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10yrsyart · 2 years ago

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What does Jesus and the Bible teach about being a “good Christian”?

at the request of @iridescent-glass-bubbles, i wrote some scriptural advice. and i apologize for being long winded, but i wanted the verses to do a lot of the talking 😂🙏

The most important thing in learning to set a good example as a Christian is to continually read God’s Word.

Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are being destroyed because they don’t know Me,” (NLT). And in the KJV, it says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” It means, how can we know God and His ways if we’re not actively reading about them? It’s much easier to be confused and led astray when you’re not familiar with what He’s said and how He works. (If you can read a novel, you can read Matthew or John or Romans.)

Similarly, what you’re constantly focusing on will affect how you think and act. Jesus says, “But the words you speak come from the heart- that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander,” (Matthew 15:18). This is why Paul says in Colossians 3:2, “Think about the things of Heaven, not the things of earth.” And in Philippians 4:8, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Fill up your heart with things of the Lord, and that’s when your actions will start to follow.

As for how Jesus wants us to act, it’s all through the New Testament, especially His “Sermon on the Mount” speech in Matthew. Among some are: don’t hate anyone (5:21-22), don’t seek revenge (5:38-42), love and be kind to those who hate you (5:43-48), forgive everyone without holding a grudge (6:14-5), and don’t let pride convince you you’re better than everyone else (7:1-5). He says in Matthew 22:37-38, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” The Golden Rule: treat others the way you’d want to be treated, is actually from the Bible (in Matthew 7:12).

A good summary is found in Colossians 3:12-15 which says, “Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with Love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts.” (Also see the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus didn’t just teach these things, He lived them. Every account of a situation He was in is an example of how He honored these principles.

It sounds like a tall order, doesn’t it? The truth is we aren’t capable of being perfect examples of Christ. We mess up all the time. But the Holy Spirit can help us with these things. Jesus wants to grow us into bright lights that shine His love on everyone, but we need to be willing. I didn’t see that much change in myself until i started regularly reading the Bible and thinking on how He wanted me to act. And then i started putting in the effort to obey, and He provided the increase.

We can’t be “good Christians” if we’re relying only on our own efforts. But we’re called to listen to and obey the Lord and He will change us more and more into His image. As Philippians 1:6 says, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work in you, will continue his work until it is finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” So let God’s promises fill you with peace, stand for the truth, and love others even in difficult situations. 💙

#christianity #jesus christ #God #bible verse #bible scripture #faithstuff #religion #the bible #apologetics #10 asks #my writing

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mysteriouslyjollyheart · 2 years ago

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Let's see what Jesus shows us about friendship

and how we're supposed to treat one another.

📖John 11:35-36

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

❣️This is when Lazarus was dead and buried. I think Jesus showed us he grieves over his friend. Whether it be that he didn't know for sure he could raise him up or he needed man to see grief is a part of life.

❣️Below is significant scripture for me. It was told to me in at a much needed time in my life. I've shared it with many others. No matter what it may look like, God has full control. This is assurance that He knows it seems strange. But if you're with Him, it's all for His glory.

📖1 Peter 4:12-14

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

❣️We're supposed to encourage, teach, hold each other accountable, uplift, assemble together, confess and pray for each other.

📖Proverbs 27:17-20

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied

❣️Again it's not all about you!

📖Philippians 2:4

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

❣️How we should treat one another.

📖Ephesians 4:32

32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

❣️Here God tells us the second most important commandment that He’s given us.

📖John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

❣️We're to help those less fortunate and those in need around us. Whether you like them or not.

📖1 John 3:17-18

17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

📖Proverbs 21:13

13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

❣️Provide for your own.

📖1 Timothy 5:8

8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

❣️Don't give up on others. Continue to give.

📖Galatians 6:9-10

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

❣️We're really doing it for Jesus!

📖Matthew 25:40

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

❣️Gathering or Assembling together.

📖1 Thessalonians 5:11

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

❣️You never hurt yourself when you give.

God always provides!

📖Proverbs 28:27

27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

❣️So important to remember!

You didn't get where you are without God's hand in your life. So be God's helping hand in helping another make it home.

📖Ephesians 2:8-10

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God is good all the time!

All the time God is good!

Love, Amy

#i love jesus #original content #god is good #encouragement #love each other #hope #faith #christian inspiration #godwins #daily word

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steveezekiel · 1 year ago

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WEALTH IS A RESPONSIBILITY

“AND you shall remember the LORD your God, FOR IT IS HE WHO GIVES YOU POWER TO GET WEALTH, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH HIS COVENANT WHICH HE SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, as it is this day."

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)

"AND in thy SEED shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves, because thou hast hearkened to my voice."

Genesis 22:18 (DARBY)

14 NOW GOD CAN BLESS THE GENTILES [those who are not Jews], TOO, WITH THIS SAME BLESSING HE PROMISED TO ABRAHAM; and all of us as Christians can have the promised Holy Spirit through this faith.

16 NOW, God gave some promises to Abraham and his Child. AND NOTICE THAT IT doesn’t SAY THE PROMISES WERE TO HIS CHILDREN, AS IT WOULD IF ALL HIS SONS—all the Jews—were being spoken of, BUT TO HIS CHILD—and that, of course, MEANS CHRIST."

