A Year in Review: September – A September to Remember

    Throughout the month of September we looked at direct commands found in the Bible that told us to remember.

“Remember now your Creator…”

    In Ecclesiastes 12 we find Solomon advising both younger and older people to remember their Creator.

“Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them.”” (Ecclesiastes 12:1 NKJV)

 “Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well.” (Ecclesiastes 12:6 NKJV)

    The overarching message? Take time right now to remember God and submit to His will.

    It is God who created us and not we ourselves (Psalm 100), He has loved us enough to provide us with His word, the Bible, and with a Saviour – His Son, Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9-10, 14-16).  Remember your Creator today while you still have time and a mind to reason and obey. God does not want you to perish, He wants you to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9); He desires that you be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Are you willing?

Remember That You Were Once Gentiles

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:11-13 NKJV)

    The New Testament term “Gentiles” comes from the Greek word ‘ethnos’ (Strong’s Greek #1484) which means a group of people (a tribe) joined through the practice of similar customs; customs and a culture distinct from those of the Jewish people of Israel. Often used to describe all people who were non-Jewish; Gentiles were considered strangers, foreigners, and heathen/pagan (not having faith in the one, true God).

    If you are a Christian, at some point in your life you heard the gospel message and believed it. You realized your spiritual state before your Creator, and you confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God (Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:36-38), you repented of your sins (make the necessary changes to not return to them) and you were baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:37-38; 22:16).

    All Christians have a past, and only by God’s grace can we declare: ‘But now in Christ Jesus, we who once were afar off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.’   

    Remember from where you have come, remember God’s grace, and remember Jesus’ sacrifice. It was so you could be brought near and have access to God the Father; it was so you could know the truth and do it, so you could live for Christ and share it, so you could have help in this life and hope in eternity! Keep going! God’s way is the best way – your labour and efforts are not in vain! We are all in this together!!

“Remember Lot’s wife.”

    In the context of Luke 17:32, Jesus, in teaching about His return, told His listeners to be ready for it  - not in the sense of stop all work and wait (as some in Thessalonica thought, see 1 and 2 Thessalonians), but to recognize it when it happens, rejoice in it, and not worry about what is being left behind.

“Set your mind on things above and not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2 NKJV) 

    Remember Lot’s wife (and her demise) and learn to see sin for what it is: a path that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13). Taste and see that God and His ways are worth our efforts and our sacrifices. If you are walking on the narrow path that is delivering you from sin, keep looking forward, toward God. Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up (see James 4:7-8a, 10). Don’t look back with longing at the life you once lived, look to God and rejoice that He granted you time and opportunity for deliverance from your life in sin! Forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead; press toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14)!    

Remember the Poor, the Prisoners, and the Elders

The Poor:

    In Galatians 2:7-10, when Peter, James, and John gave “the right hand of fellowship” to Barnabas and Paul (accepting them as preachers of the gospel and supporting their ongoing efforts), they encouraged these men to “remember the poor” while they taught the Gentiles – something Paul states as being “the very thing which [he] also was eager to do.”

    Take time to read and consider reread and consider: Matthew 7:9-12; 25:31-46, Mark 14:7, Galatians 6:9-10, 1 Timothy 5:4; 16, and James 1:21-27; 2:14-20

The Prisoners:

God, through the writer of Hebrews, tells us to remember our brethren who are in mistreated in prison – not just think of them occasionally, but remember them as though chained with them – because we are all in the same body (Hebrews 13:3, also consider Romans 12:15, 1 Corinthians 12:25-26).

    Maybe we don’t know of any brethren who are in prison for their faith, but do we know of those mistreated for their faith/uprightness at work, at school, or at home? We need to be praying for them, feel for them, and encourage them in every way. We can help them “to set [their] mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2). We need to empathize enough that we consider what we would need in those situations, what would benefit us, and do what we can to provide that, so that no part of the body is neglected or forgotten.

Those Who Rule Over Us (Elders):

    Again in Hebrews 13, this time in verse 7, God, through the Hebrews writer, tells us to “remember those who rule over [us], who have spoken the word of God to [us].” We are to consider the outcome of their conduct and follow their faith. These teachers/leaders – maybe the elders of the church – should be proving through their words and conduct that God’s will is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). They should be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity – we all should feel the weight of this responsibility – we all need to take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

    We should be a reason for joy in those who teach us, rule over us, and lead us, not a reason for grief and/or frustration (read and think on Hebrews 13:17). If we put our best effort into serving God, we will encourage our leaders and brethren, and we, too, may become an example to the believers as our progress becomes evident (1 Timothy 4:15)! Let us remember those who watch out for our souls!

