Month: November 2021

29.t. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

 

Colossians 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

 Psalms 90:12     So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

 Psalms 39:4   “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

 Ephesians 5:15-17    Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 Deuteronomy 32:29   If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

 Proverbs 2:2-6    making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

There must be practical, lived-out Christianity, which lives wisely toward those who are outside. How we speak has a lot to do with this, so we must let our speech always be with grace. Why, because at all times, every day and minute throughout our lives, we are conscious of how we are living so that Jesus Christ is being honored and glorified. How many times a day do we pass a person who could use a kind word, helping hand, an acknowledgment, or word of encouragement? We get tied up being busy and allow the busyness of life to trap us into thinking we are too busy, too important, not important, or unable to see people through God’s eyes. “Teach us to number our days”, “making the best use of the time”, “number our days”, and “make me know my end and what is the measure of my days” all speak to having godly wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding of who we are in light of who God is and to what He has called us to. How can we be or reflect the light of Jesus Christ if our eyes are closed to the people around us? How can we grow and mature in displaying grace when we don’t even see others around us.  I am reminded of a time my wife and I went to visit a dear friend who had just lost His wife.  We went out to eat and this man, whose heart what aching from loss, noticed our server seemed out of sorts, troubled.  He graciously spoke to her with true concern and then asked if we could pray for her right there as she was taking our order. This is having eyes open to others and discernment to their hurts and needs, no matter what life has thrown at us.  Even in his grief, his eyes were open for opportunities to show God’s grace and concern. 

We do well to ask God to reveal deep within our hearts and minds, that which is important and that which is not.  Busyness does not mean it is important. When we seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding with the intentional choice, to be led by the Holy Spirit and honor and glorify Jesus Christ, in all things and at all times, it is then we will discern the world and people around us in the light of His grace and love.

29.s. “Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man”

 

Colossians 3:23  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

 2 Chronicles 31:21    And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

 Psalms 119:10   With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!

 Psalms 119:34   Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

 Jeremiah 3:10    Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the LORD.”

 Ephesians 6:6-7    not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,  rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man,

We are always tempted to work just as hard as we have to, thinking we only have to please man. But God wants every worker to see that ultimately, they work for Him. Therefore, they should do it with their whole heart as if they are working for Jesus Christ. God promises to reward those who work with that kind of heart. For ancient Christian slaves and for modern Christian workers, there is no guarantee on earth of fairness of treatment from those whom they work for. Sometimes partiality means that bad workers are unfairly rewarded and good employees are penalized or left unrewarded. Paul assures both our ancient brethren and us that there is a final rewarding and punishment, and with this there is no partiality. (Guzik)

We have all had bosses, supervisors, and colleagues who left us feeling unappreciated, worthless, and not treated fairly. It seems as if going to work is a burden and there is no scenario in our head that can bring back the joy we once had. We can get upset and mad and defeated. We are not slaves and can quit and move on to another job, essentially at will if we find ourselves in this type of situation. We don’t have to keep our eyes on Jesus and be an example, we can just quit. It is hard to keep the thought of “working as if to Jesus Christ” and at the same time being treated unfairly. Scripture is telling us to keep our eyes on Jesus and work as if to Him.  I can’t tell you how many times in my life/career where I lost sight of Jesus and only saw the unfairness of how I was being treated. Just getting up in the morning and going to work was painful. I had fallen into a pity party and, looking back, can see how I was not honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ in these thoughts. Pride and self-worth were telling me I deserve better and ought to be respected more highly. I did not act appropriately. I did not give any thought to my testimony to others through my actions. I did not give thought to being kind, patient, and at peace no matter what circumstance I was in. It was as if I was saying I’ll treat you right if you treat me right.  Where in scripture does it say this? It does not. It does tell us to be long-suffering. 

Jesus is our example.  The Son of God bore the pain of whipping, beatings, and crucifixion. He could have called down thousands of angels and been spared the torture and humiliation but chose to do the will of God.  In such, He gave His life so that we might have life, eternal life. He is our example to follow. Oh, that we would keep our eyes on Him every moment of every day and no matter what comes, no matter how e are treated, we work as if we are working for Him and His honor and glory.

29.q. From Pathway to Victory, Dr Jeffress

 

Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
–Romans 6:16

As Christians, we sometimes think that we are free agents, free to do whatever we want to do. That is not true. In Romans 6, Paul explained a sobering truth that most Christians are unaware of. He said in verse 16, “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” All of us serve someone. We either serve God or we serve Satan. We are either slaves to righteousness or we are slaves to unrighteousness. And get this: we get to choose our master. We get to choose whether we are going to be slaves to righteousness or slaves to unrighteousness.

Let’s say that you were hunting for a new job, and you had narrowed it down to two employers. Before you made your decision, you would want to know the wage that each employer offered. You would want to know about the benefits and the vacation policy. You would probably investigate the character of the two employers themselves. And based on all of that, you would choose which employer you were going to serve.

