The Importance of Eschatology

I started reading in 2 Thess. 1:5-10 this morning and realized this is a continuation of my reading and meditation yesterday.  The verses I was reading were Paul's description of the end of the age, which is very similar to the description that Jesus gave in the story of wheat and the weeds (Parable of the Sower).  I think this is a very good indication that what Jesus taught Matt 13 (Not Matt 24) was what was taught later by the Church regarding the end of the Age (world) and the final day of judgment.

Lately the Lord has had me thinking about and studying, in a small way, eschatology (the study of the end-times).  Interestingly, this word was first used in 1844, according to Webster's Dictionary.  So although the teaching of the end of the world and judgment day has been around for a very long time (it was spoken of prophetically in the old testament), the actual study or at least the word is relatively new in the history of Christianity.

I found myself asking the Lord why He had me studying this theme lately and I felt that He gave me the following answer, "It is important, because it affects how you live your life out on earth."  The more I thought about it them more I realized this was a true statement.  Our idea of the end times does affect our faith and our life strategy as a Christian.

If we believe the presently popular Book of Revelations/ Matt 24/Luke 21 based view of the end-times, than every time we see something that looks bad, we start thinking that this is one of the birth-pangs that is signalling the beginning of God's judgments upon the earth.  We tend to see everything from this judgmental perspective, believing that the judgments of God will become more and more severe, finally leading to the return of Jesus.  Our focus is on the judgments, and as such, this becomes our message, 'God is judgmental and sinners are going to suffer, and are suffering for their sins'. We see every natural disaster and every evil force as a validation of our perspective, and rather than praying for mercy, find ourselves hoping for judgment, because that gives credence to our message and hastens or is a sign of the Lord's soon return.  Our witness becomes one of being the herald of judgment, which to me does not sound like "good news" except for those waiting for Jesus return. We spend out time trying to save a last few people before the end of the world, rather than trying to advance the Kingdom of God, and see it increase continually.

The alternative is a perspective that was taught by Jesus (see Matt 13 - parable of the sower), and as I noted above, by Paul which was clearly modelled after Jesus' teaching.  This perspective says that Jesus came and established the Kingdom of God/Heaven here on earth. His Kingdom continues to expand and increase in glory.  At the end of the world there is a day of judgment, but until that day, good and evil people co-exist on the earth.  Our life message in this perspective is supposed to be to love one another and to invite all to restoration of relationship with a loving Father, and a demonstration of the reality of the Kingdom of God through the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit.  In this perspective, our message is not focused on the end of the world, as Jesus' message was not focused on that, but rather on the Kingdom of God, present in our midst.  We are called to advance the Kingdom of God, preaching and demonstrating through the power of the Holy Spirit, the truth. We are called to provide a witness to the Love of God, forgiveness for sins, and restoration of relationship with the Lord.

Paul spent his ministry spreading the gospel (good news) of the Kingdom to unbelievers everywhere (see the last verse of the Book of Acts - Acts 28:31), and the Kingdom of God/Heaven was Jesus' primary topic and message, and that which He spoke about after His resurrection and before His Ascension (See Acts 1:3).  If the end times and coming judgment were supposed to be our primary message, I would think that Jesus, and after Him Paul would have spent their last days teaching about that message, rather than the message of the Kingdom.

In summary, we are called to be ambassadors of the Gospel "Good News" of Jesus Christ.  He spent His years introducing us to the Father, revealing the Father's character and proclaiming and demonstrating the reality that the Kingdom of God/Heaven had been established and was in their midst.  The "Good News" is that we are invited into this new life, and our way in has already been assured through Jesus' blood.  Our participation and inclusion has nothing to do with our works or own righteousness, but is based on Jesus' love and sacrifice.  All we need to do is enter by faith.  The "Good News" is that God loves us and has established His Kingdom in our very midst and we can become members of His Kingdom, while still on earth.  We don't need to wait for Heaven!

So let us be ambassadors of the Love of God and relationship with Him, rather than His coming judgments.

Amen!

The Future Of The Kingdom

This morning I felt like I should read from the Gospel of Matthew.  I love reading the Gospels, hearing what God is like through the life and example of His Son Jesus.  This morning I am thinking about these verses - Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 NIV:

[24] "Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. [25] But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. [26] When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.

[27] “The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'

[28] “ 'An enemy did this,' he replied.

“The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'

[29] “ 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. [30] Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' ”

[36] Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

[37] He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. [38] The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, [39] and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. [40] “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. [41] The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. [42] They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [43] Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear."

So as I read these verses this morning, I realized (I am sure I have before as well) that Jesus is describing His perspective of the growth of the Kingdom of God, until the end of the age and judgement day.  This is a very different picture than what is commonly taught in our churches these days concerning the end times.  If we look at what Jesus said here, there is no significant increase of weeds until they take over most of the field.  There is no description of end-times trials and plagues, just good and evil living together until the final judgment day.  Make no mistake there will be a day of judgment, but it is not before the final end of the age.

Secondly, the Lord does not act in judgment until the end of the age.  He allows the evil to co-exist with the good, knowing that if He brought judgment upon the evil the good would be hurt as well.  In Genesis 18:16-33 we have the story of Abraham pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah, cities of exceedingly evil people.  Here is God's final response to Abraham - Genesis 18:32 NIV: "Then he (Abraham) said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”  This is the heart of God, for the sake of 10 righteous people, he would not destroy a whole city of evil people, and that is before Jesus took upon Himself the punishment of every sin.  How is it then that we have developed a theology that says God will judge whole nations or cities for the sins of just some of its citizens??  I find that thought completely at odds with what Jesus teaches us here about His Kingdom which He established here on earth.  The future of the world sounds very different in this version than in the version being preached in most western churches these days.  Personally, I will believe Jesus' version as laid out here.

Our Identity And Nationality In Christ

This morning I am plowing up some new ground for me, around the topic of our national identity as Christians.  There are some popular themes in the body of Christ revolving around the coming punishment of certain nations because of that nation's sins.  There is a certain amount of fear and plenty of judgment associated with these words of warning and impending punishment.

First I would say that my personal belief is that these words come from a certain old testament mindset and understanding, but do not fully align with the revelation of God's character in the person of Jesus.  Secondly, they are often strengthened by an interpretation of the Book of Revelations, and some of Jesus' words concerning days of judgment that were coming upon the Jews, which although popular, does not seem to align with the rest of the scriptural revelation.  These are broad topics, and can not be covered sufficiently here, but the topic of our national identity or citizenship is my focus today, which is an important topic in this arena.

Foundationally it is important to know that we Christians are all the same in Jesus Christ.  What I mean is that we are all connected directly to Him, and find our identity in Him.  Relationally, we are all directly sons and daughters of the Father, no grand-children here.  We are all equally members of His family, members of the Church, members of the Body of Christ. There is a level of freedom available to us in this dispensation that allows us each to be in relationship with the Lord, and not aligned with a particular body, nation, tribe or people group, and taking our identity from that group.  Thus, the idea of God punishing us for the sins of our previous national identity, would be incorrect on two counts:

1) Jesus took the punishment for all our sins - see Heb. 7:27  (If Jesus took our punishment, why would the Father dole out more punishment?  Was the sacrifice of Jesus not enough to pay for the sins of all men?)