    Please remember all that we studied in September – take it with you into the new year! Remember your Creator, remember from where you came, remember Lot’s wife and don’t look back to your ‘old life’ with longing, keep moving forward in your faith and obedience! Remember the poor – share with them from your abundance. Remember the prisoners – share comfort and strength, and remember those who rule over you and who watch out for your soul – show them that their effort was not in vain!

God is worthy of our every effort – always remember that!

You can do it! So can I!!  

  

A Year in Review: April to August – A Study of Romans 12

    When we studied this chapter earlier this year we found three easy to spot “fence posts” that help our minds stay aligned to the overarching message: choose good over evil.

• Fence Post One (vv1-2): choose transformation over conformation.
• Fence Post Two (v9): cling to what is good and abhor what is evil.
• Fence Post Three (v21): overcome evil with good.

    The verses between these fence posts are filled with instructions to keep us on the right side of the fence; instructions for how to behave toward our brethren and toward those who do evil and persecute us.

    God’s way takes effort: effort in preparing and effort in doing.

Any dead fish can flow with the current; it takes a live one to swim upstream.

    We need to prepare our hearts and minds to obey, to swim against the current of the world around us. How? By remembering all that God has done for us.

    He loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us so we could be saved from the bondage of sin (1 John 4:9-10, Romans 6:17-19). His mercy is so abundant that He preserved His word through these centuries so we, too, could access it and learn of Him, seek Him, and find out what is acceptable to Him (Romans 15:4-6, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Ephesians 5:8-10). And in reading His word, we discover that His commands and instructions are for our good always (Deuteronomy 6:24-26); that His prohibitions keep us safe from harm (and from harming others), and His permissions benefit us (and help us benefit others).

    When we remember and appreciate what God has done for us, and continues to do for us (Psalm 68:19, Romans 8:26-27, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Philippians 4:6-7, Hebrews 4:14-16, etc.), we will come to realize that submitting to Him in obedience is the most logical response; He has done so much, and asks so little of us in return.

    When we have gained knowledge (by learning God’s commands and instructions), wisdom (by obeying His commands and instructions), and spiritual understanding (coming to realize the immense value of God and His word, the pure wisdom of His ways, etc.) then we will logically conclude that God’s way is the best way; we will be willing to put ourselves and our own ideas aside and submit to His will (present your bodies a living sacrifice); we will want to be holy and acceptable to God. We will desire the transformation (being changed for the better) that will come when we renew our minds – turning our focus from the world and its ways to God and His way (Colossians 3:1-2) – and we will determine to use the gifts/talents/abilities God has given us, and to use them for good.

    We will grow to love our brethren by applying the instructions given verse 10 through 13, and we will grow to a place of faith in God’s way and strength of spirit so that we will not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with the good that God has instructed us in (verses 14-20) – we will follow His way and in so doing show others in the world that there is a better way.  

    There is work to do, and God wants you to succeed – to overcome! Are you ready to present your body a living sacrifice, to be holy and acceptable to God? Are you ready to use your abilities for good? To prepare yourself through faithful application of His instructions to love your brethren with brotherly love and to overcome evil with good? God has given us all we need to do exactly that! Are you ready?  

You can do it! So can I!!

A Year in Review: January to March – Wisdom that is From Above

    We spent the first part of this year taking a closer look at the facets of wisdom that is from above (James 3:13-17).

We learned that wisdom from above is…

…first pure; pure to its very core, and not in any way defiled by sin, selfish interest, or harmful intent. Wisdom from above, at its very Source, is pure (I John 3:3). Its path is pure; it will not lead us astray or away from God. God’s pure words/commands will enlighten us (Psalm 19:8), chasten us (Hebrews 12:3-11), warn us, and correct us (2 Timothy 3:16-17); they will purify us to the very core when we, in wisdom, hear His words, obey His commands, heed His warnings, and make the necessary corrections.

