?

We must remember that the vast majority of the commands and instructions in the N.T. have to do with how Christians are to conduct themselves with one another - in other words - the epistles are the instructives and correctives in living out our proof of being Jesus’ disciples.  

John 13:34-35

34“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

It is that the New Testament is an entire educational and vocational training on the “loving one another” and having that loving be a sincere act that demonstrates our being transformed and miraculously empowered to transcend our flesh and its desires to love one another as Jesus loved us - when and how Jesus loved us - to make a body, a fellowship, that declares to the world that there is a God among them, that Jesus’ death, life, and resurrection is real, that the power of the Holy Spirit does exist in us

The power of the Holy Spirit in us is not best displayed by random demonstrations of charisma, but by the consistent overcoming of our flesh and its selfish desires, the miraculous power to enable disparate people to be one in spirit, mind, and mission.  

Philippians 2:1-3

“if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind”

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit and His ability to transform lives is His ability to produce love in the hearts and lives of human beings - period.  That is what will attract the lost to Jesus, it is this sincere love that testifies to Jesus’ reality, His ability, nay, His desire to save, to redeem and transform.

Philippians 2:4-7

“3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  5In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  6Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant...: and became obedient to death…”

When?  When love is actually - patient and kind.  And… 

Love is sincere when love has come through all, every, and each of these thresholds, and (this) love actually, and really, perseveres…

1Corinthians 13

1If I speak in the tongues a of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, b but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

So again, we must ask ourselves… 

John 15:12-14
12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Macro Versus Micro: Foster Care: James 1; Isaiah 58

Learn More About This New Ministry: mosaicmansfield.com/rooted-foster-families

James 1:27-28  “27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Let’s confess our anger… even our “righteous indignation”

Now, what do orphans and anger have to do with one another?

Do you ever read a passage of scripture, and then put it in contexts, and wonder “what in the world was God thinking when you put these together?”  and wondered “What do these things have to do with each other?”  Me too. Including this particular passage. 

I have found more than any other letter in the Bible, James seems to put things in place as you would never anticipate or expect. Things that don’t appear to be interrelated but when I take time to read, and reread them, and praying through them and allowing them to examine me, I begin to see how they are so incredibly relevant to one another.

Recalibrating our minds and hearts - to what matters to God.  Yes, the circumstances of the day certainly matter to God, but He is truly sovereign over such things.

What is essential now, is that we see our current situation in light of 2 perspectives

• Eternal - now, but distant

• Immediate - now, and close

As opposed to what is big, and far, and seemingly near, that an be taken out of eternal context, and at the same time, keep us from seeing, or distracting us from, what we are actually responsible for - to God and right here, now, around me.

We need to ask ourselves: “Over what do we have dominion over? How we practice our religion?”

So, again, what does anger have to do with orphans AND my responsibility with and for them?

• Anger keeps me from seeing what God sees and how He sees them

• Keeps me from seeing my role in God’s work - work that is dear to His heart and therefore ought to be dear to mine (partly because we can’t see Him or it clearly)

• Anger builds ramparts around my heart that keep from seeing anything beyond - me and my desires, and, those who I feel are attempting to thwart my heart and its desires

Therefore… 

• I must confess my anger so that I can see beyond me to God and what God cares about

We need to understand that...

Our anger defiles our religion, even Good prompted righteous indignation - that God meant to provoke us to do good - when we make it too much ours, actually diminishes our righteousness.  It makes our religion powerless and ineffective. It perverts it. 

Anger has a way of pitting me against everyone around me. It causes me to think what I think is right, and no one else can be. That it is me against the world, or at least me against you. And even more profoundly, you against me and mine.

So, I can’t hear, then I won’t hear. I can’t listen, I won’t listen.  I speak quickly, forcefully, with little regard for anyone or anything else… including God and what is dear to Him - eternally, and here in the now, right around me. 

James 1:22-27

19My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20because human anger does not produce the righteousness (or the righteous life) that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Religious; religion: devout; fearing or worshiping God; piety - godliness, spiritual 

Without controlling his tongue: 

• Control or tight reign 

• Tongue - a member of the body - which is chiefly engaged in some act 

  • language, speech - a nation as one’s language should reflect the nation of which you are a part - in other words, the Kingdom or nation of God, has its own tongue and language, speech or speaking as evidence of one’s being a part, or a citizen of that kingdom

    • Language, speaking, talk, should be inspired (directed) by God

    • This is the same word used for “tongues” in Acts 2:3-4)

    • Not that the earthly language is necessarily translated from one to another, but that one’s language is evidence of the Spirit’s presence (Gal 5:22-23; Eph 1; Col 3), power, and one’s submission to Him

• This takes the spiritual fruit and discipline of self-control enabled through understanding and cooperation with the Spirit of God, by His word

  • We enable the power of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in us when we allow the word to 

  • Transform and make new the attitude of our mind

  • Alert us to God’s will and wisdom

  • Follow through in trust - and obey

  • We are then compelled to - restrain or bridle - our tongue

This leads us to transformation - having the truth truly set us free.  From what?  Being deceived!  In this case, James is warning us that our anger defiles our religion and can work to deceive us into thinking what we think and feel - is right - at the expense of working together, even in a time that is so personally vexing, with people we are personally offended by. 

1:26 “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless”

• Deceives himself: to be deceived - to believe or convince oneself of falsehood, an untruth, or a lie, cheat oneself, lead into error - this is Isaiah 58!!!!

  • Decieve using tactics like seduction, giving distorted impressions, lured into deception 

  • Personal desires - one’s religion (one’s faith practice, or personal piety) has either -

    • Not (been effective in having) stripped one of (living for) personal desires, pleasures, through selfishness and self-centerdednss

    • Deceived oneself into thinking or believing that knowledge and “worship” is enough - giving oneself a distorted impression of what faith and religion are

    • Hypicritical showing - 

  • Cheat, deceive, or beguile

    • Cheat oneself of the refreshment of true religion through odedience and ministry  as well as cheating oneself of faith building process of trust and entrust

    • Cheat others of one’s self and the care and service they need and should be able to lean on from a brother or sister or church that one is meant to provide

    • Cheat the church of eidification by/through one’s grace given/distributed gifts (1Cor 12) or resources gathered and readied to minister to the needy in its midst (Deut 14:22,29; 15:9-11; Ps 41:1; Pr 22:9; Ecc 11:1; Acts 2 - where the Jews had a history of generosity and care; 2Cor 9 - to the (afluent) gentile who had to be taught generosity toward others)

    • Cheat the word from its honr, respect, and trust by not obeying it

  • Cheat God’s glory by not living according to His word and will 

• Worthless: vain, unreal, ineffectual, unproductive; practically: godless - absent of purpose

  • devoid of force, truth, success, result

  • Vanity - for show

27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

• Pure: ethically; free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt

  • Genuine… 

• Faultless: not defiled, unsoiled; free from that by which the nature of a thing is deformed and debased, or its force and vigor impaired" - pure, free from adultery

Caring for what God, our Father, cares for...

• Orphan: bereaved, fatherless, desolate, comfortless; bereft of father or parents, or of a teacher, guide or guardian

  • John 14:18 “I will not leave you orphaned”

• Widow: lacking of a husband - literally or figuratively

  • Not just having a husband deceased, though this is the classic and most widely used and intended

Why is this important today? Because we have orphans, and we have widows. What is a widow again? As a woman without a husband. Whether that be by choice, by neglect, or by death. We have a nation, populated with women without partners, without helpers, without men.

And so, we have children, without fathers.

Please let me be very clear: I’m not in any way disparaging - looking down upon or judging - a woman with children who does not have a husband for the child’s father with her. This is not a judgment statement. It is an observation. And although many women, and men, without their children’s other parent in their lives, are capable of raising good, sound, godly, responsible children - this is not the ideal.  Infact, this is far from the ideal. 

The fact is, no one person has everything in them to be everything that a child needs, Man or woman. It is difficult enough for a man and a woman, a couple, in a good salad marriage, to raise their children.

And then there is the acute issue of children without any parentage. Or for whatever reason whose parents could not keep them. Or whose parents are struggling, and need assistance.

Yes, this is a HUGE problem, this is a global pandemic in and of itself. 

According to the most recent federal data, there are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. They range in age from infants to 21 years old (in some states). The average age of a child in foster care is more than 8 years old, and there are slightly more boys than girls.

Yes, we are called to be part of the solution, we are called to make a difference by this very text

But, if we only see the BIG issues, that big problem, we will never enter into the fray because we will feel as though there’s nothing we can do that will make a difference - because it is too much.

Because of the sheer scale, it is these types of things we need to leave in God’s hands, commit to him, and trust him, and know that His will will be done - lest we become discouraged.

