Love is...

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I have had cause to reflect on, and be challenged by, a simple piece of Scripture that is often quoted during celebrations of love. I am speaking of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Here we read about the wonderful attributes of what love is.

However, I have always taken a more ethereal view of the concept of love, and have not really taken the time to personalize this Scripture. I have simple regarded it as a nice, assuring reading. I’ve regarded as something I could expect in my own relationships, what I can expect of others in a loving relationship. I have not often, unfortunately, regarded the onus and expectations it places on me.

Can I ask you to do something that can help illustrate what I mean? I want you to look at that Scripture and everywhere the words ‘it’ or ‘love’ appears, replace it with your name. Now read it aloud to yourself.

That changes things don’t it?

When I look at this Scripture and personalize it as an expectation placed on me, not only as a Believer, but as a ‘good person’, it challenges me. And, if I am to be honest, I have not really lived up to or demonstrated love in my own relationships, both intimate and casual.

Yet, we are all called to love.

I want to challenge you to join with me this week and read this Scripture each day. I ask you to insert your name into it. Reflect on it and determine in your own heart how you can be love in your relationships. Some times this will be rather easy to do, other times it will seem a monumental endeavor. However, please try.

Do not be discouraged as you try to do this. I encourage you to depend on, and trust, the LORD to help you. If he has asked this of us, we can be confident that he will also enable and assist us to meet this command.

Remember, the love that you show as you seek to fulfil this Scripture is the same perfect love he extends to us. May the love, peace, and presence of God fill your hearts to overflowing as you endeavor to show his love to others.

For where two or three gather...

I have often quoted Matthew 18:20 as an encouragement to Believers whenever they meet. I have assured them that when they come together, Christ is present. While this is most absolutely true, the greater context of that Scripture is encouragement to deal with difficulties together. It assures us when we do, He is present to assist.

Often we take the easier road of avoiding conflict at all costs to 'keep the peace'. However, Christians are called to be 'peacemakers' as implied in Jesus' words in Matthew 5:9. This means we should come together to deal with issues, conflict, and sin when they inevitably arise in our lives and community. We need to remove all these barriers that prevent us from living at peace with one another.

We should never avoid a difficult situation because it may be uncomfortable. Instead we should face the issue head on, trusting in the presence and wisdom of Christ to guide our thoughts, words, and actions.

So, today, let us bear with each other, building each other up in love, and be intentional in addressing sin and removing it from our midst. Christ is gracious, kind, and merciful. He will help us.

A Christian Response to COVID-19

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A global challenge unlike any other

COVID-19 is presenting difficult challenges to people in all parts of society. Leaders are making tough decisions to safeguard individuals and nations, as well as the economies that support them. Necessary restrictions to protect public health are limiting all sorts of group activities for everyone.

For Christians, this means congregations are not able to engage in corporate worship as they have in times past. The emotional fallout is huge. It ranges from simple concern to outright suspicion regarding the motives of political leaders and governments.

Conspiracy theories abound

With the restricting of the ability to gather for corporate worship, some suggest the Church is undergoing governmental persecution. The government, they say, is using and perhaps even promoting, the pandemic as an opportunity to squelch or limit religious freedoms.

Sadly, this is prompting a less than Christian response by many. In fact, some are actually actively promoting civil disobedience. This disobedience displays itself in the willful organizing of such things as ‘worship protests’. Others defiantly meet in large groups at their local churches. Still others openly defy the wearing of masks and the administration of vaccines. This manifests even to the point of openly maligning individuals involved with unsupported theories of conspiracy and intrigue.

Misuse of Scripture as support

To justify such disobedience, some find ready support in offhand Bible references and sketchy theology. One such Scripture is found in Hebrews 10:25. Here, the writer encourages Believers not to neglect fellowship and gathering with other Believers. To obey government restrictions in this case, some Christians say, would be to disobey a Higher Power – God.

