Psalm 139:2 He understands!!!!!!

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. 

(Psa 139:2)

Think about it.  I know you know that God knows when we sit don and when we rise up.  But have you considered that He "understands" our thoughts?  That's not just our good thoughts or our thoughts about Him but He understands our less than acceptable thoughts as well.  He understands!!

Consider:

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.   (Heb 2:17-18)

He understands!!

I don't know how to express the depth and breadth of this.  It, for me, is overwhelming and kind of a scary comfort.  He understands!!

Consider - He was made like us- He was tempted Himself.  Yes, unlike us He did not sin but He "gets it."

Now, this can in no way be taken as some sort of an excuse for our way-ward and inappropriate thoughts - sin is still sin and error will always be error - but He understands!!

As Patti and I pass through this time of testing and trial we have "not so good thoughts."  Fearful thoughts, legalistic thoughts, hopeless thoughts, fleshly thoughts and murmuring thoughts.  They just come and when they do they distress us - greatly.  But I keep having some interesting thoughts as well.

I think, "Why me, why this,why now, why so heavy?"  Kind of like Moses I want to say, "Here I am Lord, send Aaron!"   Even, "Let this cup pass from me!"  But I am humbled when

I have the thought, "If not me, then who?"  I struggle to accept that this is His will for us right now.  Not to sound arrogant - but, He picked us for this and this for us for His glory and honor - not to mention our blessing.  This makes us no more "special" than any other believers - it just makes us the ones He is using where we are, in this circumstance.

With no Egypt there would have been no Exodus.  Without a crucifixion there would have been no resurrection.  No, I'm not elevating myself or my situation but I am trying hard to see it within the context of God bringing glory to Himself and strengthening me.

What helps is, He understands my fearful and anxious thought,s and though I know He desires that I overcome them by trusting Him, He is sympathetic to my weakness and frailty (which is part of what He wants me to see and appreciate so I will lean on Him).

Please dear ones hold tight to the truth that He understands all our thoughts!  Yes, He disapproves of many and worries for us over others but none of them come as some cosmic shock to Him.  He knew we'd have them and has provided relief for and from them because He understands!

Father my heart and my mind are weak and rebellious.  Only You can temper and tame them.  Knowing that You understand and that You sympathize and provide is such a comfort.

But Father, do not let me grow lazy or complacent concerning them.  Let me take hold of them and bring them to You for Your ministry and mercy.  Be gentle with me Lord for I am much like a little rabbit - jumpy and anxious.  Care for me by giving me the heart of a child when it comes to You.  Give me stronger trust and firmer assurance as each day passes and my imaginings and fancies prove false though frightening.

Let me know more and more Your lovingkindness and Your understanding and open myself to Your instruction and care.  Make me remember Your past mercies and provision and be deaf to the lies and cries of the deceiver.  Let me look only to You and hear only You as You minister to me through Your Word, Your Spirit and Your people.

Thank You for letting me know - You understand!!

Amen

Peter’s Pen 1st Peter 3:7

1Pe 3:7  Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Yeah, I know, six verses to wives and one for husbands.  And the verse to husbands doesn’t give any great detail.

Well guys, hang on to your hats – I’ve got a few things to say.

1.    Our wives, like Eve, are “helpers meet” for us.  OK – that means (as God is sovereign) that she’s our wife His will and we need them.  It was not good for Adam to be alone and it is not good for us either. (No, we’re not going to get into the “call” to singleness.)

2.    Our wives, like Eve, are under our care – our protection and our provision (all of which is under Him).  They are our responsibility – we are their under-shepherd.

3.    Our wives, like Eve, are being assaulted by the snake.  He still wants to deceive and confuse and misdirect.  We cannot be like Adam and just “be there.”  We have to take action – whether it’s direct or through prayer.  Do not be silent like Adam.

4.    Our wives, like Eve, are being told lies.  They are seductive  but perverse lies.  Every day in innumerable ways they are being told they are “not good enough.”  From their weight to their aging to the cereal they pick for the kids – they are being told they are failures.  Our (husbands’) voices have to over-ride the voices of the world the flesh and the devil.  We must sing the Song of Songs to our wives.

5.    Our wives, like Eve, are there to labor alongside us.  They (Adam and Eve) were given the care of the garden.  You may be the “head” of the household, but if you don’t know where the mustard is kept, you’re not a functional member of the household.