2) There is no national identity anymore in Christ -

Galatians 3:26-28 NIV: "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

- And-

1 Corinthians 9:19-20 NIV:  "Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. [20] To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law."


The idea here is that if we can't be identified by our nationality anymore in Christ, than we can't be held responsible for punishment for crimes and sins committed by those nations, in God's Eyes.  This is really a theme that is related to the relationship of the individual to Christ, rather than through our people group, which was an old covenant model and mind-set.  There is a much larger reality in this image of the Body of Christ, one that I don't think we fully grasp, at least I know I don't.  This idea of being hidden in Christ (Col 3:3), being one in Him (Gal 3:28), means that our former identity is washed away, and we have a new identity in Him, solely in Him.  There is a freedom from the law, freedom from the judgment that went with the law.

 Here is another verse of similar thematic content: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 NIV: "Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. [13] For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body---whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free---and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. [14] Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many."

The idea here is that we are all members of the same body, but each associated to our function in the body, not our identity prior to being part of the Body of Christ.  We are a new creation and part of His body.

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV: "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

- And -

Ephesians 2:19 NIV: "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household,.."

- And -

Philippians 3:20-21 NIV: "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

- And -

Colossians 3:11 NIV: "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."

Peter writes something very similar - 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10 NIV:

[4] "As you come to him, the living Stone---rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him--- [5] you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

[9] "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

The Greek word that Peter uses here is Laos and it means - " a people, people group, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language".  Before we did not all belong to a single nation or tribe, but now we all are the people (nation) of God.

I was reminded of the writing of one of the early Christian apologists who wrote to his pagan friend  Diognetus an explanation of Christianity.  This epistle was likely written between 150 and 225AD, and is one of the earliest written specifically to those outside the Body of Christ.  As such, the author included much that would not be seen in normal writings from that time to members of the Body of Christ.  Here is a quote - Epistle to Diognetus 5:1-6, 9-10

[1] "For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or customs. [2] For nowhere do they live in cities of there own, nor do they speak some unusual dialect, nor do they practice an eccentric lifestyle. [3] This teaching of theirs has not been discovered by the  thought and reflection of ingenious men, nor do they promote any human doctrine, as some do. [4] But while they live in both Greek and barbarian cities, as each one's lot was cast, and follow the local customs in dress and food and other aspects of life, at the same time they demonstrate the remarkable and admittedly unusual character of their own citizenship. [5] They live in their own countries, but only as aliens, they participate in in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their fatherland, and every fatherland is foreign....[9]They live on the earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. [10] They obey the established laws; indeed in their private lives they transcend the laws."

I don't include this as some scriptural level text, but rather as an example of the lifestyles of the early Christian brethren.  The author was pointing Diognetus towards something that he could verify with observation.  This was the way the early members of the Body of Christ lived.  They were from every tribe, nation and tongue and yet they shared a common citizenship and perspective.  They stood out, not for their dress or language, but by their attitude about their new nationality.  The author went on to explain that it was this characteristic and by their love for each other that you could tell a Christian.

In summary, as Christians we have a new identity in Christ Jesus. In God's eyes we are no longer identified by our previous national or group membership, but are now members of His Body.  We are called to pray for the nations and geographies in which we live (1 Tim 2:1-2), but our true citizenship transcends these boundaries and labels.  We are free of all such ties, in God's eyes, so why would He punish us along with the rest of any nation, if He indeed were doling out punishment?  Instead of punishing, it seems to me that He wants to bless, and as members of His Body, we have access to all His blessing and goodness.  God is not going to allow His Son to suffer the punishment for our sins AGAIN, and we are members of His body so we will not experience God's punishment for sins.

As Paul wrote to the Galatians 3:1-5, 26-29 NIV:

[1] "You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. [2] I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? [3] Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? [4] Have you experienced so much in vain---if it really was in vain? [5] So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?"

[26] "So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, [27] for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

And finally, Paul writes to the  Galatians 5:1 NIV: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery."  The Law and its punishments no longer pertain to us, Christ has set us free from them, and that is the yoke Paul speaks of here.  We live under the new covenant, established by the blood of Christ, one that gives us freedom and a new identity in Him.

Believe, Love And Live

This morning I am reading from 1 John 3:23-24 NIV:

[23] "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. [24] The one who keeps God's commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us."

Wow, talk about boiling the Christian walk down into its simplest form!  I think John pretty much nailed it in these  two verses.

We are called to believe in the name of His Son - Jesus Christ.  It is by faith, not works that we enter into and experience the grace of the new covenant.  We believe that by His Name, and by His actions we are saved, through no work of our own (Gal 2:16).

We are called to love one another as He commanded us.  It is not enough to believe, but this belief (faith) must show itself in our actions, or as James says, it is dead (James 2:17).

These are the two commands we are to keep - "believe in Jesus' name" and "Love one another".  It is that simple.  If we keep these commands then He lives in us (John14:20), and we live in Him, hidden in Him (Col 3:3). What a place of security and intimacy!

We know this is true, by the gift of the Holy Spirit!  He is evidently present.  In other words, we know He is present by the evidence of His empowering and gifts in our lives.  When the Holy Spirit fell on people, all those around could tell, for there was evidence (see Acts 10:44-46 for an example). We want to make room for and allow the Holy Spirit to be evident in our lives and our life together.  He is God in our midst!  He brings far more than just inspired thinking or wisdom, He brings real power that is evident to all!

Lord, we pray that You will help us to embrace and live this simple, yet beautiful lifestyle.  Help us to quiet the many demands that religion would put on us, telling us that it is faith plus works that is required.  Help us to believe, love and live in You.

Pray AND Love

This  morning I am continuing my following of the theme of prayer, and am thinking on the following verses from Paul's letter to 1 Timothy 2:1-6, 8 NIV:

[1] "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--- [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. [3] This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time."

[8] "Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing."

The list of actions that Paul urges us to seems to be a bit redundant in our translation - but each of those words was chosen specifically and have distinct meanings:

The NASB translates the list as follows -  "entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings"

The Greek words are Deesis, Proseuche, Enteuxis, and Eucharistia.

The definitions are as follows:

1.  Deesis - A) need, indigence, want, privation, penury B) seeking, asking, entreating, entreaty to God or to man  -  so understanding someone's needs and asking humbly for the need to be met.

2. Proseuche - A) prayer addressed to God - pretty self explanatory

3. Enteuxis - A) a falling in with, meeting with B) an interview C) a coming together D) a conference or conversation E) a petition, supplication - the sense here is that there is a deeper understanding and communication that occurs.  The falling in with, meeting with and coming together denotes not just prayer for someone, but being with them where they are, really understanding their situation and circumstances.  This is involves engagement at a personal level.

4. Eucharista - A) thankfulness  B) the giving of thanks - again, this is pretty self explanatory

I find it interesting that each of these can be directed to God, but only proseuche actually means prayer directly to God.  So if I understand this correctly, there is room in this verse for action beyond prayer to God, which is the most important, but also to include other sources (kings and others in authority).  So it would be right to pursue help for one another through the civil authorities, and Paul would encourage that apparently.  

