Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Do We Love The Unlovely?
Do we only love those who elevate us and enhance our lives or do we love those that others might think "unlovely"?
There is no Love in Favoritism
Favoritism is ungodly!
When we choose to favor one parent over the other or one child over the other, we have committed sin.
Acts 10:34 "Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,"
There is no love in partiality!
Ignoring, negating, neglecting and dismissing others simply because we like one personality over another is hateful and mean. Only those who are hiding and angry in their souls choose to elevate the personality they like and in some way enhances them, while negating those that do not enhance them. When we are focused on Christ, we can see the qualities of all believers as a valuable part of the body.
Chances are good, if we play favorites, then we have sin in our own hearts, based not on righteousness but on personal pleasure and our own self promotion.
Every personality and gift has value in God's eyes, He gave us our bents and under God's guidance, we are valuable in the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
"12 As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
14 Now the body is not a single part, but many.
15 If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
16 Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”
22 Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary,
23 and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
24 whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
26 If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy."
When we choose to favor one parent over the other or one child over the other, we have committed sin.
Acts 10:34 "Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality,"
There is no love in partiality!
Ignoring, negating, neglecting and dismissing others simply because we like one personality over another is hateful and mean. Only those who are hiding and angry in their souls choose to elevate the personality they like and in some way enhances them, while negating those that do not enhance them. When we are focused on Christ, we can see the qualities of all believers as a valuable part of the body.
Chances are good, if we play favorites, then we have sin in our own hearts, based not on righteousness but on personal pleasure and our own self promotion.
Every personality and gift has value in God's eyes, He gave us our bents and under God's guidance, we are valuable in the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
"12 As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.
13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.
14 Now the body is not a single part, but many.
15 If a foot should say, “Because I am not a hand I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
16 Or if an ear should say, “Because I am not an eye I do not belong to the body,” it does not for this reason belong any less to the body.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?
18 But as it is, God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20 But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I do not need you.”
22 Indeed, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are all the more necessary,
23 and those parts of the body that we consider less honorable we surround with greater honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater propriety,
24 whereas our more presentable parts do not need this. But God has so constructed the body as to give greater honor to a part that is without it,
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.
26 If [one] part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy."
Monday, February 16, 2015
Each One Has Gifts
Romans 12:1-11
1. I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned.
4 For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
7 if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching;
8 if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
11 Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."
1. I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
2 Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.
3 For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned.
4 For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another.
6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith;
7 if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching;
8 if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
9 Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
10 love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
11 Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord."
Sunday, February 15, 2015
How to Handle a Fool
The best way to handle an argumentative person is to ignore them. They indulge in deliberate obtuseness to cause frustration and anger in their victims.
Satan uses this tactic all the time. If he cannot engage you in self pity, he accuses you of doing what you are not doing, but he is doing. He uses the mouths of rebellious arrogant people to distract us from truth.
Those who fight every time they open their mouths are engaging in narcissistic behavior for the purpose of elevating self and demeaning those who would correct them.
We are seeing more of these people because the world is becoming more wicked. God tells us how to handle them.
Proverbs 26:1-8
"Like snow in summer, like rain in harvest,
honor for a fool is out of place.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight,
a curse uncalled-for never lands.
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass,
and the rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you too become like them.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they become wise in their own eyes.
6 Those who send messages by a fool
cut off their feet; they drink down violence.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
hangs limp, like crippled legs.
8 Giving honor to a fool
is like entangling a stone in the sling."
I see in this song about fools, an important lesson in dealing with them.
Verse 2 tells us that there is no argument if there is no response for the fool.
Verse 3 perhaps is referring to God's rod for their back.
Verse 4 tells us that if we engage in an argument with them, we become like them.
Verse 5 tells us that if we engage in an argument with them, they think they are wise.
Verse 6 tells us that it becomes a form of violence when engaging in an argument with a fool.
I have seen this happen many times, a fool will raise their voice, talk too long for anyone to respond and use anger to intimidate. They do not listen, because they must be in control.
Verse 7 tells us that the fool has nothing of value to say, they argue to win so they use silly rantings to that end.
Verse 8 shows us that engaging in an argument with a fool, gives their ways validity. They are empowered by the argument, feeding their arrogance.
The lesson I see from the Proverbs 26 passage is that we do not always have to answer a matter when we see that a fool is attempting to start trouble through argument. We can graciously walk away, knowing God endorses our retreat and that the fool has a better chance of learning from our silence than if we engage him.
