Many Troubles

Posted on by korgrocker

“But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems. But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.”
1 Corinthians 7:28-31 NLT

Marriage is not a sin, wrote Paul, but because of the times, he said that those who do go ahead and get married will have “many troubles”. Were there any different challenges for married people in those days compared with those faced by married people today? Probably not, although the “troubles” would be of a different nature. Since the beginning of time, a marriage has taken place between a man and woman because of the strength of the love bond. Still, in this Biblical context, we are considering marriage between a believing man and woman, although the principles apply to all marriages. In Ephesians 5, Paul wrote about mutual submission, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:21, “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ“. In the following few verses, Paul’s instructions about mutual love and submission include references to Christ Himself. “For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Saviour of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her” (Ephesians 5:22-25). And he finished the chapter by writing, “So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (Ephesians 5:33). 

At wedding ceremonies held in church, the passage about love from 1 Corinthians 13 is often included. Remember what it says? The part frequently emphasised is, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The love referred to by Paul is the most critical kind, agape love. A definition of agape is that it is “an ancient Greek term for a selfless, unconditional, and sacrificial form of love, often considered the highest type of love in Christianity. It emphasises commitment to the good of another, regardless of their actions or any personal gain, embodying a profound love for God and fellow humans that persists through all circumstances“. In the marriage environment, an agape love is needed because two people with different and unbending agendas can otherwise cause the “many troubles” to be amplified, with unwanted consequences. Peter knew about this kind of love as well when he wrote, “Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

But what about the “many troubles”? We who are married know all about them, and the relationship can become toxic if Biblical principles are not applied. It is a wonder that sinful human beings stay married at all, particularly those who are unbelievers, until we realise that every person, man or woman, has been made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”). How does that work out in a sinful and evil society? Often with great difficulty, because the devil loves to see marriages break up, but God’s qualities of love, righteousness and justice will prevail in any relationship. The troubles in a marriage can come between two people with different points of view, as they face external pressures such as a lack of finances, difficulty in finding suitable housing, and families, followed by health challenges, diets, and all types of preferences, some important but others relatively trivial. Most of these issues are best sorted during a courting period, but many couples rush headlong into a relationship before considering the consequences. Near where I live, there is a single man, now in his forties, who lives on his own with his dog, quite content with his singleness. But he shared with me one day that he had nearly got married and had even paid for all the expensive items, including a lavish honeymoon, before the enormity of what he was doing suddenly frightened him, and he walked away from the relationship. He has never dated a woman since. There are also anecdotal stories of couples who decide not to proceed with marriage after visiting a furniture store, such as IKEA, and their differences in taste lead to strife and the realisation that there is much to be resolved between them.

“Many troubles”? There are indeed many, too many to list here, but for sinful human beings, troubles in a marriage are inevitable. There is only one way to a successful marriage, and that is through mutual love, submission and respect. Together, and with God at the centre of their relationship, all troubles can be overcome.

Dear Father God. You ordained the sacrament of Holy Matrimony for a reason, because that is what You have desired for Your children. We pray that Your perfect arrangement prevails in our lives and the lives of our families. And we pray for all those we know who may be considering marriage or who wish to stay ummarried, that You will continue to love and bless them in their choice. In Your precious name. Amen.

Punishment and Discipline

Posted on by korgrocker

“Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?”
1 Corinthians 4:18-21 NLT

There were some intransigent believers in the Corinthian church, arrogant people who thought they, and not Paul, knew what was best for themselves and their fellow believers. Apparently, they were great talkers, giving “pretentious speeches”, but without offering anything like the Holy Spirit’s power in their lives. So Paul gave them a choice, like any parent would do to a naughty child – punishment or change. In those days, apparently, children were disciplined with a “rod”, as was the case in this country up until relatively recent times. I can remember when I was at primary school, the headmaster kept a cane in a corner of his office, and, although only rarely used, it was a remarkably good deterrent. In Scotland, the teachers had a leather strap, or tawse, used for the same purposes. Today, legislation against smacking has been implemented, but a public display of physical punishment has been rare for many years. But Paul was never going to return to Corinth wielding a big stick. He was speaking metaphorically, of course, but making the point that there is such a thing as discipline for believers.

