Let's Fight!

People apparently love to fight! Conflict is as common as dirt, everywhere – among neighbors, between nations, within families. The sad tale of the legendary feud between the Hatfields of West Virginia and the McCoys of Kentucky is an extreme example. Over the years at least 13 people died, supposedly over a stolen pig and a forbidden love.  

When Christians fight, splitting churches, breaking relationship, it is a double tragedy – a disgrace to the Name of Christ and a loss of community.  And, it should never be allowed to happen. But, it does. Paul, inspired by the Spirit, teaches us a different way. "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:12-14, NIV)  

The first reason for Christian unity is the fact that we no longer belong to ourselves, we are “God’s chosen people.” Our personal desires and agendas are to be eclipsed by His purposes. Might we disagree about what He wants from us? Yes, but if we recognize that His Church is greater than our plans, we will refuse to go on the attack. It goes beyond that. We are to make a conscious choice to continue in active relationship with people with whom we disagree. “Clothe yourselves,” the Word says, with those qualities that keep the peace. What are they?

Compassion! That is the willingness to enter into the emotion and experience of the other person, literally willing to feel what they feel.

Kindness! What a beautiful thing. When we are hurting, angered by another, instead of baring our claws, we choose to care and to elevate the other person’s interest over our own.

Humility! Yes, conflict cannot survive when we honestly admit to ourselves, “I don’t have all the answers, don’t see all the issues involved, and could learn from the other person.”

Gentleness! The world in which we live toughens us up, encourages us to develop a hard shell. God invites us to secure ourselves in Him, so we can lower our defenses.

Patience! Oh this is a tough one. We want our way, now.  It takes real faith to give God time to work in the hearts and minds of those with whom we are in disagreement.

The big issue in resolving conflict is forgiveness. Who is our model? God, Himself. “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” His forgiveness is complete, removing every trace of the offense. What a wonderful gift it is. When we offer to hand whatever debt we may feel the other person owes us to God, when we release our need to be vindicated and actively pursue relationship, something miraculous happens. Unity flourishes.

Jesus said that the singular mark of His followers would be their love for one another. Our ongoing feuds makes the Church weak and often ineffectual. Our refusal to let God’s love own our hearts, shape our actions, and keep us together in the family of God a barrier to faith in others.  As an insider, I can say that Christians can, and often do, feud with each other on a level with the Hatfields and McCoys.  How this must break the heart of God. But, where there is genuine love, not the fake sentimentality, syrupy insincerity we spread on the surface; the work of the Lord will become a powerful force for good, the church making a measurable difference for the Kingdom of God.

My prayer is that He will teach me to love deeply, for His Name’s sake. How about you?

The word from the Word says "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35, NLT)

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Stand In Your Love
(we love because He first loved)

When darkness tries to roll over my bones

When sorrow comes to steal the joy I own

When brokenness and pain is all I know

I won't be shaken I won't be shaken

My fear doesn't stand a chance

When I stand in Your love

Shame no longer has a place to hide

I am not a captive to the lies

I'm not afraid to leave my past behind

I won't be shaken I won't be shaken

There's power that can break off every chain

There's power that can empty out a grave

There's resurrection power that can save

There's power in Your name power in Your name

Standing in Your love

Ethan Hulse | Josh Baldwin | Mark Harris | Rita Springer

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Half Measures?

To work with a person who is ‘all in,’ unwilling to settle for half-measures, is a joy. You never have to wonder what is hidden, what they are doing when no one else is around, or if they will actually complete their assigned tasks. It’s been my experience that those who choose to be fully engaged  – be it at home, at work, or in their Christian experience – are those who are most deeply satisfied. They put in the effort and reap the reward.

On this Monday morning, God invites us to know a complete kind of Christian life, deeply satisfying and effective, available only because of His gift to us.  Paul writes that "in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." (Colossians 2:9-10, NIV)  Let’s put that another way -  “God’s completeness is revealed in Jesus and because of Him we can know the richest life possible;  no longer victims; we are victors!”  The realization of that promise eludes those who do not trust Him without reservation, who attempt to hold onto Self while professing faith in Christ Jesus.

The Colossians were settling for half-measures of religiosity, trying to find a relationship with God through their own efforts. Some of their teachers were misrepresenting Jesus as less than God, making Him a spiritual teacher and/or a moral model. Paul warns them (and us!) about this. "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." (Colossians 2:8, NIV)  If we make our “Christianity” about observing holy days, keeping moral codes, or having the right kind of philosophy of life we miss the complete message that richly resources for to live joyfully, freely, and fully.  “I want to know Christ!” How about you?

How do we ‘know Him?’  Through faith that is expressed in devotion and obedience. Paul warns about substituting rituals and symbols for living faith. He refers to the Jewish “initiation” rite of circumcision and says that Christ went beyond making a mark on our physical body, cutting away the ‘sinful nature’ enabling us to be loving and whole people who please our Father. "When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead." (Colossians 2:11-12, NLT)  Do you believe that? Are you living in full faith? Or are you content with half-measures of external rules that leave your heart unmoved? That kind of Christianity leaves only regret, frustration, and an empty heart.