I also think Paul would echo these words from 1 John 3:17-18 NIV: "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." It is so easy to tell someone that we will pray for them, it is a whole other thing to actually do something for that person, meeting their need out of our own resources, or helping them to get real help, even if you can't provide the help yourself.

We are encouraged to pray, petition, intercede and give thanks for the authorities, and rulers.  The whole idea of separation of Church and state does not exist in Paul's mind, in fact he calls us to active engagement on their behalf.  He understands that by engaging and interacting and bringing God's perspective and blessing to these people, all people will be blessed and able to pursue God in peace.  I am reminded of the story of Joseph, where God blesses the nation of Egypt through Joseph's wisdom, practical understanding and vision.  Egypt was anything but a Godly nation, yet God blessed His people through Egypt.

Finally, our call is to pray above all else.  This involves communication with God, conversation really, not a monologue of needs.  It is OK to have lists that we pray, but we want to be listening to what God has to say in response to our petitions.  In my experience God is very practical and very ready to provide direction and guidance, insight and perspective if I will only take time to actually listen to Him.

Let us pray for each other, for ourselves, for our communities and let us listen to what God has to say and be ready to take action.  "This is right and pleases God" (1Tim 2:3).  Our love is not meant to just be "words or speech but with action and truth."

Amen.

Cover Ourselves With Love

This morning I am reflecting on the following passages from Paul's letter to the Colossians 3:9-14 NIV:

[9] "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices [10] and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. [11] Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."

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

These verses seem to fall inline with the recent theme of covering ourselves and one another. Starting at verse 12, if I replace 'clothe yourselves" with 'cover yourselves' which is an equivalent statement, we see how love and the other virtues (or character qualities) are meant to cover us.  What we cover ourselves with affects our interactions with one another.  If I am covered with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and forgiveness then when I relate to others that is what they will experience.  It is impossible to cover ourselves with those character qualities (virtues) and not have our mind and heart affected as well.

It is interesting that love is what binds all the others together in unity.  As Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians, if I don't have love than everything else is pretty much empty (paraphrase of 1 Cor 13:1-3).  According to Paul, love is the outer garment or covering, the first thing that people should experience.  How often do we reserve love as the last thing that people experience, only showing them love after they have proved themselves worthy?

As I was writing that I realized this is probably the one initial thing that made Jesus so attractive, He saw and reacted to everyone through love!  Since God is love (1 John 4:8) and Jesus and the Father were one (John 10:30) then He must have been full of love.  It is hard not to be attracted to one who loves you.  When I know that someone loves me, I am not worried about whether they will accept me.

Going back to the first verses I quoted, Paul is basically saying as we embrace our new identity in Christ, all the labels we have used in the past disappear, both for ourselves and for all others in the Body of Christ.  We are no longer allowed to label ourselves with any name except His.  Christ Jesus "is all and is in all" who are are united with Him in faith.  I know that I have recently been shown my own judgmental ways, quickly labeling people I see before I ever even meet them.  I am so quick to judge, and that is not love.  If the first thing I do is judge, than the covering I am walking around in is judgment not love.  Ouch!

Lord, I pray that You will help me to put off my old self and my judgmental ways and labels.  Help me to put on my new self which is in the image of You.  Help me to cover myself with love, and all the other character qualities that You possess in abundance. Help me to allow You to shine out of me through love, for You are love.

Amen!

Our Invitation Is Here Now!

The other morning I was thinking about what was the single most important verse in scripture, just wondering what the Lord would say?  It is not a question I have an answer too, but something I have been pondering.

Jesus came to reveal the Father and make a way for all men to be able to go to the Father. His life message was the good news (literally the Gospel), the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth (Matt 4:23) and God's love and interaction by evidence of the miracles.  I was reading in John yesterday and while probably not high in most people's list of the most important scripture passages, the following verses seem to me to encapsulate much of the Gospel.

John 14:8-14 NIV:

[8] "Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

[9] Jesus answered: “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? [10] Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. [11] Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. [12] Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. [13] And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Look at Jesus' statements, and the significance of each of them.

1) "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."  There is no clearer statement by Jesus that He is representing the Father.  The author of the letter to the Hebrews says Jesus was the exact representation of the Father (Heb 1:3).  Jesus meant exactly what He said - He was doing exactly what the Father would do in the each and every situation and circumstance.

2) 'I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.'  Following the point above, complete intimacy and unity of thought and action. This is actually similar to the unity they have as the Trinity, but obviously limited by Jesus humanity and His having emptied Himself of His divinity (Phil 2:6-8). This is a level of spiritual intimacy so significant that Jesus was saying we were seeing the Father when we saw Him.

3) "The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority.  Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work."  The very words Jesus spoke were also coming from the very mouth of God the Father.  I guess that makes sense since Jesus is The Word of God.  So, when we read the words of Jesus, as quoted in Scripture, we are hearing the Father speak.  Not a single word of Jesus was incorrect or mistaken!  We cannot ignore His words.

4)  "Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves."  The miracles, healings, deliverances, signs and wonders were all meant to prove to us that what Jesus is saying here was indeed true.  Those signs were always, throughout scripture, indications of God's active involvement, and are no less so now, except now He is operating through His Son, every day, all day long, speaking and acting, and showing Himself present and involved.  Just think of the thousands of people that were healed, delivered, touched, and set free. Jesus' ministry was unlike anything they had ever seen in the entire history of their people, and this was meant to prove that Jesus was directly representing the Father.

5)  "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these..."  When Jesus says "very truly" the actual words He said were "Amen, Amen".  I believe He said it twice for significance so that we wouldn't miss the point.  The point was that "whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing"!  The Greek word used here means "To make" or "To do".  That sounds quite a bit like creation.  That is the point, we are called to do the same things that Jesus was doing, which are the same things the Father was doing, and He is the Creator.  He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, and forgiving (Ex 34:6-7) and we know this by His actions among us.  Amazingly, He invites us to do these same things, 'to make' or 'to do' as He shows us.  This is not just an invitation to join Him in Heaven once we die, but rather and invitation to represent Him AND do His works here and now!  Wow!

6) "I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."  This is another mind-blowing statement and it relates directly to the previous point.  He will do, will make, whatever we ask in His Name.  What He means by in His name is the same thing He meant when He said that everything He says and does is from the Father, in His Name (in which is embodied His character).  This "in His name" is indicative of intimacy and authority, and active direction.  It is supposed to Jesus in us, doing His work, not us adding His name to something we want to do.  When we enter into this level of intimacy and obedience He will work through us, bringing glory to Himself, and to The Father.

In summary, we are invited and called to the same ministry that Jesus demonstrated while here on earth, the representation of the Father to those around us.  We are invited into intimacy with Him, so that we might know what He is doing, and do the same things.  We are invited here and now!

Amen and Amen!

Prayer and Responsibility

The other evening, my good friend Dave asked an interesting question regarding providing spiritual covering.  We talked briefly about it, but there really isn't much in scripture about that specific topic.  Here are some scriptures I have found yesterday and this morning concerning our call and responsibilities towards each other.  By no means is this an exhaustive look at this topic, but rather a quick coverage of the basic themes surrounding the topic, personal responsibility, our call as members of the Body of Christ, and Jesus' role.

