Getting Along with our Brothers and Sisters

Of the ten Evangelical churches in the wider community where we live, three of them are currently in a teaching series on the nature of the church itself. There is so much to unpack, and each is approaching it differently.

My definition — not original to me — of church is, “A group of people who have come under the loving lordship of Jesus Christ, and joined ourselves to a company of imperfect people who are trying to live a new life in a new way.”

Ruth’s definition is, “The gathering of a family called out from within families; a nation called out from within nations, to live by the laws of Jesus’ Kingdom.”

Whatever your definition, the church is a wonderful thing… except when it isn’t. We are often plagued with things which fracture us, a situation that lately seems to recur more often in the broader climate of divisiveness and extremism. Which brings us to today’s devotional.

Today we’re back for a fifth time highlighting Michael Wilson at Jesus Quotes and God Thoughts. Clicking the title below will allow you to read this where it appeared first. Michael is the author of Faith at Work: The Jesus Way.

United in the Messiah: Embracing Harmony and Oneness

What type of thing would seriously and urgently concern the Apostle Paul about Christians? Paul challenges me to get along. That is it. Paul would be “shocked” at the condition of the faithful today. I am sure his admonition would doubly stand.

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Master Jesus the Messiah, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.^[1] 1 Corinthians 1:10

This heartfelt plea from the apostle remains relevant even today, as we strive to maintain unity and harmony within the body of believers. Let us explore the significance of unity in the Messiah and the ways in which we can foster oneness in our communities.

The Beauty of Unity in Christ: Unity is a precious gift from God that holds immense power to transform lives, communities, and the world. When believers are united in Christ, the Church becomes a living testament of God’s love and grace. Our unity reflects the very nature of God, who exists eternally as a perfect unity in the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Through unity, we become a living testimony to the world of the reconciling power of the Gospel.

Furthermore, unity in the Messiah enriches our fellowship with one another. It fosters an environment of love, support, and understanding, where we can grow together in our faith, sharpen one another, and uplift those who may be struggling. It is in unity that we find strength to face the challenges that come our way, knowing that we are not alone but surrounded by fellow believers who share the same hope and purpose.

Overcoming Divisions: The world we live in is diverse, and disagreements are inevitable. However, as followers of the Messiah, we are called to transcend these divisions and demonstrate a higher standard of love and unity. The Apostle Paul’s plea to the Corinthians serves as a gentle reminder that, despite our differences, we should seek common ground in our shared faith in the Messiah.

To overcome divisions, we must first recognize that unity does not mean uniformity. God has uniquely gifted each of us with diverse talents, perspectives, and backgrounds. Rather than allowing these differences to create barriers, let us celebrate them and use them as opportunities to complement one another. As Paul emphasizes in Ephesians 4:3, we are to be “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Practical Steps Toward Unity: Focused on the Messiah: Center our lives and communities on the Messiah, the ultimate source of our unity. When we keep our eyes fixed on Him, our differences become less significant, and our common faith becomes the foundation of our relationships.

• Humility and Grace: Approach one another with humility and grace, recognizing that we all fall short of God’s glory. By humbly acknowledging our weaknesses and strengths, we create an atmosphere of understanding and empathy.
• Prayer: Dedicate time to pray for unity within the body of Christ. Pray for a spirit of reconciliation, healing, and mutual understanding to prevail in any situation where division threatens to emerge.
• Open Communication: Foster open and respectful communication among believers. Listen actively and empathetically to each other’s perspectives, seeking to understand rather than merely respond.
• Pursue Love and Forgiveness: As followers of the Messiah, we are called to love one another deeply and unconditionally. Let us extend forgiveness and grace, just as the Messiah forgave us, to mend any broken relationships and heal wounds caused by disagreements.

The Apostle Paul’s heartfelt appeal to the Corinthians echoes through the ages and speaks directly to us today. Unity in the Messiah is not a mere suggestion; it is a divine calling for every believer. As we align our minds and judgments in the Messiah, we participate in a grand tapestry of God’s redemptive plan, displaying His love and glory to a divided world. Let us embrace our differences with humility, grace, and love, standing firm in our shared faith, united in the name of our Master Jesus the Messiah. May our lives and communities be living testimonies of the power of unity, drawing others closer to the heart of God.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Co 1:10.

Paul Finds Himself Re-applying for the Job He Has

Today we’re back for a second time with Mitch Todd who is the author of Weekly Devotion. Click the title which follows to read this where it first appeared. From there, look around at other articles.

Are You Qualified?

I think that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. Even if I am untrained in speech, I certainly am not with respect to knowledge; certainly in every way and in all things we have made this evident to you.

2 Corinthians 11:5-6

That’s Paul, Mr. New Testament, getting testy.

He’s having to defend himself, because there were “false teachers” who threatened to steer the Corinth church astray. Even after all he’d done to start that church, here he was, still having to defend his qualifications for the job.

Remember, Paul was just…a guy. All the accolades came later. He had a lot of religious training growing up, and he had this first-hand experience of Jesus he talked about, but mostly, he was just this really passionate guy trying to spread the good news.

I’m wondering about you and your qualifications. How qualified are you to be a disciple? To use your faith to make an impact in the world. Maybe you’re gearing up to start a new church or a new Bible study. Maybe you’re inviting folks to your church or inviting in conflict by standing up for justice. Maybe you’re getting ready to do…something.

What gives you the right to wield some authority in these matters?

Actually, a problem I hear all the time is that people feel like they DON’T have the authority to represent the church. I’ve had decades of religious training and credentialing, and often feel the same way. There’s A LOT of stuff to know about Christianity. Who other than Paul could consider themselves qualified for that kind of work?

True, Paul was especially good at laying out basic Christian doctrines, a task few of us may be suited for, but how well we do playing Bible Trivia has little to do with us qualifying to be disciples.

The way I see it, qualifications for discipleship can be pretty simple:

• Have you had an experience of God’s unconditional love? You’re qualified to report it.
• Do you use your faith like a tool as you journey through life? You’re qualified to use it.
• Are you willing to embrace Christ’s love in your family, your work, your life? You’re qualified to share it.

The qualifications for discipleship are remarkably easy to meet. The challenge comes in embracing the authority God’s love gives you. There will always be doubters, and you may even doubt yourself, but as Mark Batterson famously said, ‘God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.’

Maybe people won’t read YOUR ancient letters and be inspired. (Or maybe they will!) However you choose to communicate good news to the world depends on your gifts, your environment, your passion, and the world’s needs.