Then, we must ask Him to open our hearts to see...

In the meantime, He calls us to now shift our focus from the macro, to the micro, to what is within our sphere, our concentric circle, our scope.  Those things that we can be a part of, we can make a difference in, we cane, because we are to, take responsibility for.

From Stephanie:

“I thought last week’s sermon about the macro/micro perspectives was significant and ties into the idea of caring for the vulnerable in society. 

The government can meet physical needs, but true life change won’t happen without connection/relationship. 

If we look around us and see a need, we should meet that. If we’re thinking micro, we’d see that we can bring a meal, sit and listen, send a card, watch kids so foster or single mom can catch her breath, teach someone a life skill... 

...those are the kind of things that change people, and ultimately, the world.”

Regardless of what goes on in the macro - beyond us - it in no way should distract us from our responsibilities in our sphere of ministry and mission.  

In fact, if anything, it should compel us to work all the harder in the micro - in our little world, because we know that the macro affects the micro, so that we are alerted to the problem,what happens in the world, the “all” does affect the individual - the every and the each - and the micro DOES effect the macro - as all those numbers, every one of them, is a person - each.

So we all, every one of us, each have a primary responsible to each person who intersects with our sphere of ministry and mission 

Who is responsible for who…?  the Body

In this, we must come to understand and realize, that it is not about us: what we get, our welfare, our good.  That, we must trust, is ultimately, taken care of by God, and, hopefully, the body with which we serve and fellowship - as we each take responsibility for one another.  

...ourselves…

It is our responsibility, as we ensure our own health and standing through sound biblical disciplines, now…

...love others, as we love ourselves….

apply that strength, those resources, all that I have been graced with and blessed by, to the lives of others. 

With little concern, necessarily, that mine needs be met, but, trusting that they will - not demanding, but trusting 

We need to understand that the church’s first responsibility is to care for the body, and that each member is responsible for the body - that all the members of the  body are cared for in a way that promotes health and growth.  Then, from that budding health and growth, the body, as a body, and its members, are able to:

• Example Christ’s love - and this by loving one another

  • This garners, among other things, credibility - among the body as well as the community

• Promote the health and strength of those ministering - which better equips us for both ministry and mission 

• Accomplish the ministry and mission for which God has established and placed the church

• Exercise well the fruit of the Spirit

• Garners blessing - give and it will be given to you…

Our responsibility is to be responsible, with an eye to bless:

• God - living to His glory

• Family - our first and primary responsibility

• Church - our second family responsibility

• My sphere of influence - that place in which I have dominion under God’s sovereign rule

• My community

• My country

• My world

What is it to be responsible, or, take responsibility?

• Trust and entrust ourselves to God’s sovereign will - knowing Him and who we are to Him

• Know and obey God’s word

• Live with an eye to express love as God did and does - being an imitator of God, as a dearly loved child - and, give generously 

• Live in such a way as to have established margins that I live to God’s glory, by giving generously - whatever generously means in my context

• That why God established the principles of - so that every one can give (

  • Tithing a percentage 

  • Gleaning 

We do this by living according to God’s values:

• Responsible to God “looking to one’s own interests”  but...

• Respectful “...not only one’s own interests”

• Responsible for others “...but, to the interests of others”

• Redemptively “...in humility, seeing others as better than self”

In our day, our culture, our community, we, as a people approach some of this by fostering children - kids who are currently in a position of need due to family unhealth or difficult circumstances… so we could ask ourselves, as believers, as a church, the following questions.

Should I, could I, join this mission by being a foster parent?

In this case, it is not to say we all become foster parents, but it is to say that we might all take it into prayer consideration - not every ministry is for everyone, but every ministry is for someone.

Or, if that is not God’s prompting… 

Can I, should I, be a support, an encouragement, to someone who is a foster parent?

It seems that something all, every, and each of us can do, is support those who are in the midst of incredibly important acts of service.  No one person can support everyone, but every person can support someone.

Now, to be sure, not everyone is called to everything.  We each have God given graces for the benefit of the body… (Matthew 25; Romans 12; 1Corinthians 12; 2Corinthians 9)

• Talents and strengths

• Gifts and passions

• Resources and opportunities

• Sphere of influence

• Call to ministry and service

• Call to mission or evangelism

What can we do?  What an I do?

There are a number of ways we might get involved.  Whether that is financial, relational ,or shared responsibility, it might be ours, yours, to have the honor and privilege to support someone who has been called to this all important ministry.

It is important that we do not ignore this admonition - a reminder of what our religion should look like as a reflection of what is dear to our Father’s heart… As children of God, we are reminded of the heart of Father, and that is toncare of those who cannot care for themselves.  

With this reminder, we must be sure to examine God’s word and assess our ministries and service, as well as our missional outreach (to the lost and needy).

One litmus for any church is when one or more members of our body is compelled, prompted, directed, Spirit-inspired to help the body obey an aspect of God’s word, especially one that is fundamental.  When we have someone rise up, we, in response, need to pray and discern:

• Is there a need within the body?

• Are we to consider this specific ministry as a body?

• Are there those who sense a call to this ministry?

• What can the body do to support those who are called?

• Do we possess the people and resources for this ministry?

Though not every individual believer may be called to the specific ministry of:, in the case, foster care, it is essential that as a body, as we see the command to understand what God considers “acceptable religion” that He lays out in scripture, and then we subject our ministries to that scrutiny.  In this case:

• Widows

• Orphans, specifically

• Poor 

We know that not every church is going to excel in all things, but when we are challenged by scripture and it has become one of our member’s promptings, it is necessary for us to pray, examine, assess, and adjust.  

In our case, we have among us those who have been called to foster and have offered their lives and homes for that purpose

Ironically, we have, had those who have a prompting to help those ministering in this specific ministry, to bring support, encouragement and aid

At mosaic, we believe that this may be a leading from God to see what this means for us as a body.  

In response, we need to be aware and alert to God’s heart expressed in His word, the prompting of the heart, and the need among us. 

We need to be informed of the issue and if and how we might play a part. 

But it is there with liberty. As though the command is there, there’s no specific instruction as to what it is I need to do. He leaves that up to me and my conscience, the leading of his spirit, the prompting of his word, and then the wisdom and insight to see my circumstances as they are, and how I might have dominion over my sphere, as to not be rained by my flash, but that I would have dominion with God as he reigns over me, and I apply myself to his desires, his will, and his purposes.

This is why Ephesians says we need to be full of the spirit, under its driving influence, and be prepared to take it vantage of every opportunity, Hebrew says do not worry and doing good, Thessalonians, says the same thing. First John and James will speak to the idea if we have the opportunity and the resources to meet need, for us to not do so would be a sin.

Again, there are no specifics there because he leaves that up to us who we are what it is he’s in doubt us with the sphere of influence he’s given us, and then the opportunities and how we are guided through them by his word in the spirit and buy one another.

For many of us, we may never truly have an opportunity to see an orphan, meet in orphan, or take care of an orphan on the other hand, and therefore have our own ministries in missions in which God has placed us to accomplish what he’s designed for us to accomplish and then placed us in the midst of giving us all the resources gifts strengths and opportunity to be prepared to take it vantage of attitude up to out with. But we need to be alert to what his commands

We need to be prepared for every opportunity we need to be willing to at least engage the Holy Spirit and ask him what about me? What would you have of me?

What Do We Do? Isaiah 58 & Jeremiah 27

Isaiah 58  ...could this be the desire of God’s heart?

Jesus is neither a conservative nor a liberal, God is seldom an either/or, but graciously and wisely a both/and

Jesus was careful to not be pegged politically…

Jesus, anytime given the opportunity, refused to declare allegiance to any earthly kingdom, but would only refer to His kingdom - which was “not of this world”.  

And that is ours.  Now, we are to live in the nation God has placed us, among the people of that nation, and live in such a way as to be a blessing, a testimony, a living expression of God’s grace, a community of believers who miraculously love and serve one another as a fellowship.

Jeremiah 27

Yes, where we live is different from the rest of the world…

In our context, we have the privilege to be part of God’s sovereign choosing, to prayerfully consider and cast a vote according to our conscience, to express to God what we believe is right, to grant to another permission to represent us, to govern us.

But that privilege and responsibility, fits into a larger story, a more profound purpose, a divinely appointed ambassadorship.  

