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A Public Display

January 11, 2012 in Bible, Character, Discipleship, Jesus, Pride, Witness with 0 Comments


There is a warning from our blessed Savior that all of His faithful disciples must heed lest they fall into the trap of arrogance, pride and self-righteousness. It is the cautionary counsel that informs the spiritually aware not to make their faith into a show, or a matter of theater for others to see. (Matthew 6:5-18) What is done in secret, He admonishes, is done for God to take notice of, it need not be seen by others.

Yet what does that really mean? What does it mean and what effect is it meant to have on the life of the faithful and the devoted given in a life to Christ?

Every now and then when faith is displayed for the world to see, that question seems to arise as those words of Christ as quoted. We see it even today amidst our society as the public displays of devotion of some are shunned and sought to be ushered away, making it almost sound as if that humility before the God of our creation is something shameful. How then do we answer that question in a spiritually aware way, and how do we reconcile the proper degree of piety with the marvels of the wonders of God’s blessings we want nothing more than to show the world?

As with all the teachings handed to us by the Divine Word of our Lord, we must allow for Scripture not only to guide us, but to interpret itself for us. There is nothing hypocritical, nor is there any degree of arrogance in displaying your faith for the world to see. In fact, without the works we do, meant to be given in love to others as a sign of devotion to Christ, (John 13:34-36), our faith stagnates and dies. (James 2:14-26) Grafted to the tree of life, our spirits, given to God, are meant to bear fruits. These are meant to be seen, they are meant to be gifts from us to others that we may edify and nourish the whole being of those around us in need.

So clear is Christ on this matter that the next verses (Matthew 6:19-24) warn of us of storing our treasures, of hoarding them deep from sight. What greater treasure have we than the faith that saves us in the redemption that it offers unto us?

At the core of Christ’s teaching is not to hide our faith away, as if it would be sinful for us to display it. If it were there would be no greater hypocrite and sinner than the perfect Son of God whose blameless life made way our path on high. What our Savior tried to demonstrate was a lesson about the self-righteous judging of others based on faith. It meant to teach us a deeper lesson about how we must look at ourselves and look at others, never elevating ourselves above them, living a life devoid of love while claiming to understand the heart and mind of our God.

In humility we are meant to live in service to one another, caring for each other as we care for ourselves and our own spiritual growth, and wellbeing. This cannot be done by locking our faith away from sight, just as surely as it cannot be done with judgmental eyes and scornful tongues.

As a faithful disciple of Christ show your faith, not as a point of pride but as the sign of your humility before a God who calls on you to live a life in service to others, to strengthen and edify those around you. Remember the world will always judge you for it by a different standard than it judges itself, but you are not given over to those assessments. No, by the power of the Spirit, you are given to grace in faith to a loving God who has set the example before you in His beloved Son given for you and your salvation. Our God gives us an armor that is meant for the righteous battles for faith, and like any armor it cannot be hidden away unless it is not worn, and that is when the truly devastating wounds pierce us.

Be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of salvation (Romans 1:16) and let none tell you it is shameful to carry forward into this world, for it is the strength of endurance, and the hope of our love in the wonders of God’s Spirit through us.

Value the words you speak

January 5, 2012 in Character, Love, Witness with 1 Comment

James 5:12

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but [a]your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

 

We speak thousands of words a day, overlooking the weight that they hold. They are not often thought of as powerful or important, although they have great power. Words can be used to hatefully tear people down and blind with lies, or lovingly build people up and ultimately reveal truth.

We are just entering the New Year, and with it come resolutions and promises. Let us think about these promises. Are we really going to follow through? If not, then let us not say them. Jesus says in Matthew 5:33-37 and James reiterates in James 5: 12 to let your yes be yes and your no be no. This solidifies that as Christians we should not make promises we do not intend to keep.

Are we surrendering our words to Jesus? Your words, through Christ, hold power and enlightenment to the mysteries of love, salvation, scripture, and Heaven. Place value on the words you utter because they have the ability to change lives. If you are going to resolve to change something this year, resolve to use your every word to point your life and the lives of others to Jesus.

The Soul of Faith

January 4, 2012 in Bible, Character, Discipleship, Healing, Help, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Love with 0 Comments

Ultimately, for as much control as we may give God in our lives, for as much as we may say that He leads us, in free will, we are defined not by faith but by the worth we place on it in the love that we have. For though it is our faith that ultimately saves us, it is love that “covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Over the ages, considerable time has been spent debating how one truly becomes the most effective disciple of Christ, the way that one can most successfully use their faith. After all, it is James who reminds us that our faith, if it is without works, is dead. It holds not the power to save us because it has grown as stagnant, as hard and as hollow as our hearts. Our works, they represent the spirit and the soul of our faith. (James 4:14-26)

Let us consider that for a moment. In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” You see, the soul and the body represent a special relationship with each other. Though one may be able to exist without the other, the body is ultimately created as a vessel for the soul, yet it is not the body that defines the soul, but rather the soul that gives its value to everything the body does, and is. Faith can exist without works, yet those works, much like the soul to the body, give faith its inherent value, its intrinsic worth in the most basic and fundamental of ways.

