July 14
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” Galatians 5:22.
It is not difficult to trace the source of biblical patience in God's children. I Corinthians 13:4 states, "Love suffers long and is kind."
Patience is directly associated with love and hope. In the "love chapter," Paul lists patience first among love's works (see I Corinthians 13:4).
Romans 5:5 adds that "the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit."
This makes it evident that God's patience stands behind His children's patience as its source and pattern and as a link in a chain. Because the Bible lists it with the fruit of the Spirit, it is less a virtue achieved than a gift received. It comes with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and we reproduce it.
However, since we are beings of free choice, we are still obligated to God to activate it, exercise it, and use it as a witness that God lives in us. To this end, Paul writes,
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ( See Colossians 3:12-13.)
"Put on" is literally a dressing term. Used as an idiom, it can also mean to assume the office, manner, character, disposition, or perspective of another. We must "put on" Christ, meaning we must conduct our lives as closely to the way He would were He in our position.
We are to practice His way of life because it is eternal life—the way God lives His life. It will help prepare us for His Kingdom, and it enables us to glorify Him here and now.
Patience is a vital part of the process that enables God to work over a long span of time, if needed, to produce in us other important aspects of His image so that we "may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing," James 1:4. God is the Source and His Spirit the means of this very valuable fruit. — John W. Ritenbaugh
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Monday, July 13, 2015
Everyone Who Thirsts
July 13
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
(2) Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
(3) Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David. “ Isaiah 55:1-3
Isaiah 55:1-3 contains an appeal, continuing the theme that there is a spiritual food that nourishes the inner man and fills one's life in a way and with an abundance that all of a person's material things cannot.
That God is speaking about His Word is seen in the word "listen," which is directly connected to the phrase "eat what is good." This food is, of course, spiritual, and its source is God.
Interestingly, He says to come and buy, but not with money. This food cannot be purchased with material wealth. All the money in the world cannot purchase it, but it still must be bought. Recall that the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 are advised to go out and buy oil from those who sell in preparation for the coming of the Bridegroom.
The "food" in Isaiah 55 and the "oil" in Matthew 25 can be bought only by means of the dedication and commitment of one's life in submission to Christ. By being a living sacrifice in prayer, study, meditation, and obedience, one becomes energized by the food of God's Word.
In addition, one can "purchase" it only from those appointed by God to "sell" it. It can only be bought from those already converted and provided by God with the gifts to teach it to others. In most cases, this is the ministry of the true church.
Jeremiah 3:15 provides us with clear Old Testament evidence that the principle of feeding the mind with the correct instruction leads to good spiritual health: "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
God clearly states that a mind fed with the right things can produce wisdom, holiness, and happiness. In other words, He promises that those who hear Him will be fed the elements of an abundant life through shepherds who exhibit godly character.
God's Word, if it is believed and practiced, produces a unique perspective of life and a balance that cannot be found through any other means. Nothing that man has produced through philosophy or religion can even come close. These elements of human society have played major roles in producing restless, anxious, violent cultures.
We must choose to secure the best diet for the mind to utilize and assimilate into one's moral and spiritual character, as well as other expressions of personality. The world produces an almost overwhelming amount of spiritual junk food and outright spiritual garbage, and it is within easy reach of any mind anywhere no matter where one lives. — John W. Ritenbaugh
We who know JESUS, the TRUTH who sets men free from sin and leads them to the fullness of life for time and for eternity, must share Him with those who are blinded by the lies that keep men bound to the one who “comes to steal, kill and destroy,” John 10:10.
We who know JESUS must boldly proclaim Him so all the world can be free to bow before Him, knowing that one day, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:9-11.
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
(2) Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
(3) Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The sure mercies of David. “ Isaiah 55:1-3
Isaiah 55:1-3 contains an appeal, continuing the theme that there is a spiritual food that nourishes the inner man and fills one's life in a way and with an abundance that all of a person's material things cannot.
That God is speaking about His Word is seen in the word "listen," which is directly connected to the phrase "eat what is good." This food is, of course, spiritual, and its source is God.