Galatians 3:14,16 (the Living Bible)

"NOW the promises [in the covenants] were decreed to Abraham AND TO HIS SEED. God does not say, “And to seeds (descendants, heirs),” AS IF [referring] TO MANY [persons], BUT AS TO ONE, “AND TO YOUR SEED,” WHO IS [none other than] CHRIST."

Galatians 3:16 (Amplified Bible)

• Money flows in the direction of power. - Thus getting the divine ability or power for abundance is of paramount importance (Deuteronomy 8:18).

- It is what comes from heaven that makes the earth produces (Psalm 65:9-11; Hebrews 6:7).

- Power to get wealth. It is the divine ability to create Wealth.

- Note these points:

(i) The covenant you have with God is the foundation. And the foundation is through the new birth. You are no more a stranger to the Blessing of God, when you accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Ephesians 2:11-13).

(iii) Know that wealth, or abundance followed covenant. If you have been redeemed, born-again, you are in a covenant relationship with God—through Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 2:13).

a. If you claim to be a believer and cannot give, or you find it difficult to give your money as tithes and offerings; to the servants of God, the work of God, missions, projects, and the needy, particularly in the household of faith, you are undoing yourself (Galatians 6:6-10; Hebrews 7:1-8).

b. If you abide with the terms of the covenant, you experience the Blessings of God (Deuteronomy 28:1-6).

c. However, failure to do or abide with the terms of the the covenant, brings the other side—a curse (Deuteronomy 28:15).

• The truth is: the terms of the covenant are expected to be done by the Believers.

- In this covenant relationship with God, He can ask you to give the most precious thing to you, the one you cherished the most, to Him. God did ask Abraham to give Isaac, the most precious son of his, as a Sacrifice to Him—God (Genesis 22:1-3).

- Abraham obeyed because he knew the importance and the implications of the covenant. HE did not argue with God!

- A number of Christians argue about tithes and Givings in general. Some, even so-called Believers, have said why should offerings be collected in every meeting.

- Your money, whatever you have, belongs to God. Thus, if you are of God, and Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life, then, He should be Lord of everything you have.

• The terms of the covenant

(i) Principles of the Kingdom. Obedience to the commandments, or the principles of God is important (Deuteronomy 28:1,2).

(ii) Prayer. Seeking to know the Will of God on every matter of your life (Proverbs 3:5,6).

(iii) Worship. To appreciate the value of God. Adore and appreciate WHO He is, the Person of God (Ephesians 5:20; Hebrews 13:15). When this is done, that is, you appreciate God's value, your person also would be appreciated in value. You will attract favour and Blessings—abundance.

(iv) Sacrificial Giving is a part of worship: "AND Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; AND I AND THE LAD WILL GO YONDER AND WORSHIP, and come again to you" (Genesis 22:5 KJV).

IN other words, worship in the above Bible passage means, Abraham wanted to go and offer the lad, his son, Isaac, as the Sacrifice.

a. When you give to God and His work, it means you worship Him with your possessions or resources or substance.

YOU worship God with your money and whatever you have.

b. You also give to God because you love Him. And you give to God because you are in a covenant relationship with Him.

(v) Impartation. Let the anointing of God on your prophet or pastor rub off on you. This could happen by sowing to the anointing, you give your money or material things, for the anointing to be extended to you (Philippians 4:15-19; Hebrews 7:1-4).

- If you walk with the wise, you shall be Wise (Proverbs 13:20).

- Note: If you value your Isaac more than your covenant relationship with God, you may lose your place. The Isaac could even be lost, He gave the Isaac in the first place!

- When God made a demand, and you obeyed, it will lead to your lifting.

- God honoured Abraham's obedience and Faith.

• The lifting of God is progressively and systematically. God will not bless you with all He wanted to, at a time. He will take you a little by little (Deuteronomy 7:22).

- God will bless you with a little, and watch you for a while, before He added another. He wanted to see and know your faithfulness with the little given to YOU.

IF you are FAITHFUL with the little, He would then add another little, that is, move you to another level (Matthew 25:21,23).

- Whatever you have, which God has blessed you with, is a RESPONSIBILITY. That money in your hand, given you by God, is a responsibility! (Luke 19:15).

- If you did not prove responsible with what He has given to you, that is, you did not use it for His intended Purpose; you indirectly placed a limit on your blessing—your lifting and greatness in Him.

- You are expected to give an account of your stewardship. If you disappointed God, in what He committed to your hands, the money He permitted to pass through your hands, He might not consider you for another assignment of such—whenever He wanted to (Luke 16:10-12).

- He rather would look for someone else, who could be trusted to deliver when assigned for the channeling or disbursement of His resources or substance.

- Can God trust you with the money needed for the project or mission work in your Church?

- Can God trust you with the money meant to be given to your pastor and the needy in your Church?

• God has planned different things for His children, and you are included, if you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

- God's has the plan to train and prepare a number of people for His work—to be fully engaged in His work.

- In addition, God wanted to train some, among His children, to be financiers of His work—His Kingdom on earth.

- If God trusted you with abundance, money needed for His work, in your local church or the Ministry He has one way or the other used to bless you; would you be faithful in giving the money?

- If you could not be faithful in paying the tithes of your present incomes, how would God be sure you would, if you were blessed more than your present level?

- If in the present, your relationship and fellowship with God is wobbling, you hardly attend church meetings and fellowship; How would God be sure you would not backslide if you were promoted and lifted to higher level of Blessings?

