What happens on the day that you realize that you can do something the boss can’t? What happens when someone who works for you suddenly surpasses your ability or status? I’ll tell you what happens-instant conflict and role reversal. In the passage from Genesis 21:8-21, Hagar starts looking down on Sarah, and in turn Sarah becomes abusive to Hagar.

Sarah was probably jealous because of Ishmael, even though she had a hand in Ishmael’s birth. God promised that Abraham and Sarah would have a child despite their old age. Sarah doubted God, so she suggested that Abraham try to make her handmaid Hagar pregnant. Hagar was forced against her will to have sexual relations with Abraham, and bear him a son. Ishmael, who was a teenager when Isaac was born, had to know that Isaac’s birth was nothing but a miracle of God’s grace. Nevertheless, when Isaac became the centre of attention, Ishmael began to scoff at him, and perhaps even his parents.

Sarah saw that there would be a confrontation between Isaac and Ishmael. Ishmael wanted Abraham’s power and authority passed down to him, but God wanted to establish Isaac as the heir. Isaac became the founder of the Jewish nation, and Ishmael became the father of the Arab nation. That inevitable conflict between Isaac and Ishmael was the seed for the confrontation between Arabs and Christians today, especially in the Middle East.

Just because God chose the Jews as His chosen people doesn’t mean that other people can’t receive Christ in faith and receive His grace and care. History is full of stories of Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and people of other religions receiving Christ in faith. God is portrayed as the God of all people, but it is often to hold all other people accountable for how they treated Israel and each other. Yes, God is the God of the Arab nation, and in His own time and in His own way He will punish the Arabs and Muslim extremists for their poor treatment of Christians and Jews.

Sarah’s demand that Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away was both very displeasing to Abraham and distressing, because he loved Ishmael. To banish a surrogate mother went against cultural norms as well. The law of Abraham’s day forbade the putting out of a handmaiden’s son if a rightful, natural heir was born. Sarah’s request offended social law, Abraham’s sensibilities and his love for Ishmael. Ultimately, this was such a personal and painful decision for Abraham that the Lord had to tell him to listen to Sarah. Obeying God can be heart-wrenching, but it must be done.

Abraham mourning his loss, Hagar mourning her impending death and bereavement, and Ishmael crying out in anguish combine to present a picture of our world which knows so much about the time to mourn yet often has so few resources to meet tragedy when it comes. Our world needs an experience not unlike Hagar’s experience as told in Genesis 21:19-20. God is there for us when we suffer. He still works through us and the church to accomplish His divine will.

Hagar found her ultimate hope in God when she thought all hope was gone. Hagar discovered that we learn more in our suffering than when things are going well. Sometimes God brings believers to a difficult place in the wilderness to discipline them so they can realize their need for Him. In the desert, people can see themselves as they really are. There they learn that He hears and will never leave or forsake His children.

At some point, all of us will have a tough time doing what we know we should do because of our emotions. We’re going to be torn up inside by our feelings. God has the power to reveal the truth of a situation to us, and when He does, He pushes us past our feelings to accomplish what He wants us to do.

God provided a son to Hagar when she cried for a son in Genesis 16:11. God provided a son for Sarah even though she had doubts. God fulfilled His promises when conditions appeared hopeless. God will fulfill His promises, not matter how difficult our problems are. Even when we don’t know when and how God will act, we must trust that He watches over us

Isolation from human community does not mean isolation from God. God is always with us during the desert times in our lives. God guides us to new communities that will surround us with love and support. Hagar and Ishmael found a new community of support in Egypt. While the pain of separation might never leave us, God never leaves us. He loves us no matter what is happening in our lives.

When all hope seemed lost to Hagar and Ishmael, God was there for them. When Hagar cried out to God, God provided water and made Ishmael a great nation. God made another great nation through Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. In today’s world, we see nation pitted against nation because of the untamed sins of jealousy, pride and selfish ambition. If the world will remember that God loves and cares for everyone even when they fall into sin, the world can become a place where all nations and all people love each other as family.

God sees every human misery, and He knows every painful sob. God hears the cries of the victims, the excluded, the outcasts. When people push God out, He is still there with them. God will be with and provide for the ones that the in-crowd say are not good enough. God works beyond our understandings, fears and doubts. When we exclude and push out others, God is still at work in their lives.

In times of hardship, how do we interact with God? Do we call out to God in our pain, or do we quietly rest in our sorrow alone? The next time we are struggling or we feel as though God may be distant, we should pause and remember Hagar and Ishmael and consider setting aside a few extra minutes to talk to God about what we are going through.