Interestingly, He says to come and buy, but not with money. This food cannot be purchased with material wealth. All the money in the world cannot purchase it, but it still must be bought. Recall that the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 are advised to go out and buy oil from those who sell in preparation for the coming of the Bridegroom.
The "food" in Isaiah 55 and the "oil" in Matthew 25 can be bought only by means of the dedication and commitment of one's life in submission to Christ. By being a living sacrifice in prayer, study, meditation, and obedience, one becomes energized by the food of God's Word.
In addition, one can "purchase" it only from those appointed by God to "sell" it. It can only be bought from those already converted and provided by God with the gifts to teach it to others. In most cases, this is the ministry of the true church.
Jeremiah 3:15 provides us with clear Old Testament evidence that the principle of feeding the mind with the correct instruction leads to good spiritual health: "And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding."
God clearly states that a mind fed with the right things can produce wisdom, holiness, and happiness. In other words, He promises that those who hear Him will be fed the elements of an abundant life through shepherds who exhibit godly character.
God's Word, if it is believed and practiced, produces a unique perspective of life and a balance that cannot be found through any other means. Nothing that man has produced through philosophy or religion can even come close. These elements of human society have played major roles in producing restless, anxious, violent cultures.
We must choose to secure the best diet for the mind to utilize and assimilate into one's moral and spiritual character, as well as other expressions of personality. The world produces an almost overwhelming amount of spiritual junk food and outright spiritual garbage, and it is within easy reach of any mind anywhere no matter where one lives. — John W. Ritenbaugh
We who know JESUS, the TRUTH who sets men free from sin and leads them to the fullness of life for time and for eternity, must share Him with those who are blinded by the lies that keep men bound to the one who “comes to steal, kill and destroy,” John 10:10.
We who know JESUS must boldly proclaim Him so all the world can be free to bow before Him, knowing that one day, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father,” Philippians 2:9-11.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Words of Caution
July 12
WORDS OF CAUTION TO THE LAST DAYS CHURCH
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also." John 15:18-20
“Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me...I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words...neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.
But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious...go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me.
“Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate. He said to me, ‘Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely...speak My truth to My people, even if they will not hear’”-Ezekiel 2:1-3:11.
"…They have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." -Isaiah 5:24
"To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become an object of scorn to them; they have no delight in it." -Jeremiah 6:10
"For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, You must not see visions, And to the prophets, You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions." -Isaiah 30:9-10
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." -II Timothy 4:3-4
Those who have an ear to hear can hear Jesus speaking to His Church now: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
"Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,'and you do not know that you are wretched and poor and blind and naked." -Revelation 3:15-17
Of course, the eternal tragedy is that Jesus also said: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." -Luke 9:26
We are living in sobering times. It is not lost upon us that Christians in the age of Nero were certain he was the antichrist; those who were overrun by the Mongolian hordes under Genghis Kahn were certain the worst evil of the ages had befallen them; many believers had no doubt that Hitler or Stalin fit the description of the evil entity that would be used at the end of times to bring the earth to chaos.
But, none of them ushered in the destruction that would be the final great conflagration on earth. Today it seems again that evil is on the ascendancy and we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ must stand stalwartly against it. We must heed the warnings of scriptures and be sure the Holy Bible will not prove to be wrong in its warnings.
Whether this is the day and the hour when Christ will return or whether He will delay His coming another thousand years, we must purify ourselves so we will be ready for His appearing—whether He comes for all His people in the clouds in great glory or whether He comes for each of us individually—let us be cleansed by His blood from all unrighteousness so we will rejoice at His appearing.
WORDS OF CAUTION TO THE LAST DAYS CHURCH
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also." John 15:18-20
“Son of man, I am sending you to...a rebellious people who have rebelled against Me...I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ As for them, whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words...neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house.
But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious...go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unintelligible speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel, nor to many peoples of unintelligible speech or difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. But I have sent you to them who should listen to you; yet the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, since they are not willing to listen to Me.
“Surely the whole house of Israel is stubborn and obstinate. He said to me, ‘Son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you and listen closely...speak My truth to My people, even if they will not hear’”-Ezekiel 2:1-3:11.