…then peaceable; undisturbed and undisturbing. This wisdom wants to bring peace (pacificatory) and to calmly resolve the conflict (conciliatory). Having/using wisdom from above helps us to be at peace in conflict (consider 1 Peter 2:20-23, James 1:19-20) and, as much as depends on us, it helps us to bring peace to the situation with a God approved (aka scripture-based) resolution (Romans 12:18, Matthew 5:21-26; 44, 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

…gentle; helping us to respond to situations appropriately, with mildness, patience, and moderation; it does what is suitable, fair/impartial, mild, and merciful. Think of God’s gentleness when we ask Him for wisdom when we are lacking; He is not disappointed or disapproving, but gives liberally to all who ask Him in faith (James 1:5-8), and consider His longsuffering patience with mankind because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Read and take note of the benefits of gentleness in 1 Peter 3:1-4.   

…willing to yield; ready to obey, willing to yield your former thoughts and beliefs for the truth that is set before you. Willing to yield your pride, your notions; your own self (Matthew 10:37-38, 16:24, Luke 9:23, 2 Corinthians 5:15), to obey the true and proper way. Every time you choose God over self you are showing yourself wise in your willingness to yield, in your willingness to present your body a living sacrifice, in your willingness to choose holiness and acceptability to God over selfish, carnal desires, and your willingness to be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1-2)!

…full of mercy and good fruits; when we are full of mercy and good fruits our faith and service to God will be evident to all (1 Timothy 4:12-13, 15-16), even to those who hate us, curse us, persecute us, and spitefully use us, because we will not limit our love and care to only those who are loving and caring toward us (Matthew 5:44-48, 25:34-40, Titus 3:8-14).

…without partiality; unwavering, undivided, unambiguous. Wisdom from above is consistent, steady and unbiased; without favouritism. It is not influenced by personal opinions or external pressures. Everyone, and every effort we put our hand to, will receive the very best that we can give - every time. Others will be able to count on us to be consistently upright, above board, and immovable in the practice of doing what is right (1 Corinthians 15:58).

…without hypocrisy; the quality of being genuine, sincere, and without pretense. Wisdom from above is seen in us when we are genuine people who honour God with our lives; when we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16-17), when we walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:3-6), and prove ourselves to be His disciples in every aspect of our lives. We will not carry a basket to cover up our light when we are around certain people (Matthew 5:14-16), but will remain true to God and His way and happily and consistently work as though we are working for Him (Colossians 3:23). We will also be humble and openly acknowledge our dependence on God, His mercy, and His grace. We will confess our sins to God in repentance (1 John 1:5-10), determine to do our very best to flee those things that made us stumble, and reinvigorate our pursuit of those things which are good and right (2 Timothy 2:22, Romans 12:9).

We also learned that Jesus is our perfect example of wisdom that is from above; He had it, and proved it through unwavering use throughout His life. If you want to know more of what this wisdom means and how to apply it, you need only look to Him and His Father, our Lord and Creator – they have provided all we need to know, they have given us both example and instruction, and we have access to more wisdom that is from above simply by asking God in faith!

“For the LORD gives wisdom, from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6 NKJV)

    Now with these facets of proper wisdom refreshed in your mind, I would like to bring a few verses back to your attention. Please consider all that you have learned about wisdom as you read and meditate on these passages:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:10 NKJV)

“If you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding…. If seek for [wisdom] as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly...” (Proverbs 2:1-7 NKJV)

“When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things, from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness…” (Proverbs 2:10-13 NKJV)

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding; for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain that fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare to her. Length of days is in her right hand, in her left are riches and honour. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.” (Proverbs 3:13-18 NKJV)

“…Keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet… For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:21-24, 26 NKJV) 

“The wise will inherit glory…” (Proverbs 3:35 NKJV)

“Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from my mouth. Do not forsake [wisdom], and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal things; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring your honour, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” (Proverbs 4:5-9 NKJV)

“I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.” (Proverbs 4:11-13 NKJV)

    Ask God for wisdom – He is ready and willing to give it to you liberally! Let’s ask for it, and receive it with a heart fully determined to apply it, as we follow Jesus’ example each day in both deed and in truth! As you can see from the passages we read, it is worth our every effort and our every sacrifice to obtain it and retain it!

Are you ready to flourish in wisdom that is from above?

You can do it! So can I!!