Let me comment on the phrase, “as with a weaker vessel (LITV).”

There is no getting around the fact that the word “weaker” carries a moral import.  Of all the possible definitions, I am inclined to the following: “By implication, meaning afflicted, distressed by oppression, calamity, and so forth.”  The reason is both practical and Biblical.  First, as I have listed above, the world, the flesh and the devil are in overdrive when it comes to women.  Second, since we are all under the grace and provision of God and God has demonstrated that He uses women for His glory, I have a hard time even considering that they are somehow less spiritually fit in Christ than men are.

I once thought of this:  “My wife is not a bucket, she’s an alabaster vase.”  The vase is by its nature less hardy than the bucket but it is of greater beauty and value.  Plus, you’d carry compost in a bucket but never in an alabaster vase.”

As husbands, we are commanded to be “showing honor” to this vessel – giving dignity to our wives.  You and I are commanded to live with our wives, “in an understanding way” (moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living).

“Understanding” = Knowledge - gnosis. Present and fragmentary knowledge as contrasted with epígnōsis, clear and exact knowledge which expresses a more thorough participation in the object or knowledge on the part of the knowledgeable subject.

Now, that is never going to just happen.  Our sinful default is selfishness.  We must take the time and make the effort to understand how she lives in the world, what her needs are and how we might bless her.  It has to be done on purpose!

The why is really simple – she’s your wife AND your sister in Christ.

The cost of not making every effort to obey?  Your prayers/worship will be cut off (hindered).

How can we do this?  I have no special words here.  Pray – study and ask her.  Determine in your heart that you want to obey and ask God to show you how to obey for her.  Formulas work in the lab and recipes work in the kitchen – but, your ministry to your wife will be as unique as she is.

Patti is hardly a “weaker” person than I am.  Emotionally and in many ways spiritually she is my better.  As I learned that, I have come to cherish it and cherish her.  I will be honest, I pray that we both go home to God together – one, because I’d miss her terribly and two, because I want to see her face when she gets there.  Silly – maybe – but it has greatly shaped my prayers and actions in regards to this most special gift God has honored me with.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

http://tc2v1.blogspot.com/2012/08/walk-with-p-me-03-more-about-me-than-us.html

Walk with Patti and me . . .01

but they who wait for the LORD

shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

(Isa 40:31)

This is a tired old verse – isn’t it?  It’s been used and abused since I can remember. 

As I read it today, though, I was struck by the conditional part of the verse:

they who wait for the LORD

That word “wait” is interesting.  Zodhiates in the, Complete Words Study Dictionary writes:

The root meaning is that of twisting or winding a strand of cord or rope,

but it is uncertain how that root meaning relates to the idea of hope.

Curious root.  Of course, the word “is used to signify depending on and ordering activities around a future event.”  However, for you and me it is ordering activities around Him, not an event.

Is the root meaning telling us that there is work to be done even while we wait?  I think so.  In our current – well – predicament – Patti and I are caught between furious and meaningless activity and – well – just waiting.  Neither has much appeal or a positive outcome.

I wonder, if indeed He is leading us to a new thing (or trying to teach us an old thing), whether there are things directly related to us and Him that we would could be doing and not just tapping our feet or drumming our fingers.  Not to ignore the common things one needs to do in this type of situation, but do along with those things.  We certainly have more time together.

Ok – you know me and how I love metaphors, analogies, even hyperbole and I have to be careful that I don’t get carried away.  But that “root” keeps picking at my mind.

It makes me think of an unraveled rope that needs to be repaired.  Or a fishing net with tears in it that need to be fixed.  It makes me think that regardless of the end of the circumstances, we need to be about repairing something – something regarding her – me – us and Him.

It’s natural to sit and imagine, “If God just did this or that everything would be OK.”  Tempts one to go buy a lottery ticket.  But God is never not working for His children.  He doesn’t nap or go on vacation.  However, that is, much to my dismay, what I do (when I’m not “keeping busy” at nothing.)

In times like this, one is tempted to sit very still and be very quiet and think good thoughts;or to take up some work that He will like and hence come through for you.  Neither of these (having been there) make a lot of sense to me.

What does make sense is repairing that which binds us to Him.  Not the stuff He does but the stuff He calls us to do.  I mean the personal intimate stuff of being His children.  Maybe that’s what the rope or net signify. 

