The Mindset of Christ for One Another

This morning I am reflecting on some of my favorite verses from Paul's letter to the Philippians 2:1-18 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. 

[8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death---even death on a cross! 

[9] Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 

[10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

[11] and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

[12] Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed---not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence---continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, [13] for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 

[14] Do everything without grumbling or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky [16] as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. [17] But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. [18] So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."

It was interesting as I started reading these verses I found myself start praying for the churches around me.  I had never thought to apply these verses to churches or congregations, but as I prayed through these verses, I found that they could certainly be applied, and would likely have a profound impact on the Body of Christ!  

It is with great sadness that I look around and see so many churches with so few relationships between pastors, leaders and even the congregations.  We are far from being a like-minded, same loving, one spirit and mind Body.  Imagine what it would be like if churches started praying for one another in earnest, started desiring other churches' success as much as their own!  Imagine if we learned to share resources, buildings, equipment, all with understanding that we were all part of the same family, the same Body, fulfilling the same ministry, that of Jesus!  Oh Lord, help us to become Your united Body, fulfilling Your ministry!

Next as I was reflecting, I started thinking about marriages, and the many who struggle to be successful in marriage.  I had been reading a blog post of funny comments about marriage, and most of them, while funny, uncovered a selfish mindset.  Imagine applying these verses to one's marriage!  Imagine what one's marriage might be like if both members regularly reflected upon these verses and prayed them into their lives!  I found myself praying for those that I know are struggling, and praying for my own, that I might embrace this heart attitude more fully.  Oh Lord, help all of us who are married to embrace humility, putting our spouse's needs before our own, embracing Your mindset about them!

Finally, as I was praying through these verses I was thinking about the many who are offended or angry or grumbling about the church they belong to, the leadership, others in their congregation.  Again, I was encouraged to pray for all those who have been hurt, wounded, angry about something in their local congregation!  Lord help us to look at one another in love and humility!  Let us embrace one another in love, tenderness and compassion, and having the mindset of Christ for one another!

Oh that we would have Your mindset Jesus in all of our dealings with one another.  Lord, open our eyes, that we might see as You see.  Open our ears that we might hear what You have heard, what You are speaking!  Lord, help us to open our hearts for one another, that we might love as You loved us first!

Amen and Amen!

Intercession Instead of Judgment

This morning I felt led to read from Amos, which could be helpful to spend some time reflecting upon.  Here are the verses - Amos 7:1-8 NIV:

[1] "This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king's share had been harvested and just as the late crops were coming up. 

[2] When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small! ” 

[3] So the Lord relented. “This will not happen,” the Lord said. 

[4] This is what the Sovereign Lord showed me: The Sovereign Lord was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. 

[5] Then I cried out, “Sovereign Lord, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small! ” 

[6] So the Lord relented. “This will not happen either,” the Sovereign Lord said. 

[7] This is what he showed me: The Lord was standing by a wall that had been built true to plumb, with a plumb line in his hand. [8] And the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Amos? ” 

“A plumb line, ” I replied. 

Then the Lord said, “Look, I am setting a plumb line among my people Israel; I will spare them no longer."

I have always loved this combining of prophecy, visions and intercession.  It appears to me that Lord was inviting Amos into a place of intimacy, a place where He showed Amos what He could, what He might have planned, in part to see how Amos responded.  Amos could have thanked God that He wasn't a sinner like the rest of Jacob, and called down the judgment good and hard, thinking that was God's heart, but instead Amos cried for mercy!  

This reminded me of the time when Abraham was pleading for mercy for Sodom found in Genesis 18:22-32 NIV:

[22] "The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. [23] Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? [24] What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? [25] Far be it from you to do such a thing---to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” 

[26] The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake. ” 

[27] Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, [28] what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?” 

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.” 

[29] Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” 

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” 

[30] Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?” 

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 

[31] Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?” 

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.” 

[32] Then he 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.” 

Both of these instances we find men interceding to God for the sake of those who appeared under God's judgment, and we find God seeming to encourage this.  I believe this is because God is, in part, testing their heart, seeing if their heart resembles His.  When God revealed Himself to Moses this is how He described Himself, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, [7] maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” (Exodus 34:6-7 NIV).  While judgment and justice are found in God, He sees Himself first and foremost as compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.  

Is God looking for a people today that represent Him and that are willing to press into Him for His mercy and compassion?  

In the chapter before in Genesis, God says something to Moses that is significant - Exodus 33:19 NIV: And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."  

Sometimes in our fervor, we can embrace words of judgment, and join in calling down judgment on those sinful people and nations, but I think this is dangerous ground.  We don't understand God's mind, and heart, but we can glimpse them, and these two instances, at least, show us a God who is welcoming  someone to call out His mercy and compassion, not His judgment!  