The scriptures -

John 13:34 NIV
[34] “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

1 Peter 4:8 NIV
[8] "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

John 17:11-12, 15 NIV
[11] "I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. [12] While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled."

[15] "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."

1 Corinthians 13:6-7 NIV
[6] "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. [7] It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

If I read this correctly, basically the love we have for one another, the care we give to each other is the covering.  Jesus himself prays and prayed over us and provides us the protective covering by the power of His name.

There is an idea in the Church that in some way we are responsible to provide spiritual covering, and somehow are responsible for people under us, but I don't know that really fits into the reality of each of us being directly a son and daughter of the Lord, nor does it really have any New Testament scriptural basis that I can find so far.  To be clear, by responsibility, I mean that we in some way are held accountable by the Lord for someone else's life and choices. There is certainly a part of that which is true for Fathers and Mothers of children, but once children are of age to make their own decisions, they begin having responsibility for their own decisions.

In the old testament, there are a few sections in Ezekiel that speak of responsibilities to stand in the gap and provide warnings to the people:

Ezekiel 22:30-31 NIV
[30] “I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. [31] So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord. ”

Ezekiel 33:7-9 NIV
[7] “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. [8] When I say to the wicked, 'You wicked person, you will surely die, ' and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. [9] But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved."

- and finally a section on how each person is responsible for their own sin...

Ezekiel 33:12-20 NIV
[12] “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, 'If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person's former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person's former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.' [13] If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. [14] And if I say to a wicked person, 'You will surely die,' but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right--- [15] if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil---that person will surely live; they will not die. [16] None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.

[17] “Yet your people say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. [18] If a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, they will die for it. [19] And if a wicked person turns away from their wickedness and does what is just and right, they will live by doing so. [20] Yet you Israelites say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to your own ways.”


When I look at the earlier sections from Ezekiel, these roles, both one who stands in the gap to turn back judgement, and speaking to individuals - warning them of the dangers of their sin, are what the Lord does in each of our lives.  He is the Lord, the only one capable of saving anyone.  His blood covers us and protects us from the enemy and punishment for our sins.  He sits at the right hand of the Father constantly interceding for us.  He covers us, and hides us within Himself, providing us His righteousness. He is our primary intercessor, and He is our saviour.  He alone. The following verse from the letter to the Hebrews speaks of His intercession and His priestly role.

Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV:
[24] "...but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. [25] Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

The Holy Spirit, as part of the God-head also intercedes for us as described in the following two verse:

Romans 8:26-27 NIV:
[26] "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. [27] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."

So, putting these verses together and looking at the sections of Ezekiel, we see that Jesus is our intercessor and our savior.  He is the one we must turn to, each of us individually.  Each of us bears the consequences of our own sin and decisions.  We are each judged for our own ways.  Thus, while we want to cover each other with love and prayer, each of us is truly responsible for themselves before the Lord.

After writing this and thinking a bit more about this, I felt like the Lord said that there is also legitimate role of intercessor in the church and one that we can be invited to partake in.  This can be both a gift and calling. We are also called to pray for each other, and prayers are definitely effective. Praying for each other is part of our loving one another.  Paul was constantly asking his fellow members of the Body of Christ to pray for him.  He was constantly praying for all the churches and their members.  We are encouraged to pray for each other constantly.

Here are just some verses on prayer and the role of intercession (as described but not mentioned specifically):

Romans 15:30-32 NIV:
[30] "I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. [31] Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord's people there, [32] so that I may come to you with joy, by God's will, and in your company be refreshed."

That verse very clearly show the invitation to intercession in a place of prayer.

Acts 12:5 NIV:
"So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him."

2 Corinthians 1:10-11 NIV:
[10] "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, [11] as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

Ephesians 6:18-20 NIV:
[18] "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. [19] Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."

James 5:16 NIV:
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

1 Timothy 2:1-6 NIV:
[1] "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people--- [2] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. [3] This is good, and pleases God our Savior, [4] who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, [6] who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time."

So we are urged and encouraged to pray for each other, for the Body of Christ, for leaders, for nations, for salvation to come, for protection and effective ministry.  Jesus told us to pray for God's Kingdom to come to earth.  Prayer is one of the core pillars of the Church.  It is vitally important and part of our call and invitation as a member of the Body of Christ. We are invited, but no where do I see the Lord say we are held responsible for specific prayers or covering someone in prayer.

So let us pray for each other, love each other deeply and give ourselves to the Lord, our savior, redeemer and intercessor.

Amen!

Sinners and Lost Sheep

This morning I am reading out of Luke's Gospel.  I find myself constantly drawn back to the Gospels, as I love to read about and meditate on Jesus, and His life and actions.  He exactly represents the Father (Heb. 1:3), so as I understand Him, I understand the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Here are the verses I am thinking about today - Luke 15:1-7 NIV:

[1] "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. [2] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

[3] "Then Jesus told them this parable: [4] “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? [5] And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders [6] and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' [7] I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

As I read these verses and the rest of the chapter in Luke, it is clear that the Lord is addressing the issue of sin, sinners and the Father's heart towards such as these.  He is addressing the Pharisees, in front of the sinners and tax-collectors, and talking about the latter.  If there ever was a teachable moment for the Pharisees, this was it.  They were on the spot, in front of those they had judged sinners, and Jesus attempts to open their eyes to the Father's heart concerning sinners.

The Pharisees carried themselves above others, believing themselves righteous by their own works.  They did everything they could to remain righteous, including separating themselves from the so-called "sinners".  According to the law, to accidentally touch anything that was touched by one who was unclean would make them unclean (Num 19:22), and they couldn't risk that happening, so they effectively separated themselves from any interaction with sinners. This was one of their main issues with Jesus, for He actually hung out with sinners so He couldn't possibly be from the Father, who required only righteousness.

Jesus' actions and words completely rejected this notion and idea.  This story is a great example, for the lost sheep represents the sinner and the Father's heart is seen in the one who searches for the lost sheep.  Rather than rejecting the sinner the shepherd goes in search of them, for there is value in that lost sheep.  The people understood this story, if for no other reason than they understood the value of the sheep. Jesus tells the next story about a woman who lost a coin to illustrate the idea of the lost being valuable (see Luke 15: 8-10).  Jesus makes it clear that the Father values those that are lost and rather than rejecting them, goes in search of them, and rejoices when they are found and brought home!  This is such a different picture of the Father than the angry God waiting in heaven to punish the sinner.  The image of the angry God was an incorrect understanding of God popular amongst the "righteous" of Jesus time, and unfortunately a teaching that continues to be preached today.

Jesus tells the story of the lost son in this same chapter of Luke's Gospel, and one of the main point in that story is the Father's heart toward his son who clearly sins against Him.  The Father, rather than punishing him, welcomes him back and restores him to relationship and to his position in the family (see Luke 15: 11-32).   This is such an amazing story of the Father's heart towards us, and it just like the lost sheep in this story, there is rejoicing when the lost returned home!