For faith then to hold substance it must be the vessel of our works, not only bearing its fruits but containing them, carrying them, and offering them as the means by which we edify, strengthen and uplift others. Faith, to hold significance, must be expressed by a life given in love to others. Without it, we can speak with tongues, we can seek to understand, to fathom the mysteries that surround a great and mighty God, and eloquence can drip from our mouths in defense of faith, yet it is the shell of what it must be because it gains nothing and offers less. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

How then do we love? How then do we serve as the effective disciple? This itself is easily answered by our blessed Savior Himself, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.… whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:31-46) It is to look at the world, to see the need around you with clear eyes, and, as Christ Jesus Himself had done, answer the call in patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.

Though the ultimate act of love was the sacrifice of that Lamb of God who took away the sins of world, that was one example of Christ’s love amongst so many as great as it was. His ministry, His life would be eventually defined by that singular act of love in service to us, and yet it was a road paved by every act of healing, each act of giving, and the meaning that was behind it. It was a path that was laid down by His rejection of evil, hatred, slander and bitterness as we are taught the new commandment: to love one another as Christ Himself loved us. (John 13:34-35)

In the end, nothing can save us short of the faith that we have. Yet it is the character and the nature of our faith that it is the God who judges the heart who holds a power over us. Consider rightly the Lord’s admonition to the prophet, “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13) Are we, as the disciples of a living God to define our own faith, and thereby seek to build our own vessels for it, ones that seek to hold faith but are cracked and broken, with the dwindling waters it holds stagnate? Or are we to pour forth living waters with fresh springs of the Lord that quench the longing thirst of the spirit and the soul?

Let your faith be a vessel for love and the works thereof. See the world as it is, a place in desperate need of healing and hope, and let the soul of your faith shine as the means of love for others. In this way we can be the effective disciple, the effective believer God and Christ intend for us to be through the power and the strength of the Spirit working through us.

The gift of our words

January 3, 2012 in Character, relationship, Witness with 1 Comment

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Facebook is an amazing reflection of the relationship between the voice in ones head, and voiced expressions. Statuses update regularly with statements about how old, or young, the cashier at the grocery thought that the writer was, a comment that someone’s boss made, and what someone’s teacher said about their child. Various surface interactions don’t often require our full attention, but at times, they consume our full attention and tend to leave us thinking about the exchange of conversation. Later, we facebook about it:

“I can’t believe I got carded at Publix…”

“My son’s teacher told me that I look tired- I must look terrible today!”

“The Walmart cashier asked me when I was due; the baby is 4 months old!”

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

What we say, although seemingly fleeting, often lasts much longer than we realize. I think that we can all relate to an unwelcome harsh word that sticks with us longer than we would like, or the blessing of an uplifting kind word that sticks with us for days, months or even years.

Words that we speak can give someone the discouragement necessary for them to give up on trusting God for something big.

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)  Do 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.

In fact, planting something positive in someone’s life is one of the best ways that you can ever pay it forward. We don’t easily forget the kind things said to us, or on our behalf. The blessing of positive words can be life affirming and can arm a person with confidence and security needed to walk with God, even when it is scary or uncomfortable.

Be Kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle- Plato

Give someone a beautiful gift today by speaking positively into their life. Give somebody something wonderful to facebook about!

The man Joseph

December 8, 2011 in Advent, Character, Jesus with 0 Comments

Advent

Matthew 1:19  And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Who was Joseph and why is it important?  We so often talk about Mary because she is the virgin mother who was chosen by God to bear the Savior.  It was Mary who conceived by the Holy Spirit.  But Joseph was chosen by God to be part of this story as well.

Joseph was a descendent of David, a requirement for the prophesy of the Messiah to come true.  He was the one who was from Bethlehem in Judea, where the Savior was to be born.  It was Joseph who had to return there for the census. But why did he bring Mary along with him?  He wasn’t required to.  Surely one of Mary’s relatives could have cared for her while Joseph made the journey to his hometown.  But word had gotten out about this “virgin” who had conceived a child.  The pressure was put on Joseph to divorce her, or worse, stone her to death.  Joseph likely brought her along to protect her and the child.

But why would he do this?  We learn from the Bible that Joseph was a just man.  And why should that surprise us?  This was to be the man who would play the role of father to the Son of God while he was growing up.  Why would God have picked anyone short of a just man who had integrity and character?  Mary was chosen with good reason, and so was Joseph.  God provided the perfect settings for Jesus to come into the world.

Be excited for good

November 30, 2011 in Character, Discipleship with 0 Comments

True Christianity

Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

When doing good for others, we shouldn’t be doing it out of some sense of obligation or the idea that we’ll gain standing with God if we do good works.  The same is true of when we serve the Lord.  It should be a joy to serve others if we are really doing it with the right motives.