I am thinking of Job right now.  My favorite thing is when he proclaims:

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

yet I will argue my ways to his face.   (Job 13:15)

Job isn’t going to just sit there and stew.  Now exactly what he means by, “I will argue my ways to His face,” is a little troubling but we’ll get to that another time.

Job was going to take action that would bring him into direct and intimate contact with God.  That, my friends, is always life changing!  Sitting there without anyone to “cheer” him on, he goes to the source.  He may do it via the conversations he has with his buddies.  But he is really talking to God.

In “twisting the rope,” there is one thing Patti and I want to remain aware of and that is the very real threat of the world, the flesh and the devil.  This unholy triad is opposed to our goal of trusting in Him and growing in this time.

The flesh accuses us of all kind of sin and unfaithfulness.  Like scurvy, it opens old wounds.  It not only blames but shames us and pours the accusation of unworthiness down out throats.  It seeks to poison every moment of joy and kindness.  It seeks to breed undue sensitivity and suspicion between us.

The world – well the world just has to be the world.  It too accuses and shames and it distances itself across a line calling to us to compromise with it and accept its philosophies and ways.  It also works mightily on the desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes and pride in possessions (1Jn 2:16).  With its definition of success and good, it shames and woos at the same time.

 OK – I may get smacked here but I have found upon occasion that the standards the world has set for “normal” productive people is alive and well in the body of Christ.  Where the world has been accepted into the church, the same shame and seduction is offered by the church (I speak in generalities).  But, let me ask you to consider what your congregation’s response is it to those upon whom calamity falls.  Or, as I’ve seen a few times, is it just not appropriate to ask for help?

Then, the devil.  Well, somewhere along the way I must have missed the class on how he does what he does.  I know he has power but I know that power is limited by the hand of God.  I know he has helpers but I know they are limited as well.  So what do we do about this part of the threat?  There is, as far as I can see, but one strategy:

Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas 4:6-8a)

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

No, I’m not missing the context of these verses – they are indeed part and parcel of sustaining our hope and growing through this.  But these words are, I think, inclusive of the rest.  We submit to Him, resist the other and then – and what a wonderful thing it is – draw near to God.

Submission to God is a no brainer but not a simple thing.  Submission to God indicates duties toward God.  Duty is a work we don’t hear much in the church.  It smacks too much of legalism but it also makes obedience unavoidable.  But, in the King’s service there is our duty.

Keeping it simple, we have a duty to pray, study, fellowship and give.  Yes, I know there’s more to it, but why complicate things.  As a soldier has his daily duties, so do we.  These four are not occasional things but regular things, common things.  So daily, Patti and I will be about these things.  How?  What method?  Well, we’ll have to discover that by trial and error not out of a sense of finding our “comfort zone,” but rather finding our “consistency zone.”

Of course in our circumstances, “giving,” will be a toughie.  Not “giving” per se, but giving as the flesh play its games.  But, just the other day a young man I see regularly at my “office ;-}” who has CP came in on his electric chair.  His name is Michael so we hit if off even though communication can be difficult.  Anyway, he whispered and asked if I would do him a favor. He did not have the bucks to get his regular drink.  Without thinking I turned to the Barista and told them I’d cover Michael’s order, and I did.

OK, this isn’t "pat me on the back "time.  But the realization that I didn’t think twice about helping this sweet guy out was a real blessing.  I was so happy that even in our tight straights, I hadn’t gotten tight fisted.  We need money but that need, as I see it, is more a catalyst for mending our nets than being solvent.

Just an aside.  We are admonished to not love money.  Is the other end of the stick to not fear it either?   We’re are told that we either worship God or Mammon (god of gain).  So the elements or affections that apply to worshipping God must be looked for in our dealing with money – yes?  Awe, desire, fear, love – all these are part of worship; so, Patti and I will be  very careful to remember that money is ONLY a means – never a solution.

I’m almost at my self-imposed length limit so I’ll try to close.  Patti and I are “waiting” on the Lord.  We have a little more time and flexibility but more importantly, we have the desire to fix the frayed rope of our yoked service to Him and each other.  As I have been, writing she and I have talked about certain points in the article.  She’s always been my editor (the one’s she edits are the ones w/o typos) but now she’s also my collaborator and that is just wonderful.