Finally, Jesus last statement in verse 7, about the ninety-nine righteous, is interesting and important to understand.  He was speaking to the Pharisees who considered themselves righteous, and thus saw no reason or need to repent. Jesus was not talking about their value to  the Father, for they all had equal value.  Rather He was making a counter-point here, for the Pharisees would have said that statement exactly the opposite.  They thought they were the ones that heaven would be rejoicing over, for they were the righteous (self-appointed).  Jesus is describing the Father's heart toward sinners once more and He wanted the people to clearly understand that sinners were welcome.  The Father, rather than rejecting the sinners, welcomes them and rejoices when they return home.

This morning I am encouraged to look to my own attitudes and actions towards "sinners", myself included.  I am encouraged to look at my understanding of the Father and how I approach Him when I sin.  I am encouraged to look at how we as a Church interact with the lost.  I am encouraged to open my heart and welcome fellow "sinners".  They need us to help them to understand the Father's heart towards them, for the enemy continues to try to convince us all that the Father is an angry God waiting to punish the sinners, and that just isn't the case!

Love That Is Sincere - In Action And Truth

This morning I was continuing my reading from Paul's letter to the Romans, and as I read the following verses was immediately reminded of something John wrote in his first letter.  Here are the verses from Paul - Romans 12:9-13 NIV:

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

And here are the verses from John - 1 John 3:16-18 NIV:

[16] "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. [17] If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? [18] Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

I guess the theme of being active and using our gifts for the benefit of each other continues.  The Lord Jesus gave us a new commandment - to love one another  (John 13:34) and everything that relates to the Body of Christ flows from that command.  Our love is meant to be real, and active and something we practice, not just talk about with good intentions.  The use of and growth in our gifts, must flow out of this love for one another.  Our encouragement to each other and recognition of one another's significance in the Body of Christ should flow out of this love.  True love, as defined by John, and Jesus in His actions, is sacrificial to ourselves.  We are called to lift each other up by laying down our lives.

These words are relatively easy to write, but far more challenging to live out.  It is not so much the actual loving each other that is hard, but rather the overcoming our selfishness and worldly perspectives.  Our natural proclivity is to put ourselves first and look to our own needs and wants before we look to others.  We believe that if we want to get ahead in life we need to invest in ourselves, build ourselves up, and look out for number one (ourselves).  What Jesus demonstrated, and John calls us to, is the exact opposite.

I am sitting here writing this and looking at my life and realizing how far I have to go before I can truly say that I am living my life in such a way that my love is real and active.  I could be overwhelmed by my own selfishness and lack of real evidence in so many areas of my life, but instead I recognize that the path forward is by taking small steps.  I can choose to repent (change the way I think and then the way I act) and work at doing better in the big and small ways.  The Lord is patient and Loving (what a surprise) and willing to help me and encourage me over and over again.  The Holy Spirit provides me the power, and love (2 Tim 1:7) and self-discipline to live my life in this way.  All I need to do is choose to do so.

Lord, thank You for this encouragement today.  Help me to live my life in such a way that I am loving others, just as You loved me.  Help me to lay down my life that I might lift up my brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.  Help me to make my love sincere, in action and truth.

Make Way For The THEN...

This morning I have been grazing on Paul's letter to the Romans.  I love reading large swaths of scripture and just letting the word settle into my heart.  I was reading over the following scripture and had a very simple thought enter my mind.  Here are the verses - Romans 12:4-8 NIV:

[4] "For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, [5] so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. [6] We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; [7] if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; [8] if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

I have always read these verses as a description of some of the gifts the Lord distributes, and it is that.  However, this morning the Lord highlighted something that was consistent across all the gifts, namely that they are meant to be used.  If your gift is prophecy, THEN prophesy, serving THEN serve, teaching THEN teach, encouragement THEN encourage, giving THEN give, etc.  The gifts are NOT given to sit on a shelf, they are meant to be used, and in the use of them, to become mature and more fruitful.  If we have been given a gift THEN we are called to use the gift.

As the Body of Christ, we must provide opportunities for all to exercise their gifts, to practice, to mature.  How else will we be built up and grow?  Most churches provide opportunities to serve, some even provide opportunities for 10-20% of the members to exercise their gifts, but what about everyone else?  It is my belief that the Body needs the gifts of all, functioning and mature. To enable this we must embrace a culture that values all the people and all their gifts.  Who are we to decide which gifts, given by the Lord, are more or less valuable.  I think that if the Lord imparted them, then they must be extremely valuable and of great importance to the Body of Christ.

Let us pray for new paradigms and new perspectives in the Body of Christ that enable and invest in the gifts of us all.  Let us work to develop and grow, using the gifts that we have been given, according to the grace given us, and our faith.  Let us make way for the gifts of all to mature and grow. Let us make way for the THEN.

The "Power" Of The Holy Spirit

This morning I felt that I should read a bit from 2 Timothy.  It really is pretty amazing that two personal letters from Paul to Timothy are part of our canon, for they were so significant in content and teaching that the Church felt they should be included along side the other letters from Paul. He truly was an incredible witness to Christ,and a tireless evangelist.  The few verses I am focusing on today are as follows -   2 Timothy 1:6-12 NIV:

[6] "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [7] For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. [8] So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. [9] He has saved us and called us to a holy life---not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, [10] but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. [11] And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. [12] That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

There are several things that stand out to me as I read these verses.  First, the fact that the Spirit of God gives us power, love and self-discipline.  The Holy Spirit is not a weak spirit, or barely noticeable in His efforts.  He is powerful, bringing us gifts and understanding, the ability to love others and control our own bodies.  His gifts and charisms are life changing and critical to the life of the Body of Christ.  There is an empowering that changes lives, changes our perspectives, and changes the world.

I have heard the Holy Spirit described as basically a conscience infused with God's Wisdom that helps us make wise decision.  This description of the Holy Spirit pretty much limited Him to that role in our modern day church.  I think Paul would have a very different perspective.  All Paul's ministry was Holy Spirit powered.  This was not some gift that enabled Paul to be wise and follow God's leading, but rather was His very life, His source of strength, and the demonstrated reality of God's interaction with us.  Paul spoke of the Power of God, the Power of the Holy Spirit 70 times in His letters.  He said radical things like the following -

[4] "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, [5] so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power." (1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NIV)

"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power." (1 Corinthians 4:20)

"...because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction..." (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

"I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done--- [19] by the power of signs and wonders, through the power of the Spirit of God. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:18-19 NIV)

Paul, from the moment of his first encounter with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, was aware that there was power and authority available to those that believed, and he relied upon the infilling of Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-18).  Paul understood that the Holy Spirit was present to demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God to those who did not believe.  He relied upon the Holy Spirit's power to convince people of the truth that he spoke, not trusting in his own words, but rather in the indelible workings of the Holy Spirit.  He wanted people's faith to rest upon the power of God, not his words (1 Cor 2:5).  Oh, that we would step back into this understanding and practice.

Paul also recognized that the Holy Spirit empowered him to love others with a supernatural ability, loving those that hated him, persecuted him, and beat him.  He understood that is ability to stand in the midst of suffering was because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes the following -  "I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. [24] Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,.." (2 Corinthians 11:23-25 NIV)  All of these experiences were survived through the power of the Holy Spirit giving life to his earthly body.  In spite of all of this suffering, he continued o burn with passion for the Lord, and love all he encountered.  Clearly this is not the strength of a natural man.