"…They have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." -Isaiah 5:24
"To whom shall I speak and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed and they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the Lord has become an object of scorn to them; they have no delight in it." -Jeremiah 6:10
"For this is a rebellious people, false sons, sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the Lord; who say to the seers, You must not see visions, And to the prophets, You must not prophesy to us what is right, speak to us pleasant words, prophesy illusions." -Isaiah 30:9-10
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." -II Timothy 4:3-4
Those who have an ear to hear can hear Jesus speaking to His Church now: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
"Because you say, 'I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,'and you do not know that you are wretched and poor and blind and naked." -Revelation 3:15-17
Of course, the eternal tragedy is that Jesus also said: "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." -Luke 9:26
We are living in sobering times. It is not lost upon us that Christians in the age of Nero were certain he was the antichrist; those who were overrun by the Mongolian hordes under Genghis Kahn were certain the worst evil of the ages had befallen them; many believers had no doubt that Hitler or Stalin fit the description of the evil entity that would be used at the end of times to bring the earth to chaos.
But, none of them ushered in the destruction that would be the final great conflagration on earth. Today it seems again that evil is on the ascendancy and we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ must stand stalwartly against it. We must heed the warnings of scriptures and be sure the Holy Bible will not prove to be wrong in its warnings.
Whether this is the day and the hour when Christ will return or whether He will delay His coming another thousand years, we must purify ourselves so we will be ready for His appearing—whether He comes for all His people in the clouds in great glory or whether He comes for each of us individually—let us be cleansed by His blood from all unrighteousness so we will rejoice at His appearing.
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Prowling Lions
July 11
Prowling Lions by Dr. Jim Denison
A 22-year-old American tourist made headlines recently when she was killed by a lion in a South African wildlife park. Now the driver of the vehicle has given his account of the tragedy. According to him, the vehicle's windows were up when they entered the park.
He says the woman rolled down her window when they approached a lion, which then mauled her through the open window. He called for an ambulance and tried to stop her bleeding, but she died shortly thereafter. This tragedy is also a parable of our times. It seems that everywhere we turn, lions are lurking.
Consider four examples:
One: deaths from MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) continue to mount in South Korea as schools close, people commute while wearing face masks, and mandatory quarantines take effect. Health officials are especially worried that the virus could mutate to an even more deadly form.
Two: a woman is being treated at the National Institutes of Health for what officials call an "extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis." They are seeking others with whom she may have come in contact while flying from India and inside the United States. Her form of tuberculosis is especially alarming, as it resists medications which treat TB most effectively.
Three: the conflict with Islamic jihadism continues to intensify. Donald Rumsfeld, one of the staunchest defenders of the Iraq War, now says that the goal of creating a democracy in that country was "unrealistic." He continues to defend the decision to eliminate Saddam Hussein, however. He also states that removing former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was a mistake because it destabilized the region.
Four: a new Gallup study reports that a record high percentage of Americans are now accepting of same-sex marriage, having a baby outside of marriage, and premarital sex. Americans are also growing more accepting of polygamy and cloning humans.
In uncertain times like these, a biblical text I read recently seems especially appropriate. God's word in Isaiah 33 was revealed to a nation facing calamity at the hands of Assyria, the superpower which had already destroyed the 10 northern tribes of Israel.
Facing such disaster, the people were assured: "The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness" (v. 5). Further, the prophet promised, "He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge" (v. 6a).
What did they need to do in order to receive such provision and blessing? "The fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure" (v. 6b). When they chose to fear, reverence, and trust God as their "treasure," their faith would become fact.
Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Don't open your window to him. Instead, when you make God "the stability of your times," His strength will be yours. And your witness will show our conflicted and chaotic culture the pathway to true peace.
Prowling Lions by Dr. Jim Denison
A 22-year-old American tourist made headlines recently when she was killed by a lion in a South African wildlife park. Now the driver of the vehicle has given his account of the tragedy. According to him, the vehicle's windows were up when they entered the park.
He says the woman rolled down her window when they approached a lion, which then mauled her through the open window. He called for an ambulance and tried to stop her bleeding, but she died shortly thereafter. This tragedy is also a parable of our times. It seems that everywhere we turn, lions are lurking.