Just don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re underqualified. That would mean steering away from God’s claim on your life.

And Paul…

would be appalled.

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I frequently encourage readers to click the links to read other articles by the writers we feature, but in this case, I just finished reading about ten by Mitch Todd. Some were a bit whimsical, but all of them made me think. If you’re looking for some reading that’s light and deep at the same time, click the link in the first paragraph above.

Paul’s Example in Living the Christian Life

…”I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee…”
– Paul in Philippians 3:4-6 NIV

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel. As his student, I was carefully trained in our Jewish laws and customs. I became very zealous to honor God in everything I did, just like all of you today. And I persecuted the followers of the Way, hounding some to death, arresting both men and women and throwing them in prison. The high priest and the whole council of elders can testify that this is so. For I received letters from them to our Jewish brothers in Damascus, authorizing me to bring the followers of the Way from there to Jerusalem, in chains, to be punished…”
– Paul in Acts 22:3-5 NLT

…anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
– Paul in 2 Cor. 5:17 NLT

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ
– Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 NIV

After the Gospels, the New Testament proceeds to give us a glimpse of what following Christ will look like after He ascended and after He sent the Holy Spirit. Much of this was written by Saul/Paul who is personally completely absent from the gospel accounts.

What we know about his life can be instructive.

The Apostle Paul:

Shows us what following Jesus means when you didn’t see it firsthand.

In a way, Paul is a stand-in for all of us. There’s nothing in either the gospels or Paul’s own writing to suggest he was part of the crowd when he taught in Capernaum or Bethsaida or Sychar or Bethany or performed miracles in those places. There is a natural skepticism when you didn’t see something extraordinary up close and personal. Even Thomas doubted after following Jesus for three years. Paul would be in this category. Because he never met or conversed with Jesus, in I Cor. 15:8 he goes so far as to call himself “one abnormally born.”

Shows us what following Jesus means when you follow an other religion.

Paul is an example of what it means to convert (verb) or become a convert (noun.) Here was no nominal Jew, but a man steeped in religious training who knew his faith inside-out and would go on to boast about this aspect of his life even after committing to Christ. He in effect becomes the poster boy for conversion; his life allows the possibility for anyone to walk away from their spiritual past into a new chapter.

Shows us what following Jesus means when you are an intellectual.

Even if Paul had never boasted about his training, the grammar and sentence structure of his writing betray his thorough education. I personally believe that the “Philippian hymn” which is set off as poetry citation in most of our Bibles could be an example of Paul quoting a popular early Church song written by someone else or it could be Paul quoting Paul, since training in music was part of that classical education. Today we see objections from people who think they are ‘too smart’ to believe the Gospel, but Paul showed that formal education doesn’t make one too sophisticated an intellectual to reject the simple concepts of faith.

Shows us what following Jesus means if you were formerly opposed to Christianity.

It’s one thing to be atheist or agnostic, or to follow another faith, but if you’ve been particularly vocal about it, you have to be willing to swallow your pride and say you were wrong. Most biographers of Paul characterize what happens to him in the wake of the Damascus Road encounter as being a dramatic, 180-degree turnaround. This is the simplest definition of repentance: ‘My life was going in one direction and then, in a moment, I changed trajectory and started walking toward a completely different objective.’

Shows us what following Jesus means when you are being spiritually formed.

None of any of the significant events in Paul’s post-conversion life happens until after he has been inactive while undergoing a time of discipleship and spiritual formation and simply considering the claims of Christ in a world about to be turned upside down by the life of Jesus. Some put this as a three-year period, while others have it as high as 14 years, though the latter number might have some overlap with early ministry. This might have been a tough period of Paul who would have been anxious to share his post-Damascus testimony, and it shows us that just because people aren’t entering into high-profile Christian service right away, it doesn’t mean their life hasn’t been dramatically changed.

Shows us what following Jesus means while you are suffering.

We can only speculate as to Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” though some commentators are more certain than others. There can be little doubt that it dogged Paul continually, three times bringing him to a point where he either enlisted the fervent prayers of other or spent time apart crying out to God to take the condition away. If anyone had time to wrestle with the question as to why God allows suffering, it was him. And let’s not even talk about being hungry or shipwrecked. He is convinced that when we are weak we are made strong.

Shows us what following Jesus means when you are now the one facing opposition.

From a literary perspective, the story comes full circle; the man who opposes the teaching of Jesus ends up facing the same type of opponents; the proverbial shoe is now on the other foot. Many of the epistles are called “Paul’s prison letters” because he spends a section of his life under house arrest. A faith in Christ needs to be anchored firmly and be resilient in the face of challenge.

Shows us what following Jesus means … period.

From Paul’s famous love chapter, to the fruit of the spirit, to his message of economic, ethnic and gender egalitarianism, to his imagery of living the Christian life as one running a race, to his theological treatise in his letter to the Romans; in all these things Paul shows us what it means to live the Christian life.

Plans Divinely Dashed

We’re back once again with Pastor Kevin Sanders, who is a Texas pastor. This is the third of three articles I considered for today, and if you have the time, I hope you’ll consider reading all three. Click the title below to link to this one.

When God Wrecks Your Plans

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21

“How many of you know what it’s like to have God wreck your plans?”

I asked this question while preaching a couple of weeks ago. Several hands were raised, and even more smiled and nodded. This is one of those nearly universal Christian experiences. Our lives rarely go exactly the way we thought they would, and we find ourselves wrestling with God for answers–answers that He doesn’t always seem eager to give.

Let’s be honest: sometimes God wrecks our plans because we never included Him in the first place. Our plans were motivated by selfish ambition, foolish desires, or some other toxic source. Sometimes our faithful Father lovingly disrupts our lives in order to expose our idols and offer us an opportunity to repent. Hopefully we get the message and start over with godly priorities.

But this is not always the case. God reserves the right to do as He pleases, even with our best intentions. I can think of no better example than Paul’s itinerary, found in Romans 15.

I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

Romans 15:24-25

Paul had been preaching for around 25 years by the time he wrote Romans. He had planted churches in several of the urban centers on the eastern side of the Roman Empire. Paul now had his sights on Spain, the western edge of the Roman Empire.

His plan was to stop by Jerusalem to bring financial aid to the believers there (money he had collected from other churches). From there he would pass through Rome and spend some time with the church there before heading to Spain.

That was Paul’s plan. It was prayerfully created and energized by Paul’s ambition to preach Christ where His name had never been heard (Romans 15:20-21).

