There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc. part 15

Now what does disorderly mean? Am I financially in debt and always looking for help even if my salary is a good one? Then I am disorderly. If I am married, how do I treat my husband? Am I allowing him to lead me in the Lord, am I treating him as the head of the house, or am I taking charge?If it is the latter, then I am unruly. Am I bringing my children up with discipline and to believe in the Lord or am I allowing them to explore their own concepts and to grow in their own thoughts as many schools would have them do? Then I am disorderly. Disorderly means having no accountability and allowing all things to rule rather than trying to go down a narrow path of righteousness. If I truly love my brethren, I will not allow them to wander down this path, but I will snatch them from the fire. If I truly love them, I will lead by example of what God’s love and peace is, as is written in 1 Timothy 6:3-5. If I love them, I will teach them that His word is true because God wants peace and reconciliation. I am the only one who will fight with others, not God. I am the only one with pride and corruption that causes me to treat others with judgment and haughtiness, denying them sibling-ship with me.

How I live my life will show how I know who am I in God’s eyes. I am His child, His daughter. When I have chosen a relationship with Him and in worshipping Him in terms of being at His feet rather than fulfilling the neediness of expression that seems common to all humans, then there is maturity and growth in worship. As long as what I do is for Him and with Him in mind, I will be blessed. And there are many things I can script rally align myself to, that will define me as His in accordance with His name, by His being, by His son’s precious name, by the name of Israel, Jacob, etc. because God spoke those names. So whether I take on the name of the tribe, location, etc. or call myself simply by His name, if I truly follow in His footsteps then I am His. Even the term Christian, which was given to the first century followers of Christ as mockery, is a true description, that is, one who follows the teachings of Christ. A name to God is more than just a label, it is a description, an authentication of the task, power, use of the being it was attached to. And so it is with Christ, because he had many names too. Emmanuel, Jesus, Rabbi, Rabboni, Christ, Son of Man, Son of God.

There are No Jews, no Greeks, etc. Part 15

In 2 Corinthians 7:8, I also need to realize my brethren need tough love, according to God’s purpose. I may have to use harsh words about how they are conducting themselves, but if my words are spoken in truth and love, that is demonstrating my love in God for them. It puts my love on the line, and I am more than just a member of the church, more than someone that sits on the pew, more than a conqueror, but a lover of God, desirous to spread that love and righteousness in Him. Gal 5:10,12 also speaks of this, to stick and apply what God says and to portray my belief in God in truth and love, rather than to obey or be swayed by what others may say. If I know what is right, I should do that thing, not because it is right but because it is what God wants me to do. And I should test what others tell me with what is written in God’s word. Above all, I must accept that God is a spirit, and that the Bible in and of itself are just words until I apply them with His spirit, and that is why God sent not only His son, but the Holy Spirit. One so that I would know how to walk among my brethren and others the other so that I could apply what I learn from Christ. Gal 6:1 says how I should treat those who are having spiritual difficulties, bearing their burdens, approaching them with love, not resentment, not judgment, not bitterness. Because there but for the grace of God walk I. The only one of us who is without sin is Christ. We all have to live and we all have to walk through the portal of death. That’s why God through Paul says, “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14) and again in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, “Now we command you, brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you. Not because we have not power but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not al all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness they work and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy but as a brother.” How we treat one another demonstrates our love. Do we treat them with indifference of just going to church with them or do we speak to them with the truth and with love? Do I really love my brethren enough to challenge them when they stray (and vice versa), to hold them when they hurt, to really lead them in God’s word? Paul’s words are not a suggestion to me, but a command to me. I cannot put up with disorderly conduct, disorderly lives, lives where there are those living off others like leaches. What would that demonstrate to those who are not Christians but see there are those who use and abuse others and still call themselves His followers. No, it is a command that while I am to love them, I am to conduct myself so that I can live a life approved of as God’s workman. I actually show more love by remaining true to God and faith in Him and that what He speaks is true.

There are no Jews, no Greeks, etc (part 14)

Why is it important to think of each other as brethren that need lifting up and encouraging? For two reasons that I can think of. 1) So that in the long run and in my heart and mind, I will not try to make or emphasize our differences and thus create divisions within the church that may just be a matter of selfishness on my part. (Romans 16:17) 2) Putting my money where my mouth is. 1 Corinthians 4:19-21 spells it out. Family members do for one another. Do I believe that the people I worship with are my family? If so, nothing could and should separate us from one another. If my worship does something to offend a brother, how much can I love God if I know it does and continue anyway? How much can I love God if I am best buddies with those who couldn’t care less about the Lord, who would twist His words to fit their selfishness and read so much into that, who may have no intention of doing what God wants them to do, but just show up to get their name on the roll call. How can I call them brothers that just want to get their name mentioned as having been to church, yet have no true feeling for me or others?

There are No Jews,No Greeks, etc Part 14

There is an interesting concept in my life in God, and that is cleanliness. How does the “I” purify itself before God? What does cleanliness mean to God? In Leviticus, Moses talks of the man cleansing himself to be in the presence of God. There is the key, to cleanse oneself. In Numbers 9:12, 15:31, and 19-13-20 I am warned me of the seriousness of not being washed and how vital this is to my life of holiness that I am to have should I put on Christ. I must constantly be aware of how I conduct myself. I must be humble. I must seek peace. I must remember that I belong to Him and am His emissary, as Peter was when Jesus gave him the keys to the kingdom. (Matt 16:19). Jesus is not interested in my polity. He couldn’t care less what rumors and judgments others place on me. (John 9:22, 34-35). There was a blind man who Jesus healed. The Pharisees right away called them man a sinner. Why, he must be so, said they, otherwise he wouldn’t be blind all these years. The real reason was to turn public opinion to the awe of healing a blind man and calling him clean to the dismay of healing that which was sinful and ugly. By law of the flesh the man was not clean. For the Pharisees had declared him a sinner and it would take an act of the Sannhedrin to change their minds. By the law of the Spirit, when Jesus declared the man clean, it was so. And so it is with me. When I kneel before God, submit myself to the healing power of Jesus and the wonders of his love and the strength of his discipline I am clean. And free. Christ has ripped the veil from the temple, he has cast the shackles from my feet, and all religious traditions are done away with. He calls for a renewal in worship. A revival in the land, as the singer Carmen puts it, and what a stirring song that is, because I need revival constantly. I need reminding that I am His, and I need to speak out for Him, and not accept that which would undermine Him. My testimony is that of someone who, while seemingly had it all together, never used drugs, never had premarital sex, always listened to her parents. And yet I knew something was missing. And I knew I was afraid to die. And I knew that Christ and God had a plan for me, and it involved the here and now of what I am doing. Christ’s whole message was about God’s plan for us, and he knew it would not be without pain or toil. (John 16:2) But I must realize that for the great price of being the peacemaker God wants me to be, I must look up in a knowledge of forgiveness and the sentiment of being chosen by Him just because of me not for any other reason. And I must lift up my brother in like manner. (Rom 14).