In Hebrews 12:5-6,  we read, “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you. For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child””. I don’t know about you, fellow pilgrims, but I can’t remember recently ever hearing a sermon based on these verses. Hardly something we would like to hear from the pulpit, I’m sure, but these verses are in the Bible for a reason. So, why would God ever need to discipline us? In the case of the Corinthian church, perhaps divine discipline was required to focus the minds of the rebellious talkers on the basics of their faith, with a view to changing their thinking. And so it might be with any believer. We all have a tendency to continue in sin and rebellion against God, and sometimes God allows something to happen that puts a stark choice before us. He pushes us to a point where we have to decide to follow Him, regardless of the potential pain and His ways, or continue in sin, taking the easy way out. But what choice do we make? A true Christian will submit to the disciplining process and come through all the stronger for the experience. Sadly , though, many will abandon the faith, the pull of sin and the world too strong to resist. It is difficult to know what form God’s discipline will take until it happens, but the Holy Spirit will reveal to us what we need to know and do.

The writer to the Hebrews continues, “As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father?” (Hebrews 12:7). Even without physical punishment, a child growing up in a loving home will experience some form of discipline and punishment, such as the loss of privileges. As the old Proverb says, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them” (Proverbs 13:24). Sadly again, this proverb, containing so much sense, is rejected because of its reference to a physical remedy, and missing the whole point that discipline has a root in love. The next verses in Hebrews explain the reason why God disciplines his children. “If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?” (Hebrews 12:8-9). The last thing God wants is the prospect of having a spoilt, rebellious child joining Him in Heaven, and so He brings discipline through His love and grace.

Back in the Corinthian congregation, what would Paul’s threat of a rod of punishment look like? The implication is that he could use a demonstration of the Spirit’s power to bring about correction and change. We know that Paul moved in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and they were demonstrated to the church there in Corinth. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God”. The contrast was stark. Paul used the gifts of the Holy Spirit to give authenticity to his preaching, but the arrogant Corinthians preferred to talk with “pretentious speeches” without power. The signs and wonders through the Holy Spirit were widely known in those First Century days. And even in my life as a believer, I have been in congregations where a word of knowledge has publicly exposed something that is wrong in a church or even calling out someone in the congregation, resulting in much soul searching and squirming in seats!

Paul said to his Corinthian “children” that he would come either with a rod or “with love and a gentle spirit”. But in reality, his love for the people there would have underpinned anything he had to say and do. God never acts in a harsh way, and it is always with love that his discipline is delivered. And so it was with Paul.

So, fellow pilgrims, are any of us going through a difficult time at the moment? Is God seemingly far away, and our prayers difficult and unanswered? Are we struggling with an issue that we seem to be unable to overcome? Well, it is always possible that through our circumstances, God is disciplining us. We need to get on our knees and repent and ask for His forgiveness, bringing before Him the issues that we are finding so difficult, praying for guidance and a straight path through our dilemma. Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterwards there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way”. And the previous verse reminds us that ” … God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness”. God desires children who are righteous and holy, like His Son, Jesus. There is no other way we can enter Heaven overburdened with the worldly baggage of sin and unrighteousness.

Dear Heavenly Father. A sobering thought this morning, and one which our souls recoil from experiencing. But we thank You for Your love and discipline, because it prepares us for life eternal with You. Amen.

Spiritual Truths

Posted on by korgrocker

“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others.”
1 Corinthians 2:13-15 NLT

Isn’t it amazing that believers, full of the Holy Spirit, have access to “spiritual truths”, but those worldly and unbelieving people around us do not have a clue about anything to do with God’s world. Such a world to them does not exist, because they cannot see it with their eyes or other senses. I read this morning about an astronomical discovery three hundred light-years away, a huge structure largely consisting of hydrogen and solar dust, that had never before been seen. It became news when it was exposed to a special form of light. Well, people in this world are a bit like that spiritually. They had never before seen this structure, so to them it therefore did not exist. Most of the same people have never seen the spirit world where God lives, and so to them it doesn’t exist either. As we pilgrims know, one day if they encounter Jesus, He will open their eyes and they will discover that a different form of Light has exposed a spiritual world far beyond anything they had ever considered before. We human beings are so good at limiting our ability by our world views. And so when we believers talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters, even if they contain “spiritual truths”, they don’t have a clue about what we are talking about. 