But God shipwrecked Paul’s plan–literally. He encountered hostile opposition in Jerusalem and was placed in Roman custody for his own protection. He appealed his case to Caesar before the Roman authorities. They granted his request and arranged for a sailboat to take him to Rome. The boat encountered a storm strong enough to crash it upon a reef. Paul and his fellow prisoners swam for their lives or rode planks to the shores of Malta.

Paul eventually made it to Rome, but his stay was not brief. He spent two years under house arrest, preaching and teaching those who came to visit him.

The events I’ve just described (recorded in Acts 21-28) were clearly not what Paul had in mind.

We don’t know, in fact, if Paul ever made it to Spain as he had planned. Here’s what we do know: Paul wrote the “prison letters” during this time of house arrest in Rome. These letters are recorded in our New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These scriptures have blessed and instructed millions of believers–far beyond the geographical borders of Spain and long after the Roman Empire had fallen. God, as always, knew exactly what He was doing with His trusted servant.

This quote comes to mind:

God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.

-Oswald Chambers

Lord, teach us to trust in Your greater purpose–even when this requires You to change, disrupt, or even destroy our plans.

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Second (and third) Helping:

From the same author, I invite you to read, If Your Eye Causes You To Sin, and The Parable of the Lost Sheep.

Welcomed at the End of the Journey

This our eighth time featuring the writing of Jim Grant at Preach Between the Lines. I’m not sure if the blog is going to remain active, as this most-recent post is actually seven months old, but there are some great articles there waiting for you to discover them. Jim is an author, and also is the Executive Director of the Galveston Baptist Association and has pastored four churches. Click the title which appears next to read today’s article where it appeared first.

Someone’s Waiting

Paul the Apostle writes in Philippians 3:12,

“Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”

This is a verse that has been preached by many pastors. The key phrase emphasized has been “Pressing On.” In the KJV the word “apprehend” is found. What does it mean to be apprehended by Jesus Christ. What is it that Paul keeps pressing forward to apprehend?

We know that Paul [Saul] was literally “laid hold of” or “captured” by Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Paul like an escaped convict was caught, by Jesus. This was not in a physical sense the way we would normally think of a convict. Paul had been radically “saved” by Jesus. Whatever direction Paul was headed, his path was changed. From the moment that Paul encounters Jesus, he is consumed and captivated about Jesus Christ and the WAY. Paul the Apostle was changed from who he was to what Jesus wanted him to be.[2 Cor. 5:17] Paul was captured physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually! Paul began a journey or pilgrimage in pursuit of all that Jesus Christ was and is. In the previous verses we find that Paul wanted to be:

1. To gain Christ
2. To be found in Him
3. To know Him [power of His resurrection, fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to Him]
4. To attain [grasp] the resurrection from the dead.

Paul was so consumed with being identified and being one with Christ, nothing on earth was going to keep him from completing his journey. The more I thought about how Paul pressed on through every trial and tribulation so that He could “lay hold of that for which he was laid hold on.” What was it that Paul was pressing on to? What was it that he wanted to lay hold of? I began thinking of what it was like to take a trip on an airplane.

Now plane travel seems to be more difficult than in times past, yet we will put up with all the inconveniences to arrive at our destination. There are flight delays, rerouting while in flight. There are crowded planes with very little amenities. I use to fly when you used to get more than a soda to drink. Of course there are the people who should have checked bags, that are now trying to wedge them into the overhead compartment; only to find that they don’t fit. I think the seating is a lot smaller and close together. Surely, it isn’t because I’ve gotten larger over the years!

There is the routine of not looking at people for fear that they will come sit in the middle seat and cramp the whole row. Finally we take off and there’s the guy in front who just laid his seat back, further reducing your space, and now the kid in the back of you is kicking the back of your seat. You have already looked back at him with the “death glare”, but he is still kicking.

Eventually, the flight attendants come by and ask pretzels or peanuts? To which you try to get two bags and scarf them down like you haven’t eaten for three weeks. Finally, you settle in to the boring flight, but anticipate getting to your destination.

Finally, you arrive and taxi to the gate.

Now this is where I picked up Paul the Apostle. He had not OBTAINED that for which he had been journeying. There were many obstacles and hindrances he met along the way, still he pressed on. At the airport, the plane has landed and people start standing up in the back moving forward, thinking they can beat the crowd in front of them off the plane. Nope, they just clog the aisle so people can’t get their oversized luggage out of the overhead compartment! De-boarding the plane, then walking up the ramp to the main terminal, where when you walk through the door there are hundreds of people. Now, I have flown many trips, arrived at my destination, only to get off the plane and have NO ONE waiting for me. I have to tell you this can really be an emotional let down. All the other passengers are greeted by spouses, grandparents, friends or co-workers. But there I would be and NO ONE waiting to greet me.

Think about Paul, he had been through, he had been through much of what Jesus had endured. Now this is for every Believer – we have SOMEONE waiting for us at the end of our journey! He has been waiting for our arrival. He has anticipated our meeting since we first met! When we have completed our pilgrimage here, we will step through the corridor of eternity into the “Throne Room” of God – to be greeted with open arms. Hold it, can you hear it? Really, listen do you hear it? There it is, as you take that first step into Heaven’s presence – there is a thunderous applause and Jesus is leading it! It will then be that we will “Lay hold of that for which we were laid hold of.”

We will have Jesus and Jesus will have us. That was the whole matter. Being with Jesus, finally and forever!

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Jim’s two books The Pilgrimage Begins and The Pilgrimage Continues combine all his blog posts and may be ordered through BookBaby, or wherever you buy books.

Knowing What “Adopted into God’s Family” Means

On the days we go exploring for new writers to feature here, the discovery process is often delightful. Dalva Raposo is from Mozambique and writes at Redeemed Prose, although many times her media of choice is poetry.

I’ve heard people say that to really know what the Apostle Paul is writing about when he says we’re “adopted into God’s family,” you need to speak with someone who has — one way or another — been adopted into a family. This is one such story. Click the header which appears after the scripture to read this where it first appeared.

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. – Galatians 4: 4-7 NLT

Adoption’s Redeeming Love

When the Gospel was first presented to me, in a hospital bed after a failed self-exit rendezvous, I cried mesmerized by the idea of being adopted by God, as a daughter. Later on, I would read Galatians 4:4-8 and fully come to the comprehension of God’s desire for our adoption, as sons, daughters and heirs through Christ, the ultimate redeeming act and demonstration of love.