Pray for us – we will be grateful.  First pray we will be dutiful in our net mending; second that we will be faithful in our care for others; and third – pray we are able to pay our bills – that Patti finds a lovely job, that I get more work and that we move forward in our ministry plans - following , not out running Him.

Last Words – almost part 16 

We’ve taken a whirlwind tour of this passage in 2 Peter and I pray you have been provoked by it.  The reason for the series is my love for those who follow the Great Shepherd. 

Much is being written about the church and her ills and errors – and I have to agree that they are mighty and plenty.  The history of the Body of Christ is filled with examples of how easy it is to stray from the way (Acts 24:14) He called us to walk in.

I have prayed and thought and read much about this and have come to the conclusion that if we are to lay responsibility anywhere, it has to be at the feet of those He has called to lead His flock.  Huh?

OK – let me put it this way.  If you are attending a church where the priority of the leadership is not the following – you have a problem!

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.   (Eph 4:11-24)   ESV

You see, it is not about programs, worship style, missions or ministries.  It is not about your preferences and proclivities.  It is not about numbers in the pews or in the bank.  It is not about buildings or furnishings.  It is about not being conformed to the world (i.e., being “seeker sensitive”); it is about being conformed to the likeness of the Christ.  And that’s pretty much all it’s about.

Read Acts 2:42-47 – read it again!!!!!

Do you “get it?”  Do you see the simple sanctified Body of Christ?

Yeah, I guess I am being hard on those who in the name of Christ have built great structures to their own flesh.  Those who have erroneously decided, “if you build it, do it, say it, etc., they will come.”  Oh, come they do – but who are they?  They are rarely the called – the elect.  But they are those who having a form of godliness – well, Paul says it best….

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power (authority & ability). Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2Ti 3:1-7)

It is not the truth that each individual believer is solely responsible for their growth.  How could it be when God has provided “ministers” or “officers” or “designates,” to equip believers to live as believers?  Yes, it is the responsibility of the individual to seek out sound biblical teachers and to learn and to grow beyond them if possible.  But as Bonheoffer wrote in Nazi Germany, we prefer cheap grace – which is a grace without the cross – a grace without a Christ.

Of those who come to the Body simply to have their ears scratched Paul goes on:

But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.   (2Ti 3:9-17)  ESV

We are engaged in a great conflict.  No, it is not a conflict over culture or national interests, or morality or even competing belief systems.  None of that is OUR fight.  Our fight is against the (actually OUR) flesh.  Oh but it is soooooo much easier to take on the ACLU or the President or whatever – than it is to take on, “Be holy as I am holy.  It is soooo much more fun to do neat marketing projects to get people in the door than it is to live the life that shines in the darkness.  It is sooooo much easier to lift up self-esteem, prosperity, even Israel’s safety than it is to lift up a crucified Messiah.  It is soooo much easier to say, “god loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,” than is it to cry “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”

The church has become a place where gimmicks, gadgets and graffiti have replaced the gospel.  The unredeemed are enticed to come and to worship the God who their every breath offends.  They come and sing praises to the God whose wrath is looming over their heads.  They come – and if they stay long enough, contribute enough and shine enough they can even become elders.

There was writing over the gate to the temple which warned Gentiles that to pass beneath the arch into the Temple would mean their death.  There is an important point here.  To intentionally create an environment where the unredeemed are comfortable in the presence and worship of the God they do not acknowledge – the God they rejected and replaced - makes it possible for them to come to believe that they are in good stead with Him.  That, my brothers and sisters, is, at least to me, a cruelty beyond bearing.

Faith is NOT a virus; one does not “catch” it.  “Doing,” does not make believers.  God does.

Remember where we started?

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things. (2Pe 1:13-15)  ESV

Peter gives us his motivation for this letter.  It’s what he believes is his last shot.  Will we heed it or not?

Why wait till I'm dead?

Some of the letters of John Newton were published after he went "home."  These have always been a true blessing to me and I have often wondered how many more would have been blessed had they been published in his life-time.  But - He is sovereign.


I believe that if we are without practical applications for the beliefs we hold then holding those beliefs is, well, frustrating and just bad.  But we have long surrendered the true meaning of disciple and have found quick fix programs and seminars more to our liking.  This is a fact I mourn and well, despise.  So we're gonna do some disciple training here - intermittently, intimately and dynamically. 