Consider four examples:
One: deaths from MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) continue to mount in South Korea as schools close, people commute while wearing face masks, and mandatory quarantines take effect. Health officials are especially worried that the virus could mutate to an even more deadly form.
Two: a woman is being treated at the National Institutes of Health for what officials call an "extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis." They are seeking others with whom she may have come in contact while flying from India and inside the United States. Her form of tuberculosis is especially alarming, as it resists medications which treat TB most effectively.
Three: the conflict with Islamic jihadism continues to intensify. Donald Rumsfeld, one of the staunchest defenders of the Iraq War, now says that the goal of creating a democracy in that country was "unrealistic." He continues to defend the decision to eliminate Saddam Hussein, however. He also states that removing former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi was a mistake because it destabilized the region.
Four: a new Gallup study reports that a record high percentage of Americans are now accepting of same-sex marriage, having a baby outside of marriage, and premarital sex. Americans are also growing more accepting of polygamy and cloning humans.
In uncertain times like these, a biblical text I read recently seems especially appropriate. God's word in Isaiah 33 was revealed to a nation facing calamity at the hands of Assyria, the superpower which had already destroyed the 10 northern tribes of Israel.
Facing such disaster, the people were assured: "The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high; He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness" (v. 5). Further, the prophet promised, "He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge" (v. 6a).
What did they need to do in order to receive such provision and blessing? "The fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure" (v. 6b). When they chose to fear, reverence, and trust God as their "treasure," their faith would become fact.
Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). Don't open your window to him. Instead, when you make God "the stability of your times," His strength will be yours. And your witness will show our conflicted and chaotic culture the pathway to true peace.
Friday, July 10, 2015
A Time for Everything
July 10
A Time for Everything—Ecclesiastes, Chapter Three
1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Solomon is quite insightful in the preponderance of this passage, but he departs from Biblical truth when he asserts, “the fate of the human is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both; as one dies, so dies the other…humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless…”
If we believe that, we will be like Solomon who began in wisdom and strength and deteriorated to folly and weakness. We will allow the allure of temptation to draw us into various and sundry sins that will overtake us at our weakest point and render us incapable of discerning the best course we may pursue in any given circumstance.
Solomon was given a kingdom and he used it to indulge himself in every way imaginable. What have we been given, and how are we using our gifts? Unless we are able to say that we are using HIS gifts to us to glorify our Savior, we, too are allowing self to be our god and our gifts to be for our own glory.
A Time for Everything—Ecclesiastes, Chapter Three
1 To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.
16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
17 I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.”
18 I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?”
22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?
Solomon is quite insightful in the preponderance of this passage, but he departs from Biblical truth when he asserts, “the fate of the human is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both; as one dies, so dies the other…humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless…”
If we believe that, we will be like Solomon who began in wisdom and strength and deteriorated to folly and weakness. We will allow the allure of temptation to draw us into various and sundry sins that will overtake us at our weakest point and render us incapable of discerning the best course we may pursue in any given circumstance.
Solomon was given a kingdom and he used it to indulge himself in every way imaginable. What have we been given, and how are we using our gifts? Unless we are able to say that we are using HIS gifts to us to glorify our Savior, we, too are allowing self to be our god and our gifts to be for our own glory.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
The Folly of Being Judgmental
June 9
“Have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:4
The apostle James begins chapter two of his epistle by confronting a problem that frequently rears its head in the church, that of respect of persons, also called partiality and discrimination. His entire thought in introducing the subject runs as follows:
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" James 2:1-4
The example he gives is a common one. Human nature tends to be partial to the rich, the well-groomed, the finely appareled—those who make a good outward show of respectability. It is rather selfish of us to pay them so much attention and provide them with favors and upgrades that we would not normally lavish on others.
We do these things because we want something from them, whether it be some future benefit we might receive as gratitude for our obsequious solicitation or merely to be seen with them, ratcheting up our status as a result. Respect of persons is, at its base, all about us.
Of course, it also diminishes those we pass over, essentially telling them, "You are not worthy of my time or favor. Take care of yourself . . . over there . . . where you'll be out of the way."