- Be serious in your relationship and fellowship with God, He has something good for you. That however could only be if you do walk in the light of God's Word as you ought (James 1:22,25).

- God intended you to be a financier of His work, but the Tests brought your way had to be passed for you to be what He had purposed.

- I want to enjoin you to cooperate with God that He might accomplish whatever He had purposed to do through your life.

• Note: Treat money well. Wastage disqualified many from walking in abundance.

- If God would make you a custodian of His Blessing; you have to prove to Him that whatever is given to you, the money that would be committed to your hands, would not be wasted. That you would be a good steward of His resources (Luke 12:42-44).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

Peace!

#gospel #christianity #christian blog #christian living #jesus #devotion #the bible #my writing #faith #prayer

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troybeecham · 4 years ago

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Today, the Church remembers the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle.

St. Paul’s miraculous conversion was, according to the New Testament, an event in the life of Paul that led him to cease persecuting early Christians and to become a disciple of Jesus himself. It is normally dated to AD 33–36. Since his birth is estimated at AD 5, he would have been somewhere around the age of 28-31 at his conversion.

Before his conversion, Paul, then known as Saul, was "a Pharisee of Pharisees", who "intensely persecuted" the followers of Jesus. Says Paul in his Epistle to the Galatians: "For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers." (Galatians 1:13–14).

Paul also discusses his pre-conversion life in his Epistle to the Philippians (3:4-6) and his participation in the stoning of Stephen is described in Acts 7:57-8:3.

In the Pauline epistles, the description of the conversion experience is brief. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (9:1; 15:3-8) Paul recounts having seen the resurrected and glorified Jesus:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

— 1 Cor. 15:3–8, NIV

The Epistle to the Galatians also describes his conversion as a divine revelation, with Jesus appearing to Paul:

“I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ...But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.”

— Galatians 1:11-16, NIV

The Acts of the Apostles discusses Paul's conversion experience at three different points in the text, in far more detail than in the accounts in Paul's letters. The Book of Acts says that Paul was on his way from Jerusalem to Syrian Damascus with a mandate issued by the High Priest to seek out and arrest followers of Jesus, with the intention of returning them to Jerusalem as prisoners for questioning and possible execution. The journey is interrupted when Paul sees a blinding light, and communicates directly with a divine voice.

Acts 9 tells the story as a third-person narrative:

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"

"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."

The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.”

— Acts 9:3–9, NIV

The account continues with a description of St. Ananias of Damascus receiving a divine revelation instructing him to visit Saul at the house of Judas on the Street Called Straight and there lay hands on him to restore his sight (the house of Judas is traditionally believed to have been near the west end of the street). Ananias is initially reluctant, having heard about Saul's persecution, but obeys the divine command:

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.”

— Acts 9:13–19, NIV

Acts' second telling of Paul's conversion occurs in a speech Paul gives when he is arrested in Jerusalem.[Acts 22:6-21] Paul addresses the crowd and tells them of his conversion, with a description essentially the same as that in Acts 9, but with slight differences. For example, Acts 9:7 notes that Paul's companions did not see who he was speaking to, while Acts 22:9 indicates that they did share in seeing the light. This speech was most likely originally in Aramaic, with the passage here being a Greek translation and summary. The speech is clearly tailored for its Jewish audience, with stress being placed in Acts 22:12 on Ananias's good reputation among Jews in Damascus, rather than on his Christianity.

Acts' third discussion of Paul's conversion occurs when Paul addresses King Agrippa, defending himself against the accusations of antinomianism that have been made against him.[Acts 26:12-18] This account is more brief than the others. The speech here is again tailored for its audience, emphasizing what a Roman ruler would understand: the need to obey a heavenly vision,[Acts 26:19] and reassuring Agrippa that Christians were not a secret society.

The conversion of Paul, in spite of his attempts to completely eradicate Christianity, is seen as evidence of the power of Divine Grace, with "no fall so deep that grace cannot descend to it" and "no height so lofty that grace cannot lift the sinner to it." It also demonstrates "God's power to use everything, even the hostile persecutor, to achieve the divine purpose."

The transforming effect of Paul's conversion influenced the clear antithesis he saw "between righteousness based on the law," which he had sought in his former life; and "righteousness based on the death of Christ," which he describes, for example, in the Epistle to the Galatians.

O God, by the preaching of your apostle Paul you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we pray, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may show ourselves thankful to you by following his holy teaching; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

#christianity #jesus #saints #god #salvation #father troy beecham #troy beecham episcopal #father troy beecham episcopal #peace #martyrs

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danajune · 5 years ago

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Abort mission?

I can’t let something like what’s happening across our country right now go by without addressing it. There are Christians on both sides of this issue. I cannot and will not pretend I have The Answer. I can’t even pretend I have An Answer. But what I do have are some thoughts, so here we go.

Should abortion be illegal? Is abortion murder? Are there circumstances under which abortion is biblically permissible?

In short: I don’t know. To say the bible is black and white on this is to assume more than we know. Abortion is not in the bible. Infanticide is--already born human babies being killed is a topic central to several important biblical events (*cough*Jesus’s birth*cough).

First, I encourage you to look into these laws before you agree with them. Several states have now made having a miscarriage a criminal event where one must prove they’re innocent. Women are forced to carry even mostly non-viable fetuses (if most of the baby’s cells are dead) to term and to give birth in conditions life-threatening to her and her child. These are blanket laws that are being abused to keep the powerful in power.