The following set the circumstances and presents some of the problems.  Join in - jump in.  The catalyst for doing this has been prayer, conviction and Richard Sibbes' book, The Soul's Conflict With Itself.  Walk with us but remember, ministry is messy.  If this is not your cup of tea just pass them by.

Come, walk with us ----

In most of the passages in scripture that deal with perseverance it is in relation to persecution and/or temptation.  At this point in our sojourn Patti and I are facing trials which have little to do with persecution or temptations are none the less frightening and pressing.  So I’ve chosen to do a little finger thinking and share with you what I am learning – or need to learn.  I can’t get more practical in my writing than that.

Of course, like it is for so many of you times are tough.  A recent serious decease in out income has put us in a tenuous (to say the least) positron.  As a tent-maker I have rarely sough the support of others although there have been and are some kind souls who have shared with us to help in meeting our needs.

Right now the temptation is to either fight or flee.   To either take the bull by the horns or just run away.  The desire to “fix” it is one of the biggest problems.  The flesh in it’ incessant bid for control conjures up all kind of schemes and ideas and vaporous imaginings.  It also encourages one to rail at God and others about how we’ve served and not we suffer (OK – it feels like suffering but that is relative).

The temptation to cry out “Where are you?” both to God an others is very strong but from the bitterness and arrogance I can detect underneath that impulse it is very clear it is from the flesh.  He and others have been there.  He and some are still there.  But when one has a sense of drowning, rational reflection is very very difficult.

Another temptation is to be over burdened with blame.  To play the, “I should have…” game on myself.  The thoughts that had I only stayed in law enforcement or if I had only gone on in  my education to be a psychologist/counselor haunts me.  I look back at the decision to take up the ministry I believed I was called to and have feelings of shame and guilt.  Being the head of my household just makes it worse.

Then there is the lovely thought (sarcasm) that Patti would be better off without me and that if she’d just move and live with some of her family her life would be better.  She certainly deserves better.  She has sacrificed and is firm in her conviction that we (that is I) have done the right thing and that I should continue.  But the little voices tell me she loves me and want to encourage men and that though this is sweet it’s just her being nice.

Of course then we have to figure in the embarrassment of what may come as well as the losses.  The potential losses aren’t so bad for us – we’ve got too much “stuff” and if we could have a monster yard sale I don’t think we’d miss much of what went.   As long as I don’t even consider selling Patti’s mom’s Chinese vases I’m safe ;-}.

Pride – pride has never been such a monster for me.  Harboring that silly thought that somehow I am in charge and this shouldn’t be happening and all that “stuff” steals precious moments from each day keeping me from prayer and study and writing. 

Then there’s that slithery thought that I have been wrong – very wrong in thinking that such a weird and chaotic ministry could ever have come from Him.  I await that invisible committee that comes with a chorus of either, “We could have told you..” or “We never thought it was a real “ministry” anyway – we just considered it your delusion – your error.”  And of course there’s that other comment/thought, “You should have gotten a REAL job.”

Yes, the flesh is alive and well in me.  Of course I knew that – I know that.  The hard part is to discern where the flesh is using truth to drive me more towards myself and from God. 

It’s kind of funny that I should have been reading Richard’s Sibbes’ work, The Soul’s Conflict With itself; And Victory Over Itself By Faith.  That’s the book I’ve made so many FB posts from.

I told Patti that had it not been for reading that book and the scriptures referenced I would have yielded to the flesh instead of resisting it.  I’ll share with you (more briefly than here) as we move through this time.  I hope to be candid and honest for your benefit and to help me see what’s going on in my heart and mind as well.

Sibbes wrote:  “Ignorance, being darkness, is full of false fears. In the night time men think every bush a thief.”  Sibbes, Richard (2012-04-24). The Soul's Conflict With Itself: And Victory Over Itself By Faith. (pp. 47-48). A Puritan At Heart Press. Kindle Edition.

So, with your indulgence, I’ll share with you as I work on dispelling the ignorance/darkness that my flesh seeks to impose and grow.

Your prayers are of course greatly desired.  Though your counsel, encouragement and consolation would be a great blessing please remember that in the dark, all cats are grey.

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved,

compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

(Col 3:12)

Last words - almost Part 15

Last words – almost Part 15

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

Love:  ἀγάπη;  agápē; gen. agápēs, fem. noun from agapáō to, love.