Such partiality actually turns godly order on its head. Those who are wealthy or powerful or good-looking or talented need no help; they are successful and prove by their success that they can take care of themselves.
The poor and downtrodden, however, are the ones who need our help to give them a hand as they start up the ladder of recovery and eventual success. Human nature perversely offers help and advantage to those who need it least and denies it to those who desperately seek it.
Even so, James' central thrust in this long paragraph (which stretches all the way to verse 13) is that favoritism is wrongful judgment: "have you not . . . become judges with evil thoughts?"
His argument against partiality obviously derives from his half-brother's comments on judging in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that you be not judged," where Jesus goes on to speak about a person's method of judgment of others being used by God to judge him.
Jesus calls the one who judges his brother a hypocrite because he condemns his brother for a minor fault (a speck) while he himself has much a larger sin (a beam) to overcome.
Thus, practicing partiality makes us judge, jury, and executioner of a fellow Christian—not to mention that we poach on one of God's prerogatives, sitting on His throne as judge.
James is speaking about unjustified discrimination. The distinction made between the rich man and the poor man in his example had its basis in purely outward and superficial reasons, and thus the judgment was unsound—or as he puts it, "evil."
As the apostle points out in verse 5, God more often calls the weak of the world to righteousness (see I Corinthians 1:26-29), so the poor man is just as likely—or perhaps even more likely—to be the more devoted of the two believers. This makes James' point that we need to be more thorough in our discernment of people lest we judge them by sight rather than by the reality of who they are.
Our example of this is God Himself. When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel, he saw the strapping older sons of Jesse, thinking, "Surely it must be one of these!" But God saw things differently: "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7).
The "poorest" of the family was chosen, as David was the youngest and smallest, the one that everyone seems to have forgotten about to the point that no one had thought to tell him that Samuel was in town!
Being quite limited in our spiritual perception, we have a hard time seeing things as they really are, so our best course is to treat everyone with humility and kindness, preferring them above ourselves in our interactions with them. — Richard T. Ritenbaugh
“Have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:4
The apostle James begins chapter two of his epistle by confronting a problem that frequently rears its head in the church, that of respect of persons, also called partiality and discrimination. His entire thought in introducing the subject runs as follows:
"My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' or, 'Sit here at my footstool,' have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?" James 2:1-4
The example he gives is a common one. Human nature tends to be partial to the rich, the well-groomed, the finely appareled—those who make a good outward show of respectability. It is rather selfish of us to pay them so much attention and provide them with favors and upgrades that we would not normally lavish on others.
We do these things because we want something from them, whether it be some future benefit we might receive as gratitude for our obsequious solicitation or merely to be seen with them, ratcheting up our status as a result. Respect of persons is, at its base, all about us.
Of course, it also diminishes those we pass over, essentially telling them, "You are not worthy of my time or favor. Take care of yourself . . . over there . . . where you'll be out of the way."
Such partiality actually turns godly order on its head. Those who are wealthy or powerful or good-looking or talented need no help; they are successful and prove by their success that they can take care of themselves.
The poor and downtrodden, however, are the ones who need our help to give them a hand as they start up the ladder of recovery and eventual success. Human nature perversely offers help and advantage to those who need it least and denies it to those who desperately seek it.
Even so, James' central thrust in this long paragraph (which stretches all the way to verse 13) is that favoritism is wrongful judgment: "have you not . . . become judges with evil thoughts?"
His argument against partiality obviously derives from his half-brother's comments on judging in Matthew 7:1, "Judge not, that you be not judged," where Jesus goes on to speak about a person's method of judgment of others being used by God to judge him.
Jesus calls the one who judges his brother a hypocrite because he condemns his brother for a minor fault (a speck) while he himself has much a larger sin (a beam) to overcome.
Thus, practicing partiality makes us judge, jury, and executioner of a fellow Christian—not to mention that we poach on one of God's prerogatives, sitting on His throne as judge.
James is speaking about unjustified discrimination. The distinction made between the rich man and the poor man in his example had its basis in purely outward and superficial reasons, and thus the judgment was unsound—or as he puts it, "evil."