Anyway. To the controversial stuff.

Do the cells in a body constitute a person? That’s up for debate. Many people cite Jeremiah 1:5 as evidence: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.” But the very verse says before I formed you; God knows us long before our parents and grandparents are even alive because God exists beyond our timeline. Is that the reasoning behind anti-contraceptive beliefs? I don’t think so; if you want to take that to a reasonable extreme, abstinence is a form of birth control and how can someone sin by not having sex?

I don’t want to go into my beliefs on sex and contraception (even though I believe they’re both incredibly relevant to this topic) and get off track, so let’s steer back.

My knowledge of anatomy is really quite limited. I don’t know gestational stages. But what I do know is that the new laws prohibit abortion to an extreme degree: not only before women usually know when they’re pregnant, but Missouri has banned abortion from the moment of conception. It’s hard to make an analogy to this: even saying we don’t count eating eggs as butchering chickens doesn’t fit because chickens aren’t people. At what point does that clump of cells become a baby?

To be honest with you, I believe that’s not for me to decide.

Should abortion be illegal?

It’s pretty clear that God’s ways are higher than man’s ways and also that man’s law will always be at odds with God’s law. Is cheating on your partner illegal? Not at all. Is it against God’s law? Very clearly.

We have to remember that if we want the state to stay out of our church, we as a church have to stay out of the state. When Christians demand that our laws become the laws of the nation and that our religion becomes the religion of the nation, how are we better than the kings of old, the very kings that Jesus stood against? But I digress.

I keep coming back to John 8:3-11.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

So many notable things in there. Leaders forcing a broken woman to stand trial, bragging of their power over her. It’s heartbreaking.

The leaders took the law of Moses--the law that the prophet Moses gave them, the law that the man who met on a mountaintop with God brought to them, the laws that had been in place for thousands of years. Those are the laws that they were using--not even twisting, just using--to condemn this woman.

I want you to pay attention to the word “caught.” This word has two meanings: you can be caught, like caught with your hand in the cookie jar, or caught, like fish caught in a net.

People get confused about which meaning we use in Galatians 6:1.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

This is the NIV translation. Some versions say “if someone is caught doing something wrong;” which is a mistranslation of the word “caught.” Most earlier translations use the word “overtaken.” If someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing. If someone is caught up in sin. If someone is unable to break the cycle of their sin.

Not if someone commits one wrong act.

It’s not our job to point out what other people are doing wrong. In Romans 2, Paul warns us not to judge other people, saying that God will judge us in the same way.

Imagine: an eleven year old girl is raped by her father. As she’s underweight, pregnancy will threaten her life and the life of her child. Several weeks after it’s discovered that she’s pregnant, she has a partial miscarriage.

We refuse to remove the rest of the fetus, which will not survive outside of the womb. The girl dies of sepsis.

Now there are two dead children.

If we really want to talk about law and which law we need to worry about, we only need to look a little earlier in Galatians:

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

-Galatians 5:14

#abortion #rape #tw #trigger warning #pregnancy

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haynesjebas · 2 years ago

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What Is Biblical Tithe?

Tithing for most people means giving 10%, Well, we’ll return to that question but before that I want to say it’s an important question, but it’s not the most important thing. It’s the kind of thing that we as Christians can disagree on and have good fellowship together if we disagree on that matter. So now let’s look at what the Bible says about tithe.

The Old Testament actually commands not one, but three different tithes

One tenth went to support the Priests (Numbers 18:20–24).

Another tenth for Sacred Festivals (Deuteronomy 12:17–18, 14:23). And

Every three years, another tenth was collected to support Widows, Orphans, and the Poor (Deuteronomy 14:28–29, 26:12–13).

So, if we want to apply an old testament, old covenant law for that people at that time then we better give at least 20 to 30%.

But when we take a look at the tithes, the poor tithe, the festival tithe, the operating of the temple tithe which totaled from 23–28%, The money they were paying was basically their taxes for the operating of the system, for the government, and for the nation, that is what the tithe of the old testament was, those are basically the taxes. When we think wisely we realize that this is all legalism giving and not free will.

But what about giving? How much were we supposed to give in the old testament? And the answer in the old is the same as the new “AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO”.

In_Old_Testament

Free will giving in the old testament was whatever you wanted to give for example when they built the temple people were told to bring whatever they wanted to bring then they brought gold and they brought jewels and they brought everything and finally they brought so much that Prophet Moses had to say ‘stop bringing we have more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done’, it’s an overload and people not only sacrificed their wealth, but also offered themselves as an offering for the construction of the temple, for the work of God (Exodus 35:4 — Exodus 36:7).

In_New_Testament

Lord Jesus said give whatever you want to give but here’s the principle,

In Luke 6:38 ‘Give and it shall be given unto you’, the simple principle is that whatever you give you invest with God and He gives you a return. Or

The language of Matthew 6:19–21 where Lord says ‘lay up treasure in heaven’. Or

In Luke 16:9–10 ‘use your money to purchase friends for eternity’ that is use your money for Gospel enterprises because then people will be converted by your giving and they’ll be there to welcome you when you enter into heaven be faithful over little and the lord will give you much.

So the bottom line is always been the same throughout all redemptive history the principle for giving is 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 ‘Sow sparingly reap sparingly sow bountifully reap bountifully, Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’

What such kind of offering look like?