Though I had embraced God as a father with great joy, I couldn’t stop the longing that still rang deep in my heart. I prayed about it and rested the desire away considering it senseless, since my own father had passed away and with him the hankering for the level of connection I desired from a earthly father-daughter relationship. Thereon, from 14 to 16, I dived as deep into my faith as I could, growing in wisdom and sanctification through study of the word and fellowship with the saints, young and older men and women who walked with me, discipled me and inspired my journey with Christ.

At 16, I was presented with the opportunity to study abroad in the United States, and corresponded with my host family briefly before traveling. For context, I am from Mozambique, a majority black country, and I was going to a town, in the countryside of northeast Indiana, that was almost fully white, at a time where media and Hollywood portrayed white Americans as antagonistic and racist. For context, I had just watched the movie, “Get Out,” and my brother terrified with all the theories of what would happen to me. In typical brotherly love, my panic was his delight.

The first day at my American home, I was so overwhelmed, by fears and expectations and longing for what I left behind that I cried myself to sleep. I simply didn’t understand how things would work out for good in that journey, yet little by little, day by day, that big house truly felt like home, and so did calling them, “mom,” and “dad.” At once it was as if I had entered la la land of my dreams, I who desired an older sister, suddenly had two, and two more loving grandmas, so many cousins and aunts and uncles, and a set of parents, that fullfiled my longing for an earthy father, and whose marriage truly mimicked the divine union of Christ and the Church in the most godly way.

I found extraordinary caregiving in my American mother, whose loving hugs I simply cannot describe to you, whose support I felt wholeheartedly to the deepest core of my soul. I found wisdom and installments of discipline, in an American father that told me–who jumped in and out of hobbies commitments–that if I commit to track-and-field and later on managing the wrestling team, people would be counting on me and that I had to fullfill my duty to the end. And so I did, with their support, and both side of their family’s, I discovered new patents of myself, a fully redeemed one, in people that looked nothing like me and loved me extraordinarily with Christ’s love–this is for me, the heart of adoption, from which God looks at us.

How I wish that everyone would give themselves the chance to love others in the same manner, in an adoptive way, that calls them “one of my own.”

Though my experience is peculiar, through the lens of an exchange program that went beyond a single year, the harsh reality is that so so many, young and older children flock the foster an adoption system, with the same if not more intense longings–for a father, for a mother, and for a family. We, mankind, are a difficult and most rebellious people, and still God’s love surpasses our many faults, calling us to the positions of sons and daughters.

We ought to look at adoption with the same gaze of love, a remarkable and redeeming experience that reflects our God’s reconciling love, that seeks to restore what was once destroyed and hopeless.

With all of this said, I don’t believe adoption is a wishy-washy phenomenon to be appreciated through rose-tinted glasses. Contrarily, it is of great responsibility and importance, involving young and older people, both with unique personalities and human faults. There are large lifelong implications to consider in adopting, hosting, and fostering a child, yet for the Christian who seeks to embody the grace of God, it is a hundred times worth it.

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Second Helping: I thought I would share a link to one of Dalva’s poems. I really liked this one, and at first I wasn’t sure if the text repeated twice was intentional. But then, so do the worship songs we sing at weekend services! Click to read Blessed Assurance.

When Sleeping in Church is Fatal

One of the beauty of scripture is its complete transparency. Details are included that today’s editors might consider cutting. King Saul needs to use a cave to relieve himself while in pursuit of David, who it turns out is watching within striking distance. Not the type of thing you expect in the sacred text of one of the world’s major religions, is it?

Today we’re returning for a fifth time to the site Word-Centered Living. Click the title below to link to where this first appeared.

Do Not Be Overcome by Sleep in Spiritual Life

“He was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.” (Acts 20:6-12, NASB)

I no longer feel bad when someone falls asleep in my sermon. You shouldn’t feel bad if you fall asleep listening to a sermon too. It is because even the great Apostle Paul had people fall asleep in his sermon. It says,

“And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together.

And there was a certain young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.

But Paul went down and fell upon him and after embracing him, he said, ‘Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.’ And when he had gone back up, and had broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed. And they took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.”

It says in today’s story that a certain young man named Eutychus, while listening to Paul’s sermon, “was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.” Out of all the places to fall asleep, this young man fell asleep on the window sill on the third floor. However, instead of turning this situation into a tragedy, Paul simply went down and prayed the young man back to life and went back up and continued with his sermon. Wow!

Today’s passage reminded me of the words of Jesus, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Mt.26:41). Jesus spoke these words to his disciples who were desperately trying to stay awake during the night when he would be arrested. We never find Jesus asking his disciples to pray for him throughout his ministry, but this night he asked them to pray with him. Yet, heavy sleep was upon them and they just could not stay awake.

This is a perfect picture of who we are and what we do. No one in the right mind would purposely say, “My goal in life is to fail God.” Our spirit is ready and willing to fight the good fight of faith. Our spirit is willing to do good deeds, serve others, live by the Word, stay alert in life, and stay awake in sermons. However, our flesh being weak makes us do the opposite things.

The good news is that our struggle between the spirit and the flesh is well understood by God. This is not a green light from God for us to live in the flesh. Rather, it means God expects us to stay alert in life, but when we do fall, He promises to come and pick us up, dust us off, and send us on our way. Our flesh, when left alone, will continue to become weak, lazy, slumber, and fall. We need to take our flesh and discipline it to be obedient to God. Our flesh is weak, but if you discipline it according to the Spirit, it can do amazing things.

Eutychus fell asleep during a sermon and died. That is nothing compared to falling asleep in spiritual life! Do not be overcome by sleep in spiritual life, but fight to stay awake for Christ.

When Plans are Thwarted

Today we’re back with Kuya Kevin aka Kevin Sanders who writes at the site, Pastor Kevin Sanders. After spending 2002 – 2013 as a missionary in the Philippines, Kevin moved back to the U.S. and currently pastors a church in Texas. Click the link in the title below and read this where it first appeared.

When God Wrecks Your Plans

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 19:21

“How many of you know what it’s like to have God wreck your plans?”

I asked this question while preaching a couple of weeks ago. Several hands were raised, and even more smiled and nodded. This is one of those nearly universal Christian experiences. Our lives rarely go exactly the way we thought they would, and we find ourselves wrestling with God for answers–answers that He doesn’t always seem eager to give.

Let’s be honest: sometimes God wrecks our plans because we never included Him in the first place. Our plans were motivated by selfish ambition, foolish desires, or some other toxic source. Sometimes our faithful Father lovingly disrupts our lives in order to expose our idols and offer us an opportunity to repent. Hopefully we get the message and start over with godly priorities.