Evangelists promote a message of salvation through Jesus, but often this message majors on repentance from sin. That is, of course, correct, because any form of sin is abhorrent in God’s sight, but who wants to have to face into their misdemeanours, the things that they have done wrong? So this can become a hurdle to a sinner’s appreciation of God’s spiritual world. Other evangelistic messages focus on God’s love, and this can draw people towards Jesus. Such a message might even motivate them to attend church and get involved in church activities. But sooner or later, they have to open the door into God’s spiritual world through their repentance and seeking forgiveness for their sins. Otherwise, the “spiritual truths” available to true believers will remain elusive and a mystery, or even as invisible as the cloud of hydrogen so far away. To me, Peter put his finger on the issue about access to the “truths from God’s Spirit” when he preached “ … Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). 

Believers in Jesus will never be able to appreciate the words given to us by the Holy Spirit if we don’t know Him. The Pentecost experience was an amazing demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power, with its transformative potential in the lives of the believers present. Have we experienced that power? Or have we settled for a stripped-down version where we have capped what the Holy Spirit can do and reveal to us by putting Him in a box of our own making? After all, we perhaps think, we don’t want the Spirit to do anything that we don’t approve of. It might embarrass us. We say to the Holy Spirit, “Just give us the ‘spiritual truths’ we need and no more, thank You”. I think we can agree that such a limitation must impact the revelation of the “truths from God’s Spirit” in our everyday lives. I don’t know about you, my friends, but I want more of God in my life and more of His power, the power that can transform not only me but those around me. And that power is contained in the “spiritual truths” revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.

Human wisdom is totally blind to the things of the Spirit. After all, if we look at things through their eyes, does it not appear foolish to see a new Christian get down on his or her knees before an invisible entity they call “God” and proceed to confess their sins? How foolish does it appear to them to then see the new Christian rise up with a look of joy and relief, even shouting God’s praises, apparently transformed. A human unbeliever, blinded by their feeble wisdom, cannot even start to appreciate the change that has occurred. Paul wrote, “people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it”. That was the situation in his day, and it still applies in 21st-century planet Earth societies. Advances in human knowledge and wisdom alone over the past two thousand years or so have not been able to bridge the gap between the natural and spiritual, and they never will. Confirmed atheists look on and try and explain away the things of God, and the impact that the Holy Spirit has in the lives of us pilgrims, dismissing our belief as being because of a character deficiency that needs a religious prop in the same way as an alcoholic needs a drink. So sad, because we pilgrims know the “spiritual truth”. 

So we pilgrims seek more of the Holy Spirit within us, to reveal more and more of God’s “spiritual truths”. We will never tap into everything about God in this life because He is infinite and eternal. But we pray that we will grow as true believers in Christ, helped by the gentle urgings and whispers of the Holy Spirit within us, revealing the “spiritual truths” we need to help us become more and more like Jesus. 

Dear God. The Holy Spirit within each of us is a force so powerful that no worldly power can ever replace Him. We know that still small voice within that gently leads and guides us more and more, to become the people You would have us be. Thank You for Your grace and love. Amen.

Why, Jesus?

Posted on by korgrocker

“Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. … Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?””
John 14:19, 22 NLT

For the disciples, the picture is building that Jesus will soon be leaving them but they are puzzled  about where He will be going and why it would just be them who would see Him. Of course, they had previously been told about what was going to happen. Matthew 17:22-23, “After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief“. But had Judas forgotten what Jesus had said when he asked Him the question in John 14:22? 

There is little information about the Judas who wasn’t Judas Iscariot. Some think that he was the same man as the disciple referred to as Thaddeus. Others think that he was one of Jesus’ half brothers. But the Holy Spirit nudged John to write down this conversation between Judas and Jesus because it must have been relevant and important. 

