Category: Reflections Articles

Each of these articles in past weeks have emphasized our responsibility to help each other. At this point we recognize the importance of expressing love for our neighbor, and the emphasis that the Lord places on our good treatment of other brethren. The imperative of love is what divides the righteous from the unrighteous.  The Lord emphasized this truth, distinguishing between two groups as He talked of future judgment. His statement, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world” (Matthew 25:34), was directed at those who were benevolent and loving to others. A peculiar part of our culture is the pride (or perhaps other motivations) that cause some to refuse the help or friendship of others. This should never be the case with a Christian. Why would we ever put an obstacle in the way of another’s potential reward in Judgment?

Hopefully we will be quick to offer friendship, care, benevolence and hospitality to those we love. We should be quick to ask, “What can I do?” And to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Consider the very next verse of that context, where Paul admonishes the Romans, “Be of the same mind toward one another…” (16). If we are ready to help our brothers, but unwilling to ask for or receive the same from them, how can we be described as being of the same mind? Part of being gracious is our willing reception of the help offered by our brothers and sisters in Christ. We should not let pride, or a desire “not to be burden” to impede their efforts to do what God expects of all of us. Continue reading “(13 of 13) My Individual Responsibility to Accept Your Friendship” →

1 Corinthians 4:1-4 relates an interesting sentiment by the great apostle Paul. “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.” There is too much in the passage to unpack it all in this short space. I want to emphasize one aspect of Paul’s declaration.

Paul was God’s servant, and he knew just how important it was for him to be faithful in his service to the Lord. How can we know whether we are faithful to the Lord? It requires diligence: seen in Bible study, self-reflection, and heeding the counsel of others. Of the three, Bible study is the standard we finally look to in determining our standing with God.  “…And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books” (Revelation 20:12). Continue reading ““He Who Judges Me”” →

Our discussion of the love we are to have for each other is continued with the consideration of hospitality. The Greek word for hospitable is philoxenos and consists of two parts: philo indicates love or affection; and xenos is the Greek word for stranger. A love for strangers. It was used in Bible times to indicate a fondness of guests, or to be given to hospitality.

This is a characteristic to which God gives great emphasis. It was an integral part of ancient culture, and its value is shown time and again in scripture. Both in teaching and example. “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is pleased” (Hebrews 13:16). When we speak of hospitality, it is not limited only to strangers. In fact, it is an important part of our relationship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a part of the intimacy God wants us to develop. “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9). Continue reading “(11 of 13) Hospitality!” →

“Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). Men have always understood and benefitted from the advice of others. That is, if it is good advice. You may remember Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, who inherited the reign of his father in Israel. When he ascended the throne, he was told by the “whole assembly of Israel” to “lighten the burdensome service of your father” with the promise if he did so, “we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:1-4).

Rehoboam asked his father’s advisors what to do. They told him to grant the people’s request, telling him if he did, “then they will be your servants forever” (7). Instead of following their sage advice, he instead listened to his peers, who lacked the wisdom the elders supplied.  The young men suggested he say, “And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!” (11). This was a direct cause of the northern tribes rejecting him in favor of Jeroboam. It led the chronicler of the Kings to write, “So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day” (19). Continue reading “(10 of 13) The Sweet Counsel of a Friend” →

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (4:1). He then goes on to describe aspects of that walk.  Consider:

It is a walk of lowliness: having a humble opinion of oneself, humility, modesty (Thayer).  “…But in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).

It is a walk of gentleness: mildness, meekness (Thayer). “To speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:2). Continue reading “The Worthy Walk” →

The key to esteeming each other is humility. If I am proud, my attention and interest is in myself. Pride associates with selfishness. However, If I am humble, my attention and interest typically will be in others. I see their value equal to, even exceeding my own. My humility makes me selfless.  At least, that is God’s intention.

We are not talking here about self-hatred or despair. It is the realization that the value of another equals my own, and therefore my duty is to positively impact their lives. If you consider it, such actions reciprocated benefit all. I look out for multiple others, and all of them (having the same values) look out for me!

Consider the example Paul gave, writing about the care shown by a husband to his wife. “So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.  For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” (Ephesians 5:28-29). The husband’s love is to be selfless. He esteems and values his wife and makes her welfare and happiness his work.  This is an example of esteeming that should be common in the disciple’s life. Continue reading “(9 of 13) Esteeming Each Other” →

Prayer is an essential part of the Christian’s daily life. It has been said that the Bible is how God communicates to mankind, and prayer is how mankind communicates with God. It is through prayer that we praise God, we let God know of our needs, we intercede to Him on behalf of our fellow man, and we petition Him through the mediation of His Son. God expects, and requires such communication on our part. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

The book of Revelation has an interesting description of heaven with a mention of the prayers of the saints, in Revelation 5:8. The description is of God’s throne, with the Almighty at the center of all creation. Paul describes the moment the Lamb (God’s Son) takes a scroll depicting the Father’s will for man. “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Truly our prayers are taken to the very presence of God and our petitions to Him are heard. As we contemplate our imperative to love one another, it is difficult to think of any better way to practice that love than praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ to the Heavenly Father. Continue reading “(8 of 13) Praying for Each Other” →

The single most important characteristic that is to identify children of God is love for one another. This truth is revealed especially by the pen of the man known as the apostle of love — the apostle John. There are a number of reasons for the designation. First, it was a self-designation as John humbly referred to himself in the third person in his gospel, as a disciple “whom [He/Jesus] loved” (cf. John 19:26; 13:23; 20:2; 21:7). Too, love was a central theme of both John’s gospel and his letters.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also” (1 John 4:19-21). Continue reading “(7 of 13) Loving Each Other” →

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (John 1:1-4).

