Walking in a certain manner.
BQ: This one is especially for me today, and if you know me, you'll know why. Remember how I've talked about proclivities for certain things? Well this is the one I have to wage war with perhaps more than any other. It's good to know the truth, but how does God require us to walk with it?
A: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) I sometimes have a little too much Teddy Roosevelt in me, and I want to be a member of the Rough Riders, slaughtering people instead of trying to rescue them. When you have the truth, it's tempting to use it as a big stick, a magnificent club of sorts. Perhaps, as a man in Billings likes to say, pulling out our axe and your two .38s and blasting away. (Acts 2:38)
Yet God tells us to walk humbly with Him. When we have the truth, we need to use it in love, or no one we encounter is going to want it. James 1:26 is right, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless."
(PN228)
Humble.
BQ: What was one big problem with the Pharisees' attitudes that we need to watch out for ourselves? And yep, you should get this one if you read yesterday's. (Or if you've read the Bible.)
A: Jesus once told a parable starting with, “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” (Luke 18:9). In the parable, a Pharisee “stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess’” (Luke 18:11-12). However, in verse 13, a tax collector, “standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’”
In verse 14, Jesus notes that the tax collector was the one who returned to his home justified, “for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” This is much the same as the time when Jesus noted that some who were invited to a wedding feast would choose the best places to sit. He instructed them to instead seek the low places and allow others to exalt them, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:7-11.) Let's watch out attitudes and not be self-righteous.
(PN229)
Enduring vs unconditional.
BQ: Psalm 136:1 talks of God's love saying, "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." This is a great verse, but there is one thing that it doesn't say that sometimes we insert in there. Do you know what that is?
A: Often people mistake enduring love for unconditional love. However, Romans 11:22 says, "Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off." Jesus went out to those who were most despised among the people, and He loved them, but He also expected change. "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death." (2 Cor 7:10)
Sometimes churches are unwilling to admit that people need to change their behavior, and they instead say that patting people on the back is the only loving thing to do. As we can see above, that's not true. We need to encourage Godly change within people.
(PN226)
{C}
{C}
You offend them.
BQ: "I don't want to offend him/her/them." It is a great thing to avoid offending people! The bridges we burn should not light our way, and honey catches more flies than vinegar. (Note: don't think of people as flies.) I really NEED to learn how to reach people rather than repulse them, but will we sometimes offend people through love?
A: In Mt 15:12, we see that even Jesus, loving enough to die for those who despised Him, offended people: "Then the disciples...said to Him, 'Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?''
Some people want to have their ears tickled. Isaiah 30:10 relays that the people demanded that the prophets 'Speak to us pleasant words.' We can't be like those people, and we cannot soften God's words to make others feel better. We can control the attitude of our delivery so that we 'speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15),' but sometimes we must realize that love 'reproves and rebukes.' (2 Tim 4.2)
It is better to temporarily offend someone by pointing out LOVINGLY that they're consuming poison than to pat them on the back while they suck it down.
(PN195)
An Inconvenient Truth: God’s Scale of Hate
BQ: Lots of time we think about our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ (and indeed everyone) on a scale like this: Hate---Dislike---Tolerate---Apathy---Acquainted---Like---Love. From this scale, we can say, "Well I don't hate them, so God's happy with how I'm treating them!"
Q: What scale does God give us?
A: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one 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, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.(1 Jn 4:7-8; 20-21)
Jesus gave this commandment in John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
God doesn't have a scale like we want. Instead, He uses the following: Hate---Love. There is no middle ground. Period. If you do not love your brother, you CANNOT love God. And you must love. Not tolerate. Not dislike-but-not-hate. Love. If you have any brothers or sisters that you have an issue with, do you show them love? Or do you give them a cold shoulder? Try to pretend they don't exist?
God makes it clear: His scale requires love. Let's make it happen.
(PN162)
A quick temper!
BQ: Every now and then, I want to give a good verbal scimitar to those who deal unfairly with me, and I think this is fairly common in humanity.
Q: What does the Bible say about controlling our temper?