Perhaps the thought process in Judas’ mind was to do with the continuation of Jesus’ ministry and its extension into the world outside Israel. Surely, he thought, if Jesus was going to rise from the dead then the impact of this on the world would grab everyone’s attention and lead to the growth in the number of believers. But Jesus also told the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, and it ends with a conversation between the Rich Man in hell, and Abraham with Lazarus in Heaven. We read this in Luke 16:30-31, “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’ “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead'”. Isn’t it strange that even when faced with overwhelming evidence, the human response is often to rationalise it away or ignore it, particular if the evidence concerned doesn’t fit in with their world view.

But perhaps the real reason for Judas’ question is contained in the Message translation of today’s verses from John 14:22-24a, “Judas (not Iscariot) said, “Master, why is it that you are about to make yourself plain to us but not to the world?” “Because a loveless world,” said Jesus, “is a sightless world. … “. We pilgrims do indeed live in a “loveless world“, where strife and selfishness abound.

We are salt and light in our families, communities, workplaces, churches, and in any place where we have the opportunity to share the love of God. The people around us stumble around in a dark place where God cannot be seen. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4, “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God”. We pilgrims are light-bearers bringing light and life to counter the darkness and death of our world. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the look on someone’s face when they see the “light” for the first time.

Father God. We read in Your Word that we have Your “light shining in our hearts”, something that we are truly grateful for. Amen.

“Didn’t You Listen”

Posted on by korgrocker

“So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.” “I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!” “But what did he do?” they asked. “How did he heal you?” “Look!” the man exclaimed. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?””
John 9:24-27 NLT

What made the Pharisees think that Jesus was a sinner? After all, how could the Son of God ever be accused of such a thing? The reason was that the Pharisees had their own definition about sin, and for them it was founded on the Law of Moses and their many Rabbinic rules and regulations, correct or otherwise, that they had derived from it. They didn’t like Jesus’ claim that He was the Son of God and therefore they accused Him of the sin of blasphemy. The problem for them, however, was His miraculous signs and wonders, and that His teaching that the only way to eternal life was through Him and not just by observing their laws. The last thing the Pharisees wanted was to lose their religious control over the people.

Mr Blind-no-more quite correctly pointed out to the Pharisees that their accusation of sin against Jesus was irrelevant. They had been told that the man was born blind, but could now see, and it was all because Jesus put mud on his eyes. The side issue of accusations of sin didn’t change the facts, although this introduced another problem for the Pharisees – how could someone who claimed to be God’s Son, and the Messiah who they had been waiting for, be a sinner? 

In desperation, the Pharisees asked Mr Blind-no-more a second time about what happened, just in case they found a new snippet of information that resolved their dilemma. But this time they received a tetchy response. “I told you once. Didn’t you listen?”.Unfortunately for them, the man then put his finger on the issue staring them in the face – if this healing happened as they had been told then they had no choice other than to acknowledge Jesus’ claim for who He was, and become His disciples. No human being could ever have healed a man born blind unless God was behind it. 

We pilgrims have seen the risen Lord, and believe in Him. We are His disciples but we remember the life-changing moment when we made that decision for Christ.  We weren’t anyone special. We weren’t religious leaders like the Pharisees. But regardless of the consequences, we took that step into the Kingdom of God, a place that, for many, is fraught with danger and difficulties. A new believer would perhaps be marginalised in their workplaces. Or in danger of attack from their neighbours who follow a different faith. A child of God pursues a path towards holiness and turns his or her back on the pleasures of sin. For many though, taking that leap of faith is too much and, like the rich man in the parable of the Rich Young Ruler, they walk away. It is their choice but God will never give up on loving people. His grace is available right up until the moment when they take their last breath. 

We don’t know if the Pharisees in our account of the blind man and his healing ever became believers in Jesus. We know of course about Nicodemus, from an earlier chapter in John’s Gospel. But neither do we know about those people today who stubbornly all their life have refused to accept Jesus’ gracious invitation to believe in Him. We don’t know what happened in those last moments of their life. I am always touched and greatly encouraged about the last moments of the thief on the cross. We read in Luke 23:40-43, “But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”” We pilgrims must never give up on our friends and family. We don’t know what will happen in their last moments of life, and we pray for them in faith that God will answer our prayers.