Thanks be to God, AMEN

 Bibliography 

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 31)
2. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 1: Genesis (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1987; pp.178-180)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 27-29)
6. Pastor Bob Coy, “Push Past.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
7. Jordan Tremble, “Bible Study: 2 Pentecost, Proper 7(A).” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
8. “Abraham 3-Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert-I See You.” Retrieved from www.theologicalstew.com
9. Kathryn M. Schifferdecker, “Commentary on Genesis 21:8-21.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.com
10. Daniel B. Clendenin, Ph.D., “Ishmael: God Hears and Sees.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
11. Charles Lane Cowen, “Bible Study, 3^rd Sunday After Pentecost, June 27, 2017.” Retrieved from www.episcopaldigitalnetwork.com
12. Nissa Peterson, “Genesis 21:8-21.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu

When I was a child, I had a paper route. Six mornings a week, I delivered newspapers to over a hundred customers before I had breakfast. One of the first sections that my customers looked at was the news, especially the front page. This was in the days before the Internet and email, so the newspaper was one of the main sources of news and information. Some of them also read the sports section to see if their favourite teams won. Many of them, including my own parents, also looked at the comics. That gave them a smile, especially if the news was full of stories of doom and gloom.

Jesus traveled all around the countryside. He went to many different towns and villages, and everywhere he went he saw crowds of people who were lost and helpless. It broke his heart. One day, he turned to his followers and said to them, “There are so many who need help, but there are not enough who are willing to help them. Get on your knees and pray that the Lord will send workers to help them.”

When they had finished praying, Jesus called twelve of his followers to come to him. “Go,” he said, “heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” Do you know what else Jesus told his disciples? He said, “As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.'”

Wow! That’s good news, isn’t it? Think about it. “The kingdom of heaven is near.” It isn’t some far off place where we will go at some far-off time. In fact, you might even say, “It’s right here — right now.” Of course, Jesus came to give us eternal life in heaven, but he also came so that we could have life, and have it to the fullest — right now. Now, that’s good news that everyone should hear!

As a “paper boy”, delivering the news was my job. If I didn’t do my job, my customers didn’t get the news-and I usually got an earful! Just as Jesus called the twelve to deliver the good news, he has also called you and me to deliver the good news. If we don’t do our job, someone won’t get the good news today.

Let us bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Father, there is no better news than the good news that you love us and sent your Son so that we might have life and that we might have it abundantly. Help us to faithfully share that good news with others. Amen.

Last Sunday we read Matthew’s version of the Great Commission. Today, we read Matthew’s version of an earlier commission, one where Jesus sent the disciples into the world in pairs to preach, heal, cast out demons and raise the dead. They were not men of rank and office. They were plain men of good sense, fair character, great honesty with favourable opportunities of ascertaining the facts to which they were witness. They were ordinary people who could fulfill the commission. We as ordinary people are also capable of fulfilling the same commission.

The word “compassion” suggests strong emotion and means “to feel deep sympathy.” Christ’s humanity allowed Him to show compassion for sinners in terms of human emotions. He was literally moved to tears over the plight of sinners. He knew their spiritual needs were more desperate than the need for physical healing. The only way to meet that need was to have more workers.

Jesus saw these people as “weary and scattered…sheep without a shepherd” because the religious leaders, who should have been their shepherds, were trying to lead them away from the one true shepherd. Jesus saw people burdened with the rites of religion, the doctrines and teachings of the Pharisees and neglected by people who should have been enlightened teachers.

Jesus knew that the number of people who flocked to His ministry was great. He knew people expected the Messiah and were prepared to receive the Gospel. He also knew that there were few people engaged in teaching the multitudes.

Because Jesus saw the great need of the multitudes, He urged His disciples to pray to the Lord of the Harvest for more labourers. That prayer, which is at the core of the modern mission movement, is still the only hope for the “lost sheep” of each generation. We have a duty to pray for the conversion of the world. The harvest is just as plentiful now as it was in the time of Christ. Millions of people have not heard the gospel, and there are very few people to teach them. Evil runs wild in our world today. Only God can qualify those who go and preach the gospel to the world. We have a duty to pray to God to have pity on the world and send faithful people to tell the world about Jesus.

In the last verses of chapter 9, Jesus urges His disciples to pray for labourers. These verses summarize Jesus’ ministry of compassion. It is a presentation of the compassionate shepherd. It also shows the kingdom happens wherever Jesus is ruling. The kingdom creates a dualism in society, one that often pits Christians against the world and its evils. The kingdom calls us to a decision in the world.

In the first verses of chapter 10, He calls them to become the answer to their prayers as “sent ones.” They would be sent forth to share His presence, power and purpose. The answer to Jesus’ request came after prayer. Prayer conditions us to the will of God. Jesus prayed to God for more workers, and God answered His prayer. Prayer prepares us to share with Him. God often uses us to help answer our own prayers.