The Word references the Son of God. One of three in the beginning, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. John here affirms the place God’s Son had in creation. As He and the Father are One, God’s Son can truly and fully be referred to as the Creator of all things. He is described as “the light of men” (5).

After the first 5 verses, there is an ellipsis dealing the John the Baptist. John was the one who came to “bear witness of the Light” (6). Notice the word “Light” here is capitalized, emphasizing our point that the “light” is another designation for the “Word”, signifying God’s Son. Hence the capitalized word indicating deity. John the Baptist is not God’s Son. He is the forerunner of the “Light.” “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.’ ” (Matthew 3:1-3). Continue reading “The Incarnate Word” →

In Galatians 4 the great apostle noted a change in his relationship with the churches in Galatia. It is generally agreed that the apostasy that threatened the churches had begun rather quickly, only a few short years after they were first established by Paul.  He went to Galatia and established churches there while on his first journey, recorded in Acts 13.

Consider how the apostle was treated by the Galatians when he came to them. There was an apparent physical infirmity from which Paul suffered while he was with them (13). They were very kind to him as he ministered among them. “And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus” (14). High praise indeed, bringing to our mind what Jesus said. In  response to the righteous who had cared diligently for the welfare of His “brethren” Christ said, “And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me’” Matthew 25:40. Paul went so far as to say, “For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me” (15). Continue reading “Paul’s Surprise” →

We have had the concept of sanctification as a particular touchstone in our preaching the last several months.  The sanctification of God’s people is a primary truth which not only impacts our redemption, but also our responsibilities to God and man.

In Hebrews 10, the writer takes time to establish Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth,  as  prophesied in Psalm 40:6-8. “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, ‘Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.’” In verses 8-10, the Hebrew writer comments on the meaning of the Psalm as it pertains to Christ.  This serves as the grist for these thoughts. Continue reading “Another Point on Sanctification” →

An examination of Ephesians 4:29 helps to explain the premise of our article. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Important concepts here are edification and grace. Edification defined is “to build up…the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, happiness.” Such efforts to edify are required by God.  Grace is defined as “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech.” Our language toward one another should be to build up, to be that which will make us better and promote loveliness and righteousness rather than strife.

This is key — this job, this obligation to one another. It is a responsibility every child of God has to strengthen his brothers or sisters. Anything violating such an effort has no place, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth.” The next time you are tempted to speak without carefully considering to how it will impact your brother, you need to refrain. God expects us to take great care in how we speak. Continue reading “(6 of 13) Strengthening Each Other” →

All of us understand the importance of friendship. We grasp it when we are young. Perhaps that is why a little child can come tell their parent after an hour’s play, “Mommy, I have a new friend!” This desire and readiness to accept another as a friend, unfortunately, becomes more rare as we get older. Personalities, politics, religion, culture, and biases all begin to erect boundaries. Perhaps personal disappointment or unpleasant experiences make us more cautious and make it harder to foster close relationships.

Disappointed experiences change nothing about the benefit of friendship. We are told, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). All of us need a voice we can trust and cherish, knowing that what they say may be difficult to hear, but it is said out of love and concern for us. A voice that comes from someone who we know is looking out for our interests.  In short, a friend. Continue reading “(5 of 13) The Warmth of Friendship” →

You are familiar with Jesus’ words to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…” (John 8:31-32). These words create what amounts to a litmus test to establish discipleship.

Let’s define a couple of terms. The first is litmus test. It is “a test for acidity or alkalinity using litmus.” Litmus is a dye that is added to paper, that when touched by acidic liquid turns red, and when touched by alkaline liquid turns blue. It is completely reliable and definitive. As such, the phrase “litmus test” has come to mean a test that decisively indicates a particular nature. Continue reading “The Litmus Test of Discipleship” →

In Nehemiah 2, we read of a conversation Nehemiah had with Artarxerxes, king of Persia. The work of rebuilding Jerusalem was not progressing, and Nehemiah was mourning the state of ruin the city and temple were in. His sadness was one he could not hide from the king. Presenting such sadness before the king was dangerous, and Nehemiah confessed, “So I became dreadfully afraid” (2:2).

The interesting verse is 4.  “Then the king said to me, ‘What do you request?’ So I prayed to the God of heaven.” I have no doubt his prayer to God was a simple and quick one. It would be foolish to keep the king waiting. This did not preclude the prayer itself. Nehemiah felt the need to appeal to God before he appealed to the king. His prayer and request to Artexerxes was granted, and Nehemiah became a great leader of the Jews, overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Lord’s house. At the end of the book we find him praying to God again, “Remember me, O my God, for good!” (13:31). Continue reading “Two Prayers of Mourning” →