What would the Church look like if instead of joining in agreement with the judgments that are being proclaimed in our day, we instead rose up an intercessory cry for mercy and compassion?  What would happen if the Body of Christ sought out places that were seemingly under God's judgment and went and lived there that there might be righteous people found there (taking a different approach to the negotiations of Abraham)?  What if the Church become known for our cries for mercy and compassion, or become known for our identification with and mercy and compassion towards the lost and sinners? 

We know that God didn't sit in judgment of the world, instead He came to the world, interceded for us and saved us! (John 3:16-17).  Oh that the Church would embrace that same heart for intercession, running in a standing in the gap (Ezek 22:30), rather than standing afar and calling down judgment!  I am reminded of a couple of verses from Paul's letter to the Romans 8:33-34 NIV:

[33] "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. [34] Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died---more than that, who was raised to life---is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

Amen and Amen!  Let us join with Him in interceding for our world!

The Depth of the Knowledge of God - Quite Unsearchable

This morning I am reflecting on some verses from Paul's letter to the Romans.  It is his perspective on Israel  (Jewish people) and their future salvation.  Much of the time I feel like the truths that Paul is bringing to light are just touching on the greater truth, and there is much more hidden in God.  This is definitely one of those times.  Here are the verses - Romans 11:25-36 NIV:

[25] "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, [26] and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: “The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. [27] And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” 

[28] "As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, [29] for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. [30] Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. [32] For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all." 

[33] "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 

[34] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 

[35] “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 

[36] For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

As I was reading through these verses this morning, I was very aware of the "long-game" of God.  We tend to think in the very short-term, a few years, maybe a decade or so, but God thinks and plans over centuries, even over millenniums,  and beyond.  We really have no way to fully grasp what He is doing, and as the verses of the ancient song say, quoted by Paul here, His ways are unsearchable, and beyond tracing out.  We just can't grasp the complexity and intricacy and length of His plans!  As great as our great thinkers are, none compares to God.

That being said, we also can't fully know His thoughts about things, as His thinking goes far beyond our ability to grasp.  We can receive an inkling of an idea about how He feels, how He thinks, how He loves, how He responds, but no one has ever fully grasped the depths of all of God.  Take these verses for instance.  Paul is writing about the Jews, and essentially says, God hardened their hearts that a way might be opened for us Gentiles, but that God still loves the Jews, and plans to bring them to salvation, as His plans are to "have mercy on them all", Jew and Gentile alike.  Paul flat out says, "all Israel will be saved".

We read this and think how is that possible, as many of both have passed over into death, how can God plan to express mercy to them all, how can all Israel be saved?   I guess we could press forward and say that from the time of Jesus, all Jews have been made aware of the possibility that He was their Messiah, and have rejected that, and that might be enough for us.  However, I think there is a deeper mystery that Paul is glimpsing.  These are the Chosen people of God, His delight among all nations, and His affections, as His gifts and calls, are irrevocable.  God is never changing, and if they were His chosen people, they still are!  

I was thinking about how that works in God's perspective, and it just doesn't make sense for for them to receive judgment for God's hardening of them, so that the way would be opened for the Gentiles (see verse 25 above). They are His Chosen people, He saved them out of Egypt, established them as their own Kingdom, gave them the Covenant of the Law, and set them up for the coming Messiah.  Then when His Son comes, they miss it, due their hardening and He judges them for their ignorance?   Yet He still loves, them calls them His Chosen people, and has spoken blessing and promise over them here through Paul!  I don't think we have all the facts here, nor can we.  

As I was thinking though this all, I had an idea that is a bit out there and completely new, so please forgive any radical theological implications.  I was thinking that death doesn't mean the same thing to God that it does to us.  We think death is the end, and that our judgments are based on our lives here, but what if that isn't the only consideration in God's perspective?  We know that we are destined for eternity, and our lives here represent the smallest part of our real existence.  We know that Jesus has destroyed the power of death (see Hosea 13:14 - the promise, and Heb 2:14 - the fulfillment).  

This gets me wondering, what is the power of death?  Jesus clearly rose from the dead, and thus death has no grip on Him.  He demonstrated the ability to speak commands to those souls already dead for Lazarus and the son of the widow of Nain, to name a couple.  We are promised that we will be like Christ when He comes again (1 John 3:2), which to me means we will be resurrected beings, no longer under the power of death.  In the Book of Revelations, John is given a message about a second death, ( See Rev. 20:6) and this seems to be the final judgment.  This would indicate that that there is a mid-stage of spiritual life that exists from the first death, to the final second death....  crazy stuff, for sure. 