Our greater responsibility, is to realize - truly - that although we reside here, this is not our home, and therefore, we are live as aliens in this place, as examples of God’s grace - regardless of what is going on around us - to entrust ourselves to God’s sovereignty and trust His rule… (1Peter 2) and live out our responsibilities as God, our Sovereign, commands… 

• We are to pray for our country and community, the authorities instituted and placed to govern, and live peaceable lives among the people. (1Tim 2)

• We are to live in such a way as to bring the kingdom of God to bear… (1Pet 1-3)

• We are to be yeast in the dough of our communities, slowly, imperceptibly, infecting our surroundings with the kingdom of God as it infects us - me, and we, together. (Matt 13:33)

And even more so, it is how we live that will make the greatest impact…

What Jesus did was set a standard of love, expressed through mercy and grace.  This loving announced the coming of God’s kingdom among us, and perhaps most astonishing, was His declaration was that that coming kingdom was for 

• all people, 

• every person who would believe, 

• that each one who believes would be saved… 

...but not merely saved, but, justified, declared acceptable to God, accepted by God in Jesus, regardless of any human distinction; accepted into the kingdom of God, the arms of the Father, opened wide, and invited into the inheritance of our Brother, and Savior, to enjoy fellowship with God’s Spirit now available, open, there for the taking

Jesus swung the doors of the Kingdom wide open… 

So much so that the kingdom of heaven is being taken violently - it is there for the taking, and those who have wanted to be wanted, now having been wanted, are clamoring to get in and will not be stopped - all, every, each

And in that kingdom, not everyone is going to look, think, feel, and act the same way - like me…

Jesus’ life and love, His teaching and exhortations, demonstrate that the kingdom is for all, and every, and each and is in so proclaiming that… that the beauty of the kingdom in its diversity - therefore...

• All life matters

• Every life matters

• Each life matters

And if this is true for Him, it must be true for us: recipients of His grace and esteem...

In as much, God having made us all, every, and each, as He intended - He graces us each according to the person we each have been made to be, the person He intends us to be - and this is true of every and all. 

God, in His grace, graces us each with attributes of Himself, so that as we each enter, we bring forward what we have been given, and this with others, who each bring their own given attributes of God.

Then, God brings us together and assembles us to be one, to act with one spirit, mind, and purpose - we together: all, every, each are brought together to create the mosaic, the body, that God so gloriously designs and makes.  (Matt 25; Rom 12; Eph 4; 1Cor 12; Phil 2)

...so, as recipients of His grace and esteem, we should be glad dispensers of His grace and esteem…

We, as believers, are not all the same and so we ought not expect that we all would be the same (as me)  - and this is by God’s design

• 1Corinthians 12 - lived out as a body, each part having its own purpose and function

• 1Cor 13:1-2 - what it is when that part acts on its own for its own behalf as to exercise their own attributes, as its own entity - treating the each, as an every, for the sake of all

• 1Cor 13- - how to live in such a way as to love all, everyone, according to the needs of each…

  • There is equality in our standing before God - value, worth, purpose, significance - in regard to mercy, grace, and love

    • God in not prejudicial in regard to love and loving with mercy and grace

    • He does not play favorites - all have value

      • That’s why Jesus said the “least in the kingdom will be greater than John” (Matt 11:11)

      • That’s why James could say “did God not grant the poor the gift of faith” (Ja 2:6)

      • That’s why Paul could say that every part - all, every, and each - is indispensable

        • Not to be looked down upon and told they are not needed or welcome

        • Not to be too highly esteemed (the debate about being disciples of a leader) (1Cor 3; 12-14)

        • That Paul himself, was the “worst of all sinners and the least of all men” and yet chosen - loved by and used of, God (1Tim 1:15-16)

      • That’s ultimately why the thief on the cross had immediate forgiveness, redemption, restoration, reconciliation, eternal life with Christ in Paradise - without having DONE anything, at all, but, believe and respond with a contrite and repentant heart, ascending to the truth that this was the Savior of the world. (Luke 23:43) 

• There is an equity in the manner by which God gives, grants, and bestows graces - as to the role and responsibility of each, He has made them as He desires and wills (Rom 9; 1Cor 12)

  • God is fair in that He loves each as they need according to the plan that He set forth… According to... 

    • His wisdom

    • His equitable and loving economy that loves all equally by loving them equitably 

      • And all though in our human minds this seems unfair, just a slight step back and a little consideration, will show us the contrary

      • That God loves us all equally and without prejudice

      • That God loves us fairly in that everyone of us is loved without exception

      • That God loves us lovingly in that everyone of us experiences that love

      • That God loves us graciously, mercifully, in that He loves us each as He has made us, is creating us (in Christ Jesus), according to how we - by that making and creating - needs to be loved as to be able to see, feel, receive, realize, and be dignified by (as persons) that love

        • This is why that highly difficult passage “jacob I loved, Esau I hated”  can be rightly and justly said - and it is not that God did love the person of Esau, but would hate what Esau would become and do and the legacy he would leave

          • God granted Esau mercy and grace and by doing so, offered him life, Esau would refuse that love and harbor his own purpose and personal sovereignty

This is God’s work, established according to His wisdom to accomplish His will.  It is ours to entrust ourselves to Him and His working (Rom 13; 1Peter 2)

We, as a people are not sovereign - but are subjects

• God is sovereign

• Our authorities are established to be representative of that sovereign (Rom 13; 1Peter 2)

• In the US, our part in the process of God’s placing His sovereign choice in authority is to vote - to transfer our representation to them giving them the right to govern on our behalf, trusting that what they do, they do, with the welfare of the governed in mind, as a representative for the welfare of the governed - and it may not be what we would expect, want, or even what think we need, but we have given someone the right to represent us because we believed that they had the character and competence to do for “me”, us, what needs to be done.  By voting for that person, we affirm that

  • They are capable and able to gather on my behalf all essential information, ascertain, interpret, and apply insight and discernment to understanding the needs of their constituents and make laws, judgments, and policies that apply wisely solutions to the need.

    • And, because we live in a democratic republic where the majority has dominance, it is up to the minority to respect the decision of the people and trust God’s using those results to establish His governing authority through whom He will accomplish His will

    • And if we disagree, we wait our turn to vote again

• It is ours, as God’s children - to be well informed, to pray, and to vote our conscience, and to entrust ourselves to God’s sovereign will and way

What of unjust laws, immoral and unethical laws, policies, and practices?  

• Certainly stand in the gap - we each have a sphere in which we are responsible to bring justice to light

But… we must understand that… 

• They would not be the first, nor with they be the last

• This is not God’s first political rodeo...

What is the responsibility of a Christian?

• To be salt and light (Matt 5)

• To pray for, honor, and respect those placed by God (1Tim 2)

• To live a life of impact within the sphere that God has placed us - face to face, heart to heart, life to life

• To minister to one another as a body (Rom 12; 1Cor 12)

• To share the hope of Chriist with the lost - ministering to their need where able (1Peter 3)

Who is it that we should lend our support?  Making a wise choice that represents God’s values… 

Ethically:

• Who respects the Law and represents it as written?

• Who acts according to the law even when it would stand opposed to their opinion or feelings?

• Ensuring equal opportunity for the success of all, every, and each

• Establishing policies that aid those who have suffered from the inequities of this world

Morally:

• Who respects life and honors as sacred?  How is that reflected in their policy decisions?

• Who advocates for the widow, the orphan, the poor, the alien granting them amnesty, developing policies to assist them and grants them aid?

• Who recognizes that wealth distribution is not, nor should not be, a matter of equality, but must be a matter of equitability?

  • Yes, there is equal opportunity afforded to all (see the laws of the land)

  • No, there might not be equitability, available to all through no fault of their own (see disasters)

• Do we as believers realize that within God’s economy there are directives toward

  • Work and responsibility?

  • Taking care of the unfortunate?

  • Righting wrongs cultural and social wrongs?

• Who desires to bring peace - true and actual peace - not by placating every side, but by bringing forward truth and holding people responsible in regard to that truth as they work together to bring points of conflict and disagreement, based on bent, to complement?

I do not believe that any one person can deliver on all of this - well, there is one, but we’ll be waiting a little longer fo Jesus to come back and rule, so, until then - we must choose the many persons we believe will, together, promote all, every, and each of these protections

Be careful what you expect, these are mere human beings...

Be careful not to put your trust in man, for you will only get what a man can give… and a governing body is just a mass of humanity… 

Its hard enough with God and the Holy Spirit…

And, if we as a body cannot, will not, bring in our God-given purposeful differences, and allow others to respectfully govern our particular passions to bring about unity among us, how can we possibly expect this to be true among those who do not have or ascribe to the scriptures, for the most part are not endowed with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, do not necessarily have the same values as God

This is God’s deal, do not let your heart be troubled, for I have overcome the world…

Throughout history, God has used violent, immoral, and unethical people to accomplish His will for His people, in His people, and through His people.  What makes us think that this is going to be any different?  That God somehow is, or will be surprised by the outcome of this election and is not prepared for what is next. (1&2Kings; 1&2 Chronicles)

In conclusion…

I have said from the beginning that I believe that much of what has transpired over the course of the last 8-10 months has been to prune and winnow His church, us, you and me - to test of allegiances, our affections, our values, our principles, our character, and our care - but mostly our allegiances and the our affections of our hearts, our citizenship and the responsibility we have to represent our King and share the goodness of His Kingdom 

Jesus’ life spoke to and for...