Pre-Biblical Usage:

·                     Here is a love that makes distinctions, choosing its objects freely. Hence it is especially the love of a higher for a lower. It is active, not self-seeking love. Yet in the Greek writers the word is colorless.  KTDNT

Rabbinic Judaism.

• Here love is still primarily volitional and religious. It pinpoints the relation between God and humanity, especially Israel. God loves his people with fidelity and mercy. The gift of the law proves this. God's love imposes the obligation of reciprocal love and the related obedience and loyalty. Suffering in particular manifests the mutual love of God and his people. In it God is loved for his own sake. The main stress, however, falls on God's own love. Concealed during suffering, in which it is truly as strong as death, it will finally be gloriously manifest. No one can pluck Israel away from it.  KTDNT

Paul

• He makes three main points: (1) God sent his Son even to the cross in love; (2) God calls his elect in love; (3) God sheds his love abroad in their hearts. God's eternal love is indistinguishable from Christ's love ( Rom.  5:8 ; 8:37 ), in which it becomes a world-changing event. This love implies election, which includes both pretemporal ordination and temporal calling. The elect community is in fellowship with God, and he endows it with the active and compelling power of love ( Rom.  5:5 ) in fulfilment of his own primary purpose of love.  KTDNT

•  A new humanity (I'd say "redeemed")is the goal of God's loving action, and he uses acts of human love to attain this end. God is the source of these acts (cf. 1  Cor.  8:3 ). He awakens the faith which comes into action in love ( Gal.  5:6 ). He pours forth the Spirit who frees us for loving activity ( Gal.  5:22 ). For Paul this new love is supremely brotherly and sisterly love ( Gal.  6:10 ) in a fellowship that is based on Christ's mercy and Christ's death. Love builds up ( 1  Cor.  8:1 ); it builds the work of the future. In it the power of the new age breaks into the present form of the world. This is why it is always central when linked with faith and hope (cf. 1  Th.  1:3 ; Col.  1:4 - 5 ). Love is the greatest of the three because it alone stretches into the future aeon ( 1  Cor.  13:14 ).  KTDNT

Early Church

• In a world perishing through érōs, and vainly trying to transcend itself by sublimations of érōs, the church, being itself totally dependent on the merciful love of God, practices a love that does not desire but gives. [E. STAUFFER, I, 35-55]

Here is truly the bulls-eye for the believer.  Notice, although many scholars do not see Peter’s listing of qualities as being in any specific order, I would wonder how love is possible without the infusion and attention to the preceding.  It is all this “adding” that makes love possible.

Remember – Legos??  We mentioned them earlier.  Think of each quality as a different color Lego with which you – in dependence upon Him – are building the mosaic that is your life in Him.  The object, unlike Rubic’s Cube, is to build well, applying Legos when and where needed.  The object is not to get all the same color squares on the same side.

So, while adding knowledge you may find a “love” issue to attend to.  While struggling (perseverance) you may find a moral excellence issue to address.

I am reminded of the old pinball games.  I have to say that looking back over my walk I certainly have felt like a pinball at times.  Even though pinball may seem random, it can’t be.  God is sovereign.  He has His hand on the flicker and His hand on the ball.  We are guided by His power (the flicker) and His grace (hand on the ball) to the different qualities (the scoring posts) in order to acquire what we need.  It is only when the ball (ourselves) decides to direct itself (yeah right) or to not move (oh boy) that there is a problem.  Of course, if the machine isn’t “plugged in,” it really doesn’t matter.

We are all familiar with 1 Corinthians 13.  It’s unfortunate that it has been reduced to just a platitude to be read meaninglessly at weddings (my pet peeve).  It is critical that we understand what Paul is saying.  Nothing matters without love.  But it is NOT the poor excuse for love we see in the world and blethered about in the church.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2Co 13:14)

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.   (2Th 3:5)

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.   (2Th 3:5)

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (1Jn 3:1)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.   (Rom 5:1-6)

Do not love (AGAPE) the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves (AGAPE) the world, the love (AGAPE) of the Father is not in him. (1Jn 2:15)

This love, given by God cannot exist in the life of a human being outside the grace of God.  Those who are NOT His can NOT know or understand or appreciate this love.  Actually, because it is a love from and of God the world hates it – utterly.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide (live) in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide (live) in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide (live) in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (Joh 15:9-12)

Love is a goal, a power and a motive.  However, it is first and foremost a gift.  It is not a gift, however, that we can simply put on a shelf and admire.  We are to use it, to exercise it at every opportunity.