My final thought concerning these verses from Paul's letter to Timothy are that Paul also understood his selection had nothing to do with his own efforts or works.  In fact it was the exact opposite, he had done what he could to destroy the church, attacking the believers of Jesus and throwing them into prison, standing by while Stephen was stoned, and doing all he could to put an end to the ministry of the other Apostles.  None of those actions earned him the right to become Jesus' chosen herald (which shouldn't be surprising), yet the Lord chose him.  Paul put it like this - "not because of anything we have done but because of his (Jesus) own purpose and grace."(2 Tim 1:9)  If anyone understood the message of grace, and forgiveness of sins, it was Paul.  He understood that the Lord had chosen him, had forgiven him, had showed him unmerited favor, had given him power and authority far beyond anything he had ever experienced, and loved him in spite of all of his own sins and shortcomings.  He embraced the Lord, embraced the gifts and lived his life to bring Glory to Jesus.

So, this morning I am encouraged to lean into the Holy Spirit, expecting and relying upon His power.  I am encouraged to fan into flame the gifts the Lord has poured into me, that I might in some small way pay back the Lord by bringing Glory to His name. Nothing I have ever done, nor ever will do will be enough to earn me anything that comes close to what the Lord has already given me.

Thank You Lord for your amazing and unmerited blessings and gifts.

Prophetic Voices And Their Fruit

This morning I was reading through some of Matthew's Gospel, and the following verses caught my eye - Matthew 7:15-20 NIV:

[15] “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. [16] By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

As I  was reading through these verses, which Jesus spoke as a warning to His disciples, I thought about the call of the New Testament prophetic ministry.  I thought about the fact that so many "prophetic" voices seem to focus on doom and destruction, sowing fear and calling out judgment.  I find this very interesting fruit, when one considers the following verses from 1 John 4:11-18 NIV:

[11] "Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [12] No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

[13] "This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. [14] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. [15] If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. [16] And so we know and rely on the love God has for us."

"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. [17] This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. [18] There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

God's call is to love!  The fruit of love is not fear, it is the antithesis of fear, according to John.  What is the good fruit that Jesus says we should see coming from  those that minister by the Holy Spirit?  Quite simply the fruit of the Spirit as described here by Paul in his letter to the Galatians 5:22-23 NIV: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."  I believe that as we look at the fruit of the "prophetic" voices, we can tell which of them speak from the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Paul, further described the purpose of the prophetic ministry in his letter to the Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV:

[11] "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

[14] "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

The purpose of the these ministries, including the prophetic, is the building up of the Body of Christ, and the equipping of the Body for works of service, aiding the members of the Body to grow and mature and stand strong against the winds and waves of alternative teaching.  If the words coming out of someone's mouth are not building up the Body of Christ, are not loving, then again we can tell by the fruit that they are not faithfully representing the ministry of the Jesus.

Finally we do see that there were prophets in the New Testament who foretold things, but it was for preparation and provision for the Body of Christ that these prophecies were made, not to incite fear, or call down judgment upon a fallen society (see Acts 11:27-30).  The result of this particular prophecy was that people helped others in the church.  There is no mention of judgment, just direction and action, allowing the Body to strengthen itself and prepare.

So, let us be wary of the voices we listen to, the voices that take scripture and use them to incite fear, panic, judgment, pride or anything else that is not a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  We are called to love the Lord and each other, and by this love to be a light to the lost.  The fruit of the prophetic should be inline with this core call, and by the fruit we can recognize those that are false (Matt 7:16).

Love and Compassion - Jesus' Mindset

This morning I was reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians 2:1-7 NIV:

[1] "Therefore 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, [2] then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. [3] Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, [4] not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

[5] "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: [6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; [7] rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."

Recently I have been very aware of this repeating theme of service to the Body of Christ.  When Paul writes of the mindset of Christ, He is speaking of this very theme.  For Jesus in teaching  and demonstration showed and modeled servant leadership.  He showed the Apostles and disciples the value of service, and in that service the value of the individual, the lowly, afflicted and lonely.  His example of humility and service in now way devalues himself, but is rather something spurred from deep love and compassion.  it is in unity with Him, The Holy Spirit, and the Father that these characteristics are most fully expressed and exhibited.

Love and compassion were two of the things Jesus most consistently demonstrated in all His dealings with those He encountered.  Those characteristics were two of the main  characteristics that the Father revealed to Moses when He showed Himself.   Here is the verse from Exodus 34:6 NIV: ..."And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,..."  In embracing this call from Paul, we are entering into the character of God, revealing His nature through our actions and demonstrating His heart.

Let us learn to treat each other as the Lord treated us.  Let us embody His love, compassion, graciousness, faithfulness and forgiveness.  Let us lift each other up, joining ourselves to Him.  As we all do so, we will be directed and guided into unity an like-mindedness, for if we all have His mindset, then we will have the same mind. If we pursue His heart and embrace Him, we will be united, for that is His very heart as a member of the Holy Trinity.  As we learn to live our lives for the Body of Christ, rather than for ourselves, we will naturally begin to look to others, looking for ways to lift them up, encourage them and help them grow and mature in Christ.  As they do so, the whole Body of Christ is built-up.  This is our call and invitation.

Lord, we pray that You will help us all to embrace these verses and live our lives for each other and for You.  Amen!

An Interesting Thought...I Wonder?

This morning I am reading from John's Gospel, Chapter 19, and found myself wondering about the following statement made by John, and eye-witness to Jesus crucifixion - John 19:25-27 NIV:

[25] "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. [26] When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” [27] and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

Here are a very similar set of verses from Matthews Gospel - Matthew 27:55-56 NIV:

[55] "Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. [56] Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee's sons."

In both sections we see two other Mary's (Mary Magdalene, and one listed as Mary wife of Clopas, the other as Mary, mother of James and Joseph.  It would seem possible that the latter Mary was indeed the same person, The wife of Clopas and the mother of James and Joseph.  So, that leaves the other woman - named as Mary's sister  by John, and named as the mother of Zebedee's sons by Matthew.  John was Zebedee's son (Luke 5:10).  If both of these sets of verses are talking about the same woman, than that would make the mother of Zebedee's sons, the sister of Mary, and would make James and John, Jesus' cousins!  How is that for conjecture?  I wonder if it might be true?

I also thought that would make some sense to verse 26 & 27 where Jesus tells John to take His mother as His own, for John would be inviting his Aunt into his house.  I also think that might have to do with the protection that was over John, for James was killed early on, but John survived to be an old man.  Jesus clearly cared for His mother, and placed her into John's care, and would have likely ordained her protection as well.

Finally, there always seemed more to the story of Peter and Andrew and James and John, their calling and immediate response.  If James and John were Jesus' cousins, isn't it likely that Jesus had spent some time in his childhood years at his cousin's house? We know Mary was close to her relative (cousin) Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist, and visited her at her home (Luke  1:39-44).  Elizabeth lived in Judea and Mary lived in Galilee which is quite a trip.  Capernaum, the city which is where Jesus moved to when He began His ministry was located in Galilee,  not that far from Nazareth.