In the same way, Paul was saying we get to choose who our employer will be. Do we want to work for God, or do we want to work for Satan? Do we want to serve righteousness or unrighteousness? Consider the wages and the benefits that each one offers. Paul wrote in verses 21-22, “Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” Then he continued, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (v. 23). Many of us learned that verse when we were children, and we use it in the context of evangelism. But Paul was not writing to non-Christians; he was talking to Christians who were falling back into sin. And he was saying, “Remember what your life was like back when Satan was your master. The ultimate result of sin is death and destruction.” That is true for us as well. Choosing pride over humility destroys our relationships. Choosing adultery over fidelity destroys our marriages. Choosing gluttony over self-control destroys our bodies. Choosing laziness over diligence and perseverance destroys our dreams. The end result of sin, of serving Satan, is the death and destruction of everything important to you. And yet when you disobey God, you are choosing Satan to be your master. Obedience to God protects us from the bitter wages of disobedience.

29.p. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

 

Colossians 3:15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Psalms 29:11  May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

John 14:27  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

Isaiah 27:5 Or let them lay hold of my protection, let them make peace with me, let them make peace with me.”

Romans 14:17  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Peace of mind and general peace with others makes life joyful, hopeful, thankful, and limits fear, anger, confusion, and unkindness.  Peace of mind is offered in many different forms and by many different people. They offer their solution to “Finding Peace”.  If you have enough money, lose enough weight, buy the right car, have the right clothes, wear the right make-up, live in the right location, work for the right company, take the right vacation, fly the right airline, use the right insurance company, read the right books, go to the right school, hire the right doctor, use the right financial advisor, do the right meditation, take the right medicine, do the right level of exercise, etc………….. If you just listen to them you will find peace of mind and be at peace with others.  Vanity, vanity, all is vanity. Have you ever found lasting peace, deep in your soul, following the advice of these “Peace offering attempts”? Chasing after peace, in all of these attempts at finding it, will leave a person wanting, lost, and always searching more for it.  Tell me if watching or reading news media gives you peace. Do they ever present a story that gives you peace?  They promote worry, fear, anger, confusion, division, and give little in the way of “Peace of Mind”.  And yet, we turn it on or read it every day.  At the same time, we neglect the Word of God, which brings peace of mind, thankfulness, and hope. This world will offer a peace that will never satisfy and will leave us defeated.  You don’t have to listen to very many people to discern the level of peace in their lives. They certainly don’t speak of joy, hope, or thankfulness.  They seem consumed with just the opposite and don’t even know why.  True peace is in the hands of God through Jesus Christ. It is a peace that passes all understanding. It is a peace that overcomes all adversity.  It is a peace that floods the hearts, minds, and souls, of those who trust in, rely upon, cling to, follow, and obey Jesus Christ.  Their peace is found in Him alone and all other offers of peace are cast aside.  In Him alone we find a peace that is more than hope for tomorrow, it is a never-failing assurance of peace for eternity. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

29.o. “Forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

 

Colossians 3:13 forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

 Matthew 6:14-15  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 Matthew 18:21-35   Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

When one thinks of how Christ forgave you it should make us much more generous with forgiveness.

· God holds back His anger a very long time when we sin against Him. He bears with us a long time, even when we sorely provoke Him.

· God reaches out to bad people to bring forgiveness to them; the habit of man is to not reconcile if the offending person is a person of bad character.

· God makes the first move towards us in forgiveness; the habit of man is to only be reconciled if the offending party craves forgiveness and makes the first move.

· God forgives often knowing that we will sin again, sometimes in the exact same way. It is the habit of man to forgive only if the offending party solemnly promises to never do the wrong again.

· God’s forgiveness is so complete and glorious that He grants adoption to those former offenders. In the habit of man, even when forgiveness is offered, he will not lift again the former offender to a place of high status and partnership.

· God bore all the penalty for the wrong we did against Him. In the habit of man, when he is wronged, he will not forgive unless the offender agrees to bear all the penalty for the wrong done.

· God keeps reaching out to man for reconciliation even when man refuses Him again and again. In the habit of man, one will not continue to offer reconciliation if it is rejected once.

· God requires no probationary period to receive His forgiveness; in the habit of man, one will not restore an offender without a period of probation.

· God’s forgiveness offers complete restoration and honor; in the habit of man, we feel we should be complimented when we merely tolerate those who sin against us.

· Once having forgiven, God puts His trust in us and invites us back to work with Him as co-laborers. In the habit of man, one will not trust someone who has formerly wronged him.

iii. “Suppose that someone had grievously offended any one of you, and that he asked your forgiveness, do you not think that you would probably say to him, ‘Well, yes, I forgive you; but I – I – I – cannot forget it’? Ah! dear friends, that is a sort of forgiveness with one leg chopped off, it is a lame forgiveness, and is not worth much.” (Spurgeon)

It only takes one to forgive but takes two to reconcile. Without forgiveness there is no room for reconciliation. Be the person who forgives and builds the foundation and support to bridge reconciliation.