Last words - almost part 14

Last words – almost Part 14

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

brotherly kindness;  φιλαδελφιαν

In the strictly Christian sense of loving as brothers. Philádelphoi (pl.) sums up the bearing of Christians to each other, and the adj. which follow describe what their behavior should be.

And here the rubber really meets the road!  There’s an old saying I think attributed to Mark Twain:  “I love mankind, it’s particular individuals I have trouble with.”

Up until now our activity and focus has been on ourselves.  With godliness we begin to externalize our faith and here we get very specific – brotherly love/kindness.  There is a distinction between this and what comes next so I want to share an illustration from scripture that we used earlier.

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.  (Joh 21:14-17)

In this passage the word love (in bold) is the Greek word αγαπας (agapas).  The word love (italics and underlined) is the Greek word φιλω a contracted form of philéō.

αγαπας (agapas):  To esteem, love, indicating a direction of the will and finding one's joy in something or someone.  Simply stated, to love (agapáō) fellow humans means to see or discern what their need is and to meet that need, not according to the object's concept of need, but that of the one who loves.  Zodhiates

φιλω a contracted form of philéō:  Indicating feelings, warm affection, the kind of love expressed by a kiss.  Believers are never told to love their enemies with the word philéō because that would mean to have the same interests as they have.  Zodhiates

Since we as believers can never share the interests of unbelievers, this admonition to brotherly love is focused on our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

What does that look like?

But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.   (Eph 4:20-32)

Notice that as Paul describes our lives in relationship to one another there is a little phrase that is very often misused: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

The context would indicate that when we fail to love one another as reflected in our actions, we grieve the Holy Spirit.  To grieve is to offend – it is offensive to the Spirit of God for us to not love one another.  It is to sadden, to make sorrowful.  Note it is not making Him regret or regretful.

If it pleases God that His people live together in peace, then it displeases Him when they don’t.  God – Holy Spirit – the same but different ;-}.  What grieves them is the failure of what they seek to do in the life of the believer.  We are to be one Body – knit together by God – made alive in Christ and held together by the Spirit – so when we interfere or rebel we cause grief and we give offense.

Of course, this does not mean that just because my brother likes and has an interest in baseball that I have to.  But it does mean that we are to have common interests – serving Him who redeemed us.  But even there we aren’t all called or motivated by the same things.  Some may be in love with theology or ecclesiology, while others are drawn to feed the hungry, to be hands on with the needy.  Though we all need to have an interest in and about all things concerning The Way (Acts 24:14), the energy and depth of our interest will vary – but we should be 100% committed to one another in fulfilling those interests.

This, of course, takes intent and practice.  One “takes an interest” in the interests of others.  It is an active thing.  We need to be invested enough to encourage, support, admonish, warn, cheer, ect.

Last words – almost Part 13

Last words – almost Part 13

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

Godliness

εὐσέβεια;  eusébeia: The word eusébeia literally means well-directed reverence, but does not imply an inward, inherent holiness. It is actually an externalized piety.  eusébeia, the demonstration of a good and worshipful attitude toward God when spoken of the Christian, is the proper attitude of reverence toward God akin to hagiótēs, holiness, sanctity. Zodhiates

A good, well-directed and worshipful attitude toward God.  I like it.  It is the external demonstration of the internal work of the Holy Spirit as it applies to our reverence toward and for God.

As I read this I am thinking (for some reason) about the battle between the spirit and the flesh.  I am also strongly reminded of the Master’s statement:

Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

(Joh 4:21-24)

Two things jump out at me.  Spirit and Truth.  Now, only those who have the Spirit can truly worship God – but do they worship Him in truth.  Now, that’s the chewy part!  Which brings me back to the battle between the flesh and the spirit. 

Reverence toward God is not a feeling.  OK we talk about “feeling” reverent but it is really an attitude of the mind that informs the heart and from there behaviors flow.  It is not a feeling that becomes truth and then we act. 

Spirit – makes you alive – you know the truth.

Truth – informs the mind – spirit guides.

Mind informs the heart (affections) and we act depending upon the Spirit.

I tried to do a cute graphic but since it was making me more nutz I gave up – any ideas would be appreciated.  I kept coming up with Celtic knots ;-}.