But this is not always the case. God reserves the right to do as He pleases, even with our best intentions. I can think of no better example than Paul’s itinerary, found in Romans 15.

I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints.

Romans 15:24-25

Paul had been preaching for around 25 years by the time he wrote Romans. He had planted churches in several of the urban centers on the eastern side of the Roman Empire. Paul now had his sights on Spain, the western edge of the Roman Empire.

His plan was to stop by Jerusalem to bring financial aid to the believers there (money he had collected from other churches). From there he would pass through Rome and spend some time with the church there before heading to Spain.

That was Paul’s plan. It was prayerfully created and energized by Paul’s ambition to preach Christ where His name had never been heard (Romans 15:20-21).

But God shipwrecked Paul’s plan–literally. He encountered hostile opposition in Jerusalem and was placed in Roman custody for his own protection. He appealed his case to Caesar before the Roman authorities. They granted his request and arranged for a sailboat to take him to Rome. The boat encountered a storm strong enough to crash it upon a reef. Paul and his fellow prisoners swam for their lives or rode planks to the shores of Malta.

Paul eventually made it to Rome, but his stay was not brief. He spent two years under house arrest, preaching and teaching those who came to visit him.

The events I’ve just described (recorded in Acts 21-28) were clearly not what Paul had in mind.

We don’t know, in fact, if Paul ever made it to Spain as he had planned. Here’s what we do know: Paul wrote the “prison letters” during this time of house arrest in Rome. These letters are recorded in our New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. These scriptures have blessed and instructed millions of believers–far beyond the geographical borders of Spain and long after the Roman Empire had fallen. God, as always, knew exactly what He was doing with His trusted servant.

This quote comes to mind:

God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.

-Oswald Chambers

Lord, teach us to trust in Your greater purpose–even when this requires You to change, disrupt, or even destroy our plans.

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Second Helping: Here’s another article by Kevin. Sound bites are often missing important details. True, Jesus said “Don’t judge;” but there’s more to the passage than those two words.

Something — Lots of Things — To Think About

In the days long before “Footprints,” you could walk into a Christian bookstore and buy the “Whatsoever things are true…” plaque, also known as “Think on These Things.” Perhaps you had one in your home growing up; but in a recent survey of Christian giftware, it’s actually now hard to find.

In a world where everything was in black-and-white and in King James English, your plaque of Philippians 4:8  probably read like this:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Here’s how The Message translates it, with verse nine added:

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

The challenge is that it’s easy for wild thoughts to enter our heads and park there.  Sometimes we’re capable of either remembering or even creating stuff that shouldn’t be there.   I believe it’s possible for us to de-toxify our minds, but getting clear from concepts or narratives that are lodged there may take days or weeks and requires discipline.

Nobody likes to think of themselves as “depraved” but one of the things Calvinism has highlighted to us is the phrase “total depravity;” it’s actually the “T” in the “TULIP” acronym.

Catholics say that we are born with “original sin;” though to see to widespread nature of different types of sinful acts is to know there’s nothing original about it.

The “Four Spiritual Laws” begin with premise that “Man is sinful and separated from God…”

But what happens after conversion?

Much of the Apostle Paul’s writings discuss the dual nature; the fight put up by the desires of the flesh. James talks about “double mindedness.” In the epistles at least, we get a picture of the spiritual warfare raging all around us; the accompanying tension between where we are positionally in Christ, and where we find ourselves pragmatically in the world.

But on Sunday mornings, nobody wants to admit this.  That’s probably why in surveys of “weird hymn and chorus lyrics” people always vote for:

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love.

I mean seriously, what terrible advertising for the Christian life. Nobody wants to admit to that propensity to sin. And as for depravity, Dictionary.com defines it as “moral corruption” and there are people I know who don’t know Christ that I would regard as “upstanding morally;” so I don’t think too many Christ-followers would even want to say they were depraved before they made Him lord of their lives.

Have you ever been driving your car or out for a walk and your mind wanders into less than stellar territory?  Then, after the thought has flashed through your brain — or perhaps parked there for about five minutes — you realize how people are — how you are and how I am — always just a few mis-steps away from conceding to our human nature and its way of thinking.

But we are also possessed of a divine nature. I want to end this the way the song quoted above ends; with a prayer for redemption;  this was my prayer for the beginning of this week, and it’s not such a crazy hymn lyric, either:

Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.

What fills your mind? Take a cue from Philippians and determine to think on better things.

Search Me

Psalm 139 is both familiar and beautiful. It contains the promise that God has known us since we were “knit together” in our mother’s womb. But there’s a part of it we tend to skip over, and this part seems to inform the Apostle Paul’s writing years later.

from sermon notes by Ruth Wilkinson

The 139th Psalm is deeply loved, often quoted, profoundly encouraging and joyous. It’s an impressive piece of poetry that floats along currents and waves and still pools of words, imagery and imagination; at least until it casts us onto rough waters near the end.

It’s read as a reminder of God’s love, attention, a reminder of the precious value of human life, and — as with all Psalms — as hymn of praise to the greatness of God. It’s one of the most timeless and relatable items in the Psalter.

It’s talking to God, reminding God of his

• perspective (vv 1-6) “Such knowledge is too wonderful me, too lofty for me to grasp it.” It’s saying ‘God, you know.‘
• presence (vv 7-12) “If I make my bed in the underworld… you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn you are there.” It’s saying ‘God, you are there.’
• power and participation (vv 13-18) “You knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” It’s saying ‘You created, formed, knit, ordained, made, wove [better translated as embroidered; using words reminiscent of the making of the curtain and the entrance to the tabernacle, the courtyard and the sash worn by the High Priest on entering the Holy of Holies.]’

To reconfigure the outline, it’s reminding God of his omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence.

And then, vv.19-22 appear. We might just want to skip such a dramatic shift, or check if we accidentally jumped to a different Psalm.

“O, that You, God, would slay the wicked! … I hate those who hate You, with an utter hatred I hate them! Those who misuse your name!”

Wait, what?

With this sudden change in rhetoric, some classify Ps. 139 not as a Psalm of praise or comfort but a Psalm of Complaint.

Why?

Because of the reason it was written.

Among Bible scholars there is a broad consensus that the Psalmist is being falsely accused of a crime, specifically, many say falsely being accused of idolatry.