It looked like generous love.

Jesus once saw a poor woman offer 100% of all she had, He commends her faith. (Luke 21:1–4)

Even when people didn’t have any money to give, they sold their stuff so that they could give.(Acts 4:32–37)

To sum up, Apostle Paul has testified about the Macedonian church so that we can understand what it means to give freely and what it looks like when we give willingly. (2 Corinthians 8:1–5)

So we had Taxation/legalism which was fixed and we had free will giving which was flexible based on the heart of the giver. But the taxation/legalism is the part of the Mosaic covenant, it’s part of the Mosaic law, the covenant made at Sinai with Moses and with Israel. And the New Testament is very clear, we’re not under that covenant any longer, Galatians 3, Romans 7, Hebrews 9 and 10, there’s a lot of texts that indicate we’re not under the Mosaic law but that doesn’t mean or justify that we shouldn’t give to the Lord but The New Testament never commands a specific amount to be given to the Church, instead it was a heart decision.

In the New Testament, believers gave out of love, not Taxation/legalism. They gave because it pleased God. They gave because physical and eternal lives were on the line. They gave all they could, knowing God gave all He could to us, through Jesus. We should do the same.

Proverbs 3:9 → Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.

Acts 20:33–35 → I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’.

Watch this six-minute YouTube video where Pastor Tim Conway gives an in-depth teaching on Biblical Tithes!

Is Tithing the Standard for Christian Giving? - Tim Conway - YouTube

#tithe #religion #christianity #christian living #Biblical #reformed theology #offering

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spiritualdirections · 7 years ago

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On the Sign of the Cross and the “Glory Be”

Two of the most common Catholic prayers express the doctrine of the Trinity very concisely. The sign of the Cross is one of the oldest prayers, and is surprisingly powerful. It invokes the divine names of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the same names that the second Commandment instructs us to keep holy and not take in vain. The sign of the Cross begins and ends the Mass, it dispels demons, it is essential to most blessings, it is the sign that the Church places on our foreheads at baptism to mark us as belonging to Christ (Rev. 7:3), and at Confirmation as the seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13). Before hearing the Gospel, we make it over our forehead, lips, and chest asking that that the Lord always be in our minds, in our speech, and in our hearts.

The Fathers of the Church saw symbolism in the elements of the sign of the Cross. They thought it fitting that the right hand is used to make the sign of the Cross, since Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. The first movement is from the forehead down to the waist, signifying the descent of God the Son from God the Father (the head) to dwell among us. The final movement from the left shoulder to the right shows how the Holy Spirit leads us away from the sinister power of the devil to join Christ at the right hand of God. In the Eastern Church, the sign of the Cross is made with the thumb and first two fingers held together, the three fingers together signifying the three persons of the Trinity sharing one nature. In many countries, it is customary to finish the sign of the Cross by folding one’s thumb over the forefinger in the shape of the Cross and kissing it, symbolizing one’s acceptance of the Cross and suffering into our lives as a means to our salvation.

St. Bernadette Soubirous, the visionary at Lourdes, learned how to make the sign of the Cross from our Lady Herself at Lourdes, and made it a point the rest of her life not only to imitate the way Mary made the sign of the Cross, but to teach others how to make it correctly (from the tip of one shoulder to the other, attending to what she did) and correct others for making it badly. She told one sister who hurried through the sign of the Cross, ‘You make the sign of the cross badly. You must see to that, for it is important to make it well…’

The doxology (literally, “saying of glory”) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, is actually a prayer used by the early Church to fight a particular heresy called Arianism. Arius was a 4th century heretic who argued that the Son of God was lesser than God the Father, so while he deserved special honor as the first of all creatures, he was not God. The Church condemned this view and, in order to guard against it ever returning, it began the practice of reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass, which insisted that the Son is “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God; Begotten not made (or created), Consubstantial (sharing the same substance) with the Father.” It also introduced the short prayer which gives glory to each of the persons of the Trinity equally, and insists that they all were glorious “in the beginning” (John 1:1)--implying that all three persons existed in the beginning and therefore were eternal. The phrase “world without end” is frequently used in the New Testament (e.g., in Romans 16:27; Galatians 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 4:11; Revelations 1:6, 18; 14:11; 19:3) and also in the Old (Tobit 13:18; Psalm 84:5); it means, essentially, ‘forever.’

There are lots of prayers in the Church’s liturgy which emphasize the distinctions among the persons of the Trinity--for example, “Through Him (Jesus), with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, for ever and ever”--and some heretics tried to use these differences to argue that the Son and the Holy Spirit were not actually God. So the Church introduced this simple prayer to emphasize the equality of the three persons--all three are God, all three are glorious, and all three are eternal.

The Holy Trinity is a great mystery, beyond our ability to comprehend. But we know that the three persons are distinct, and that they are also one in substance and nature. Glory be to God!

#trinity #creeds #gloria patri #glory be #sign of the cross #St. Bernadette

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infinitefaithposts · 3 years ago

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10/17/2021 Devotional.

Daily Devotional

October 17

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. - James 1:23-25 (KJV)

This verse is comparing our looking in a mirror to see what our face is like, and looking into the Word of God to see what our spirits are like. If you look at your face in a mirror, then do nothing about it, you tend to forget what you saw in the mirror, and how your face looked. The same thing holds true of the spirit, as if you don’t stay in the Word, and continue to renew your mind (Romans 12:2), then you will soon forget what your new spirit is like, if you are born again. The Word of God is Spirit and life (John 6:63), so you must keep in the Word, to be able to walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). James tells us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22), which means we are to do the works that Jesus commanded us to do (John 14:12), which are the works that He did while on the earth in the flesh.