What I want you to see is that the Spirit is utterly critical in all of this.  To project/live godly lives the Spirit has to be present.  But the Word has to be present and our minds and hearts have to be engaged by them both.

OK – I don’t want pick a fight but there are some really ignorant believers out there and in their ignorance they are very immature.  But, there are some brilliant believers out there but in their failure to allow their minds (knowledge/Word) to engage/inform their affections they are differently yet equally immature.

Maybe a stone arch is a good picture.  The key stone, the very center stone is absolutely essential for the arch’s strength – you cannot do without it.  This is the Spirit.  But, all the other stones need to be cut correctly and placed correctly (think used correctly) or the arch, even with the key-stone will be all cadiwhompus. 

OK- silly joke – How can a believer walk in The Way if he or she has a falling arch? ;-}}}}}

Godliness is a practice – a studied, learned practice- enlivened, empowered, guided and sustained by the Holy Spirit and informed or even formed by the Word (truth).  Godliness here is the product of disciple making – of teaching and training – which of course most folks resist.

But the need for disciple making is not only a command it’s plainly obvious from nature.  You are in a car wreck – you are in a coma for months.  Once you come out you must relearn a lot of stuff.  You were dead – He made you alive – but you don’t need to be taught or trained??  Really???  Really???

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!

Last Words - almost Part 12

Last words – almost Part 12

Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.   (2Pe 1:5-7)  ESV

ὑπομονή, hupomonē  Thayer Definition:

1) steadfastness, constancy, endurance

1a) in the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

1b) patiently, and steadfastly

2) a patient, steadfast waiting for

3) a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance

That quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.  Zodhiates

May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

(2Th 3:5) ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Jas 1:2-4)  ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  (Heb 12:1)  ESV

Again – this is never autonomous!  Ever!!!!! 

This is not a “stiff upper lip,” or a “hang in there baby.”  This is a despondence upon and trust in Him!  I can’t, He can, together we will!  Tattoo that on your eye lids!

My favorite reminder of this is Job.

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;

yet I will argue my ways to his face. (Job 13:15) ESV

Paul got it too:

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Rom 8:25) ESV

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Gal 5:5)  ESV

What do we know so far?

1.    We ARE redeemed.

2.    We are called to be redeemed and “do” redeemed and grow in it.

3.    We are called to grow in our knowledge.

4.    We are called to submit to His discipline.

5.    We are called to trust in His faithfulness.

6.    And ALL of this is done UN-autonomously or even ANTI-autonomously. We have  - well what have we read already???

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2Pe 1:3-4)  ESV

Oh------yeah!

Again – this is not a test!  This is not our proving to God or anyone else that we are redeemed.  This is accepting, humbly and in submission, the grace of God and the “graces” of and in that calling.  Assurance – confidence is like a muscle – use it or lose it. 

Certainly we trust God and grow in assurance in the rocky places – but it is sooooo much more joyous to grow in the smooth places.  Somebody needs to write a thing about, Trusting God When Everything Seems AOK.  The rocky spots are beneficial because they keep us from getting complacent and flabby – but why do we get complacent and flabby – Uhhhhhhh.

We tend to think of perseverance as something that we need when we’re under pressure – but that’s not right.  We need to persevere when we’re bored out of our skulls as well.

I work with a lot of folks who take medication for neurochemical deficiencies (I R 1 2).  They take the medication and the feel – well – normal.  So they quit taking the medication and spiral down.  Uhhhhh – get it?  There is a good analogy here.  OK – some weak believers have strange views of “psychiatric” stuff so let me put it this way.  Should an insulin dependent diabetic person just take their insulin when they’re feeling rocky?  Should someone with hypertension only take their meds when they are about to explode?  I don’t think so.

Well folks – isn’t that the way we tend to treat our relationship with God.  We holler when we need Him – thinking there are times when we don’t.  Have you ever sung, I Need Thee Every Hour? 

Think this through –

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.   (Pro 30:7-9)  ESV

There’s some subtle power in that prayer – think about it – really strain those little grey cells some.  This is NOT just about stuff or food or things.  This is about ALL the needs we have – good times and bad.

God is not the designated hitter or runner – He is everything and all we need every nano-second.  Right?  Persevere in all times – persevere in glorifying Him by living out His Lordship – our utter dependence upon Him.