• The nationalist Zealot (Simon and Judas) and one’s viewed as national traders (Matthew, Zaccheus)

• Elderly (Zacheriah) and the unborn (Jesus and John)

• The mother, the father, and the baby equally honored, graciously blessed

• Righteous (Nichodemis) and the sinner (Mary, woman caught in adultery) 

• Dying and the deceased (Luke: the rich man and Lazarus) 

• The infirmed (woman with bleeding) and the marginalized (lepers and demoniacs)

• Men (disciples) and women (supporters)

• He uses the characterless letch (Samson, 1&2 Kings) and the religious bigot (Jonah, Peter and the apostles)

• The murderer (Saul/Paul) and the kindhearted (Cornelius, the centurion, the jailer) 

• The fearful (troubled hearts) and the strong (should we call lightning down on them!?)

• The list goes on and on

Some things to take into consideration…

From the beginning we were made to work and rest… (Gen 2)

God’s word calls to work for our wages or not eat, praises us for ingenuity, hard work, good planning, faithful keeping, storing appropriately - proverbs, Thes, James plans to make money, Matthew 25 (talents) 

But to remember, it is not just for us…

Those with wealth are not to hoard, but to share with others who are less fortunate, underprivileged, marginalized; to look not only to their own interests, but the interests of others (Phil 2); to take care of the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the alien (gleaning; James 1)

From the beginning, God established safeguards and commanded His people to establish them…

The principles of the jubilee was to recognize the inequity of life and life’s circumstances, and that people and families should not be punished for generations by things not having gone their way - so, if they had to sell land, resources, selves into slavery to live or pay off debt due to life’s inequitable circumstance, they were, in time, to be given back their lands 

• Equity - fair, just, honest, integrous, right, good, honorable, conscientious, reasonable, sensible, objective, neutral, balance.  Value, worth, rights

• Equitable - balance of power - fair, just, impartial, even-handed, fair-minded, non-discriminatory  - fair and square, upfront, on the level, on the up and up

How are these different then these?

• Equal - being the same in quantity, size, degree, or value - identical, uniform, comparable, similar, proportionate

  • A person or thing considered to be the same as another in status or quality

    • Coequal, like, mage, twin

  • Be the same as in nimber or amount

• Equality - equal, especially in status, rights, opportunities; fairness, justness

Loving someone equally by loving them equitably - the same by loving not the same…

• That’s how God does it

• That’s how we should do it

To someone who holds to a strict sense of “equal opportunity” and to the victor goes the spoils…

They cannot, nor would they see, the “fairness” or equity involved in giving back to someone something that they themselves had earned, purchased, obtained - and give to someone who lost it and has not necessarily earned it back, by being anything more than the person who once had it - and therefore is treated with mercy and kindness just for being 

This is not much different from the principle of “kinsman redeemer” as one who takes responsibility for an underprivileged or “downtrodden” kin with their own resources 

We are called to give generously to those who lack - the poor, the widow, the alien - gleaning, Acts 2; James 1

Not to judge the rich (Deut) or the poor (James) 

Even the widow - is only eligible to be taken care of if they were old enough to need it, but if they were not, they were not to be put on the widow’s roll… 

• Of age to work and support self

• Has family who can and should care for her
  

Yes, we are to take care of one another, but we cannot take away the incentive to work, the need for responsibility, and the reality that it takes those who work and succeed to have something to give to those who have need… 

And Jesus’ economy is even more radically demanding(?? stringent??)

What are we to do?  Examine our lives and attitudes regarding these principles

Some of us are led, quite naturally and by God’s specific design, by the heart

• Grace - i want to do right in the right way with the right manner

Others of us are led, in the same way, by our heads

• Truth - i want to do the right thing it should be done

What are we to do?  See and treat others as God has made, expressed in and by His word, and treated us - mercifully - in Christ Jesus

Where is Jesus in all of this?  Why?  What is it about Jesus that makes Him see, meet, and treat people the way He does?

• He loves His people - they are not only His creation, but the very expression of Himself (Gen 1;2; John 1)

• We underestimate God’s love for those who represent Him and His grace to creation, who contain His life and light (Eph 1:9-11; 2:1-7; 1Tim 1:16)

  • Who are truly the object of His love and esteem, yes, esteem, He dignifies us by His mere attention - let alone: 

    • Mercy (Ps 52; Rom 12:1)

    • Grace (John 1:16; Rom 4:16; 1Cor 15:10; Eph 2:5,8; Heb 4:16)

    • Love (John 3:16; 1John 4:10; Rom 5:8)

    • Indwelling (John 14:26; Eph 1:14; 2Cor 1:22)

    • Partnership in ministry and mission (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 2Cor 5:20; Phil 2:1-11)

    • Eternal life with HIm and the joy of that union (John 15:11;16:24;17; Heb 12:1-2; 1Jo 1:4)

      • Bride and groom (John 3:29; Mat 9:15; Rev 19:7)

      • Brothers and sisters (Mk 3:34; Heb 2:10-12)

      • Co-heirs (Rom 8:17; Gal 4:7)

      • Redeemed, reconciled, restored us to 

        • Himself

        • To ourselves - as the expression of God 

          • All and every

          • Each 

        • Are meant to be - that we were intended to be...

          • Made in the image of God (Gen 1; 2)

          • Born again through Jesus (John 3; 1Peter 1:23)

          • Indwelled by the very Person of the Spirit of God

          • Created in Christ Jesus - (Eph 2:8-10; 4:24)

            • New creations (2Cor 5:17; Col 3:10-12; Gal 6:15; Rev 21:4)

            • To do good works He has prepared in advance for us to do 

              • Before creation this was in the mind of God (Eph 1:4; 1Pet 1:20)

Unless we take the time to know this - by God’s word, His revelation to us of Himself, and His great love that made us and is for us - we will miss out on seeing that His rest, the Sabbath - (to be our rest in Jesus (Col 3:3)), was made for man, for us, for all of us, for each of us, and we are invited into that rest by faith in Jesus - in Him presence with God, enveloped by God Himself, who has made Himself our Father, our Abba-daddy (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6), that we might find our home, our heart’s soul’s spirit’s home in Him (Gen 1; Mark 2:27; Heb 4:6-7)

You know, that coming home to know the heart of the Father - the heart that has been so patient and tolerant of us and our rebellion (Luke 15:11-24; Rom 2:4; 5).  The Heart’s heart that has pursued mankind as he dwelled in God’s glorious creation - all that He has made in the finest expression of His grandeur and glory, His goodness - and then that goodness expressed by what is made, to who is made, for the sake of who is made - His children (Ps 19; Rom 1)

In order for us to know any of this, to truly know, we must know the heart of Jesus expressed in His word, and to know and trust that His word in Truth, His words, are what is true. (John 8:30-32; 2Jo 1:9)

Jesus’ person and life perfectly embodied Truth… and grace, and love… 

• His heart, governed perfectly by truth… what is right - or just

• His mind, truth, beautifully governed mercy and grace… what is good - or beautiful 

(John 1:14,17; Col 1:6; 2Jo 1:3; Ps 84:11)

Our hearts and minds are governed by Jesus and one another - mercy, grace, love, and truth…

In as much, we are to be governed by the same - that each of us has a tendency toward one side or the other, as a partial representation of Jesus and His character.  As Jesus is governed perfectly and beautifully by the perfect balance of head and heart, truth and grace, truth and mercy, truth and love, so we, as we bring the pieces and parts of Jesus that have been graced to us, graciously govern and wisely hone one another, dragging each of us from where we are, closer to the center where Jesus stands… 

This is why churches must create safe spaces for both the exist, honesty and transparency must be promoted through mutual respect, honor, and edification - working from awareness through celebration of one another and even more so, more miraculously, the victory of the “we”, “us”, the oneness of Christ in and among us (Phil 2)

Truth is perfect in its objectivity, because its source is a God who is true and loves truly - as He loves equally - without bias, all and every; He loves equitably - fairly, according to the bent and need of each

For us, as persons, who have been loved perfectly this way, it is ours to strive to do the same… so we must understand that our objectivity depends on one recognizing our bents and laying aside our biases - otherwise we risk judging according to our perspective, not God’s truth and loving as we see fit, not according to their need - or - truth

To not do this for the sake of God’s purposely diverse body we risk… 

• Skewing our interpretation of truth according to our bent and bias - and seeing it through our personal lens, we are thus not being able to apply it objectively

• Gathering confirmation biased based people and resources that affirm our personal bent and bias - and therefore remain the same when God intends for us to be molded and shaped (by His truth and the one another)

• Becoming tribalized - divided by dissensions and factions - gathering in our pods of bents and biases - only affirming and confirming ourselves and permitting one another to remain the same.

