Paul's Word to the Church in Colosse (1)

“My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving”   (Colossians 2:6,7 MSG).

   Paul’s writing to the Colossians is filled with advice, no, not advice, but instructions on how to live their best life in Jesus Christ.  In the passage above, he tells them that they already know what to do—just go ahead living it.  It’s easy to read his joy and confidence in them.  I enjoy the Message translation of the middle of the Scripture above: “You know your way around the faith.  Now do what you’ve been taught.”  Pretty straight forward, isn’t Paul?  Practice, no, live what you’ve learned.  It’s time to get out of the classroom and live the way you’ve been taught, and do it while giving thanks to God.

   He’s telling them that they learned about Jesus and how He lived.   All they have to do is do what He did.   And, through the centuries, that message comes down to us.  “Live the way Jesus did.”  So how does that fit into my daily life?  First of all, forgive.  Jesus said to forgive “490” times, which means live to forgive, no matter what.   Jesus even forgave those who cried out for and caused His death.  Wow!  That’s a lot of forgiveness.  I don’t know that I can go that far, but I can forgive the person who has been cutting me down at work, the person who speaks lies about me to my neighbors, the person who dented my car, the person who stole my bicycle.   The word from Jesus is “forgive” period.   It’s a difficult task, but we are expected to try.  

   After we have done all that forgiving, we are supposed to do it with thankfulness—thankfulness for what?  First of all, thankfulness that Jesus has paid our debt for sin.  Second, might I suggest thankfulness for the beautiful world that God has created for us.  Third, how about being thankful for our church and our friends who support us through our problems.  Fourth, we need to be thankful for our families, and we need to let them know that we are thankful for them.  But overriding all--most important--we need to be thankful for and to God our Father. 

   The word, “love” is not used in the Scripture passage above, but it is implied throughout the passage, and  we cannot live “Christ” without living in love.  

Am I  Waiting Patiently?

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Romans 8:25 NIV).

   “I don’t know what subject to write about.  I need to know it soon.  Deadline is coming up.  Please, Lord, give me a topic now.  Wait a minute, that’s it.  I need to write about patience.”

   That’s a conversation I had with myself today while I was searching for a suitable topic for today’s blog.  I wasn’t being very patient.  In fact, I was being a little bit snippy.  Lord, I’m sorry.  You have never left me in the lurch.  

   I should have realized that this was the topic today when I went shopping at Costco.   Not many checkout lines were open, and I wound up in a line that stood still while the other ones moved right along.   Several people left the line in front of me and I wound up behind a lady with a full shopping cart.  Guess what?  She had three separate orders in her cart.  On the way home I changed lanes so I would be ready to get into the left turn lane.  No sooner had I gotten into the lane when it slowed dramatically and finally stopped far from the traffic signal.

   I should have known by this time that I should study patience because in none of these instances was I very patient.  I also have something very important that I need to decide, but I have to wait until I know some things that I don’t yet know, and it looks like it will be a while before I find out the necessary information.  I guess I’m in a good place to learn about patience.

   I’ve always said that patience is a virtue, which makes me wonder how virtuous I am--not very on my own, but I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  1 Corinthians 13:4 is the beginning of a long list of attributes of love:  “Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud” (NIV).  It is interesting that patience is the first attribute listed about love.  So if I am going to love, I must be patient.  Ephesians 4:2 reiterates the importance of patience:  “Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with one another in love” (NIV).   

   Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6,7:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV).  That tells we what I should do about the important decision that I need to make—pray, and God will give me peace.  I will have peace because He will answer my prayers and petitions.

   In all of these situations, even the little ones, I need to remember the words of Jeremiah 29:11:  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (NIV).  I can’t say that I have learned to be patient at all times, but I have learned that I need to be patient at all times if I want to have the peace of God, and if I want to treat others as I am expected by my Savior to do. 

  

How Shall I Live?

“Summing up:  Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.  That goes for all of you, no exceptions.  No retaliation.  No sharp-tongued sarcasm.  Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless.  You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.”  (1 Peter 3:8,9  MSG)

That’s quite a list of adjectives to be applied to our lives—agreeable, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble.  And he doesn’t let anybody off the hook:  “That goes for all of you.  No exceptions.”  We are not even to speak back. “No retaliation.  No sharp-tongued sarcasm.”  But what are we to do?  Well he tells us that, also—“Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless.”

   What does Peter expect us to do, be like Jesus?  Yes, he does.  If we are to be most successful in spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ and salvation, we need to emulate Him.  I looked at that, I read that verse again, and I said with all of my heart, “Thank you, Lord, for forgiveness.  I can work toward that, but I’m sure I will fail many times.”  I can strive to be like that.  I can set that as my goal each day, and some days I will do better than other days.  Every morning, I can pray that the Lord will lead me in such a manner that I will reflect His love for all of mankind.  

   The world will certainly react to anyone who emulates Jesus Christ, some with anger and some with acceptance.  That’s the way they reacted to Jesus, and Jesus told His disciples in John 15:18,20b:   “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first….If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.   If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”  (NIV)  Jesus did not quit speaking because some people hated Him; He kept on because some people loved Him and obeyed what He said.  That’s what he expects of us.  He didn’t say it would be easy.  But He did say that it would bring glory to both Him and the Father and would usher others into His eternal kingdom. 