Satan uses this tactic all the time. If he cannot engage you in self pity, he accuses you of doing what you are not doing, but he is doing. He uses the mouths of rebellious arrogant people to distract us from truth.
Those who fight every time they open their mouths are engaging in narcissistic behavior for the purpose of elevating self and demeaning those who would correct them.
We are seeing more of these people because the world is becoming more wicked. God tells us how to handle them.
Proverbs 26:1-8
"Like snow in summer, like rain in harvest,
honor for a fool is out of place.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight,
a curse uncalled-for never lands.
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass,
and the rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you too become like them.
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they become wise in their own eyes.
6 Those who send messages by a fool
cut off their feet; they drink down violence.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
hangs limp, like crippled legs.
8 Giving honor to a fool
is like entangling a stone in the sling."
I see in this song about fools, an important lesson in dealing with them.
Verse 2 tells us that there is no argument if there is no response for the fool.
Verse 3 perhaps is referring to God's rod for their back.
Verse 4 tells us that if we engage in an argument with them, we become like them.
Verse 5 tells us that if we engage in an argument with them, they think they are wise.
Verse 6 tells us that it becomes a form of violence when engaging in an argument with a fool.
I have seen this happen many times, a fool will raise their voice, talk too long for anyone to respond and use anger to intimidate. They do not listen, because they must be in control.
Verse 7 tells us that the fool has nothing of value to say, they argue to win so they use silly rantings to that end.
Verse 8 shows us that engaging in an argument with a fool, gives their ways validity. They are empowered by the argument, feeding their arrogance.
The lesson I see from the Proverbs 26 passage is that we do not always have to answer a matter when we see that a fool is attempting to start trouble through argument. We can graciously walk away, knowing God endorses our retreat and that the fool has a better chance of learning from our silence than if we engage him.
Focus on the Things that Last
I remember being told years ago, when it was popular, that I should have my colors done to see what I look best in. I was not big into fashion and was a bargain shopper, so my first question was "how much does it cost?"
Back in the 70's it was $35, which was a lot of money for us then. I spoke more with the lady who wanted me to do it and in the course of the conversation she revealed that we tend to gravitate toward those colors we look best in, my next question was; "then why is there a need to have it done if we already gravitate to the best colors for us?"
She didn't have an answer for me. Then I asked this question; "what if I found out I didn't look good in a color I enjoyed wearing?" She again had no answer for me.
When we think things through, often we find out that we were all excited about something, taking time and money away from others things to spend it on things that make no difference whatever, or at least that anyone would notice.
Many things become popular that are not useful to us simply because they are the popular things to do, with think they are important. Interesting isn't it, that in a short few years, that thing we thought was so important, that we spent time and money on, isn't even popular any more, so we move on to the next thing.
I guess my point in all this is that, we tend to jump on popular band wagons without thinking things through, wasting time, money and energy on something that has little value in our lives or the lives of others.
We cannot go wrong in diligent study of the Word of God, or growing our character through prayer. These things last for eternity, always have value and are never a waste of our time.
1 Corinthians 13:13 "13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Back in the 70's it was $35, which was a lot of money for us then. I spoke more with the lady who wanted me to do it and in the course of the conversation she revealed that we tend to gravitate toward those colors we look best in, my next question was; "then why is there a need to have it done if we already gravitate to the best colors for us?"
She didn't have an answer for me. Then I asked this question; "what if I found out I didn't look good in a color I enjoyed wearing?" She again had no answer for me.
When we think things through, often we find out that we were all excited about something, taking time and money away from others things to spend it on things that make no difference whatever, or at least that anyone would notice.
Many things become popular that are not useful to us simply because they are the popular things to do, with think they are important. Interesting isn't it, that in a short few years, that thing we thought was so important, that we spent time and money on, isn't even popular any more, so we move on to the next thing.
I guess my point in all this is that, we tend to jump on popular band wagons without thinking things through, wasting time, money and energy on something that has little value in our lives or the lives of others.
We cannot go wrong in diligent study of the Word of God, or growing our character through prayer. These things last for eternity, always have value and are never a waste of our time.
1 Corinthians 13:13 "13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love."
Truth is Love, Withholding Truth is Hate
Amen! We love by telling the truth, but they will hate us for it. We cannot participate in their hate by withholding the truth.
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Mark 13:13 ""You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."
James 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."
John 8:32 "And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Mark 13:13 ""You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."
Saturday, February 14, 2015
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