Seeing God’s diverse attributes in one another is essential for growing into Christ-likeness…

This must be particularly true for followers of Jesus who so strongly stand for and depend on objective truth claims and so want to be able to present objective truth and have it respected, heard and understood as good -  for that to be so, we must ourselves practice and express the truth objectively to one another in such a way that we are ourselves are transformed - each, every, and all - together. 

John 13:34-35 “...by this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”

And again…

John 8:31 “...if you hold to my word (truth, teaching) you are really my disciples”

Our credibility depends our objectivity and our handling of (objective) truth in just that way - objectively, lovingly, more so

To grow, to mature, to become like Jesus, we must be changed… and His truth, changes us…

Admitting to and taking responsibility for our biases, owning up to them, doing our best to lay them aside to see the truth for what it is - God’s truth - and allowing that truth to affect us, is to be governed and transformed by Truth - Jesus - the Word and the Way; the Life and the Truth: who loves us truly, by His truth, without prejudice, without bias, with patience and tolerance - working in, and waiting for our full redemption.  

If we are unable to do this, we cannot expect anyone to respect our position or our truth (claims) 

And please, do not forget faith - the need for faith and the Spirit to render us able to ascertain truth (objectfully) at all. 

Until we as Christ followers admit to and take responsibility for our collective sin and our sometimes sinful attitude and behaviors, own up to them, and make amends, we will continue to:

• Lose young believers to progressive ideologies and movements

• Lose credibility with unbelievers 

• Persist in ineffectiveness in the changing of lives and communities through the living gospel our lives are be 

We cannot let a national debate cause us to generalize our beliefs and lives to the point where all we can do is see all the people and in doing so miss the each

1 Peter 4 How Should a Christian Live?

As followers of Jesus we have great joy in the hope we have in Jesus - in the very real forgiveness of our sins, our being justified, being declared innocent in the sight of God - accepted, approved, made right with.  It is here that our peace is anchored - that God, our maker, becomes our Father, and we, in God the Son, Jesus, become cherished, beloved children, not only holy and pleasing but granted favor, welcomed into His presence, escorted gladly by our brother and savior - Jesus.

This is all true and it is what we rejoice in, it is the hope of God’s glory, and the expression of His goodness, held out to all, given to those who will receive it, accept it, that in doing so, they, we become children of God.

With that, we must come to grips with our suffering.  As suffering, viewed from that lens and the expectation of everything being “better”, seems so contradictory to this blessed and joyful hope - we have been forgiven, we are accepted, for crying out loud, shouldn’t the suffering end?!

Not so, says Jesus.

Who hopes for what he already has?  But if they do not yet have it they wait for it patiently. Romans 8:24

24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

This world is no more our home as a fish’s is that he was been pulled out of the water and that enters into what we think is the perfect environment for life and breath, the fish, on the other hand, gasps, though there be life-giving oxygen in both environments, it is not able to draw through its gills precious life-sustaining oxygen, gills billowing, bewildered, fighting for life, the fish out of the water, cannot survive outside of its watery environment. 

So it is with believers.  This is not our home, this environment is not what is best for us.  If we for any reason believe that the love and wisdom and ways of this world is our natural habitat, that it will fill the lungs of our spirit rightly, we are sadly and tragically mistaken 

It is in the heavenlies that our soul and accompanying spirit finds its breath (Eph 2:6), its relief, its refuge - as we mourn the brokenness around us, the manner and way of this world - mean and cruel, offended and vengeful, unforgiving and unrelenting… far be it for the child of God to live and act in such a way, to see this world to be any place to be anchored to and call home. (John 15:19; 1Jo 4:5; 5:4,5,10)

No wonder James, the brother of Jesus, and John, the disciple Jesus loved, cried out to their brothers and sisters, and cry out to us now, to “not love the world or anything in the world”  (Ja 4:4; 1Jo 2:15)  that His brother, Jude, would say “hate even the clothing corrupted by evil” (Jude 1:23)

It is not enough to be able to recite these truths, but it is of the utmost importance to reflect on them and allow them to scrub our hearts clean and free them from the attractions of this world, to be reminded of the brutal effect of sin, to be shaken by the reality that the lost are, just that, lost, and that we hold in our lives the roadmap to redemption, to salvation, to hope anchored securely in the heart of our God and Father.

It is the Spirit’s illuminating to us these truths that we begin to abhor sin and its consequences, its ability, its commitment to, drag away its participants, to maim and even kill, as the author of sin and death clings to his kingdom and its subjects in a cosmic effort to thwart God’s grace… as futile as it is in its ultimate affect, he, the ruler of the kingdom of the air, works to keep his own and then make ineffective God’s own to have any impact on his own followers and one another 

It is us, we who are God’s own, whose lives shed light on the better way, the way of life and we are most effective in the reflecting when we live our lives with our hearts attached firmly to Jesus’ heart as to more and more naturally live out His way - that way that is in us but God’s power, by Jesus’ righteousness, 

Just like a fish being reintroduced to its natural habitat, its actual environment, so we, breathing the air of this world, must submerge ourselves in the truth of God’s grace, wisdom, love, manner and way…  we must breath in His Spirit, His word, His will and we do this not by merely reading the word, or going to church, or singing a song, but by swimming in, breathing in His Spirit, which is the environment in which we belong - it is here that our eyes are opened to see what God sees, our ears to hear what God hears, our hearts to desire what God desires - loving what He loves, mourning what He mournes, offering what He offers - life in Christ and His Spirit

It is in light of this that we must make every effort to add to our faith those things that connect us to our Father, that allow the Spirit to flow through us, that Jesus‘ Person and character become our own manner and way and His truth now makes most sense to us as right and wise.  We must, therefore, examine our lives and extricate ourselves from the world’s pleasures=, the desires of our flesh, as the satisfaction of our hearts

Just like a fish, when being reintroduced into water it is best reinserted with great care, being slowly submerged and gently aided in its reentry, so it is for the heart of the believer that has been exposed to the kingdom of the air, that as they enter back into the water of the word, the Spirit carefully and gently reintroduces the spirit of the man to the word and way of God, the wisdom of God, and (we) join Him in the reentry by sitting with Him in the word, being still, with quiet spirit, to join Him in conversation, what He calls - prayer, and then, serving with Him in the lives of others.

If we will think about, even for a moment, as to dwell upon the brutal nature of sin and allow God to show its awful effect on the lives of people, its destructive force exerted on creation itself, its pugnacious manner and way, the division and factions it produces… the hate and vitriol… our spirit will be liberated from its desire to follow sin and will quickly run to the righteousness and goodness of God and want desperately to bring that goodness, God’s goodness, to bear in people’s lives, those with whom we have opportunity, those we see and watch and grieve over…

So desperately wanting to relieve them of the ugliness of sin’s consequences we would desire to live in such a way as to have our lives, more and more, represent such grace

The contrast of God's infinite beauty as displayed in what he’s made and the black spot of the ashes of death’s temporal reign…. It is in the tension of this contrast that the child of God resides, sojourns (the valley of the shadow of death…) 

… moved by compassion and God’s grace - the goodness that we have access to, but so seldom exercise

Rejoice!! You are participating with Jesus!!  He rejoiced in what was to come, what it was He was accomplishing, and therefore was willing to suffer to bring it about, so we too, get to do the same!

And for what would a Christian suffer?  Being mindful of God, entrusting ourselves to God, suffering for Jesus is an honor. 