In the Hebrew Nation, that’s a pretty big deal. It violates the first three commandments, “no other gods…,” “…do not make for yourself an image…,” and “[do not] misuse the name of the Lord your God.”  – Exodus 20:3-5, 7

And here’s the deal — the penalty for idolatry is death. (see Deuteronomy 17:2ff). If you’ve been accused of idolatry you are in fear for your life, and definitely pleading for justice.

How do you defend yourself?

How does the Psalmist defend himself?

By calling on God’s omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. By saying ‘Search me! You know!’

Search me, God, and know my heart.
Test me and know my anxious thoughts
See if there is any offensive [sorrowing, idolatrous] way in me.
Lead me in the way everlasting.

Important note: King David is not under any illusions about his own capacity to sin.

For I know my transgressions
and my sin is always before me;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge – Ps. 51

So he’s not 100% innocent, but he’s not idolatrous. He’s not unfaithful to God, and did not misuse the name of God.

Which brings us to the Apostle Paul.

He believed that “all scripture is God-breathed” and useful to

• teach, correct train
• provide information
  • • about who God is
    • about who we are
• give wisdom
• offer opportunity to respond, apply, take responsibility

The parallel is striking. The church in Corinth had contentious sins they failed to address, and Paul calls them into account for that.

And so they fight back (schoolyard fashion) by falsely accusing him of misusing the name of God. (Sound familiar?) In particular, claiming authority that is not his.

His response echoes the principles of Psalm 139:

Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me… examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test. And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. – 2 Corinthians 13: 3, 5-6

This self examination is the same as he has mentioned in the familiar words in 1 Cor. 11:28 that they should examine themselves before taking the bread and the cup.

This examination happens in the power of the Spirit.

In David’s day the Spirit descended on, filled and empowered particular individuals for particular tasks and seasons, including David himself as King, Prophet and Priest. The Spirit’s work held to account these people to serve God’s people. The Spirit would search, know, discern, and hold people accountable. Keep them on track.

In Paul’s day (and ours) the Spirit’s work was (and is) the same, but the Spirit abides in us and is with us. (John 14:17) and we are the temple of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Jesus calls Him “the spirit of Truth.” The Spirit calls to account, convicts us when we’ve done wrong, corrects us when we’ve gone off the path, and enables us to examine ourselves in the wisdom and power of God.

Paul was not deceived about his own ability to sin. He was under no illusions about his own imperfection. But he knows (a) because of the searching of the Spirit, (b) because of his own weakness, (c) because of power that God has manifested thorough the Spirit; that of this charge he is not guilty, and he continues to speak with the voice of authority that comes only from Christ.

Conclusion:

What of those of us who follow Jesus today, and who do our best to follow His example and command? Just like David and just like Paul we have been searched and we are being searched. The depths of our being have been plumbed and measures, our dark corners have been lit up by the Spirit who comes, who continues, who stays and resides.

This is not to say that the work of searching and being searched is easy or without risk.

When we pray ‘You have searched me, so search me,’ we may hear an encouraging voice saying things like:

• You know that sin you’ve always struggled with? Well, you’re forgiven, and you’re doing better.
• You know that person you’re struggling to forgive? Your heart is starting to soften. Don’t give up.
• You know that wound you received? It’s starting to heal. Be patient.

Or we might hear a very different tone of voice speaking to us:

• You know that thing you found on the internet that made you curious or angry? You’re spending way too much time on that and you need to shut the door.
• You know that person you’ve been talking about behind their back? You need to find ways to love them the way Christ loves you.
• You know those blessings I’ve given you? Well, I’m over here. You need to shift your focus from the things that are good to the things that actually matter.

Inviting the Spirit to search us, to bring to bear His knowledge, takes courage. But it is a work we are called to do.

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Ruth Wilkinson is a pastor in Ontario and is married to Paul Wilkinson who edits Christianity 201. As a result, she appears here frequently!

 

Paul the Prophet

I do spend a lot of time here in Philippians 2, and you’d be within your rights to ask me if I ever read anything else! It might have to do with an upcoming speaking engagement where I plan to share from that passage. I promise this time not to linger too long.

But when Paul says,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

he is painting a picture of Christ — having overcome sin, temptation and death — worthy to receive honor. In fact, the NASB which is know for its rigorous attention to translation detail paints this picture in the future, in capital letters no less: “…so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW…”

From where does Paul derive this knowledge?

We often think of him downloading his insights direct from God. In his passage on the supernatural spiritual gifts, he includes words of knowledge, though we tend to apply that to different situations today. In his passage on the five ministry gifts, he includes prophet among the list that also contains, pastor, teacher, evangelist and apostle. (Click this link for our most recent look at the APEPT gifts.)

Again, we want to look at the what of this, not the when.

Paul says he received it by direct revelation. That he received it and then passed it on.

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures  (1 Cor. 15:3-4 NIV)

Okay, I know that’s not the verse you were expecting. But he uses the phrase twice.  The more familiar one is heard in our churches monthly or perhaps weekly.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:23-24)

The NLT emphasizes this direct revelation as “what I received from the Lord himself.”

But was this supernatural gifting, or was it taught to him?

Peter writes,

Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1: 20-21)

So supernatural, right?

But Paul was also taught.

He was not one of the twelve that Jesus chose in a rabbinical sense to be his pupils, but some feel those twelve should have waited in choosing a replacement rather than rushing to choose Matthias (who the scriptures say did spend time with Jesus from the outset of his ministry years to the end.)

Such people feel Paul’s revelation is equal in weight to those who spent three years following in the steps of the Messiah. (For the record, I don’t take sides on this debate.)

I personally believe Paul’s instruction in “The Way” begins the moment he is taken from where he has been knocked down — off his high horse! — because although the scriptures tell us he couldn’t see, and wasn’t really up for eating and drinking, that doesn’t mean he couldn’t listen and doesn’t mean he couldn’t ask questions.

In the blinding light he is told “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:6 NIV)

Paul’s first contact for conversation as an insider is a man named Ananias. (No, not that Ananias; this one is called Ananias of Damascus.) The Lord told Ananias, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.“ (v.11)

Ananias knows Paul’s reputation (still known as Saul at that point) and wants no part of it. (see vv.13-14) But God reveals to Ananias the commission Paul is going to receive:

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.” (v.15)

Other believers in Jesus join Ananias and “Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.” v.19

For this reason, I believe that the things that Paul writes have their origin in a combination of direct revelation and the natural discipleship process that occurs as believers interact one with another.