A: A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of evil devices is hated. A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. Like a city that is broken into and without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit." (Pro 14:17; 15:1; 25:28)
James goes on to say, "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger." (Jms 1:19) This is incredibly true, but often had to master. The great thing, however, is that our reputation grows greater as we do control ourselves, and it does us no harm to treat others with dignity when they themselves show none.
(PN179)
{C}
{C}
A change in the standard of love.
BQ: There has been a shift in thinking with the coming of the new covenant. Leviticus 19:18 says, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord."
Q: What is the slight shift we see in the new testament in regards to this?
A: Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34)
The standard changed. "Love your neighbor AS YOURSELF" became love one another "as I have loved you." The focus shifted from that of ourselves to the ultimate sacrificial love of Jesus. What a great standard!
(PN163)
{C}
{C}
Ruining much good.
BQ: Sometimes people who use them term Christian to describe themselves can become quite vicious, even with each other.
Q: Is it ok to be sarcastic and obnoxious when you're right about a topic, as long as the person you're talking with is being a jerk?
A: "Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good." (Ecc 9:18)
"Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing." (1 Pet 3:9)
"In speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe." (1 Tim 4:12)
It's tempting to retaliate, but that just makes Christ look bad. Instead, speak the truth in love, stick with the Scriptures, and don't let yourself be pulled down to the level of anger, so that your work isn't destroyed.
(PN140)
Softly spoken.
BQ: A bad habit of mine is answering and speaking critically or angrily.
Q: You meet someone who has a lot of flaws. He/she has minimal progress. They ask you questions about religion. How should we not answer?
A: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger." (Pro 15:1)
"Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." (Eph 4:15)
"Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel." (Pro: 20:3)
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Mt 7:12 )
If you're like me, it's tempting to be critical. Don't! Jesus, when encountering an adulteress, said, "And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." (Jn 8:11) Let's speak the truth in love. The truth might be stark, but we can be loving. :)
(PN120)
How to feel about captives of Satan.
BQ: All Christians hate sinners and pretty much think they should be stoned, or at least beaten with wet phonebooks. J/k. Some think that, but what does God command?
Q: What does the New Will tell us concerning love and those who are captive to Satan and/or hate us?
A: Mt 5:44-45, Jn 3:16-18, Rom 12:20-21, Acts 7:59-60, Pro 25:21-22
Jesus died so even those who killed Him might live. As Stephen was being stoned for showing love, he said, dying, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin."
Saliently, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven." Let's have love and hope for everyone.
(PN21)
{C}
{C}
How are you known to be a family?
BQ: People show up to church, talk to a few people they know and then they go home. Now it's time to be with their real friends.
Q: By what are we known to be disciples of Christ in regards to our love?
A: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) “Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:8) "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts." (Acts 2:46).
Christianity is not about being friends with the world, it's about being ambassadors to it.(2 Cor 5:20, Eph 6;20) Friendship with the world is hostility to God, period. (Jms 4:4). Christianity is about showing active love, getting to know everyone in the congregation, devoting our time to one another. It's not a a casual affair. It's a recognition that our spiritual family is our real family; we should know them as well as our biological family.
How do you show your love of your family in Christ? Are you a friend of the world, or a friend of your family? Will God recognize you as a disciple? Let's work on this! :)
(PN93)
{C}
{C}
The fire and brimstone attitude.
BQ: Sometimes people are pretty bad, and instead of wanting to see them become good people, we'd rather see them "get their just desserts," so to speak.
Q: Who in the Bible exemplified the above, and what might be surprising about the evil people?
A: “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish! (Jon 1:2) Why did Jonah flee from telling the wicked city t repent?
"But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord and said, “Please Lord, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.” The Lord said, “Do you have good reason to be angry?” (Jonah 4:1-4)
You see, in (Jon 3: 5;10), we read that, "Then the people of Nineveh believed in God... When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it."
This is a good look at human nature. Firstly, those who are wicked and even seemingly the most wicked—perhaps those who have done us wrong—can change. And our desire needs to be to see all people become as family, not to see them "get what's coming to them." Secondly, and to Jonah's credit, he KNEW that they could change! Let's couple that with love. Let's seek to save everyone, not just those we like. :)
(PN127)