This misappropriation of such “cherry-picked” verses is based upon an incomplete understanding of the very nature of Scripture and its use. A big picture view of scriptural instruction, and the Kingdom narrative itself, leaves no such support for outright disobedience of earthly authorities – especially when they are attempting to fulfil their God-ordained responsibility to care for their citizens. (See Hebrews 13:17; Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 2:13-17)

Obedience required of all Believers

Christian believers must always maintain the delicate balance of faithfulness to God’s Kingdom between the present time of waiting and the time when it is fully come. Our calling is to demonstrate faithfulness as responsible citizens who love their neighbour as Christ himself taught.

Obeying governmental health restrictions for collective health and safety presents the Church with an opportunity for a unique witness. It is a chance to shine Kingdom light in an increasing darkness. It is an opportunity for the Church to come out of its safety net and into the world to which it is called.

Corporate worship gatherings are important features of Church life, but such a dependency upon them, as some are claiming, displays a lethal flaw in both thinking and ecclesial practice.

Obedience to both God and human government is possible

Current health guidelines permit public gatherings in groups of fifty or less. In addition, home gatherings can take place with ten people or less. Since this is the case, corporate Church life is not stopped. It is simply restricted. This, however, is not unique to church gatherings. The same restrictions apply to many businesses as well.

The complaint from some Christians arise from lack of familiarity, not a restricting of rights and freedoms. People don’t like change. Given Jesus is present where only two or three are gathered in His name, Church can happen anywhere at any time (Matthew 18:20). It is possible for Believers to obey both God and government in this pandemic.

The appeal to ‘prophecy’

A poor understanding of the gift of prophecy and how to determine whether or not what someone is saying is a prophecy is providing ready fodder for persecution claims. Some ‘prophets’ are claiming this is a time of persecution for the church with governments actively working to oppress the Gospel. They claim government is keeping people from the Word of God and Biblical teaching.

The number of such prophecies during this time is both amusing and heartbreaking. It offers comedic relief from the strain of a radically changed world, while seriously damaging the Gospel witness. Jesus is hidden, once again, through foolishness.

The truth is, Scripture and teaching is more accessible in the West today than ever before. Technology, and the freedom to tap into it, is literally at the fingertips of anyone with a smartphone.

Persecution prophecies are nothing new during times of anxiety and duress, but they always seem to gather a following of the ill-informed. The personal responsibility of every believer is to search the Scriptures and to grow in both grace and the knowledge of our Saviour. The Church was never meant to feed on prophecies, even true ones.

A Christian response

To be a disciple of Jesus is to be both a learner and an imitator. The world right now needs to see some hope. If the greatest hope is Jesus Christ and His kingdom, then the Church must get its act together and speak in unity. It must speak life and hope into the darkness by both word and deed. It must behave as Christ did when he encountered fear, sickness, and need.

Local Believers will serve Christ’s Kingdom much more effectively by engaging in service to the community rather than criticizing government leadership and forming yet another protest. There are protests aplenty. However, there should never be another ‘Christian’ protest over such non-essentials as large, familiar gatherings in a building so we can sing a few hymns or choruses.

Be encouraged, my Friends. Lift up your hearts and let us be about the Father’s work. I bid you peace, joy, and hope in Christ’s name. God bless you.

Illumination

While recently rummaging through a somewhat familiar place, I quickly realized the need for some illumination. The introduction of a mere wisp of light made all the difference between a safe and successful search and potential disaster.

A conversation with friends last evening reminded me of that simple incident and the important lesson it provided. Other life situations also sometimes require a little illumination.

Believers carry about within us a light, the Holy Spirit. There is never a situation so dark that His illuminating presence isn’t there to guide and assist us. There are times, though, when we can run ahead and miss this great gift. Thinking we know best we can sometimes barge into a situation with a quick fix or admonition without reference to God’s timing or an awareness of the larger circumstances. The potential for doing harm can be great. It is precisely at those times when we need to slow down and listen. Maybe the Spirit has different plans and can shine His light into the situation more fully. Taking time to assess what is going on will promote greater discernment regarding the issues at hand and will reveal the more effective path to take.

The light of Scripture encourages us to ‘wait upon the LORD’. Patient faith will rest in the light of knowing that God is in control. Redemption, after all, is singularly his work and domain. The calling to be faithful witnesses simply means to channel His light into the world and the situations presented to us each day. People are drawn to the light in the darkness. It dispels despair and fear, replacing it with comfort and security. Generally, people will also find the right path when sufficient light is applied. Allow God to grow and develop the measure of wisdom He has given everyone.