The 12 apostles were specifically told to take their message to the Jews and not the Gentiles or Samaritans. The message was for the Jews first. Jesus saw them as sheep without a shepherd. They were God’s chosen people. They spent a long time looking for the Messiah, so it was appropriate that the Gospel should be shared with them first. If the Jews accepted Jesus as their King, the nations would be blessed through them.

Because God had freely given the apostles the resources they would need to perform their ministry, they were not to sell their services and make money for what they did. If they sold their gifts for money, they could have made a fortune. At the same time, they would have obscured the message of Christ’s grace. They could accept support to meet their basic needs. Similarly, we are not to sell the gift of Christ’s grace for money, but those of us who are ordained and preach the Gospel can accept support for our basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.

In the late 19^th century, William Carey felt a call to travel to India as a missionary to share the Good News of Jesus. Fellow ministers scorned him, saying, “Young man, if God wants to save anyone in India, He will do it without your help or mine!” They missed the point of partnership. God does very little on earth without people like us.

Our ministry, like that of the apostles, falls into three categories. We are witnesses for the resurrection. We are teachers. We build on the foundation for the church. If we want to fulfill this ministry, we must be motivated. If we don’t have the motivation, we aren’t going to do anything.

Doing this ministry won’t be easy, just like the disciples’ ministry wasn’t easy. Jesus told the disciples that the world would be hostile to their message. He did not give them false hope. Hostility toward the disciples would not cease until they were martyred. Similarly, we will face various forms of persecution. The world is still hostile to the Good News.

A young person once told Billy Graham that he or she would be going on a mission trip with a church youth group. The group planned on serving a village in a very poor country, helping to put a roof on their church and doing some Bible programs for children. The young person asked Billy Graham for advice.

Billy Graham replied:

“But God not only wants to work through you to help others. He also wants to work in you while you’re serving the people of this village. Be alert to His leading, therefore, asking Him to use this experience to teach you new things about Himself and what He is doing in the world. You may discover, for example, that in spite of their poverty, the people of this village are actually rich in faith and love. Sometimes our wealth and comfortable lifestyle get in the way of a true commitment to Christ.”

“God may also want to open your eyes to the needs of the world. Most people today have very little, compared with what we have; many, in fact, face hunger and disease almost daily. Do we care? Many also do not know Christ, and have never had an opportunity to hear of His love.”

Billy Graham’s message is also a message for us. As we serve others, God will work in us and teach us new things about Him and what He is doing in the world. He will teach us about other Christians through other people.

If we are to serve others, we must serve them as they need to be served and not as we decide to serve them. It is important for us to make faith in Christ an option-making faith a possibility to people. In doing so we respect their freedom while making them aware of their responsibility.

The nourishment Jesus offers us as the Bread of Life provides us with the fuel we need to serve others, and that’s what the life God gives us is about. God has given us the message and commissioned us to take it to the world. He has given us the methods. All He needs is for us to work together and do our share to reach the world for Christ. Will you make a commitment to help spread the Gospel and thereby be a part of what God is doing in the world today? I urge you to get out of your comfort zone. I urge you to care. I urge you to share. I urge you to pray, and I urge you to ask God for the boldness you will need to carry out His orders.

Today, we celebrate not a religious holiday or occasion, but a doctrine-the doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity is a concept that is not explicitly stated in Scripture, but it is there. The Trinity is a concept that is not easy to describe or understand. In fact, some ministers take Trinity Sunday off!

The Trinity is referred to indirectly in the passage from Matthew 28:16-20. All three members of the Trinity are always with us. They give us their cooperation and support. They help us and protect us. The name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit means the combined authority of all manifestations of God. When we are baptized we become the subject to the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Consequently, we receive the remission of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The one true God has a personality that is threefold and indicated by relationship as Father and Son. It is indicated by a mode of being as Spirit. It is indicated by the various parts taken by the Godhead in manifestation and in the work of redemption.

Jesus’ resurrection proved that what He taught was correct. He used His ultimate authority when He gave the disciples and us the Great Commission. He showed His ultimate power by promising to be with us forever. When Christ rose from the dead, He created a new community with real change in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. One God in action for all ages.

When Jesus states that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth, He declares His ultimate authority. He is the recipient of God’s authority. His deity is proved. As the Creator (God), He had the original right to all things. As the Redeemer (Son), even more so. The phrase “in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit” is a strong affirmation of Trinitarianism. When He commissioned the disciples, Jesus instituted the three-fold formula prior to the development of the Trinity. It holds Father, Son and Holy Spirit together as three personae by whom God encounters us in His love from all eternity to all eternity. Since all three members of the Trinity are with us all the time, we have the same authority Jesus had. We can bring God’s truth to the world because of His divine authority. His word will prosper if we are faithful to His message.

The Trinity allows us to make sense of the God who loves us enough to send Jesus to die for our sins. God who is God the Son is Christ not dead, but risen God who is God the Holy Spirit is not Jesus gone but Jesus present.