If we will stay in the Word (perfect law of liberty), and put it in our hearts so we won’t forget it, and do the works that Jesus told us to, then we can be assured that we will be blessed in our walk with the Lord. It is important to be a doer of the Word, and not just to know what it says. It is also most important that we be in a close relationship with the Father and Jesus, as He commanded us to be (John 17:3), as that is what Jesus came and died for, to bring us into a close relationship with the Father. We must understand that the sacrifice that Jesus made was not just for us, but it was for the Father, who wanted to fellowship with us again. It was about God, not about us, that the sacrifice was made. Praise God for all the benefits that it gave to us.

Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com

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torreygazette · 6 years ago

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Regarding Partiality

A major theme throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament, is the rejection of partiality. For centuries, the Jewish community relished their status as the chosen people and created ethnic divides without understanding the purpose of Old Testament instruction. During Christ’s life and after His accession the topic was thrust again into the spotlight. But in light of the cross there was a different conclusion—a unanimous decree that there is no room for partiality in the Christian faith (Ephesians 2:15-18).

In the gospel of John we see one of the earliest examples of this in Christ's engagement with the woman at the well:

A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (John 4:7-9)

The lady was shocked that a Jewish man would speak to her. In this encounter, Jesus flies in the face of the cultural norms. This interaction exemplifies the context of the time and reveals how controversial the parable of the Good Samaritan would have been.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus is asked, “who is my neighbor?” In order to answer, He tells the now-familiar story about a man who fell among robbers and was stripped, beaten, and left half dead. A Jewish priest and a Levite walked by and crossed to the other side of the street and continued on their way. Finally, a Samaritan came by and helped the guy. Not only did he bandage the beaten Jew; but he took him to safety and paid for his lodging until he recovered. Ultimately, Jesus ends the parable by asking the questioner a pointed question:

Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)

This parable teaches that partiality based on race (i.e. “the chosen people”) is not okay. Jesus was speaking out against the most confirmed cultural norm. The parable of the Good Samaritan is like the ‘you are the father’ episode of the Maury Show in its level of shock value when viewed in its context.

Another detail revealed by Jesus’s conversation with the lady at the well is that the Samaritan’s believed in the one true God:

“Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” (John 4:12)

Identifying as part of Jacob’s lineage establishes that Samaritans knew about the One true God. And so we see how the teaching against partiality is important even within the body of Christ. There are many believers who do not have it all correct—they are still your brother or sister and should be viewed as full-fledged members in the body of Christ.

The book of James also comments forcefully on the topic of partiality. Unlike the partiality by race, James speaks out against partiality between social classes:

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (James 2:1-4)

This type of partiality is subtly done and typically not thought twice about. An example I recently heard concerns a denominational convention. Each church has to pay for its member to attend which can be costly. This creates a dynamic where only the "haves" can attend and influence the direction of the denomination. (By no means am I saying I have all the answers, but an issue is an issue.)

Another example is the cost of seminary. Are only kids from well-off families called to ministry? The steep cost is essentially an invitation only to the upper middle class to upper class—unless a guy is willing to mortgage his future. These examples do not mirror the examples that James explains, but it is similar. James makes it abundantly clear that preferences based upon money or status are sin and not acceptable in the church. In a capitalistic society, the quest to increase revenue masks the favoritism provided to the wealthy in contrast to other segments of society.

Another type of partiality discussed in Scripture is between the self-perceived pious and a known sinner:

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)

This statement occurs as Jesus is eating at a Pharisee's house. A lady with a questionable track record approached Jesus (Luke 7:36-50) and washed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil and tears. This moment in the life of Jesus shows that the self-righteous and the one struggling are both loved by our Lord. The fact of the matter is that Jesus came for sinners:

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)

Scripture does not argue that rejecting partiality makes obedience unimportant. Rather, from the most pious to the addict struggling, we all need Jesus and there is no partiality in that. To that point, much of the book of Acts is centered on reconciliation and the realization that Jesus is Christ for everyone.

Many people attempt to make the main theme of Acts be things like tongues, healing, or just a history tracing the early church—all of these are themes in the book of Acts—but the major consistent theme throughout the book is reconciliation and removing partiality in the body of Christ. An early example of this is Peter's revelation after God gave him a vision:

“You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.” (Acts 10:28)

Peter’s eyes were opened by God to realize this beautiful truth that had been lost among the brethren—God is the God of all, not just the God of a certain people group. Later in the same chapter, Peter flushes out the premise even more:

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35)

To drill the point home, the Holy Spirit revealed to Peter the purpose of the sign of tongues (displayed three times in the book of Acts). The Apostle Peter does not conclude that the people who have spoken in tongues have a special anointing or that they are temporarily more filled with the Holy Spirit than another believer. No! The Apostle Peter concludes:

And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized. (Acts 10:45-48)

The statement “who can withhold baptism” establishes equality in the body of Christ. After this Peter proclaimed this truth at the first Church Council which affirmed partiality was not to be tolerated. Unlike many Protestant traditions that view baptism as a minor thing or symbol, the historic church viewed it as God literally washing sins away and God applying Christ’s finish works to the person. Therefore, this statement by Peter is no minor thing. It also makes the Apostle Peter being rebuked for partiality a huge thing.