Suffering for Being a Christian

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you (Ro 5; Ja 1; 1Pe 1), as though something strange were happening to you. (Jo 15:19) 13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ (1Cor 5; Col 1; Phil 3), so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (Is 6; 1Pe 1). 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer (Rom 8:29; 2Cor3:18; 4:4-6; 1Jo 3:2), it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household (Ez 9; 1Cor 3) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” a

19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit (entrust) themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why would we be surprised? We are no longer of this world (John 17:14-16).  Our holiness, righteousness, and goodness, do not match this world - we are truly aliens and strangers. Our perspective has been changed as our hearts have been changed

Participating in the suffering of Christ - Phil 1:29; 3: this is a profound perspective that can and will change the way we view life, times, circumstances, people, and opportunities… the privilege of joining Jesus, to suffer as He suffered - this is an imitation of Jesus, as He came to suffer as we suffered - as He joined us, we now get to join HIm - and this is different, a different kind of suffering for different reasons (to suffer)

• Before, we suffered in sin, for sin, from sin - at the hands of our being sin - so, not only the general effect of sin but the actual weight and consequences of sin - and its eternal consequences - our sin and sinfulness - and the hopelessness of sin separating us from God

• Now, we suffer because of sin, in longing to see sin eradicated, sin’s final ending; we come to hate sin, to suffer the grief of sin - ours (as it affects the heart of our Father and our effectiveness in and with Him); other’s sin, because we see and know its consequences; the effect of sin on all of creation - cracked and wobbly, it groans under the weight of sin

We now suffer as Jesus suffered BECAUSE, we too, are done with sin, finished.  Once we ?pervertedly? loved sin, now, we hate sin.  We now see sin as Jesus sees sin - as the destructive force in this world, on creation, in the lives of mankind - the work of Jesus’s hands, the objects of Jesus’ affection, the desire of Jesus’ heart, the reflection (though, for now, faint) of Jesus’ glory. 

As Jesus groans, all of creation groans, so we groan - Rom 8:18-26.  We no longer feel the weight of sin, because we are under its condemnation, we now feel the weight of sin because we see, understand, and grieve with Jesus its crushing effect on those still under its weight 

For what should a Christian suffer? - 1Peter 2:19; 3:14; Matt 5:10 - for what is right

What is suffering?  From whom? From within self, within the church - “brothers and sisters” real - believers who are opposed? False - weeds or tares who are not truly regenerated? Paul's Suffering at the hands of those in the church as well as false teachers, from outside the church - shepherds and elders, in particular, will suffer criticism, misunderstanding, push back 

• Sin - the effects of sin in general, the mourning of the result of sin in the lives of those under its rule (Col?), consequences of one’s own sin - including the need for making amends 

• Jesus Himself, placing one’s faith in - the foolishness, naivete, ignorance of believing at all - 1Cor 1:18-31

  • What, do you want to be one of His disciples too? (John 7:46-53)

  • We no longer look at Jesus from a worldly point of view, or, by the world’s wisdom (2Cor 5:16)

• Living according to God’s way and wisdom, not the way and wisdom of the world 

  • “...they will persecute you”

  • “...but even you do suffer for what it right, you are blessed…”

• Purity of life - that one would live in such a seemingly austere or prude way (1Peter 4:4)

  • They do not understand, why not… they just don’t. They think it strange you do not join them

  • As one’s life not only reflects a purity and holiness that is in contrast to the world, but also

  • Sheds light on the unholiness and sin in the lives of those who are not in Christ - whose lives are sin, whose kingdom and devotion to that kingdom exist and live in such contrast to God and His kingdom

• Righteous stands - Sacred nature of the kingdom - the sacredness of life and the living - the personhood of all persons - the dignity of each and every person - Ps 139; 1Cor 12-14; Rom 12; 14-15

  • Proverbs’ and the beatitude’s approach to conflict and litigation and justice 

  • Jesus’ approach to being accused and persecuted 

But how is it that we do so?  With what tone?  What we stand for is in contrast, if not in direct opposition to, what the world stands for. They cannot see, let alone understand… So, let the persecution be for the stand you to take, not for the manner (as in “Ill-mannered”) with which you make the stand.  Gentleness and respect!

• Integrity unwavering in the face of opposition and coercion - understand, because of decisions made according to God’s word and its/His wisdom that cannot be understood by the world or those who are not seeking wisdom or are simply not wise - this will lead to...

  • Questioning

  • Mocking 

  • Attempts to persuade act otherwise

  • Accused of exclusivity based on objective truth - because God can be known

How should a Christian (act) in the suffering? What should our attitude be?  How should a Christian (respond) in suffering? What should our response be?  

• Trusting of God and His word - Ps 119:41-48, 52, 74, 120, 175

• Prayerful, remaining in constant contact with God - Lu 11:1-11; 18:1; Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18; 1Thes 5:17

• Kind toward all - Matt 5:44-45; Lu 6:27-36; 1Cor 13:4; Gal 5:22; 2Tim 2:24; Titus 3:2; Ps 86:5; Pr 16:24; Rom 2:4; 

• Peaceable, not quarrelsome, but careful and considerate in responding to others - 2Tim 2:24-26; Titus 3:2; 1Peter 3:15; 1Tim 2:4; 6:11; Matt 11:29; Gal 6:1

• Joyful, though the times and circumstances are perilous, keeping one’s eyes on God and His promises to do what He said will do in and through the peril - Matt 5; Rom 5; 12:12; 2Cor 7:4; James 1: 1Pet 1

• Reflective - remembering, recalling, recollecting, regaling, repeating - God’s faithfulness - He has been, is, and will be - as His love is unfailing and He is faithful to His promises - Ps 145; 71: 17-19, 24; 77:12

• In view of God’s mercy - as you were once there -  Ex 34:6; Ps 34:18; 51:5; 103:8; Isa 57:15; Joel 2:13; Rom 2:4; 3:10-12; 5:1-12; 12:1; Eph 2:1-10; Col 1:21; 2Cor 5:18, 20; 1John 4:10

• Resolute, committed to following, to doing what is right, and just, and fair - Isa 58:6-14; Prov 

• If you are persecuted, mocked, hated, treated poorly - bless - Matt 5:44; Luke 6:28; Rom 12:14; 1Cor 4:12; Acts 14:22

• Entrusting oneself to God and His care - 1Peter 4:19; Luke 23:46; Ps 31:5; 146; Ecc 12:7; Acts 7:59; 14:23

• Be free, live freely, love freely, give freely - yours is the kingdom, really - Gal 5-6

Reflecting on 1Peter 3 and earlier in 1Peter 4 - In this, you will be asked why you believe - this goes back to Peter’s instance that we be prepared to give a reason for our hope when we are asked… people will not, cannot, understand our lives, our attitudes, our conduct, why it is we live and even love as we do.

There will be some who will admire and appreciate

There will be some who question and wonder, and eventually, ask… 

Understanding the times, be alert to and recognizing the moment for what it is, make the most of the opportunity… being under the influence of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5; Gal 5) Generally, who are these people?  These two are not far from the Kingdom.  

What should we do? 

• Pray - for the person, the opportunity, the conversation - for wisdom and words 

• Be sharp and consistent - walk steadily with Jesus, spending time in the word, let it work in and on you in such a way that you are able to be consistent in moral, ethic, and character

  • Seeking God’s heart, and in the meeting being shaped and formed

  • Allowing it to transform the attitude of your mind by cooperating, trusting, and obeying 

• Continue to be humble and quiet, peaceable - be careful not to engage in things that are crass

• Prepared for conversations - be alert and sober-minded, attuned to the Holy Spirit - not being intimidated or afraid, but answering questions as they arise, prudently asking questions (of genuine caring and consideration).  

Continue to live peaceably among those with whom you work and play.  Genuinely display the joy of the hope you have, being continually mindful of God in life - in every circumstance and encounter.  Be respectful and respectable, work hard, do your job well, and do not be afraid to ask for help - as this is a mark of humility and opens doors to share space… being prepared to give reasons for your hope and joy.

This is what it means to do “everything as if you are doing for Jesus”.  But, understand that there are other people types of responses

There will be some who will mock and deride - Prov 9:7-8; 13:1; 15:5; 19:5; 23:9; Matt 27; John 8:52

There will be some who will hate and persecute - John 15:18-25

These two are far from the kingdom - they are not to be trifled with (pearls before swine - Matt 7:6), 

• Be consistent in front of them, certainly pray, but do not be drawn into their ways (arguing), 

• Be patient and kind, let their words and actions roll off your shoulders.  

• Watch and see if at any point one of them begins to soften and pray specifically for them - being prepared for them in particular - understand it is the manner and way of our persevering that they see and are intrigued by, even secretly impressed with, and it is this (Jesus’) manner and way you persevere that makes you approachable 

• And they may come to you (as Nicodemus came to Jesus - secretly, due to discomfort or personal disbelief that they are actually coming to you, or for fear of embarrassment or mocking from their peers) (Mark 15:16-20, 27-32, Luke 23:39; Matt 27; in contrast: Mark 15:39; Luke 23:40-43) - - 2Tim 4:1-3; Jude 1:18

If we choose to “fight” or argue or retaliate against their derision, if we are antagonistic or accusatory or judgmental, we will have negated our impact and potentially forfeited our opportunity, belied our supposed approachability, even hurt our credibility - as we are now no different than anyone else  - or worse yet - like other “churchgoers who…” that they may have experienced before - and whether that is true, or only their perception - it is important that we display Jesus’ openness through kindness and understanding. 