So now that we have the Great Commission, what do we do? First, we must show Christ-like behavior, and that includes being righteous. In the Old Testament times, being righteous meant obeying the Law of Moses perfectly, and that includes obeying the Ten Commandments. The fifth commandment is “Do not murder.” The Jews believed this referred to only the physical act of killing someone. Jesus argued that there is a broader meaning. He argued that words and anger can kill. That is, they show the true heart of a person. Anger and words such as senseless, stupid and shallow and the like violate the spirit of that commandment. If used, they may lead to a more open and dreadful infraction of that law.

For example, thirteen-year-old Marcy had little use for her loud, obnoxious, smelly little brother. “You’re just a jerk!” she yelled again and again. Her ten-year-old brother Mike didn’t exactly like his older sister either. He would often fire back, “You’re really stupid!” their rivalry and toxic words polluted their home. God says it’s wrong to insult, wound, tear down, cut up, threaten or intimidate another person with our words. Hurtful words are hateful words.

Jesus taught that it is more important to have a heart that is right than to conform to the outright act of worship. For example, if a person brought a gift to the altar and remembered that someone had something against him, he was to leave the offering on the altar and go and be reconciled. The worship of God will not be acceptable until we are at peace with anyone we have hurt or offended.

Similarly, Christians are not to bring lawsuits against each other. We are encouraged to come to an agreement before going to court. God will see anyone who does not reconcile with those who have been offended as a violation of the commandment against murder. He will punish them accordingly.

Someone once asked Billy Graham, “If you ask God to forgive you for something you did to someone, does that mean you also have to ask them for forgiveness? I’m a Christian now, but I’m not sure I can do it. I don’t see what difference it would make anyway, except maybe to open old wounds.”

In his reply, Billy Graham wrote the following:

“It’s always important to seek the forgiveness of those we’ve hurt, even if it is hard to do….They might not forgive you, of course; they may reject your attempt or react with renewed anger over what you did, but then it becomes their problem, not yours. You will have done everything you could to let them know you regret what happened, and that you want their forgiveness.”

“Why is it important to seek the forgiveness of those we’ve hurt? For one thing, it could bring about reconciliation. After all, you were the one at fault: you alone are responsible for the hurt that resulted. But that hurt will only be healed if you seek to heal it (and if the other person responds.”

Reconciling with those we have hurt is not easy. One of the barriers is pride. No one likes to admit they were wrong, because it is part of our sinful, human nature. Pride is a sin that needs to be faced, dealt with and confessed to God. If we have offended or hurt anyone, we need to make peace today. We must not put it off. When we reconcile with the people we have hurt, our relationships will be healthier. In Christ, it is never too late for reconciliation. God wants us to live in peace with everyone by sincerely humbling ourselves and finding reconciliation through Him.

It is no secret that sin often leads to health problems. If we refuse to forgive, bitterness creeps into our hearts and plants roots. It can spread to those around us. If it hardens in our hearts, it is next to impossible to remove. Forgiveness depends on us. Reconciliation is the ideal to work towards, but sometimes it is not possible. It depends on both parties. What others do is their choice. What we allow them to do is up to us. We are responsible only for our own actions.

When we ask others to forgive us, we have an opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission. The Great Commission has not changed since the moment Jesus uttered it. Christians are to “go and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey.” They are to accomplish all of this by His power and for His sake, through His Spirit. When followers of Jesus are slow to share their faith, or pour into the lives of others, it is often because they do not really take Jesus at His word when He says, “I am with you always.”

It’s isn’t easy for us to remember that the members of the Trinity are always with us. Sometimes we’re so blinded by disappointment that we can’t see Jesus walking with us throughout heartache and leading us to something better ahead. The Trinity shows us that there is a way for us that leads far beyond disappointment. The Trinity proves that we are in the presence of someone who cares, who leads, who has authority and wisdom.

All three members of the Trinity encourage us to get going. They are with us all of the time, so we have a life that is exciting and full of confidence that the members of the Trinity have done all things perfectly for us. Life with the Trinity is to be lived with their gifts and their blessing. When we read and study Scripture, when we are baptized into faith, when we take part in Holy Communion, it’s like receiving a kiss of grace from the Trinity.