As the apostle points out in verse 5, God more often calls the weak of the world to righteousness (see I Corinthians 1:26-29), so the poor man is just as likely—or perhaps even more likely—to be the more devoted of the two believers. This makes James' point that we need to be more thorough in our discernment of people lest we judge them by sight rather than by the reality of who they are.
Our example of this is God Himself. When the prophet Samuel went to Bethlehem to anoint the next king of Israel, he saw the strapping older sons of Jesse, thinking, "Surely it must be one of these!" But God saw things differently: "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (I Samuel 16:7).
The "poorest" of the family was chosen, as David was the youngest and smallest, the one that everyone seems to have forgotten about to the point that no one had thought to tell him that Samuel was in town!
Being quite limited in our spiritual perception, we have a hard time seeing things as they really are, so our best course is to treat everyone with humility and kindness, preferring them above ourselves in our interactions with them. — Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Being a Misfit
July 8
Excerpted from BEING A MISFIT by Mark Casto
Being a misfit isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being shunned by the world can actually be a blessing in disguise. It provides one with the time and the elbow room to grow.
Being banished to tend the sheep can be a great teacher of self-reliance, of how to think on your feet and lead others in a way that compels them to willingly follow. The solitude of a shepherd can offer one the freedom to practice an instrument, compose words and music, and learn the effective harmony of placing a smooth stone into a leather sling.
If David had been accepted as part of the family, he would have been pampered as a favored child instead of tempered by his battles with the animal predators in his pastures. Only by living as an outsider did he learn to depend on himself and the still, small voice of God within. Throughout his year among the sheep, that voice was his only genuine companion, his guide to greatness.
And it was that same voice that whispered to Samuel each time he lifted his horn of oil to anoint, another of Jesse's sons king, "No, not this one."
By the time the prophet reached the seventh son, the room was tense, an emotional mix of anticipation, disappointment, and true bewilderment. No matter how high or how forcefully Samuel gripped his horn of oil, none of the contents escaped, not even a trickle. The prophet knew that he had been sent to Jesse's house to anoint the next king. Of this he was certain. But having vetted all the available candidates kneeling before him, none stood out of the crowd.
"The Lord has not chosen these," the prophet finally announced, turning to Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
Jesse paused. Recalling his lifelong dream of an unquestioned ancestry, his hope of a legitimate son who would make everything right, and the deceptive switch that seemingly turned his plans to dust, the old man sighed. With a hint of embarrassment he pointed off toward the fields and mumbled, "There is the youngest. He is tending the sheep."
Samuel's face brightened— " Send for him. We will not sit down until he arrives."
When young David eventually walked into the large gathering, he was met by angry stares. But in the eyes of the only one whose opinion mattered, the boy was viewed differently. Recalling this pivotal moment, the Scriptures record that the boy was "glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, 'Rise and anoint him; this is the one,'" 1 Samuel 16:12.
To everyone's surprise, the oil spilled out of the horn like a waterfall, cascading over the boy's head, through his hair, and onto his shoulders. And as the thick, rich liquid dried, I imagine it flickered gold in the candlelight forming a kind of crown on the shepherd's head.
"And from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David," 1 Sam. 16:13.
Being a misfit isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being "discarded" can actually be the catalyst that reshapes the unwanted into the very one chosen to reshape the world.
It can turn an outsider like John the Baptist into "the greatest among those born of women" (see Luke 7:27, 28) and transform a family reject, put out to pasture, into a shepherd king chosen to lead the twelve united flocks of his own tribe.
If the wilderness John experienced is familiar to you, if you can relate to the years of rejection David endured, then you're not alone in feeling alone. Everyone who has ever accomplished anything has suffered through the growing pains of anonymity.
Both John and David used their "alone time," their separation from the world, to develop not only their uniquely personal gifts but to also strengthen their connections to the One who gave them both their design and their purpose.
Each in his own way used his solitary days as a kind of prayer closet. And though neither understood his future fully, what they did in their obscurity prepared them for their public roles.
Whether your alone time is in your private prayer closet or in the pasture you've been banished to, it is this personal private time with the Creator that will prepare you for your eventual premiere.
So make time for God. He literally created time for you.