Dear Father God. You are so patient and kind, loving us graciously as we thrash about ignoring or avoiding Your gaze. Please forgive us, we pray. Amen.

The Gentile Mission

Posted on by korgrocker

“He also came so that the Gentiles might give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote: “For this, I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing praises to your name.” And in another place it is written, “Rejoice with his people, you Gentiles.” And yet again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles. Praise him, all you people of the earth.” And in another place Isaiah said, “The heir to David’s throne will come, and he will rule over the Gentiles. They will place their hope on him.”“
Romans 15:9-12 NLT

In a previous blog we considered that Jesus’ mission to Planet Earth was limited to His people, the Jews. That was what God promised, and, as we know, God’s promises always come to fruition. In these next few verses, Paul demonstrated very clearly, from some Old Testament prophecies, that Jesus’ message of salvation and the Kingdom of God, would also apply to the Gentiles. 

In Romans 15:9-12, Paul quoted four Old Testament verses, the first of which comes from Psalm 18, “Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name” (Psalm 18:49). The Psalm also appears in 2 Samuel 22, and David wrote it “ … on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul” (2 Samuel 22:1b). But the implication is clear, that there will one day be a time when the Jews and the Gentiles will unite in praises to God. 

The second quote from Paul, in Romans 15:10, comes from Deuteronomy 32, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people” (Deuteronomy 32:43). This verse concluded the Song of Moses at the time when Joshua was about to take over the leadership of Israel and lead the Jewish people into the promised land. Moses prophetically could see down through the ages to the time when Jews and Gentiles would be together, part of the atonement.

Thirdly, Paul, in Romans 15:11, quoted from Psalm 117. We read, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples! For His merciful kindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 117:1-2). A short psalm. Only two verses. But why would the Gentiles praise God if they didn’t know Him? Prophetically, a time was coming when the Gentiles would in fact mingle with God’s people, the Jews. The Psalmist could see it coming and wrote a psalm that the Gentiles could pick up in prayer and song.

Lastly, Paul quoted from Isaiah 11:10, “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious“. The prophet Isaiah was declaring a time when a descendant of David would rule the Gentiles as well as His own people. Isaiah described a world where “the lion shall eat straw like an ox” and “the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb” (Isaiah 11:7b, 6). Perhaps this was world described at the end of Revelation – the new Heaven and earth. Or perhaps during the millennial reign and rule of Christ.

As Gentiles, we indeed “give glory to God for his mercies to them”. We indeed enjoy God’s mercies every day, really grateful that His grace extended even to us. 

Lord God, we praise You for Your grace and love so bountifully given to us Gentiles. We give You all the glory this day and every day. Amen.

The Weak in Faith

Posted on by korgrocker

“Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.”
Romans 14:1 NLT

We are all at different stages in our Christian lives. In a functioning fellowship there will be some who are the elder statesmen and women, who have lived the Christian life for many years. But there will be others who are spiritual toddlers, taking their first steps bravely into a new world. Of course, those who have been journeying in the faith for many years will have advice for the baby Christians. In fact, the Bible encourages it. 

But you will perhaps notice my use of the word “functioning”. Sadly, so many of our church fellowships are populated by older people, and the family life they should represent lacks the younger people, teenagers, and children. In fact, some of our churches seem to be more like departure lounges at an airport. The Church of Jesus Christ is not supposed to be like that but, thankfully, it isn’t. There are many vibrant and active, Bible-believing, fellowships in the UK, and elsewhere in the Western countries. Jesus said He would build His church, and He is doing just that.

A church family, made up of people of all ages, physical and spiritual, is a lively and exciting place to be. Multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic, families combine to demonstrate the rich nature of life in Christ. But inevitably there is a clash sometimes, and Paul addressed that problem in his writings that we consider today. At the point of making a decision to follow Christ, the Holy Spirit will start to gently expose the new Christian to what is right and wrong. For example, people who smoke usually, sooner or later, come to realise that it might not be fully compliant with how Christians behave, even though there is no specific guidance in the Bible. This realisation might take just a few weeks or months, or might never happen, but there will always be those who are quick to point out the problem of addiction to tobacco. In Paul’s day there was the issue of foods offered to idols. Some thought it perfectly acceptable to eat such food. Others didn’t. We need to remember that in our Christian journeys, the Holy Spirit fine-tunes a growth package just for us individually, and the interference from other Christians can get in the way.