…It’s interesting to consider the theme of humility that characterizes the Philippians 2 passage and realize that when it comes to boasting about what Christ has done, Paul is not afraid to be bold. It’s also interesting to look at the opening sentence of his letter to Titus,

Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, (1:1 NKJV)

and realize that he is claiming direct apostleship. While elsewhere he rejects his spiritual pedigree as a Pharisee, he tells the Corinthians, Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” (1 Cor 1:31 NLT)

So what do you make of the title I chose today, “Paul the Prophet?” Does it fit? Do all the APEPT gifts manifest themselves in Paul’s life?

 

 

 

 

Don’t Let the Truths Get Lost

This is our eighth time highlighting the writing of Art Toombs of Art Toombs Ministries. Art has served in vocational ministry since 1997 as a minister, church pastor, chaplain, and internet minister. As usual, clicking the header which follows sends traffic to their website and that is one way we can be encouraging their ministry.

Hold Firmly to the Trustworthy Message

Titus 1:1: Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. 5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you– 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul is writing this letter to Titus, who was helping to organize the new churches on the island of Crete, in the Mediterranean. After Paul’s two-year house arrest in Rome, he and Titus traveled to Crete and evangelized several towns.

Paul then left Titus there to complete the organization of churches. This letter was written about mid 62 to mid 64 A.D. from the city of Nicopolis, Greece.

The letter was written at about the same time as Paul wrote 1Timothy. This book is one of the three pastoral epistles of Paul. 1 and 2 Timothy are the other two.

Titus was a Gentile from Macedonia. He was led to Christ by Paul. He was a travelling companion of Paul’s at times, as they went about their missionary work.

Paul wrote this letter to Titus to help him with the organization of churches in Crete. Titus was being confronted by Judaizers, Jewish Christians who wanted to enforce some of the Jewish religious traditions, such as circumcision.

Paul begins the letter by writing, through his amanuensis (likely Luke), “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (v. 1a). He is introducing himself as the writer of this letter and giving his credentials as a slave of God and a direct apostle of Jesus Christ.

He follows this with “according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness” (v. 1b). Paul’s words herein come from the faith of all Christians and his knowledge of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ which leads to godliness.

Paul continues with “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (v. 2). This godliness leads to the “hope” of eternal life which God “promised” before the beginning of time.

God “cannot lie”. Therefore, this “hope” is not a maybe thing but a sure thing. As Christians we have eternal assurance.

Next, Paul writes “but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior” (v. 3). The word of God has been given to us through preaching. Paul was anointed to preach the word of God by The Savior, Jesus Himself.

Paul writes “To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior” (v. 4). He is addressing this letter to Titus, a “true” Christian, and sending a blessing from God the Father and Christ.

Next, Paul writes “For this reason I left you in Crete” (v. 5a). Here he is stating the purposes of Titus’ mission.

Paul continues “that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—” (v. 5b). So, the two purposes for Titus’ mission are to straighten out what was left unfinished before Paul departed and to appoint elders in every city on the island of Crete.

Paul then lays down the qualifications for these elders. An elder was an overseer of the church. Elders were the leaders in the church, doing the work of pastors.

Paul also gave similar instructions to Timothy in his first letter to him. In this letter to Titus, Paul seems more organized in his presentation of these qualifications, as if the letter to Timothy preceded the one to Titus.

Paul gave the same basic fifteen qualifications to each. The fifteen qualifications include four household qualifications, five vices to avoid, and six virtues to exhibit.

Paul writes “if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination” (v. 6). These are the four household qualifications.

They are to be a man, to be blameless, to have only one wife, and to manage his household. Since Paul uses the terms “man”, and “husband”, it is required that the role of an elder, or pastor, is to be filled only by men.

The word “blameless” means to be free from accusation. These are men who are well respected, with good reputations.

These men, if they are married, are not to have more than “one wife”. Polygamy still existed in the culture at the time.

The elder also was to maintain control over the children that still lived under his roof. They were not to be wild and disobedient.

Paul continues by writing “For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money” (v. 7). Here, Paul expands on what he meant by blameless by citing five specific vices to avoid.

The five vices to avoid are not to be overbearing, “quick-tempered”, given over to drunkenness, “violent”, or pursuing dishonest gain. They are to be men of good repute.

Paul writes “but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled” (v. 8), These are the six virtues to exhibit.

Paul continues with “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict”(v. 9). So, Paul concludes this passage with a charge to the elders. The charge is that they must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught.

The methodology for this is two-fold. Using “sound doctrine” elders are to “exhort”, or encourage, the church members and to refute those who oppose it.

Titus, like Timothy in Ephesus, is being opposed by false teachers already. Paul wants to make sure that the new elders do not spread false teaching, as did the established leaders in Ephesus.

He wants to get it right this time. Not only does he want them not to spread false teaching, but he also wants them to be able to successfully refute such false teaching through the use of proper doctrine.

People Producing the Fruit of Ministry

^{Col 1 : 10( NIV)} …live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

A tree might look healthy because it is leafy green, but if its purpose is to bear fruit, all that greenery counts for nothing.

As true as that principle is, it’s also possible for one person to be the planter, or the pruner; while someone else entirely reaps the harvest or collects the fruit.

One of the frustrations of online ministry is you don’t always get a lot of feedback; neither do you see the people who are being influenced by what is posted each day. Statistics report that several hundred people land here each day, but I have no idea if the readings are helpful; if they like the videos; if they enjoyed checking out a particular writer’s website.

It’s also possible that many readers find a website which especially resonates with them and end up making that their daily habit instead of this. Of course, that result was built into the design of this page. There is so much Christian writing available; some of it relates more to intellectuals than those less educated; some to women more than men; some to people of certain denominational persuasions more than others.

A reader here who migrates to someone else’s writing isn’t considered a loss, it’s closer to a win. It could be considered similar to the Paul-Apollos relationship, as described in this passage in I Corinthians 3:

^…4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?

⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. ⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.