The doctrine of the Trinity is a confession, not a definition. Who can define God? We can only confess our history and personal encounters with God. To confess God apart from Christ is impossible. To confess Christ apart from God the Creator of everything is impossible. To confess God in Christ apart from our experience of both through the Holy Spirit sustaining the church is impossible. All we can do is confess our faith in the one God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1587-1588)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Augsberger, M.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 24: Matthew (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, p. 18)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Billy Graham, “How Can I Reconcile With my Sister?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
6. Rick Boxx, “Make Peace Today.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
7. “Hateful Words.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
8. Billy Graham, “Why Do I Need to Ask for Forgiveness?” Retrieved from www.arcamax.com
9. Steve Arterburn, “Handling Anger.” Retrieved from www.newlife.com
10. Dr. Harold Sala, “The Biblical Pattern of Reconciliation.” Retrieved from www.guidelines.org
11. The New Testament Commentary, Vol. 1-Matthew and Mark. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
12. Schofield’s Notes. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
13. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2006)
14. Lucado, M: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp; 1348-1351)
15. Christine Caine, “Something Better.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
16. The Rev. Gregory Seltz, “Living Life in the Power of His Name.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org

Did you know that giving can be exciting? It certainly is! It’s like a competition to out give God. We give and God provides. We sow into our local church and God sows into our lives. God’s blessings are not always financial, but they are always greater than what we expect. A good example of this in 2 Corinthians 8:1-16.

In this passage, Paul introduces the concept of giving under grace instead of under the law. The idea of tithing to support the work of ministry seems legalistic until a person understands it as a grace-a gift God grants His children so they might abound in good works.

Paul reminds the Corinthians about their promise to take up an offering for the church in Jerusalem. The Corinthians made a promise to take up a collection, but they “forgot” about their promise. Grace giving is steadfast. Paul urged the Corinthians to not only start well but to finish with the same enthusiasm.  

Grace giving is sacrificial. Paul uses the example of the Macedonians to motivate the Corinthians to give generously. The Macedonians were in affliction and deep poverty, yet they gave joyfully and liberally. The poor are often more generous than the rich, perhaps because, in relying on God for their daily bread, they learn that whatever is theirs belongs to Him.

Grace giving is spontaneous; it is not done out of obligation or a sense of “oughtness” but as a natural outpouring of God’s love in a person’s heart. Paul reiterates this in 2 Corinthians 8:8, where he tells the Corinthians he is not commanding them to give but rather expecting that the sincerity of their love will prompt them to give freely and beyond their ability, just like the Macedonians had.

Grace giving is selfless. Selflessness undergirds the entirety of the resources God entrusts to His people. For experiencing the joy of giving and a heightened awareness of God’s provision, the best giving is selfless giving.

Grace giving is systematic. Paul commands the Corinthians to abound in this grace, implying a framework in which to grow. Giving can be spontaneous, but throughout the New Testament there are also instances of planned giving by the church and by individuals. A system of giving begins with a commitment to give. Those who wait to begin giving until they can afford to do so will never begin.

Grace giving is spiritual. Paul knew that the Corinthians valued the virtues of faith, speech, knowledge, godly living and love for the apostles. Grace giving should join that list. To Paul, stewardship was a spiritual exercise just as faith is.

Grace giving is sincere, reflecting the believer’s sincere love for God and desire to advance the ministry of His church. God does not need the gifts of the faithful to accomplish His work, but He does generously allow those gifts to be used towards that end.

Grace-giving is more a matter of the heart than of circumstances. The Macedonians were poor, so it would have been logical and understandable for them to concentrate on their own needs. To almost everyone’s surprise they gave a generous offering despite their circumstances. It is like the New Testament story about the widow who only gave two coins to the temple treasury. She gave out of her heart, just like the Macedonians did. Their giving was sacrificial and joyful.

Grace giving shares with others. The purpose of God’s wonderful program of stewardship is that the needs of the body and the needs of the world might be met with equality. The one who has much can share much; the one who has little is able to share that little. But as God’s people share in proportion to what God has entrusted them with, the needs of the whole body are met.

Giving might be fun and exciting, but it isn’t easy. It’s a struggle because the devil doesn’t want us to be blessed. Satan knows that if we live generous lives, God will bless it. God blesses the giver, and He knows we will continue to use His blessings to bless others.

We don’t have to give only money. We can give of ourselves by volunteering or helping a neighbour or helping someone who is in a hospital or a nursing home. The important thing is not what we give or how much we give or how often we give. The important thing is that we give willingly. We are encouraged to make others’ needs our own and help them. By doing so we are imitating Jesus-and that is what He wants us to do as Christians in our world.

When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ our service will be judged not by how much we did but by how much we could have done. In God’s sight, our giving is measured not by how much we have given but by how much we could have given and how much we had left after we made out gifts. The only way we can pass God’s judgment is to remember that everything we are and everything we have comes from God. As the old Thanksgiving hymn goes:

All good gifts around us

Are sent from heaven above.

Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord

For all His love.