In the fellowship family life, there are roles for everyone, and Paul gave some good advice in his epistle to Titus about how, for example, older women should help those younger. “These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God” (Titus 2:4-5). In that culture, internet and Google-free as it was, principles of parenting and family life were shared and encouraged in a church setting. The next verse in Titus involves younger men, “In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely” (Titus 2:6). 

But in all of this Paul gave a warning. He said, “don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong”. There is a fine line, a balance, between encouraging and arguing. We need the Holy Spirit to help us discern issues and help each other to overcome them. I was very fortunate to be born again into a church where the pastor very patiently helped me through my first early steps in the faith, and I was never conscious of other more mature Christians arguing with me. But that may not be the case with everyone. Personally, I was helped most by conversation that piggy-backed on a normal task, like car maintenance, or mixing concrete. Decorating a room, or some such activity as that. A conversation is much more effective than a confrontation. And the best way to help those who Paul called “weak in faith” is by example.

The final arbiter for right or wrong comes from the Bible, with interpretive assistance from the Holy Spirit. The act of loving and nurturing each other is something that sets Christians apart from all other religions. And the bond that builds between us is a bridge over which God can often deliver the help that we all need from time to time.

Dear Father God. We thank You that because of all the love that You have poured out upon us we can love one another. Please help us to build each other up and not tear others down. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Empathy

Posted on by korgrocker

“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!”
Romans 12:15-16 NLT

What was Paul getting at when he wrote this? Were the Christians in Rome really so insensitive to each other that they failed to share their emotional needs? This simple verse is really an encouragement to empathise with their fellow believers, when they experience good or bad times. But before that can happen they must have a relationship with them, close enough to know them and what they are experiencing. Perhaps the Roman Christians were lacking in the relationship department. But whatever the local situation was, Paul felt the need to remind them of their obligations, and at the root of their relationships must be love, both for God and each other.

Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of loving one another. In John 13:34 Jesus said, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other”. Jesus didn’t give His disciples an option. They had to obey this “new commandment”. 

If we consider this verse, Romans 12:15, today, we immediately see that our churches mostly lack the love that was the distinctive feature of the early Christians. Instead we observe that some worldly features and attitudes have replaced it. Other priorities have become more important than loving relationships. Those early Christians would have given their lives for each other, and what they had they shared. They established a movement that was distinguished by love and it attracted new converts in droves. 

What love do we pilgrims experience? How do we love others? And are our love experiences focused on what we can get out of the relationship or the other person’s highest good? Our televisions portray a selfish love, perhaps between a man and wife, resulting in scenes of strife that may make “good” television but they also continue, and extrapolate, the damage that poor relationships can do.

Out of a true loving relationship, based on love the Jesus way, comes caring and empathising, an environment where people will share their hurts and fears, their good experiences, their challenges; in fact they will share life together. That will mean contact with people who we wouldn’t normally meet or socialise with. It will cost us something. Our time and attitudes. Our money and possessions. But we share with people who God created. Because He loves them, so must we. And we extend God’s compassion to those hurting people around us, as they will for us in our times of trouble. There is something precious about living harmoniously with each other. It’s an opportunity worth striving for, and one which will expose us to a relational richness that those in the world just don’t get.

Father God. We thank You for the love that You have shown us, a love so profound that You sent Your only Son to share it with us. We thank You for Jesus, and all He has done for us. Amen.

Riches, Wisdom and Knowledge

Posted on by korgrocker

“Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”
Romans 11:33 NLT

At the end of a passage where Paul has considered God’s gracious mercy to both His chosen people, Israel, and the Gentiles, or non-Jews, he is overwhelmed by God. Paul cannot get his mind around all that God is and does, and lapses into praise. And failing to fathom the depths of God, he exclaims, “How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!” Paul had a very healthy view of God’s greatness and his lowliness. Perhaps he would have considered himself to be a clay pot wondering how the potter created him. But Paul realised that through all the agonising about his people, and when they would be saved, if at all, he realised that, in the end, it is all about God.