Paul’s words become strong as he urges us to go ‘all in’ in faith. Trying to keep rules others write for us in an attempt to find peace with God is a fool’s errand. "So don’t put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ." (Colossians 2:16-17, The Message) … "So, then, if with Christ you’ve put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? “Don’t touch this! Don’t taste that! Don’t go near this!” Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they’re just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important." (Colossians 2:20-23, The Message)

Our hope, our peace, our power is found in Christ Jesus. Do you trust Him? Do you love Him? He is the source of ‘fullness!’

Today’s word from the Word points to the true source. My prayer is that the Spirit will make Him known to you, completely.

"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:1-3, NLT)  

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The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness

I dare not trust the sweetest frame

But wholly lean on Jesus' name

On Christ the solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

All other ground is sinking sand

When darkness seems to hide His face

I rest on His unchanging grace

In ev’ry high and stormy gale

My anchor holds within the veil

His oath His covenant His blood

Support me in the whelming flood

When all around my soul gives way

He then is all my hope and stay

When He shall come with trumpet sound

O may I then in Him be found

Dressed in His righteousness alone

Faultless to stand before the throne

Edward Mote

© Words: Public Domain

Heaven, Home

The message about yet another death in our family this morning brought new grief. But, I am not without hope because I have the hope of eternity.

What awaits us? What is this hope of which we speak?

Heaven! 

Isaiah caught a glimpse of Heaven and it changed his life.  When the Lord allowed him to see the wonders of the Throne Room of God and the angels that worship God perpetually, he was overcome by the realization of his sinfulness and cried, "I am doomed because I am a filthy man!" (Isaiah 6)  And, in response to his confession, God made him clean, fit for holy service.  

               

Paul tells of being lifted up to Heaven, seeing visions that were too holy to describe.  Those visions sustained his faith through a life of unbelievable difficulties in his ministry and near the end of his earthly journey allowed him to face his pending execution with this hope:  "now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return." (2 Timothy 4:8, NLT)

               

John, in that book of unveiling, The Revelation, tries to describe other worldly visions with this world's language.  He gives us language that shapes Heaven for most Believers, including such ideas as

streets of gold, gates of pearl, and streams of pure water.   Who can really fully understand all that John means with statements like these? God "took me away in the Spirit to an enormous, high mountain and showed me Holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God, resplendent in the bright glory of God. The City shimmered like a precious gem, light-filled, pulsing light.  ... The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl. The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass." (Revelation 21:10-11, 21 The Message)

There is much for us to anticipate as we ponder the quick glimpses of that beautiful City of God that we find in the Bible. But the most glorious, the most wonderful truth, is in the promise: "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4, NIV)

When we are welcomed home, the gaps in our knowledge will close, the distance in our love will be gone. Yes, we will know Him fully. Oh, what joy!  In that holy place, the pain and troubles will be gone, an almost impossible dream, for us. Jesus will dry our tears and take away every regret, remove the possibility of disappointment, and we will enjoy relationships with God and others that eliminate loneliness. No wonder John’s vision includes an outpouring of worship that he says was "like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God."  (Revelation 19:1, NIV)

Ah, my friend, Heaven is not an escapist dream that comes to relieve the tedium of life.  That home is not just ‘happy talk’ to help us cope with death’s fearful approach.  I do remember a time, long ago, when I did not understand heaven, brushing off those older saints who wanted to talk about it, claiming that there was “too much living right here and right now to 'waste' time thinking about Eternity.” What a

foolish boy I was.  Heaven is for now.   A Christian who does not have Heaven in view on the horizon of life will wander from God’s purpose and even lose heart when the questions outrun his answers.  On one of the most difficult nights in their lives, when He was about to be crucified, Jesus reminded His friends - “Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you." (John 14:1-3, NLT)

Keep the hope of heaven alive and in focus, Christian friend, whether you are 19 or 91!  
Knowing that we are on our way home, keeps us steady, gives us reason to press on.

The word from the Word is from Paul, who urges us to remember eternity, to set it in our hearts.  "We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope. The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it.

It doesn’t diminish or weaken over time. It’s the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth

of what God is doing, you’ve been hungry for more."   (Colossians 1: 5  The Message) Isn't that rich?

Plant your heart in Heaven.  Invest yourself in God's work, as Jesus said, "laying up treasure" that is beyond the reach of decay, rust, or thieves! 

One of these days, we are going Home!

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O That Will Be Glory

When all my labors and trials are o'er

And I am safe on that beautiful shore

Just to be near the dear Lord I adore

Will through the ages be glory for me

O that will be glory for me

Glory for me glory for me

When by His grace I shall look on His face

That will be glory be glory for me

When by the gift of His infinite grace

I am accorded in heaven a place

Just to be there and to look on His face

Will through the ages be glory for me

Charles Hutchinson Gabriel

© Words: Public Domain