As a child growing up, my mother would constantly remind me and my siblings to be careful of the company we keep. As youngsters, we were very aware of the influence that friends and acquaintances could have on the things we do primarily because we had seen how other kids had adopted bad habits and attitudes from hanging out with the wrong crowd. Of course, growing up in the church we also understood that we were ultimately responsible for our own actions, but we could not ignore that despite our best intentions, if we were not careful, we could end up doing the wrong thing in order to maintain unhealthy friendships. I can still hear Mom's voice: "Show me your company, and I'll tell you who you are." There is a lot of truth in her wisdom.
I thought of this as I read Psalm 119:63 - "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." Interestingly, Scripture has a lot to say about the associations we form. From the formative years of the nation of Israel, through the millennia, God warned His people to avoid certain individuals, groups, and nations whose ways of being were against His laws and principles. Whenever God's people violated this directive, they found themselves in a position of compromise. It is said that we can only rise to the level of the company we keep, and for the child of God intent on walking in the ways of God, it is imperative that we be mindful of those we allow into our personal space. Our ultimate goal is not to please others, or even ourselves, but rather to please our Heavenly Father, and to help us in that objective we should surround ourselves with people of like mind.
In Amos 3:3 we read, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” The agreement to consider is not so much on secular things, but on those things that are spiritual. Even among Christians there is need for vigilance in this area. We need to ensure that the meaningful relationships in our lives are propelling us in the right direction; towards conformity to the image of Christ in the ways we walk, talk, and live. This is ultimately God's priority, and it should be ours as well.
How do your friendships and relationships measure up? Now is as good a time as any to check them out.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
All Things In the Spirit
The importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer cannot be overemphasized. Among His many functions that Jesus promised was that He would guide us "into all truth: for He shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:13b-15, KJV).
Space limitation do not allow for an exegesis of the Holy Spirit's work, but from the text above, we get a glimpse of His capabilities in the lives of the disciples. Jesus also referred to Him as "the Comforter" (V.7), signifying a personal relationship as well. When Jesus returned to His father, the Holy Spirit became God's representative on earth, continuing to be with His people and facilitating divine exchanges between us and God. It is no wonder that Paul reminded the Roman believers that upon conversion "ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). However as long as the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are exhorted to do everything in, or as guided by, that Spirit: "Walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16); "Live in the Spirit" (5:25); "Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18); and "Love in the Spirit" (Colossians 1:8).
I quite like Paul's exhortation in his first letter to the Corinthians: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (2:9-12). What better way to live our lives, and carry out our spiritual duties, than to do so as guided by Him who knowest all the things and ways of God? He knows exactly what needs to be done, how we should do them, and how to make known to us what is ours in God. How are you doing in allowing Him to direct your every step?
Space limitation do not allow for an exegesis of the Holy Spirit's work, but from the text above, we get a glimpse of His capabilities in the lives of the disciples. Jesus also referred to Him as "the Comforter" (V.7), signifying a personal relationship as well. When Jesus returned to His father, the Holy Spirit became God's representative on earth, continuing to be with His people and facilitating divine exchanges between us and God. It is no wonder that Paul reminded the Roman believers that upon conversion "ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:9). However as long as the Spirit of God dwells in us, we are exhorted to do everything in, or as guided by, that Spirit: "Walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:16); "Live in the Spirit" (5:25); "Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18); and "Love in the Spirit" (Colossians 1:8).
I quite like Paul's exhortation in his first letter to the Corinthians: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God" (2:9-12). What better way to live our lives, and carry out our spiritual duties, than to do so as guided by Him who knowest all the things and ways of God? He knows exactly what needs to be done, how we should do them, and how to make known to us what is ours in God. How are you doing in allowing Him to direct your every step?
Sharing What We Have
Crippled from birth and unable to fend for himself, Luke tells us that they (maybe his friends and family) brought the man to the Temple Gate every day to ask alms of them that entered the temple (Acts 3:2). There was something to the strategy, because who better to have compassion on a beggar than those who were going into the house of God. Undoubtedly, he had become a fixture there. Nobody may have known his name but for sure they knew his face, and if seen around town, would have been referred to as the fellow who "sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple" (v.10).
Amidst the people going to worship that day were Peter and John, and on seeing them, the man did what he knew best - he asked for money. For him it was a matter of survival; trying to get enough to make it through the day. But on this divinely appointed day, Peter, empty in the pockets but filled with the Holy Ghost, got the man's attention and said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." The narrative continued, "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God" (vv. 4-8, KJV).