In love and gentleness, lift Him high and He will draw others to Himself. God bless you as you bear the light of his Holy Spirit into the darkness of this fallen world.

Revival

In many Christian circles, evangelicals in particular, is found an overbearing desire and claim for revival. The desire to be revived is not bad or wrong. However, the way we go about it, I believe, is completely wrong and bordering on madness.

Often we hear about it being talked about, prayed for, pleaded for, coerced, and claimed with no discernible difference in a person or community. People chase after it. They attempt to ‘speak it’ into existence, as if that were possible.

Revival, the act of being revived, is an intentional act. It isn’t simply brought about by claiming it, singing the right songs, saying the right words, praying the right prayers, or ‘creating an atmosphere’ for it to happen. It is simply going to the source, reaching for the very thing that can revive.

If you were parched, needing a reviving drink of water, what would you do? Would you just sing about it? Would you just sit down where you are and simply shout for someone to bring you a drink? Would you need to create an atmosphere where someone would want to bring you a drink? No, those are ineffective methods for quenching your thirst and becoming revived. You would instead go to the tap, to the store, to the stream, and you would simply drink and become revived.

As Believers in the Water of Life - Christ Jesus - if we want to be revived, we simply need to come to Him and drink. God through his Word says “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1) Jesus also says “...whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). In the final revelation of Jesus Christ, God proclaimed “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6).

Come freely. Come quickly to Him who offers you revival. Come as you are. Come drink freely. Be filled even if you have nothing to give but a poor, parched spirit. Be revived by God and then share with others needing revival.

Be encouraged today. God bless.

Loneliness

Loneliness is real. In an ever connected world, one would imagine we would be closer to each other. However, the opposite is true.

While technology has allowed us to enter into the happenings of other people’s lives and experiences, it has not given us community. We are meant for fellowship. We grow stronger, healthier and more complete when we are in physical contact with each other.

Let’s not forsake the gathering together as some are inclined to do. Go visit that friend you have. Spend some time with your siblings. Attend that community event. Let’s come together and help each other overcome the loneliness that is so pervasive in our society today.

If you’re in the area, drop by for a coffee. Would love to see you. God bless.

Spiritual discipline (Hebrews 12:4-17)

It seems we often do not put much stock in spiritual discipline. However, I believe it is of immense importance that we exercise discipline in our spiritual lives. Many of us have become so caught up in wanting things here and now that we become impatient whenever God asks that we wait. Did you know that waiting is not meant to be a time of idleness? No, it must be a time of preparation, of exercising spiritual discipline.

I am reminded of the warning given regarding Esau in Hebrews 12:16:17. He was hungry and wanted to be fed. The warning was not about eating or satisfying his hunger. Eating food for sustenance is not a bad thing. It is good to eat to satisfy your hunger. However, the warning is regarding how he went about satisfying that hunger - that real need he felt. Esau was impatient and wanted food NOW. So much so that he surrendered his birthright for a bowl of stew. He gave up the long term blessing and benefits of his birthright for the immediate gratification of feeling full in the belly. Esau should have exercised a little discipline and patiently prepared a meal to satiate his hunger instead of trading everything for a momentary reprieve of his hunger.

Are we doing the same? Are we trading the eternal for the temporary in our lives? Is there an area that we are not willing to wait and are risking everything for immediate satisfaction?

I encourage you - no, I implore you - to seek God with patience and intention. Wait upon him - your strength will be renewed, your real need met. While you wait, prepare your hearts to receive. Exercise spiritual discipline - pray, read and study Scripture, sing, meet with other Believers and encourage each other to do good to and for all, encourage each other in the faith. The God of all grace, mercy and providence will keep your hearts secure (Hebrews 10:19-25; 36-39). Keep your eyes upon the destination of dwelling in the House of the LORD forever - don't trade it for anything else in the world, especially not for a momentary and passing comfort.

May God bless and keep you today.