My point in all of this is simply that we don't fully grasp the reality that we live in, because this reality is hidden in God, and we don't fully grasp Him or His ways.  We have to believe that what He says is true, but certainly not the end of all the truth, for we can't comprehend much of His truth.  His ways are far beyond us, His thoughts are far beyond our comprehension, He thinks and acts over centuries, millenniums and ages, and we must simply say:

[33] "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! 

How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 

[34] “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 

[35] “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 

[36] For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen."

(Rom 11: 33-36 NIV).

Amen and Amen!

Don't Be Timid, We Are Under His Favor!

This morning as I was beginning to pray I felt like I should go back 7 years ago and see what I had written on April 18, 2015, and the following was my experience that morning:

"This morning I had an interesting experience.  As I was just waking up, I must have been asking for God's favor, and I felt like He said the following - "Unless I tell you otherwise, it is safe to assume that you are always under my favor!"  

I asked for some greater understanding, and felt like HE replied - "You don't really understand my favor, it is much greater than you think.  You are thinking in human terms about favor, and I am not Human.  As my sons and daughters, you are always under my favor.  I don't have favorites like humans due, you are all my favorites."

It is like in the Book of Esther - when she approaches the King, and he extends his scepter, indicating she had his favor.  

Esther 4:11 NIV

“All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

Esther 5:1-3 NIV

[1] "On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. [2] When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. [3] Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”

Notice the favor of the King is indicated by His willingness to have Esther approach His Throne.  When she arrives at his feet, He is ready to give her up to half of his kingdom!  Talk about extreme favor!

We always have the Lord's favor, if we are in relationship with Jesus, for we can always approach His throne of Grace with confidence  knowing that we are in His favor.  Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV says:

[14] "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. [15] For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet he did not sin. [16] Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

The earliest use of favor in scripture is from Genesis 6:7-8 NIV:

[7] So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created---and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground---for I regret that I have made them. ” [8] But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

The Hebrew word used here is Chanan, its Definition is the following:

1) to be gracious, show favour, pity

2) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious

3) (Niphal) to be pitied

4) (Piel) to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious

5) (Poel) to direct favour to, have mercy on

6) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be shown consideration

When we think about Noah, we must understand what God did for Noah, not focus on the rest of story.  He saved Noah in the midst of the whole world.  He saved Noah's family.  He made Noah the ruler of the earth (battle field promotion).  He was given dominance over all. Here are the verses where God's favor  is recognized, after the flood recedes - from Genesis 9:1-3, 8-11 NIV:

[1] "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. [2] The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. [3] Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything." 

[8] "Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: [9] “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you [10] and with every living creature that was with you---the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you---every living creature on earth. [11] I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”

God effectively gives Noah the whole earth, dominion over all living things, and makes a covenant with him.  That is what God's favor looks like.  That is a picture of His favor to us.  He saves us  out of a sinful world, He extends His favor over our families, He invites us into His covenant (the new covenant) and relationship.  

Here are some other significant verses dealing with God's favor - 

Romans 2:10-11 NIV: "but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [11] For God does not show favoritism."

In other words, He shows favor to us all.

2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV: "For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."

Amen to that!

James 4:6 NIV: "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

The humble here, are those that come to Jesus and receive His salvation.  It is in relationship with Him, and because of Him that we receive God's favor.  When He looks at us, He sees His children, Hidden in Jesus.  How can He do anything but show us favor?!  Recognizing and living in this reality, is what we are invited into through relationship with the Lord.  Really, experiencing the Lord's favor is directly related to our understanding our identity in Him, as His sons and daughters.

As an added confirmation of this theme, when I opened up my bible and the first chapter it opens to is James 2 - titled favoritism is forbidden - James 2:1-9 NIV:

[1] "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here's a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 

[5] Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? [6] But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? [7] Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? 

[8] If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."

As brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are encouraged to practice the same attitude towards each other, that the Lord has towards us, no favorites, but rather everyone enjoying His favor equally.  Our treatment of each other is supposed to mirror or reflect His attitude towards us.

So let us be encouraged, today and every day is the day of the Lord's favor.  Now, is the time of the Lord's favor in our lives.  Let listen to His words in our hearts and embrace them, for we truly are His sons and daughters."

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Thank You Lord for reconfirming Your favor, in spite of my sinfulness, my struggles, my own inadequacies, everything about me that is not like You, You still love me and extend favor to me!  Your favor has never left, You have never looked upon me and removed Your favor.

I felt like I heard the Lord encourage me to not be timid, to open my hand and grab what is being extended towards me.  Its like He has given us the keys and said, "You are my favorite, so help yourself to whatever You want or need, just don't be timid.  There is more than enough for you and everyone else!  

Wow, what a good word!  Don't be timid, there is more than enough for everyone else!