Anyway, it makes little difference to the Gospel, but it is an interesting conjecture.  I believe the Lord is very interested in family, relationships and relations.  They are the God ordained organization in which we find our key identities and as such there is blessing that flows through and within them.  There are whole families that are assigned certain roles in the Temple, the family of Aaron were priests (Ex 29:), the family of Asaph were singers and prophets (1 Chron 25:1-8) the whole tribe of Levi set apart for service to the Lord (Num 3:6-9), and Aaron was Moses' brother.  Clearly the Lord works in and through family relations and thus I am encouraged that Jesus might have surrounded himself with at least a few cousins.

For me, I am encouraged to look more closely at my own family, and the generations that have gone before me, and those who follow after me, my own son and daughter, and nieces and nephews.  There is a familial blessing that the Lord does pour out, and I believe a familial anointing for certain types of ministry.  Over the last few years, through deep conversations with my father, I have seen how the Lord has put very similar hearts in both of us.  I am very much my father's son.

Lord, I pray that you will open my eyes and my heart to understand the special blessing that is our family and how you see us, for you clearly know us all and have plans for us all.  Help us to embrace the blessings, and encourage one another in Your purpose for us individually and corporately.  I pray also for those of us that have been wounded and rejected by family to find in the Body of Christ, a welcoming family to which they can connect and experience blessing and calling.

Our Value To The Lord!

This morning, before heading out to the airport I was reading from John's Gospel.  I was reading the section where Jesus was talking about being the Good Shepherd.  It is actually a pretty amazing statement that He makes regarding His role.  Here are the verses - John 10:11-16 NIV:

[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. [13] The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

[14] “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--- [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father---and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd."

Jesus' statement about laying down His life for His sheep, while although very familiar, still grabs me every time I read it.  In verse 12 He says that hired man runs away because he doesn't own the sheep, in effect saying that there is no value to him in the lives of the sheep.  However, to the owner every sheep is valuable, and significant.  It is this value that He places on His sheep, being willing to lay down His own Life, that is astounding!

I mean think about that statement - Jesus, the very Son of God, puts our lives in the same value category as His own, since He is willing to lay down His own life that we might live.  He sees such value in our lives that He is willing to exchange His life for ours. That is simply unfathomable. I could understand it if maybe it was the most important person in the whole world, but it certainly makes no sense when talking about sinners, pathetic followers, weak and broken people. Yet, that is exactly what He means.  It just as true for you and me, as it is for any man that has ever lived. We are all that valuable to Him.

I love the promise of verse 14, that He knows us and we will know Him.  I know that there is an invitation to knowing the Lord deeply, and this promise is that.  We can come to know Him, His voice, and join ourselves to Him, as our shepherd.  He sees such great value in us that He is willing to lay down His life for each of us, no exceptions.  This is not some scenario where we don't qualify because of something we did, for it is our very sins, every sin that He has already laid His life down for, and the very thing that He paid for.  He sees our value, He paid for us all.  He is going home to the Father with everyone who will accept His payment for their sins.

To quote Bill Johnson, "wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!" It is too good to be true, but it is!

New Clothes, Gold, Healing And The Throne!

I am finally able to get back to the theme I started thinking about back on Wed. evening when I was reading from Revelation 3:17-22 NIV:

[17] "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. [18] I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

[19] Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. [20] Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

[21] To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Talk about loaded verses, these each could take a few days to unpack.  I was drawn to the statement Jesus makes that He counsels them to "buy from me gold refined in the fire".  That is such an unusual verse that it got me wondering exactly what Jesus was referring to with this imagery.  The first mention of refined gold is from 1 Chron. 28:18, where David is giving Solomon the instructions for the temple, and everything is listed as gold, or pure gold, but the altar of incense is to be made of refined gold.  The idea appears to be that the refined gold has no impurities, so nothing can taint the burning incense.  The burning of incense is mentioned in Revelations , as well, and there it is considered the prayers of the saints (Rev. 5:8).

In Psalm 12, the psalmist mentions refined gold - Psalm 12:6 NIV: "And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times."  Here the refined gold is compared to the Word of the Lord, and its perfect perfection.  I think that makes more sense concerning what we should purchase from the Lord.  We need His word in our lives, we need His direction.

Reading it more closely He counsels us to buy from Him - gold refined in the fire, white clothes, and salve for our eyes!  Each of these images is so very interesting.  The white clothes, I believe refers to His righteousness which we receive from Him as we join ourselves to Him, through faith, receiving forgiveness for our sins and His perfect righteousness instead. The salve for our eyes is interesting, as this is the only time in scripture that phrase is used.  It is clear that it is related to their spiritual blindness, and supposed to help them see (spiritually).

As I think more about the salve, the Greek word used means a cake of various materials that is used to sooth sore eyes.  Jesus made such a mix of materials with His own spit and dirt, applying this to the eyes of a man born blind, and He was healed (John 9:1-7).  Scientifically speaking, saliva actually contains chemicals that enable us to start to digest that which we eat.  In this case is comes from Jesus, the very Word of God, and is mixed with dirt, a sign of our humanity, or one could say humility, and brings healing.  Saying it another way - as we begin to digest the word of God in our lives and allow it to nourish us, and combine that with humility, we start to rightly see.  We see ourselves from His perspective and gain insight into our own lives.  That may not be exactly what Jesus meant in this verse in Revelations, but it works for me today!  I certainly need more of His word in my life.  I need to digest it and be nourished by it, and I need to see myself through His eyes.  Oh Lord, heal me and open my eyes.

The other thing I think about is when the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha's servant. Here are the verses - 2 Kings 6:15-17 NIV:

[15] When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. [16] “Don't be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” [17] And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."

I am reminded by these verses that there is a spiritual reality that exists all around us and most of us are completely unawares.  Our western mindset tends to trivialize the spiritual realm, but it arguably more real than the natural realm, for it exists in eternity.  Anyway, there are spiritual realities all around us and Jesus calls us to have our eyes opened that we might see.  That is one thing I definitely want to start seeing, the spiritual realities in which I live and am surrounded.

Finally, probably the most significant of all the verses is verse 21.  This is one of the most audacious statements I believe that Jesus makes in all of scripture.  He says that those who are victorious (overcomers) will get to sit on His Throne, with Him!  This is definitely something we need to stop and think about.  Let that thought permeate your heart and soul.  We are called or invited to sit on Jesus Throne with Him!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are no words available to express the absolute awesomeness of that statement.

I am sure that we all immediately want to disqualify ourselves from that statement.  Jesus couldn't possibly be talking about me.  He doesn't really mean that.  It is not possible....etc.

First let me quote the Apostle John, from his first letter - 1 John 5:4-5 NIV: ..."for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. [5] Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

So, WE are those that overcome, those who are victorious if we are born of God, if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  That is true for all of us who have accepted salvation from Jesus.  The Greek word used by John in his first letter is the exact same word used by him here in Revelations.

Secondly, a few other scriptures of interest -

Colossians 3:1-4 NIV:
[1] "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. [3] For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. [4] When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

Look at these verses logically, in light of Rev. 3:21 - set your mind on things above (spiritual), where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, and we are hidden in Him, while He is seated on the throne.  In other words, we are all in Him, with Him, on His throne!  The throne is the seat of power and authority, where He rules the whole world.  Jesus wrested control of the world away from the enemy into whose hand's Adam had handed it.  We are invited to  share this throne with Him.