If we say that we’re serving God, but we complain or grumble about what we’re doing, then we don’t exactly come across as serving out of joy.  What message does that send to those who are watching?  This doesn’t mean to put on a fake smile either.  If you’re serving out of obligation and have no real joy or zeal in doing it; what are you left to do?

Search your heart.  Pray that God would convict you where you’re lacking in ferver that He might ignite a fire in you to do good.  Study the Scriptures, seek God’s will, lay aside your own pride and approach Him with a humble heart.  You’ll find that joy will come as you serve if you do it with the right motivation and with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Do good

November 29, 2011 in Character, Church, Discipleship with 0 Comments

True Christianity

Romans 12:10  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Have you ever been part of a church that just didn’t feel like it was really living out the purposes of God?  When that happens it often starts with a lack in the love department.  If Christians can’t love each other, the fellow members of the body of Christ, then there will be no effective ministry.

Paul’s marks of a true Christian reflect not just how a Christian should act, but how Christians should treat each other.  These were not instructions on how to treat people “out there”, but how to treat people “in here” first.  Practicing the love of God and doing good works starts among family and then it spills out into the rest of our relationships.  We must first love and serve our fellow believers.

This is one of the key reasons to belong to a local church fellowship.  A church provides the opportunity to love and serve those who share a faith in Christ before going out and doing it among the people of the world.  A church is a place to be equipped for ministry, and that starts with love and service from and toward your fellow Christians.  Besides that, Christian unity is best perfected within the context of a gathering of believers who make up a family.

Love what is good, hate what is evil, love and serve your Christian brothers and sisters.

Love good

November 28, 2011 in Character, Discipleship with 0 Comments

True Christianity

Romans 12:9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

What are the marks of a true Christian?  We may sometimes wonder how to answer that question, but fortunately for us, the Apostle Paul already did in his letter to the Romans.  Paul lays out a criteria for the true Christian.  It’s not another set of rules to follow, and it’s not all-inclusive, but it’s worth taking a look at.

It’s no surprise that this outline of a true Christian starts with love.  A Christian without love is ineffective and doesn’t present a very good witness.  Paul commends his friends in Rome to be genuine in their love, to hate what is evil, and to hold on to what is good.  This is good advice, but sadly not what many of us think of when we define the Christian life.

Let love be genuine.  In the American church especially there is a tendency to put on a show that isn’t genuine when it comes to love and acceptance.  We want people to believe that we care about them even when we don’t.  But that’s not Christian love.  That’s hypocrisy.  Let your love be genuine.  Work at it.  If you’re struggling with showing someone love, focus on their good points and act out of that.

Hate what is evil.  Again, to pick on the American church, we have become very much a part of the culture around us, even in our churches.  We embrace the world’s things, even when they contradict the way of God.  The only think we’re told to hate as a command is evil and sin.  Instead we often love what is evil and hate what is good.  That has to change.

Hold on to what is good.  Keep focused on the things of God.  Love the things that fit His character, follow after the things that please Him.  This is the beginning of effective Christian living that presents a witness for Christ that others will want to know more about.

Dealing with anger

August 24, 2011 in Character with 0 Comments

Ephesians 4:26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.

God has made it clear that He doesn’t want us to act in anger. Instead, He wants us to act in righteousness, just as He is righteous. He wants us to follow the example set by our Lord Jesus Christ. No one person who has ever lied has so exemplified temperament. Insulted, spat upon. mocked – and that was all before He was tried and hung on a cross – and yet this Man did not act out in anger. How can this be? How was Jesus able to be angry and not sin? And what’s more; how can we follow this example?

Jesus had inside knowledge. He was in on the Father’s ways. You see, Jesus understood that all acting out of anger accomplishes is more anger. He knew that there was no situation so big that God would not handle it. He also understood the importance of relationships.

It’s just not worth it to act out of anger. It’s not worth hurt relationships and it’s not worth showing a bad example of a Christ follower to those who may have their eyes on us. If we trust God, we can let Him be the administrator of justice. We can believe that He will take care of the situation that caused us anger in the first place.

Consider others

August 19, 2011 in Character, Pride with 0 Comments

Pride

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

When we’re prideful we can’t see past ourselves to meet the needs of others.  We view ourselves as the highest priority and we care very little what God wants of us or what others might be feeling.  But a humble spirit puts others first.

All around us are ads, people, groups, businesses and all other manner of communications telling us to put ourselves first and to basically forget about other people and what they want.  You’re #1.  You deserve the best.  But a follower of Christ, a person after His own heart, will not be able to do this without feeling a strong urging to do the opposite.  We’re called to put others first.

This can be taken to an extreme where the person seeking to put others before themselves actually neglects their own needs to their detriment. A balance has to be found though.  We do have things we need and we shouldn’t forget to take care of ourselves. But by considering others more significant than ourselves, we’re just reorganizing our priorities a bit. We’re more courteous, doing things like helping out where we see a need, even when it might make us late.  We’re willing to inconvenience ourselves for the sake of others.  We give our time.  This is humility and God honors it.

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