¹⁰ Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it…

(continue reading full chapter in the NLT)

Matthew Henry writes:

…Both [people, i.e. Paul and Apollos] were useful, one for one purpose, the other for another. Note, God makes use of variety of instruments, and fits them to their several uses and intentions. Paul was fitted for planting work, and Apollos for watering work, but God gave the increase. Note, The success of the ministry must be derived from the divine blessing: Neither he that plants is any thing, nor he that waters, but God who gives the increase, 1 Cor. 3:7. Even apostolic ministers are nothing of themselves, can do nothing with efficacy and success unless God give the increase. Note, The best qualified and most faithful ministers have a just sense of their own insufficiency, and are very desirous that God should have all the glory of their success. Paul and Apollos are nothing at all in their own account, but God is all in all…

The Apostle Paul is one of the Bible’s best-known personalities. He has name recognition among Christians and non-Christians alike. We know a lot about Paul, but when we connect the dots of scripture, we actually know a lot about Apollos as well.ChristianAnswers.net tells us:

This is the name of a Jew “born at Alexandria,” a man well versed in the Scriptures and eloquent (Acts 18:24). He came to Ephesus (about A.D. 49), where he spoke “boldly” in the synagogue (18:26), although he did not know as yet that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah. Aquila and Priscilla instructed in “the way of God”, i.e., in the knowledge of Christ. He then proceeded to Corinth, where he met Paul (Acts 18:27; 19:1). He was very useful there in watering the good seed Paul had sown (1 Cor. 1:12), and bringing many to Christ. His disciples were very attached to him (1 Cor. 3:4-7, 22). He was with Paul at Ephesus when he wrote the First Epistle to the Corinthians; and Paul makes kind reference to him in his letter to Titus (3:13). (Scripture reference links are KJV.)

One of our former pastors would constantly say, “It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.” In today’s world, it also takes all types of websites, blogs and forums to reach out to an internet-wired world. But as I write this, it’s true that I often long to hear reports of the fruit of this ministry in the lives of readers.

I believe strongly that while we all may be instrumental in the discipleship process of people in our sphere of influence, we should also be know the joys of being reapers of the fruit of ministry. We should all experience Paul-Timothy mentoring relationships. We should all know what it means to reproduce ourselves in the lives of others and even the next generation.

Furthermore, we see Jesus’ attitude toward fruit-bearing ministry in Matthew 21’s story of the fig tree:

¹⁸ In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, ¹⁹ and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. (NLT)

Ask yourself: Are my efforts for the Kingdom of God bearing fruit, or just putting out leaves?

~PW

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Bonus Item — Practical Christian Living:

I don’t know who needs this today, but I wanted to include it…

Here’s a tip some of you might want to consider or even need to consider. A decade ago my son (who was 21 at the time) was convinced he was spending too much time watching videos on YouTube. So he simply uninstalled Flash player in his computer.

In Matthew 5:29 we read Jesus words:

²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (NIV)

but Jesus apparently repeated these words, as Matthew (i.e. same gospel) records them again at 18:9

⁹ If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. (NASB)

To which we might add the following paraphrase:

If an app in your computer or phone causes you to waste time; disable it…

Quotations: The Apostle Paul

Maybe we should have called it “Paul’s Greatest Hits.”

Four years ago, while thinking about our quotations series, where often (but not always) a handful of websites provides all the key texts we need, I thought I’d try out some of those same sources and see what they came up with if I typed “Paul the Apostle,” “Apostle Paul,” or “Paul of Tarsus.” (I’ve always wanted to see what the general, non-faith websites might come up with, many were quotations about the Apostle Paul.)

It was interesting that some of the sites made no attempt to cite the reference for the quote, and none of the sites indicated which translation of the Bible they were using. If you’re doing this, you start to get a few repeats, but the Guideposts site (see below) had a refreshing collection of ten key verses that the others had overlooked.

Also these were copied and pasted somewhat randomly. Slow down and take from these what God would have you be reminded of today, since the verses are quite familiar.

Remember also that if you want to know which are the most sought after verses for each of Paul’s epistles and letters, you should go to TopVerses.com and use the book-by-book links. (I didn’t use TopVerses for this collection; it might produce different results.)

I guess everything is in green today, because everything is a scripture verse. At least I don’t have to supply a biographic link this time, as I think you know to whom I referring!

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Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

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For when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong.

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I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

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I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds.

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There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

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Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

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But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.

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Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own [will], is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

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And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.

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Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

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Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

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For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

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God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

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In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the good news of the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God.”

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Sources:

Inspiring Quotes, AZ Quotes, BeliefNet, Quotes and Thoughts, Guideposts

When You *Think* You’re Doing God’s Work

Last year at this time we introduced you to SeekGrowLove.com which features different authors each day. The writer of today’s thoughts is Mackenzie McClain. I just finished reading seven different devotionals at this site — they’re not that long — and encourage you to do the same. The one we chose for today is also linked in the title which follows.

Sometimes Like Saul

“I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:8b, NIV).

Old Testament: 2 Samuel 23 & 24

Poetry: Proverbs 28

New Testament: Acts 22

Have you ever seen a street-corner evangelist shouting into a megaphone about hell? I recently saw such a guy carrying his cross down the sidewalk—literally—he was pulling along a giant cross on wheels. It’s easy to point fingers at these people and think that their tactics are the very opposite of what Jesus intended (and his cross definitely didn’t have wheels).

But what if it’s not just these people? What if my actions and attitudes are contrary to the very heart of Jesus?

In Acts 22, Paul shares his testimony to the crowd after his arrest. It’s a scary story:

“In one synagogue after another I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you (Jesus). And when the blood of Stephen your witness was being shed, I myself was standing by and approving and watching over the garments of those who killed him” (Acts 22:19b-20, ESV).

Looking back at Saul’s life, it’s scary because of the heinous acts he committed, but even more so because he thought he was doing everything right. He thought he was carrying out God’s work; after all, he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews” (Philippians 3:5) and on fire for God. This facade crumbles when he hears Jesus’ voice calling him on the road to Damascus:

And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And I answered, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said to me, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting” (Acts 22:7-8, ESV).

You and me are sometimes like Saul. We think we’re right, but maybe it’s more like self-righteous. Maybe our priorities are mixed-up. Maybe we’re quick to judge, hesitant to forgive, or eager to avenge. Are we accurate reflections of who Jesus is, or do we persecute him? Jesus’ harsh words to Saul are a warning to us, too.

Here are two ways to heed Jesus’ warning:

1. Get to know Jesus. Saul didn’t know Jesus for himself. He accepted what his circle of religious elite said about Jesus (and it wasn’t nice). Get to know Jesus personally—who he is and what he stands for. We get to know him through
   reading accounts in scripture, prayer, and worship.
2. Leave the Judgment to God. Saul got into trouble when he sought to avenge the supposed heretics. He relied on his own flawed and limited perception instead of God’s, the perfect Judge. Your job is to love and forgive; God will handle justice.

-Mackenzie McClain

Reflection Questions

1. In what ways have your actions and attitudes “persecuted” Jesus? How can you be a better reflection of him today?
2. Saul’s transformation story is incredible! Is there anyone in your life who you’ve dismissed as being too far gone? God’s not done working!