Talk about extreme favor!  We go from being sinners, condemned to death and eternal punishment, to sitting on Jesus' throne with Him.  Like Graham Cooke says, the Good News is too good to be true, but it is!  This is absolutely astounding!  This is way beyond the story of Cinderella, rags to riches,  "The Princess Diaries", and story where some one of low rank is suddenly elevated to the throne of some imaginary or even real kingdom.  We are talking about an eternal Heavenly reality that is present here on earth, for that is exactly what Jesus came proclaiming,  the Kingdom of God has come upon us (Matt 12:28)!

Another couple verses -

Romans 8:37-39 NIV:
[37] "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Paul is writing about the future glory that will be revealed to us, after writing about the fact that we have been given a spirit of adoption and invited into the family of God, ad we are His sons and daughters.  The enemy tries to convince us otherwise, by saying the struggles of this world are proof that God does not love us, or that we have not been chosen by Him as His son or daughter.  Paul draws us back to foundation of everything.  It is not because of us, but because of God's love for us that we will be conquerors, not because of our human effort, but because of the supreme effort of Jesus, the one who died to set us all free!

If nothing can separate us from His love for us, and we are now hidden in Him even as He sits on His throne, then His prophecy in Revelations 3:21 will indeed be true and even is true now.

Wow, just wow!

Lord, help me to grasp, and more importantly, experience this reality in my life!  I want to purchase gold refined by fire, the white robe and salve for my eyes!  I want to be victorious and be with You where You are!

The Lord IS Good!

I felt like I should spend some time thinking about Psalm 107 this morning.  It is such a good psalm as it speaks of the Lords repeated mercy, forgiveness,  grace and provision.  Over and over He has heard the cries of His people and rescued them.  Here are some of the verses -

Psalm 107:1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 20-21, 28-32 NIV:

[1] "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
[2] Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story---those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,

[8] Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
[9] for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

[15] Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
[16] for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

[20] He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
[21] Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

[28] Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.
[29] He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.
[30] They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.

[31] Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
[32] Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders."

The Lord is so good to us, so good to all who cry out to Him.  He always provides an answer and provides for us, for we are His children.  He has redeemed us from whatever situation we have found ourselves in, ministering grace and compassion all around him.  Neither hunger, thirst, chains, gates and bars, sickness, storms, nor the wrong thinking of man is sufficient to stop the Lord from intervening.

Let us give thanks for His amazing love and blessing.  He has personally taken an interest in each of our lives, and blessed us abundantly.  His blood was shed for each of us.  What other god has ever done such a thing?

Thank You Jesus!

Glorifying God In Our Normal Lives

Over the last few days I have been reading a great book by A.W. Tozer called "The Pursuit of God".  He s one of my favorite authors, and although He wrote in the 50s and 60s, his writings are very appropriate for today.  If you haven't read any of his books, I would highly recommend them.

Anyway, yesterday I was reading a section where he was talking about living our lives in such a way that everything we do brings glory to God.  Here is an excerpt - "Paul's exhortation to "do all to the glory of God" is more than pious idealism. It is an integral part of the sacred revelation and is to be accepted as the very Word of Truth. It opens before us the possibility of making every act of our lives contribute to the glory of God. Lest we should be too timid to include everything, Paul mentions specifically eating and drinking." (Tozer, The Pursuit of God).

As I was reading this I was reminded of Jesus'  early life of hiddenness.  We so often focus on His times of ministry, but the truth is that everything Jesus did and said was from the Father, even His life prior to His ministry.  Here is what Jesus said - John 8:28-29 NIV: "So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. [29] The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”  He always did what pleased the Father, and only spoke what the Father had taught or showed Him.  That is an amazing statement, and true of His times of ministry, as well as the times prior to ministry.

We see one little glimmer of insight into His early life, when He stayed behind in the temple, during His families yearly visit to Jerusalem.  In Luke, chapter 2:49 Jesus says in reply to His earthly parents, “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?” (Luke 2:49NIV).  Other translations have His reply, "Didn't you know I had to be about my Father's affairs (business)."  Even at that young age (12) He was cognizant of His Father's will and purpose and did and said what the Father showed Him.  The VAST majority of His life, that perfect obedience was living life completely hidden from the notice of most people, and silent in the field of ministry.  Yet, His complete life brought Glory to the Father and was one of perfect obedience.  We can conclude that His normal everyday life, working, eating, sleeping, interacting with His family and neighbors and friends was in the perfect will of the Father, and brought Him Glory.

So often we think to do great things for God, or to please Him, we need to be in the mission field, working with hundreds or thousands of people. While that does bring Him pleasure and glory, so does normal human life, lived with our eyes on Him.  A.W. Tozer had a whole section about maintaining our gaze upon the Lord, and that is what pleases the Lord, what draws us into relationship with Him.  Our day to day busyness often makes us think that we can't live our lives for His glory unless we are in ministry, but that just isn't the case according to model of Jesus' life.  When our lives are lived in relationship with Him, we are able to bring Him glory in everything we do.  He called us while we were "normal" people working normal jobs, and He does not immediately require us to drop everything to serve Him once we enter into relationship with Him.  Occasionally He calls someone to change life vocations, but I believe that is fairly rare in the overall body of Christ.  He likes us right where we are, doing what we are doing.  He has the opportunity to touch others through us right where we are today.

So I am encouraged to look to the Father, in intimate relationship, and to try and follow Him right where I am today.  I don't need to stop what I am doing to become a minister, there is plenty of ministry available all around us, in the lives of our friends, family, and co-workers.  Help me Lord to bring You Glory right here and right now.

Amen!

Love Is Foundational

This morning I am continuing my reading from Paul's letter to the Romans 13:8-12 NIV:

[8] "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. [9] The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” [10] Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

[11] "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. [12] The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light."

One of the things that I really like about Paul is the way he understands the Law, and how he is able to convey the Gospel of Grace more effectively because of that knowledge.  The Law was focused so much on works, and the new covenant is focused on relationships.  As Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.  Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Law so we don't need to , but Law pointed us in the right direction, and that seems to be Paul's point here.  Loving one another is basically fulfilling what the intent was of the law.  We are called to  love each other in such a way that others know we are His followers (paraphrase of John 13:35).

Our relationships with the Lord and with others is and should be the primary focus of our life in the Body of Christ.  So often we are called to participate in programs, in services, in different activities, all of which are good but certainly not a substitute for our foundation of relationships.  If that is the case, then our church should be be focused primarily around relationship not around services or sermons.  I think in many ways we have lost that familial or body mentality in our churches.  We are all sons and daughters of Him, so that should make us all part of the same family.  How different would our church experience be if it felt like we were hanging out with our brothers and sisters?

Paul's last encouragement, was that this should increasingly be our focus, as the Day of the Lord approaches.  We must understand that our lives matter and so do our relationships with others.  Normally if one thinks the end is near, the focus is directed towards that which is most important, that which matters  most, and to Paul that is our relationships with one another.

So let us love well!  Let us invest in our relationships in the Body, building the foundation.  Let us care for one another, loving each other well.  Let us show the world the love that sets us apart. John 13:35 NIV: "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Amen!