Then we must ask Him to help us to be generous, and then use our resources wisely for His glory. Jesus gave away everything He had-even His life. If we all live lives of selflessness and generosity like Jesus did, and if all of us gave something to churches and other ministries, we could feed thousands, share the Gospel to everyone and be a shining beacon of light.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1609-1610)
2. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2, Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 237-240)
3. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2006)
4. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
5. A.W. Tozer, “Pastoral Ministry: How Much Could I Have Done.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
6. Billy Graham, “How Much Money Does God Want from Us?” Retrieved from www.aarcamax.com
7. Pastor David McGee, “The Giving Gauge.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
8. Pastor David McGee, “Keep Growing.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
9. Pastor David McGee, “Giving is….” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com

When we do God’s work in our world, there is always a chance that we will face opposition, including persecution. How can we handle opposition when it arises? The best way is to follow the example of the apostle Paul, especially the example we find in 2 Corinthians 6:3-13.

Paul’s motives and commission by God were questioned. His motives and his conduct were attacked. What made the situation worse was the knowledge that some people who Paul had led to Christ believed that the accusations were true.

Suffering is typically perceived as negative, perhaps even a punishment from God. Paul saw it as the seal of God’s approval. So, with his authority under attack, Paul lists his hardships as his credentials. He gave insights into the costs of his ministry. He argued that the trials he endured were witnesses to the sincerity of his ministry.

People had different views of Paul and his ministry. Some saw him as a poor, sorrowful, unknown, dying impostor without honour. Others saw him as spiritually alive, honourable, well-though-of servant of God who enriched people throughout his ministry. He was evaluated by both worldly standards and spiritual standards. Our world has a stereotypical view of Christians. Any believer who engages in a faithful ministry should expect to be rejected and accepted, hated and loved. He or she should expect to enjoy both joy and hardships.

Paul proved himself by being faithful and diligent despite persecution. He did not solely rely on his own strength. He relied on spiritual virtue. Paul has provided an excellent example for us as Christians to follow when we are opposed or persecuted.

Paul lists how he conducted himself during his trials. Weapons on the right hand are offensive, those on the left are defensive. Christians can prepare for any battle by living virtuously and arming themselves with the word of truth and the power of God. The Holy Spirit enables these things.

Ministers are held to a higher standard of conduct that the rest of the population. This is understandable. The misconduct of one minister will bring scorn on the ministry and affect the usefulness and success of other ministers. As the old saying goes, “One bad apple spoils the whole bunch.” Integrity and power for daily life are a result of a heart committed to purity. A clean heart releases God’s authority and power.

Paul lists several positive influences of his ministry, and these same influences are the characteristics of positive Christian ministry today. He lived a pure life. He communicated the knowledge of what was true. He was patient in the face of trials. He was kind to everyone, and he loved everyone. He was under the satisfying influence of the Holy Spirit. In all cases, Paul acted in a manner that commended the ministry and the gospel in all circumstances, regardless of whether the world supported him or opposed him. Similarly, our actions must commend our ministry and the Good News in all circumstances regardless of the support (or lack thereof) of the world.

Paul’s list presents a model of Christlike character amid negative circumstances. The biblical paradoxes can be confusing—strength through weakness, comfort through suffering, life through death, glory through shame. But God is the lord of the paradox too, bringing good out of evil.

If we live the type of life Paul led, Christ can lead us into abundant life despite suffering. The key is to love one another. Love is a commitment. If two people love one another, they are committed to each other. Love is in short supply, and it is in short supply in the church. Many people have left the church because they have forgotten how important it is to be connected with a local faith community. We find love, joy and an outlet for service within the church. Unity and connections within the church are essential to the successful completion of the church’s mission. That mission is our mission as believers-that is, to spread the Good News to a world that is hurting, skeptical, and often hostile.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1608)
2. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2, Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 237-240)
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4. Pastor David McGee, “Wrapped in Kindness.” Retrieved form www.crossthebridge.com\
5. Mary Southerland, “Standing Firm in the Storms of Life, Part 1.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

Today, we celebrate Pentecost. It is also the birthday of the church, and like all other birthdays, a gift was given. That gift was the Holy Spirit, and we still receive the Holy Spirit today. The Holy Spirit also came bearing gifts, and it brings the same gifts today.

In 1 Corinthians 12:3-13, Paul lists four broad categories of spiritual gifts, each with a specific purpose. The special gifts are to equip God’s people. The speaking gifts are to explain God’s truth. The serving gifts are to enable God’s work. The sign gifts are to establish God’s authority.

The gifts from God fall into three categories: gifts received in relation to the Spirit, acts of service and works made possible by God’s power. The same God is the giver of these gifts. These gifts are for the common good of the church, not for the benefit of the recipients.

God gives different gifts to different people. To some, he gives the faith of miracles. This faith is greater than regular faith. To others, He gives the gift of healing. To others, He gives the ability to speak in languages that they did not know before. The Corinthians may have been afraid that those speaking in tongues were blaspheming the Lord. Paul reassured them that a person who was truly regenerated and indwelt by the Holy Spirit was incapable of cursing God.