Humility in relation to all who surround you.  If you have sinned, go and make it right: apologize, ask forgiveness, make amends

No one is perfect, we will fall short of our desire to be examples.  So, that cannot deter us, neither should we be discouraged if we sin and dent our reputation and testimony.  But in fact, people who do not know Jesus, are not looking for a perfect person to talk to them - they will avoid and not trust and person who appears perfect (especially if that person is maintaining a facade of perfection in an attempt to project some sort of piety).  But those who are looking are looking for someone who is real and honest, kind and considerate, who takes responsibility for their actions and owns up them - admitting their mistakes and seeing them overcome them.  Isn’t that what we are looking for?  Isn’t that who actually attracts us?

It doesn’t mean we should sin (Rom 9), but it does mean that, if and when we do, we take actual responsibility for what we’ve done or said, admitting that we have done something wrong, and graciously and humbly make it right.  No “I’m sorry, buts”, no excuses, no self-justification, no finger-pointing - which is our “natural” tendency (see Adam), but genuine repentance - remorse and desire to make amends, to make it right

All of this boils down to one thing: is the way we live marked by Jesus, being one who has been with Jesus? (Mark 15:39; Acts 4:13; 1Cor 12; 13; 14:25)

13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 

Why so much referring back to what was previously written in this letter?  Because it was written as a letter and letters were meant to be read in one sitting - it has a beginning, middle, and end and its ending reflects on everything that came before it - and that gives it context 

Rejoice! You're Joining Jesus!

Rejoice!! You are participating with Jesus!!  He rejoiced in what was to come, what it was He was accomplishing, and therefore was willing to suffer to bring it about, so we too, get to do the same!

And for what would a Christian suffer?  Being mindful of God, entrusting ourselves to God, suffering for Jesus is an honor. 

Matt 5:1-12

Luke 6:20-23

1Peter 4:12-19

Suffering for Being a Christian

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you (Ro 5; Ja 1; 1Pe 1), as though something strange were happening to you. (Jo 15:19) 13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ (1Cor 5; Col 1; Phil 3), so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (Is 6; 1Pe 1). 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer (Rom 8:29; 2Cor3:18; 4:4-6; 1Jo 3:2), it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household (Ez 9; 1Cor 3) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” a

19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit (entrust) themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Why would we be surprised?

We are no longer of this world (John 17:14-16).  Our holiness, righteousness, and goodness, do not match this world - we are truly aliens and strangers. Our perspective has been changed as our hearts have been changed

Participating in the suffering of Christ:

This is a profound perspective that can and will change the way we view life, times, circumstances, people, and opportunities… the privilege of joining Jesus, to suffer as He suffered - this is an imitation of Jesus, as He came to suffer as we suffered - as He joined us, we now get to join HIm - and this is different, a different kind of suffering for different reasons (to suffer)

• Before, we suffered in sin, for sin, from sin - at the hands of our being sin - so, not only the general effect of sin but the actual weight and consequences of sin - and its eternal consequences - our sin and sinfulness - and the hopelessness of sin separating us from God

• Now, we suffer in longing to see sin eradicated, sin’s final ending; we come to hate sin, to suffer the grief of sin - ours (as it affects the heart of our Father and our effectiveness in and with Him); other’s sin, because we see and know its consequences; the effect of sin on all of creation - cracked and wobbly, it groans under the weight of sin

We now suffer as Jesus suffered BECAUSE, we too, are done with sin, finished.  

Once we loved sin, now, we hate sin.  We now see sin as Jesus sees sin - as the destructive force in this world, on creation, in the lives of mankind - the work of Jesus’s hands, the objects of Jesus’ affection, the desire of Jesus’ heart, the reflection (though, for now, faint) of Jesus’ glory. 

As Jesus groans, all of creation groans, so we groan.  

We no longer feel the weight of sin, because we are under its condemnation, we now feel the weight of sin because we see, understand, and grieve with Jesus its crushing effect on those still under its weight  (Romans 8)

For what should a Christian suffer?

What is suffering?  From whom? From within self, within the church - “brothers and sisters” real - believers who are opposed? False - weeds or tares who are not truly regenerated? Paul's Suffering at the hands of those in the church as well as false teachers, from outside the church - shepherds and elders, in particular, will suffer criticism, misunderstanding, push back 

• Sin - just sin, sin itself, and everything about sin

• Jesus Himself, placing one’s faith in - the foolishness, naivete, ignorance of believing at all 

• Living according to God’s way and wisdom, not the way and wisdom of the world

• Purity of life - that one would live in such a seemingly austere or prude way (1Peter 3)

  • They do not understand, why not… they just don’t 

  • As one’s life not only reflects a putty and holiness that is in contrast to the world, but also

  • Sheds light on the unholiness and sin in the lives of those who are not in Christ - whose lives are sin, whose kingdom and devotion to that kingdom exist and live in such contrast to God and His kingdom

• Righteous stands - but how is it that we do so?  With what tone?  What we stand for is in contrast, if not in direct opposition to, what the world stands for. They cannot see, let alone understand…

  • Sacred nature of the kingdom - the sacredness of life and the living

  • Proverbs’ approach to conflict and litigation and justice 

  • Jesus’ approach to being accused and persecuted 

BUT! Let the persecution be for the stand to take, not for the manner (as in “Ill-mannered”) with which you make the stand.

• Integrity unwavering in the face of opposition and coercion  - because of decisions made according to God’s word and its/His wisdom that cannot be understood by the world or those who are not seeking wisdom or are simply not wise - this will lead to...

  • Questioning

  • Mocking 

  • Attempts to persuade act otherwise

How should a Christian (act) in the suffering? What should our attitude be?; How should a Christian (respond) in suffering? What should our response be?  

• Trusting of God and His word

• Prayerful, remaining in constant contact with God

• Kind toward all

• Peaceable, not quarrelsome, but c

• Joyful, though the times and circumstances are perilous, keeping one’s eyes on God and His promises to do what He said will do in and through the peril

• Reflective - remembering, recalling, recollecting, regaling, repeating - God’s faithfulness - He has been, is, and will be - as His love is unfailing and He is faithful to His promises

• Resolute, committed to following, to doing what is right, and just, and fair

Reflecting on 1Peter 3 and earlier in 1Peter 4 - In this, you will be asked why you believe - this goes back to Peter’s instance that we be prepared to give a reason for our hope when we are asked… people will not, cannot, understand our lives, our attitudes, our conduct, why it is we live and even love as we do.

There will be some who will admire and appreciate

There will be some who question and wonder, and eventually, ask… 

Understanding the times, alert to and recognizing moment, making the most of the opportunity… being under the influence of the Holy Spirit (Eph 5)

Generally, who are these people?  These two are not far from the Kingdom.  

What should we do? 

• Pray - for the person, the opportunity, the conversation - for wisdom and words 

• Be sharp and consistent - walk steadily with Jesus, spending time in the word, let it work in and on you in such a way that you are able to be consistent in moral, ethic, and character

  • Seeking God’s heart, and in the meeting being shaped and formed

  • Allowing it to transform the attitude of your mind by cooperating, trusting, and obeying 

• Continue to be humble and quiet, peaceable - be careful not to engage in things that are crass

• Prepared for conversations - be alert and sober-minded, attuned to the Holy Spirit - not being intimidated or afraid, but answering questions as they arise, prudently asking questions (of genuine caring and consideration).  

Continue to live peaceably among those with whom you work and play.  Genuinely display the joy of the hope you have, being continually mindful of God in life - in every circumstance and encounter.  Be respectful and respectable, work hard, do your job well, and do not be afraid to ask for help - as this is a mark of humility and opens doors to share space… being prepared to give reasons for your hope and joy.

This is what it means to do “everything as if you are doing for Jesus”.  But, understand that there are other people types of responses

There will be some who will mock and deride

There will be some who will hate and persecute 

These two are far from the kingdom - they are not to be trifled with (pearls before swine), be consistent in front of them, certainly pray, but do not be drawn into their ways (arguing), be patient and kind, let their words and actions roll off your shoulders.  Watch and see if at any point one of them begins to soften and pray specifically for them - be: approachable (and they will come to you as Nicodemus came to Jesus, or the jailer to Paul - secretly, due to discomfort or personal disbelief that they are actually coming to you, or for fear of embarrassment or mocking from their peers) (Mark 15:16-20, 27-32, Luke 23:39; Matt 27; in contrast: Mark 15:39; Luke 23:40-43)

If we choose to “fight” or argue or retaliate against their derision, if we are antagonistic or accusatory or judgmental, we will have negated our impact and potentially forfeited our opportunity, our approachability, even our credibility - as we are now no different than anyone else  - or worse yet - like other “churchgoers who…” that they may have experienced before - and whether that is true, or only their perception - it is important that we display Jesus’ openness through kindness and understanding. 