   Though I fail at times, I will strive to reflect the love of Jesus Christ to all that I meet.  In Romans 12:18 we are told, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (NIV)  “AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON ME…” 

HowClean Is my House?

“So clean house!  Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk.  You’ve had a taste of God.  Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness.   Then you’ll grow up pure and whole in God.”  (I Peter 2:1-3  MSG)

   Peter has given us a goal—“grow up pure and whole in God.”  And he tells us how to do it—“clean house!”  There are parts of our daily lives as immature Christians--malice, pretense, envy and hurtful words--that need to disappear from our conversation and our thoughts.  If we can keep them out of our thoughts, they will, most likely, not appear in our conversation.  We’ve had a taste of God and understand that these are attitudes that we should not have in our hearts.  When we “drink deep of God’s pure kindness,” we see God’s kindness to us.  He doesn’t speak poorly of us, instead He speaks of us as His beloved children.

   The Amplified Bible translation of Ephesians 5:1,2 says, “Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their fathers]; and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” This Scripture tells us how He feels about us and also tells us what He expects of us.  He expects us to follow His lead and show empathy and compassion for others.  If and when we do that we have made a “clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk,” and we are growing up in God.

   When we listen to the conversation around us in the day-to-day world we hear constant criticism of and malice toward those with whom we disagree.  Hurtful talk has become the language of the land.  If it is ever to stop, we have to stop it in ourselves first.  It is so commonplace today that we are sucked right into using hurtful talk in our normal conversation.  I can disagree with someone without using cutting comments.   A cut is a wound that usually bleeds.   Do I want my speech to be the kind that causes someone to bleed?  That’s stating it crudely, but it does make a point.  I don’t ever want to do that, so, Lord, please help me to be careful of my language, and help me to walk in love even for those with whom I disagree

The Lord Takes Care of His Own (3)

“God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord”  (1 Corinthians 1:9 NLT).

Peter

Let’s follow Peter on his journey through the four steps of following Jesus Christ. 

(Reminder of the four steps: Step one—called by God; Step two—answer the call and begin working in the calling; Step three—mess up; Step four—be forgiven and reinstated in the work God called you for.)  

Peter, whose original name was Simon, was a fisherman.  One day Jesus walked up to the boat and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19 KJV)  Peter and his brother, Andrew left their nets, walked away from them and followed Jesus.  It seems like step one and step two occurred in quick succession.  Peter and Andrew spent the next three and a half years with Jesus, practically 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  Jesus began stretching Peter right away.  It took some stretching to lay down the work he had been doing, fishing, and following a man he didn’t know.  Peter became the one who answered when Jesus asked whom men said that He was and finally, “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  He had come a long way from the fishing boat.

   Peter left with the Lord the moment he was called—immediate decision and obedience.   He was with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He was trusted to make the arrangement for the Last  Supper.  He touched people, and they were healed.  He walked on the water.  He heard the Sermon on the Mount first hand.  He ate the same food as the 5000 and the 4000.  Peter was there for all of it.  He seems to have been walking very well in step two--following Jesus wherever He went.

   At the Last Supper Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”   But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’  Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’” (Luke 22:31-34 NIV)  

   Later that same day, when Jesus was arrested and taken to Caiphas’ house for questioning, Peter followed.   Peter joined others gathered in the courtyard of Caiphas’ house.  And then, at that spot and time, Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus, the one he said he would defend to the death.  The rooster crowed, and it is told that Peter cried bitter tears.   Peter had, indeed, sunk deeply into step three.  He did what he said he would never do—deny that he knew Jesus.  It’s hard to imagine Peter’s feelings for the next three days.   

   Jesus appeared to His disciples the day of His resurrection, but evidently, He did not speak personally with Peter.  Peter may well have been hesitant to approach Jesus because of what He had done.  He was stuck in step three.

   Several days later some of the disciples went fishing.  They hadn’t caught a thing when Jesus called from the shore asking whether they had caught any fish.  They didn’t recognize Him and told Him, “No.”  He told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat.  The catch was miraculous.  They then recognized Jesus and Peter couldn’t wait for the boat to come to shore to see Jesus—he jumped out and swam to shore.  

   When Jesus was with the assembled disciples again, Jesus took Peter aside to talk with him.   John 21:15-17 records the words of their conversation:  “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter. ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’  ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘You know that I love you,’  Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’  Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’  He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’  Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’  The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’  He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’  Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”  (NIV)  Peter had denied Jesus three times, and Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him.   I believe that this was Jesus leading Peter from step three into step four—forgiving him and letting him know that Jesus still counted on Peter to complete his task.  Peter knew then that he was forgiven and that Jesus still had His plans for Peter in place.

   Perhaps you have been called by the Lord several times in your life to complete some task for Him, and you have accepted.  Not all tasks are long term.  Some may be as short as giving an encouraging word to someone who needs it.  Perhaps you have made a mistake while serving the Lord.   If so, you can be glad that God still uses that four step process that he used with Abraham, David, and Peter.   As one who has gone through this four step process several times, I can confidently say that God is forgiving . He is faithful to restore you to His good graces, and  faithful to call you again, maybe even today.  Ask Him about it, and listen for His Word or His nudge.    Many times His call to me has been as common place as: “Mike is discouraged.  He needs to hear a word of encouragement.  Talk to him.”