In the book a Galatians, the Apostle Paul rebukes the Apostle Peter for showing partiality to the Jewish believers. One of the most interesting parts of this exchange between the two Apostles is that Paul established that this is a gospel issue:

To them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Gal 2:5)

But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel (Gal 2:14)

As discussed earlier, there was no civility between Samaritans and Jewish people. This attitude was little different towards Gentiles for the most part. To break bread with a Gentile was not acceptable. You couldn't even step into their house. (Even our Lord and Savior referred to a Gentile as a Gentile dog (Matthew 15:25-28)—the people not of Hebrew lineage were viewed as inferior for the most part.)

The examples of partiality being addressed are numerous in the New Testament. Many Christians attempt to ignore the issues of partiality which impact modern society by placing their freedom in Christ against the biblical narrative to seek justice, care for the less fortunate, and fight for oppressed. Instead of just stating how unScriptural this is I’ll provide a Bible passage:

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;

remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes;

cease to do evil,

learn to do good;

seek justice,

correct oppression;

bring justice to the fatherless,

plead the widow’s cause. (Isaiah 1:16-17)

Jesus is the key to salvation, but that does not remove commands for believers. Having no concern for the poor, the helpless, the oppressed is a serious matter:

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. (1 John 4:20-21)

We may disagree on solutions, but partiality that leads to disdain or lack of empathy for our neighbor is not a Christian posture. We are called to love the rich, poor, and middle class. We are called to care about the widows and the orphans. We are called to relieve the oppressed. This is how we are to be salt and light to the world. Showing partiality based on prestige, social status, or ethnicity is not ok. In practice, a person will never be able to address, help, or even be aware of all societal ills in the world. But when one of the ills is at your door you should care. God has placed each of us in certain regions, certain communities, and we can make an impact there.

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory…But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (James 2:1, 9)

Love, Mercy, Peace,

Lex

#Neighbors #Church

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bibleteachingbyolga · 4 years ago

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What if men in the church are more immature and less equipped because we’ve been expecting too little of them? What if we have simply failed to call them to more than sexual purity online and basic spiritual disciplines? I want to be a part of raising up men who, instead of merely avoiding this or that sin, become a force for good — better, a force for God. And I want to be that kind of man, the kind of man my son should imitate.

When the apostle Paul wrote to a younger man, casting vision for what he might become in Christ, he charged him, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). In a previous article, I began recovering this simple but challenging framework as a paradigm for becoming a man of God. In this article, I want to narrow in on speech. What does it mean, more practically, to set an example in what a man says (or doesn’t say)? What about our words sets us apart from other men?

Words really do matter. Jesus himself says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36–37). Every careless word. Men of God learn to trade careless words for thoughtful ones. While many today speak, text, and tweet whatever they think or feel without a second thought, these men weigh the serious weight of what they say. They speak as if God is listening, because he is.

And they know that what they say reveals who they are (Luke 6:45). They tremble over the consequences of sentences. They work to make their words a deeper and fuller well of grace.

Seven Lessons for What We Say

Wanting to set an example with our speech, what kind of example should we set? What does a man of God sound like in the wild?

The letters of Paul say a great deal about what we say, distilled below into seven lessons (a list that is by no means comprehensive). Before we get into the seven, though, one verse in particular might serve as a worthy banner over the rest:

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6)

If we want to set a good example in our speech, we should strive for our words to be a grace to others. Do our words consistently and effectively minister the grace of God to those who hear? Do they lead them to see and savor more of God? “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,” Paul says elsewhere, “but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

To fill out that graciousness, though, Paul gives us a number of specific principles for guarding our mouths and serving others in all we say.

1. Tell the truth about God.

The first and most important lesson for our speech, especially in the context of Paul’s two letters to Timothy, is that we speak what is true about God and his word. The clear and immediate context of 1 Timothy 4:12 is teaching:

Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. (1 Timothy 4:11–13; see also Titus 2:7)

Paul was writing to a young pastor, but this is not a word only for pastors (or aspiring pastors). Every man of God should aspire to know and teach what is true about God. What you believe and say about God is one of the most important things about you. Men who speak well in the world are men who first listen well to God in his word.

Strive to know him as thoroughly and deeply as you can — to meditate on his law day and night (Psalm 1:1–2) — and to bear a faithful witness to others of who he really is. Day after day, arm yourself with “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). Prepare yourself to “make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). And then boldly tell others what God has revealed to you.

2. Tell the truth about everything.

Telling the truth about God, however, ultimately means telling the truth about everything. Christian men are honest men — men of unquestionable integrity. That emphatically does not mean they are always right, but they are manifestly committed to being true.

Having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25; see also Colossians 3:9)

Men of God do not fabricate or repeat lies, and they do not hide or obscure the truth. They take responsibility and accept the consequences, even when it costs them much. And being honest will cost us much.

Typically, we lie to protect or serve ourselves (even if it’s serving ourselves by making someone else happy). Godly men know that honesty, however painful and costly in the moment, honors Christ and loves others. They know that peace and pleasure built on deceit are really treachery. They also know, and have tasted personally, the durable peace and pleasure of Spirit-filled integrity.