In a lot of ways, the lame man is like those who are outside of an intimate and personal relationship with Christ. Every day is one of existence instead of being one of purpose. The longing in the soul is to satisfy its immediate wants, totally ignorant to that which is its greater need. It is as Jesus said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). All the silver and gold he would collect that day would not have made the man whole. Only an encounter with the living Christ, through Peter and John, could change his situation and ultimately his life.
Who are you passing today who needs more than a temporary fix? There's no real satisfaction outside of knowing and experiencing Christ, and that is one truth every believer is empowered to carry and share. You may not have money, or any of the other material things a person is asking for, but you do have a life transforming message to share. Perhaps someone in your immediate sphere of influence needs to hear it through you?
Amidst the people going to worship that day were Peter and John, and on seeing them, the man did what he knew best - he asked for money. For him it was a matter of survival; trying to get enough to make it through the day. But on this divinely appointed day, Peter, empty in the pockets but filled with the Holy Ghost, got the man's attention and said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." The narrative continued, "And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God" (vv. 4-8, KJV).
In a lot of ways, the lame man is like those who are outside of an intimate and personal relationship with Christ. Every day is one of existence instead of being one of purpose. The longing in the soul is to satisfy its immediate wants, totally ignorant to that which is its greater need. It is as Jesus said, "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). All the silver and gold he would collect that day would not have made the man whole. Only an encounter with the living Christ, through Peter and John, could change his situation and ultimately his life.
Who are you passing today who needs more than a temporary fix? There's no real satisfaction outside of knowing and experiencing Christ, and that is one truth every believer is empowered to carry and share. You may not have money, or any of the other material things a person is asking for, but you do have a life transforming message to share. Perhaps someone in your immediate sphere of influence needs to hear it through you?
Sunday, July 06, 2008
The Love That Never Ceases
On the evening of his sister's marriage, George Matheson was alone at home. Years earlier, he too had been engaged until his fiancé learned that he was going blind. Unable to bear the thought of marrying a blind man, she broke off their engagement. He went blind while studying for ministry and his sister was the one to take care of him. Under her care, he had excelled and was said to have preached regularly in a church to over 1,500 people each week. Who would care for him now? To compound matters, his sister's marriage brought back memories of his own heartbreak; of a love lost due to the tragedy of blindness.
As he sat disconsolate, perhaps contemplating his loneliness and his future, the enormous truth of God's everlasting love filled his soul. It was not unlike Paul's moment of truth when in response to the question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35), he wrote, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vv.37-39). This was a reaffirmation of the truth that God himself demonstrated when through Jeremiah He said to the families of Israel , "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee" (31:3).
Everlasting love has no end to it, and absolutely nothing can separate us from it. Regardless of circumstances, it is always there. That is the truth of God's promise, and the truth upon which every believer can rest. Matheson discovered that, and in less than five minutes was said to have written the grand old hymn that begins with the words, and whose title came from the first sentence:
"O Love that will not let me go / I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe / That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be."
What love! Have you known and experienced it?
Below, David Phelps, one of the best, if not the best tenor in gospel music, with a moving rendition of Matheson's song.
Please note: If you are on a corporate network and see seeing white space instead of the encoded video, your company's internet policy may be preventing you from seeing it.
As he sat disconsolate, perhaps contemplating his loneliness and his future, the enormous truth of God's everlasting love filled his soul. It was not unlike Paul's moment of truth when in response to the question, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8:35), he wrote, "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vv.37-39). This was a reaffirmation of the truth that God himself demonstrated when through Jeremiah He said to the families of Israel , "I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee" (31:3).
Everlasting love has no end to it, and absolutely nothing can separate us from it. Regardless of circumstances, it is always there. That is the truth of God's promise, and the truth upon which every believer can rest. Matheson discovered that, and in less than five minutes was said to have written the grand old hymn that begins with the words, and whose title came from the first sentence:
"O Love that will not let me go / I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe / That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be."
What love! Have you known and experienced it?
Below, David Phelps, one of the best, if not the best tenor in gospel music, with a moving rendition of Matheson's song.
Please note: If you are on a corporate network and see seeing white space instead of the encoded video, your company's internet policy may be preventing you from seeing it.
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