Although we don’t have the gift of healing today, God still hears and answers our prayers, especially our prayers for the sick. One gift we receive is insights into the needs of people to bring them to Christ. That gift raises the spiritual bar for Christians who want to impact the world for Christ today.

We have the chance to be part of one of the greatest healings of all time. That healing is the dead coming to life. When we tell others the Gospel and they respond, they go from death to life, from condemnation to forgiveness, from being a child of the devil to a child of God.

In the 1800s, a young boy was fascinated by the beauty of snowflakes. He looked at them with an old microscope and made sketches of their designs, but they melted too quickly to capture their detail. In 1885, he attached a bellows camera to the microscope and after several tries he took his first picture of a snowflake.

No two snowflakes are alike, but all come from the same source. The same is true for all Christians. All of us come from the same God, but we are all different. God has chosen to bring a variety of people together into a unified whole, and He has given us different gifts, and He has given them to us in different ways.

The doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation upon which all other doctrines are built. Paul uses the beautiful mystery of the Trinity to demonstrate to the Corinthians that just as there is diversity within the Godhead (Father/Son/Spirit) yet only one God, there is also diversity in spiritual gifts but only one church. The diversity of gifts should serve to promote unity within the church, not division and competition.

Paul likens these gifts and the church to the human body. The body is made up of various parts and is still one body. The church is one body made up of many members, each with their own gifts and functions. The work of the church is to encourage its members to discover and use these gifts. The Spirit operates in our lives in such a way that we discover understandings and abilities that we did not know we had.

One reason why we sometimes don’t recognize our gifts is because of sin. Our self-centered human nature and our preoccupation with lesser things causes us to focus on worldly things. When the Spirit enters our lives, it begins to remove the clutter, just like we remove clutter when we move.

In ancient times, before all of Scripture was written, God would give a sign gift such as miracles, healings tongues or interpretation of tongues to validate the word of His spokesmen. Once the Word of God was completed, there was no further need for a revelation because God had said all that He intended to say. So today, if someone says, “I have a word from God,” ignore it. The canon of Scripture is closed.

The last chapter of the Book of Revelation pronounces a curse on anyone who would add to or subtract from Scripture. People do receive further understanding about the word God has already given, but no one receives any additional, prophetic revelation. Prophecy is now limited to proclaiming what has already been revealed in the Scriptures. That does not mean that Christians should ignore people such as ministers who deliver a message from God. They are to use the gift of discernment to determine the truthfulness of the message.

The validity of any speaking exercise is determined by the truthfulness of it. If the speaker affirms the lordship of Jesus, the message is truth from the Holy Spirit. What someone says and believers about Jesus is the test of whether he or she speaks from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit always leads people to Christ.

All our gifts come from God. Pride creeps in when we begin to think that we had these gifts and the power they bring to begin with. We did not earn our gifts, and God does not show favoritism. Each spiritual gift is just that-a gift. It was given by God because He wants us to share the Gospel with a hurting world.

Throughout Scripture, God chose the most unlikely and unqualified people to do His work in our world. In most cases these people insisted that they were not worthy. They forgot one thing that we sometimes forget today. What is impossible with people is possible with God. All we have to do is believe that God has called us to go into the world in His name, and not listen to the limitations we or others have imposed.

Some people are jealous of the gifts others have received. They think that their own gifts are small or insignificant compared to others. Sometimes this leads to a serious, permanent rift in a relationship, and sometimes this is God’s will. There are times God chooses to spread the Good News rapidly in different direction and different ways by having two capable servants have a disagreement. As they separate and minister in different locations and in different ways, He accomplishes a greater objective than if they agreed.

On this the birthday of the church, our attitude should be one of thankfulness and gratefulness. It is a duty that God wants us to accomplish cheerfully by using the gifts He has given us. If we do, we will be doing His work in our world-and that is a gift that we can give to Him and to others.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1587-1588)
2. A Commentary on the First Epistle to the Corinthians. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Chafin, K.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 30: 1,2 Corinthians (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 144-150)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Pastor David McGee, “From Death to Life.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
6. Pastor David McGee, “It’s Not You.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
7. Dennis Fisher, “Ice Flowers.” Retrieved from www.rbc.org
8. Christine Caine, “Justified by God.” Retrieved from Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
9. Charles R. Swindoll, “Agreeing About Disagreements, Part Two.” Retrieved from www.insightforliving.ca

What’s one of the hardest things you have ever had to do? For most of us, the answer is waiting, especially if we are sitting in a doctor’s waiting room. Frustration soon sets in. The disciples felt the same way, especially when Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the power He said would be coming to them. This was especially frustrating for Peter, who preferred to be doing something instead of waiting. Waiting is so frustrating because it means someone else or something else is in charge, not us. Being out of control and subject to the control of others reminds us of our finiteness and vulnerability.