As Paul realised, we can never enter God’s domain and think His thoughts and share in His plans. God said in Isaiah 55:8-9, ““My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” But Paul looked up and received a glimpse of God through a human-limited fog, understanding once again that God’s greatness is beyond his experience. And we realise that as well. We too can only marvel how unlimited God is, in all His ways, thoughts and deeds. 

I heard recently of how a conference speaker was delayed in reaching the departure gate at an airport, to find that her plane was being rolled back from the terminus, and she had missed it. The next one involved a wait of four hours, meaning that she would miss the first conference session. Finally boarding this flight she found herself sitting next to a smartly dressed businessman who opened a conversation, asking what she did for a living. To cut a long story short, the speaker led him to making a decision for Jesus. Did God engineer circumstances to allow His grace to reach someone in desperate need? Someone more important to God than a conference preach? We don’t know God’s plans, but sometimes the circumstances accumulate to the extent that, in hindsight, we see His hand at work.

Paul knew he would never understand God’s ways. But he trusted Him. His life was totally committed to serving God, come what may. And he ended up suffering all sorts of abuse for the sake of the Gospel. He allowed God to use him, whatever the need was. Are we pilgrims totally committed to serving God, regardless of what the cost will be? We aren’t all Pauls of course. But, like the conference speaker, we may find ourselves in a situation that may be inconvenient but one that figures big-time in God’s plans. Whenever things go wrong, upsetting our schedules, perhaps we need to look to see if God is doing something, keeping our eyes and ears open to leverage any opportunities for the sake of the Gospel. 

Paul was overwhelmed in wonder about God’s “riches and wisdom and knowledge”. Everything about God combines to provide an unlimited and total ability to reign and rule over the earth and all who live in it. We pilgrims need to keep our spiritual eyes and ears wide open in obedient service to the One who knows all things.

Dear God. You are the Source of everything. Nothing happens without Your permission. And we trust You with all that we are and all that we have, knowing that You care for us in every way. We thank You and praise You today. Amen.

Israel Accepted

Posted on by korgrocker

“I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning.  … ”
Romans 11:1-2a NLT

As we look through the Scriptures in the Bible, it is clear that God is a God of acceptance, not rejection. He doesn’t reject anyone who earnestly and sincerely seek Him. But there is a difference between religiosity and repentance, between liturgy and true worship, between legalism and the love of God. The offer of grace and love from our Heavenly Father extends to every person in every nation on earth. But His chosen people, the “nation of Israel”, will always exist in a special place within His heart, because He “chose [them] from the very beginning”. We Gentile Christians may not like that but the Bible is clear. So we need to get over it and move on, with the assurance that God loves all His children.

There are many verses in the Bible that show how much God loves and accepts us. One of my favourites is from 1 Peter 5:7, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you”. The Amplified version reads, “casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]”. There is something secure and heart warming about the thought that God cares so deeply for me, and you. In a similar theme, we have Psalm 50:15, “Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory”.

Jesus Himself said that He will not reject people who come to Him. “However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them” (John 6:37). And, of course, His compassionate invitation in Matthew 11:28-30, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light””. 

Paul wrote in the letter to the Ephesians the following, “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:4-5). Incredible though it seems, God looked down the corridors of time, seeing us and thinking about us with a love so profound that He made sure of our adoption into His family through His Son Jesus. John develops this theme, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognise that we are God’s children because they don’t know him” (1 John 3:1).

As we read the Bible we find God’s love dripping from every page, and through His grace we have access to it, and more. Paul was concerned about his people, the Jews. One day they will have a role in a future Kingdom, but Gentiles will not be forgotten. We are all accepted through His marvellous love and grace. Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics for one of my favourite hymns, 

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav’n to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Dear God. With “trembling hearts” we reach out to You today, assured of Your love and acceptance. Forever. Amen.