3. Build others up with your words.

One thread in Paul’s letters proves to be an especially useful test for our speech: Do I use my words to build others up? The apostle writes,

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. (Ephesians 4:15–16; see also 4:12)

As you think about your conversations over the last week, do you see a pattern of building other believers up? Consider not just the absence of tearing others down — anger, cynicism, gossip, impatience, slander, and so on — but the presence of encouragement. And not just nice compliments, but real encouragement — words that build others’ faith and joy in God (Philippians 1:25). Building is hard work, and so building language is not always comfortable or easy to hear, but it is always constructive and hopeful.

So, “strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12), especially in what you say.

4. Avoid all foolishness and filthiness.

If we do not make a habit of building others up with our words, we may fall into tearing them down — discouraging, wounding, even corrupting them. Again, Ephesians 4:29: “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.” Some words build up, and others corrupt. So what kind of language corrupts?

Paul gives the same charge in greater detail in Colossians 3:8: “Now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” And in Ephesians 5:4: “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place.” Social media is overrun — like that overgrown, weed-infested yard down the street — with these word sins. If we live online long enough, our senses will be dulled and corruption will begin to feel normal, acceptable, even justified. It is not normal, and it does not please God. Setting a godly example in speech often begins with refusing to indulge these temptations — to cut out words that gratify our flesh at the expense of someone else.

5. Be unusually thankful.

Setting an example begins with emptying our speech of corruption, and the best way to force corruption out is to fill our speech with something else. “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (Ephesians 5:4). Do you want your words to radiate grace? Thank God often, and out loud, for everything. Make sure that everyone in your life knows that everything you have is a gift of God (James 1:17). Strive to be unusually, stubbornly, even a little socially awkwardly thankful (Colossians 2:7).

How often do you meet someone who sounds like this? “Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:18–20). How often have you tried to discipline your own mouth into grace-giving, joy-stirring streams like these? How much more often, like me, have you fallen out of thanksgiving into grumbling?

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing,” Paul says elsewhere, “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14–15). This light shines in what we say (or don’t). Ask God to make you radiantly thankful.

6. Correct with gentleness.

Men of God committed to building others up do not always affirm and applaud. They know that building requires vigilance and regular correction, that mistakes along the way can have devastating consequences later on. So, as we build the church, we can’t afford to allow sins, errors, and blind spots to go unchecked and unconfronted. To honor God in our speech, men of God must correct one another. And it is just as important how we correct one another.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). “The Lord’s servant . . . [corrects] his opponents with gentleness” (2 Timothy 2:24–25). He could use his strength, like many other men, to be forceful, harsh, even brutal, but he chooses, instead, to be gentle — even when he has been sinned against. Instead of using his strength to overpower others, he uses his strength to restrain himself in love. He still confronts sin, but he does so with surprising patience and kindness. He knows that “a gentle tongue is a tree of life” (Proverbs 15:4).

Part of pursuing godliness in speech and correcting with gentleness is being committed to making peace. “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10; see also Titus 3:2). “Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus promises, “for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9). In the midst of correction and conflict, even when we have to say a hard word, we should be fighting for peace — not a cheap or superficial peace, but a deep, healthy, enduring peace in the Lord.

7. Leave behind boasting in self.

Another dominant thread in the apostle’s letters seems to be all the more relevant today: Those captured by grace leave behind all boasting in self.

“God chose what is low and despised in the world . . . so that no human being might boast in the presence of God” (1 Corinthians 1:28–29). Men of God are known for building others up, and for being surprisingly quiet about their own abilities, achievements, and ministry. Good men don’t go around reminding people of how good they are. They live by the proverb, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth” (Proverbs 27:2).

Again, in our day, social media factors in significantly here. A social media profile gives us an opportunity to present ourselves however we want. And painfully few of us, when given the choice, show the world who we really are. We choose to highlight what we think makes us look good. We selectively post and comment based on what reflects well on us. In that way, social media easily becomes an education in self-boasting. We learn, through trial and error (and lots and lots of scrolling), what will win affirmation (like) and admiration (follow).

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17). Humble, faithful, joy-filled speech boasts less and less in self and more and more in God.

Lord, Guard Our Mouths

One lesson weaves in and out of the points above that’s worth calling out on its own. Godly men not only know what to say at certain times and in certain situations, but they also know when to say less, or nothing at all. Sometimes faithfulness sounds like silence. As Paul’s fellow apostle James writes, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (James 1:19). Men who speak well are consistently slow to speak, especially in situations where most people would rush to say something.

What makes a wise man slow to speak? He knows the amazing power of his words, for better or for worse. “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness” (James 3:5–6). The wise feel the palpable danger in what they might say. They know how subtly sin creeps in and sets everything (and everyone) on fire. “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19). Prudence makes friends with self-control, patience, and wise silence.

Slowness to speak, however, does not make our speech godly. Yes, we resist saying too much too soon, but we also fill our mouths with words of grace — with honesty, with encouragement, with thankfulness, with whatever will build others up. We set a positive, proactive, gracious example, always asking God to watch over all we say.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (Psalm 141:3)

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steveezekiel · 1 year ago

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WEALTH IS A RESPONSIBILITY

“AND you shall remember the LORD your God, FOR IT IS HE WHO GIVES YOU POWER TO GET WEALTH, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH HIS COVENANT WHICH HE SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS, as it is this day."

Deuteronomy 8:18 (NKJV)