Matthew 23:1-12: Humility and Serving Is Something Everyone Can Do

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. - Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus offers a cynical view as to the common practices of spiritual leaders: 1) make the burdens of people living normal life so heavy that people will always need leaders and 2) find a way to publicly reinforce the special status of spiritual leaders. Jesus said serving, humility and lifting others' burdens that characteristic of a true spiritual leader. Serving and humility is something that everyone can do. 

Ephesians 6:10-17: The Armor of God Is Mostly For Defense

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. - Ephesians 6:10-17

There is a lot of defensive equipment in Paul's list of the full armor of God. I imagined that I would stand weapon-to-weapon with the devil and his various subordinates, striking the blows, defeating my enemy and winning the battles. But that isn't the way it is presented. 

The armor, the belt, the breastplate, the shoes, the shield and the helmet are all about defending and keeping me in one piece. The sword only shows up in the last phrase and, if Jesus is any example, it is also used in a defensive role. The devil attacks, we defend and then God wins.

That makes sense, because we are not the match for the wit, power and spite of the evil that this world can bring to bear on us. The "rulers...the authorities [and] the powers of this dark world" are more powerful, better resources and more intelligent that we are. I guess I imagined that somehow I became super-powered as a Christian; that God powered me up; some Iron Man-style spiritual outfit. 

There is a danger in that because it puts the "I/my/mine" into the sentence I use about victory. We might be tempted to say "I overcame the devil by the power of God's word" rather than "God defeated the devil by his word." That first sentence reminds me of Simon the Sorcerer who wanted the power for his own ends (Acts 8)

But James says, "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) We resist until God win's the battle. The faith, the salvation, the word, the truth, the righteousness, the peace, the Spirit--they allow God's people to live with certainty while under attack until God's victory is complete.  

Ezekiel 33:30-33: Changed Lives Are The Goal

“As for you, son of man, your people are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, ‘Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.’ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

“When all this comes true—and it surely will—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.” - Ezekiel 33:30-33

There is a status in being a good church-goer and knowing all the right words to say. When that church-goer is seen in the streets, everyone says, "There goes a good, God-fearing man." Within the church, their attendance is noted and some sort of tally list is kept, either officially or unofficially, as to which Sundays they made it and which ones they missed.

The church-goer pats himself on the back and lists his or her accomplishments to themselves: attended church, sang the beautiful music, heard the beautifully crafted sermon, tithed, encouraged the other attendees.

The church is trying to do its job, playing inspiring music, relating the word of God for everyday, practical living. But to its dismay, it can just be another good pod cast with quality production values, well-organized words and well-played music.

Because God's words have been spoken and God has been present and ignored.

So church attendance and church appreciation is not a goal. Changed lives are the goal.

1 Timothy 6:1-21: An Ambition to be Content

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves.

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. - 1 Timothy 6:1-21

This follows on the same theme as the 1 Thessalonians passage: leading the life of contentment. The life of contentment leads to "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." Paul insists that this pattern of life is actually taking "hold of the eternal life to which you were called." It is a taste of the good life.

The life of discontent does the opposite: a fondness for money and/or controversy. The life of discontent leads to "envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people." Paul points out that money or lack of money should lead to the same place: "rich in good deeds and and to be generous and willing to share."

Discontent is a virtue promoted by our society as a motivator for change. Don't accept what is, get out and change it. Be the change you want to see in the world. But discontent also can lead us to compromising that which we hold most dear, including our respect for other people, peace of mind and an idolatry of self-protection. What if nothing ever changes? Do we sacrifice our lives on the altar of our ambition which cannot be satisfied? Ambition is best built on a foundation of contentment, learning to live as we are not some unspecified future as it might be.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-18: Faith Works

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18

Paul says there are two things that the Thessalonian church members need to focus on: love the members of God's family and the respect of outsiders. Then he goes on to tell them that they should not be worried about comes next, because "we will be with the Lord forever." 

For God's family, it is loving them, both near and far. Church was supposed to be an extended family, where each tried to help those in need, in the same city, in the nearby region (i.e. Macedonia) and around the world (Jerusalem, see Romans 15:26). This was not just money, but involved representatives from the churches involved in this to know how the money was being used (to support the struggling poor in Jerusalem, 2 Cor. 9:4) and give a glimpse of how churches could have an impact working together (2. Cor. 9:2, see also 1 Thess. 1:7-8) Their attitude (perseverance, obedience, joy) showed how faith worked. (1 Thess. 1:6) and that was a contagious example. 

For non church members, life was about winning respect. Being quiet, living out your life and being productive and contributing members of society. Respect was earned, not based on our standards but based on their standards. Again, it was about showing how faith worked.

 

 

Acts 27:21-26: When God Says the Future Holds Bad Tidings

After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” - Acts 27:21-26

God has a path charted out for each one of us and this includes some of the bad things that will happen. But God's purposes are not thwarted by these bad things. As his servants, he uses our lives to advance his kingdom and bring other people to recognize him.  The message he received from an angel upon a floundering ship in the Mediterranean is the same message that had been given before:

The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” - Acts 23:11

This continued the ongoing messages Paul had been receiving earlier. 

Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 

So when Paul was on the boat and there was a shipwreck he was sure that it was not the end because he had been listening carefully. 

Part of discerning the will of God for our lives is listening carefully to the Holy Spirit and being careful to separate what is wishful thinking from the voice of God. The voice of God is not what you would do if you were in his place. Paul didn't always have the whole picture but he did cling with certainty to what he did know and the God who was directing.

He knew that he would be able to present the gospel to kings and governors and even Caesar himself.

 

 

 

John 15:1-11: The Uncanny Fruit of Living a Life With Jesus

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. - John 15:1-11

What is the fruit that Jesus is talking about? It must be something that is unique in some way to believers, because Jesus said that apart from him (the vine) we (the branches) can do nothing. There is a second aspect: Jesus' remains in us, specifically in the form of his words.

So whatever it is, it is supernaturally enabled through our being in Jesus. John only talks about fruit in this chapter, so whatever context is necessary to understand this reference is contained right here. We know there is one other characteristic of this fruit: it is fruit that will last (vs. 16) So let's look at this from a causal relationship: the Father loves Jesus and, by extension, us. That love leads to a desire to obey his words or command to love each other (even to giving ourselves away) and ask for whatever the Father in his name with results. This love is different because Jesus says that it will last.

So Jesus lets us in on a secret (because we are no longer just servants but friends of Jesus) and that secret is that the supernatural enabling of the fruit of the spirit, all of which derive from love-has not just positive results (as love generally doe) but eternal results. And this makes sense because Jesus goes on to talk about the Spirit's role in our lives.

Did I miss something?

Genesis 1: Every True Idea Has It's Origin In The Mind of God

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. - Genesis 1

God made the world with people in mind. The moon and sun were for the days and tides, the sun was for the seasons, the seasons and sun were for the plants to grow, the plants were for the animals (and people) to eat, the animals were for the people to rule over. God made a system that was designed to run and flourish under the stewardship of people. And it was very good. People had detailed understanding of the planet and its systems and God gave them the privilege of giving each animal its first name.

The relationship between humans and the rest of creation changed the moment that people sinned, but that is not yet in the story. Instead we are given a glimpse of the awesome creativity of God who made something-something beautiful-from nothing at every level-physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology, hydraulics, engineering and so much more. Every idea that scientists search for had its origin in the mind of God. He considered all alternatives and chose to create the one we live in. Amen