At the moment no one may know your name or how amazing you are with your slingshot, but by no means are you forgotten. The Creator knew you before your birth. In fact, like David, God made sure you were born because your brand of greatness was tailored for the here and now.
Yes, there is a plan designed just for you. You are indeed called. But it's up to you to accept your assignment to go through the obscurity that leads to maturity. If you will simply choose to be chosen you won't be a misfit for long, because nothing fits like the crown made for you.
Excerpted from BEING A MISFIT by Mark Casto
Being a misfit isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being shunned by the world can actually be a blessing in disguise. It provides one with the time and the elbow room to grow.
Being banished to tend the sheep can be a great teacher of self-reliance, of how to think on your feet and lead others in a way that compels them to willingly follow. The solitude of a shepherd can offer one the freedom to practice an instrument, compose words and music, and learn the effective harmony of placing a smooth stone into a leather sling.
If David had been accepted as part of the family, he would have been pampered as a favored child instead of tempered by his battles with the animal predators in his pastures. Only by living as an outsider did he learn to depend on himself and the still, small voice of God within. Throughout his year among the sheep, that voice was his only genuine companion, his guide to greatness.
And it was that same voice that whispered to Samuel each time he lifted his horn of oil to anoint, another of Jesse's sons king, "No, not this one."
By the time the prophet reached the seventh son, the room was tense, an emotional mix of anticipation, disappointment, and true bewilderment. No matter how high or how forcefully Samuel gripped his horn of oil, none of the contents escaped, not even a trickle. The prophet knew that he had been sent to Jesse's house to anoint the next king. Of this he was certain. But having vetted all the available candidates kneeling before him, none stood out of the crowd.
"The Lord has not chosen these," the prophet finally announced, turning to Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
Jesse paused. Recalling his lifelong dream of an unquestioned ancestry, his hope of a legitimate son who would make everything right, and the deceptive switch that seemingly turned his plans to dust, the old man sighed. With a hint of embarrassment he pointed off toward the fields and mumbled, "There is the youngest. He is tending the sheep."
Samuel's face brightened— " Send for him. We will not sit down until he arrives."
When young David eventually walked into the large gathering, he was met by angry stares. But in the eyes of the only one whose opinion mattered, the boy was viewed differently. Recalling this pivotal moment, the Scriptures record that the boy was "glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.
Then the Lord said, 'Rise and anoint him; this is the one,'" 1 Samuel 16:12.
To everyone's surprise, the oil spilled out of the horn like a waterfall, cascading over the boy's head, through his hair, and onto his shoulders. And as the thick, rich liquid dried, I imagine it flickered gold in the candlelight forming a kind of crown on the shepherd's head.
"And from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David," 1 Sam. 16:13.
Being a misfit isn't necessarily a bad thing. Being "discarded" can actually be the catalyst that reshapes the unwanted into the very one chosen to reshape the world.
It can turn an outsider like John the Baptist into "the greatest among those born of women" (see Luke 7:27, 28) and transform a family reject, put out to pasture, into a shepherd king chosen to lead the twelve united flocks of his own tribe.
If the wilderness John experienced is familiar to you, if you can relate to the years of rejection David endured, then you're not alone in feeling alone. Everyone who has ever accomplished anything has suffered through the growing pains of anonymity.
Both John and David used their "alone time," their separation from the world, to develop not only their uniquely personal gifts but to also strengthen their connections to the One who gave them both their design and their purpose.
Each in his own way used his solitary days as a kind of prayer closet. And though neither understood his future fully, what they did in their obscurity prepared them for their public roles.
Whether your alone time is in your private prayer closet or in the pasture you've been banished to, it is this personal private time with the Creator that will prepare you for your eventual premiere.
So make time for God. He literally created time for you.
At the moment no one may know your name or how amazing you are with your slingshot, but by no means are you forgotten. The Creator knew you before your birth. In fact, like David, God made sure you were born because your brand of greatness was tailored for the here and now.
Yes, there is a plan designed just for you. You are indeed called. But it's up to you to accept your assignment to go through the obscurity that leads to maturity. If you will simply choose to be chosen you won't be a misfit for long, because nothing fits like the crown made for you.
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