Humility in relation to all who surround you.  

If you have sinned, go and make it right: apologize, ask forgiveness, make amends

No one is perfect, we will fall short of our desire to be examples.  So, that cannot deter us, neither should we be discouraged if we sin and dent our reputation and testimony.  But in fact, people who do not know Jesus, are not looking for a perfect person to talk to them - they will avoid and not trust and person who appears perfect (especially if that person is maintaining a facade of perfection in an attempt to project some sort of piety).  But those who are looking are looking for someone who is real and honest, kind and considerate, who takes responsibility for their actions and owns up them - admitting their mistakes and seeing them overcome them.  Isn’t that what we are looking for?  Isn’t that who actually attracts us?

It doesn’t mean we should sin (Rom 9), but it does mean that, if and when we do, we take actual responsibility for what we’ve done or said, admitting that we have done something wrong, and graciously and humbly make it right.  No “I’m sorry, buts”, no excuses, no self-justification, no finger-pointing - which is our “natural” tendency (see Adam), but genuine repentance - remorse and desire to make amends, to make it right

All of this boils down to one thing: is the way we live marked by Jesus? (Mark 15:39; Acts 4:13; 1Cor 12; 13; 14:25)

Why so much referring back to what was previously written in this letter?  Because it was written as a letter and letters were meant to be read in one sitting - it has a beginning, middle and end and its ending reflects on everything that came before it - and that gives it context 

1Peter 4:17-19 And as for judgment… there is, and it begins with us, the children of God

• 1Cor 3

FIRST: Jesus beloved teaching on the kingdom character and ethic, that EVERYBODY loves, that ends with this truth - you will suffer, and if you do, rejoice!! “ Be happy…” in your.!.

• Matt 5 “poor in spirit…”

• Luke 6 “poor”

• Phil 2 “...made Himself nothing…” ...emptied Himself, a vessel for noble purposes (Tim; Heb)

  • To accomplish His Father's will 

  • To be exalted, or, filled 

BUT REJOICE!! This is an exclamation of Peter’s heart having realized in the moment of writing that…

Rom 8:17-18; 2Cor 1:5; 4:10; Phil 3:10; Col 1:24; 1Pet 1:7; 2:21

Sufferings of Jesus, rejoice - why rejoice?  God is perfecting us

• Jesus was made perfect in His suffering - Heb 

• We are now joined to Jesus, bearing the scars 

• We are being perfected 

We are suffering because we are changed - and suffer as Jesus suffered because we are changed - this is evidence of the change and therefore our suffering assures us of the change

We, therefore, are a partaker of Jesus’ suffering as we are now one with Him, remaining here and suffering for what He suffered 

If judgment begins with the church, with us…

• The purging of sin and unrighteousness

• Discipline which is unpleasant

• Suffering loss, though under grace, or even more, because of grace

What of those who have not believed?  As, what is the “work of God or the kingdom”?, but to “believe in the one who was sent”

Here is the Truth… I am Free! 1 Peter 4, 1 Thess. 5

As I need no longer be dominated by sin (Ps 119:33) but instead enjoy the privilege of living with and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the truth of God - through Jesus, who conquered sin, and condemnation, and even death, on our behalf.  God, in Christ, has given me the ability - the empowerment - to not only be free from the condemnation of sin and the fear of death -  but also to choose to not live under sin’s destructive influence and consequence in this life, here and now…  So, in Jesus, I can 

• Overcome the flesh (and its depravity, or, propensity for sin, to sin) sin, no longer being my nature, my first love, my deepest desire… (Rom 7:5; 8:1-17)

• Choose to act righteously - as now, my nature having been made new, I am righteous and good in Jesus  - His nature and character are in me by His Spirit - and therefore I/we can “participate in the divine nature” and live Jesus’ life in me by, and in cooperation with, the Holy Spirit (1Cor 1:30; 2Cor 5:17,21; 2Peter 1:3-4; Gal 2:16; 5:1, 13-23)

• So now, that the Spirit in me is my life and ambition, I can live out my faith and righteousness - as now it can be, and is, my desire and goal (Rom 14:17-19; 2Cor 5:9; Col 1:10)

• Though I must remember, that if I do sin, God forgives and restores me to effectiveness in Him (Ps 32:3-5; 2Peter 1:8-10; 1John 1:9; 2:1-2)

Though the battle between the flesh and the Spirit still rages on, I do not “have to” succumb to the desires of the flesh, instead, I “get to” listen to, follow, and walk, in step with the Spirit, living under its/His influence

4:2 “as a result, they (we) do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires - or flesh, but rather for the will of God.” (Gal 5)

• Making decisions according to self - done apart from faith, independent of God’s inworking.  This is displeasing to the Lord - even those things that seem “respectable”.  So, those decisions we make, that are unaided by God’s Spirit and truth, that originate from self or empowered by self that proceeds out of the untouched (unchanged) part of us - what is not transformed by God, that are prompted or governed by the flesh - cannot be pleasing to Him.  These self-empowered works are the “filthy rags” God’s word speaks of. (Isa 64:6)

But instead, in Jesus, we can live a God prompted, God, directed life...

• But now, by the Spirit of God in me, for God and His will - that that is what brings me life and true peace, joy, and satisfaction - a new and renewed vision and ambition for life

• This posture sets my eyes above - on Jesus and His desire or my life expressed in His world

Living with and seeing life and others with the same attitude as Jesus (John 13)

John 13:1-5

1It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

As, as the end of Jesus’s earthly life drew close, He remembered His Father, He remembered His Father’s promise, He remembered His relationship and role and with a humility strengthened and emboldened by this truth - He knelt, first before the Father, entrusting Himself and His welfare, and then knelt at the feet of each disciple - assured of Who and Whose He was, where and from Whom He’d come and confident of where and to Whom He was going - with no fear of condemnation or loss, He gave of Himself, His dignity, and served lovingly (showing the full extent of His love) and humbly...

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

• The end of all things is near…

  • The end - imminent

    • But, this need not alarm you - trouble or frighten (John 14; Rom 8:1-17; 1Thes 5:9)

      • We knew this was coming, instead, we should be rejoicing as the party is at hand!  Who shall I bring?!

    • This should though alert you - cause our senses to be heightened to 

      • The reality of the times - they are short - act wisely

        • Psalm 90:12 

          • “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” NIV

          • So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. NASB

          • So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. NKJV  ...apply our hearts unto wisdom

          • So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely. NETB

          • Teach us to use wisely all the time we have. CEV

        • Ephesians 5:15-16 “...making the most of every opp.”

      • Inspire you to anticipate - to cheerfully, joyfully, look forward to what’s to come (1Thes 1:10; 4:16-18; 5)

      • Embolden you to act - in love without fear (1John 4:7-19)

• ...be alert and of sober mind

  • Alert to the time and times - allowing the times to dictate a keen awareness of what is at hand

  • Sober, circumspect, as to how to make the most of each opportunity the urgency of the times present in light of what is coming

• ...so that you may pray.

  • It is our being able to pray that enables us to…

    • Not only be alert and aware 

    • But, to navigate and respond with 

      • Prudence - consideration and prayer

      • Insight and discernment

      • Understanding and wisdom - that is life skill

    • Enabling us to be directed by the Spirit of Truth - loving as Christ loved us

      • Encouraging one another

      • Sharing with those who do not know

This is the art of being present - knowing the ultimate outcome, we need not be distracted - but instead, one now can live life with...

• Right perspective 

• Proper priority 

• Good practice 

So...

8Above all…

• ...love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

  • Love each other deeply/sincerely/committedly - from the heart

  • Love covers… sin.  Covering sin

• 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

  • Hospitality…

  • Without grumbling???

10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

• 11If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

• If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 

...so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

If you are prone to anxiety and fear, it is essential that you take into account peters admonition here that we need not be afraid, or fear what others fear, workout conspiracy with a cold conspiracy. As the fact is or the truth is, Jesus has declared that he would return in that in the meantime we are to live a life confident of who we are and him in valved in his saving grace is and then live a life of love because those graces have saved us.

Therefore, Peter gives us a remedy for anxiety. First of course is just to remember who’s we are and who we are and that Jesus promised eternal life with him.

But on top of that, we are to not live this life as he did. Those focusing on the needs of others and loving others as we have them loved.

There is something to be said about turning our eyes from our anxieties, fears, and troubles, and placing them on the hearts of others and their needs.

1Thes 5

The Day of the Lord

1Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22reject every kind of evil.

23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

25Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Suffering for Being a Christian

12Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit - or entrust - themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

In the midst of the suffering that IS this world, I am to entrust myself to God, in Christ, and His sovereign rule