The disciples wondered what type of power would be coming. Many people believed Jesus was going to bring a literal kingdom on earth. The disciples believed that this power would enable them to drive out the Romans and establish a Jewish kingdom. The disciples were not about to act on their own. They had the wisdom to wait and pray for guidance and leadership.

Jesus’ answer to the disciples’ question took their focus off their timetables and put it on to what they needed to do to spread the Gospel to the world. Along with focusing on when Christ will return, believers should also concentrate on witnessing to a dying world. Jesus will fulfill all the Old Testament promises in the future. When God fulfills His promises, He always exceeds our expectations.

Jesus told the disciples how the gospel would spread. The Holy Spirit gave the early Christians power so that their accomplishments were supernatural. The Great Commission appears in all four gospels as well as in Acts 1:6-14. Jesus promised that the disciples would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. This power would enable the disciples to do great things and be great witnesses for Jesus.

Jesus promised to send a guide and comforter. He sends the same guide and comforter to everyone-the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the same power it gives to everyone-the power of speaking, preaching the gospel, enduring life’s trials, etc. This power will be given to people who can accept Jesus’ authority over timing. God does things in his own time and in his own way. His concept of time is different from ours.

God wants to bless us with the power of the Holy Spirit. This starts with prayer and reconciled relationships with ourselves and the people in our lives. The process begins again and again throughout all our lives. When we receive this power, we can change lives and change the world.

When Alfred Nobel discovered an explosive element that was stronger than anything the world had known at the time, he asked a friend and Greek scholar for a word that conveyed the meaning of explosive power. The Greek word was dunamis, and Nobel named his invention “dynamite.” Dunamis is the same word that Jesus used when He told His disciples that they would receive dynamite power when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

When we get the power, we have a choice. God has chosen us to be His light of hope in a world that has been darkened by sin. We must choose to use that power by surrendering our lives to Him. We should not be like the Scottish lady at the turn of the 19^th century. She lived alone in a house on the west coast of Scotland. She was traditional and frugal. Her neighbours were shocked when she announced her plans to have electricity installed in her home.

Within a few weeks, the power lines were up and she had electric power, but the company noticed that she was not using the power. A company representative decided to visit her and find out why she wasn’t using any power.

He explained to her, “Your meter shows you’ve had power for three months, but you have scarcely used it.” She replied, “Oh, you see, I don’t use very much of it. Every evening when the sun sets, I turn the electric lamps on long enough to see that I can light my candle, and then I turn it off again!”

If we choose to live life in our own power, we will only accomplish normal things. If we choose to live life in God’s power, following His leading, our lives will be marked by the activity of God which can’t be explained by our own abilities.

God calls us to be His ambassadors in this world. He wants us to introduce Christ’s love and grace to people. We can only do this with the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s so easy to be mesmerized by the amazing power and miracles of God that we can become mere observers instead of active participants in what He wants us to do. God wants us to act, just like the angels told the disciples to act.

Christ’s work of salvation rests primarily on four pillars of truth: His birth, His crucifixion, His Resurrection and His ascension. The ascension was the exclamation point. It completely and finally demonstrated that His atonement had forever solved the problem that sin created. As believers, we are to be witnesses to His saving work, and like the original disciples, we are called by Jesus to spread the Good News to a world that desperately needs to hear His message.

Jesus did not want the disciples to be confused or discouraged by His ascension, so He sent the two angels to comfort them and order them to “get moving.” With the declaration in verse 11, the angels confirmed that the second person of the Trinity was then, and forever would be, God and Man. Just as He left, so would He return-in His glorified body. This is part of every Christian’s hope! Christ was the first fruit of the resurrection, meaning that when all things are made new, His followers will be made like Him.

When the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they were constantly grappling with the shock and emotions of what they had just seen and heard. They were embarking on a new chapter in history. So, what did they do? They prayed and drew strength from God as they went forward in faith to serve Him. The great preacher Harry Ironside once said that, “When God is going to do some great thing, He moves the hearts of people to pray. He stirs them up to pray in view of that which He is about to do.” The disciples needed that time of preparation, prayer and self-examination so they would be ready for the power to change the world.

The patience of the disciples was rewarded when, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit arrived and touched them. The Holy Spirit gave them the power to accomplish many things, including the ability to preach to the members of the crowd in their own languages.

The events in Acts 1:6-14 are all part of God’s plan for redeeming the world. We are a part of His plan. We don’t know when the kingdom will come, but we do know that we are called to spread the Good News. We can do this by being in contact with people and infusing them with the Gospel. When we do, the power of the Holy Spirit in us will be released.

It’s our duty to tell others what we experienced when we met Jesus, and it is a duty that we should perform joyfully. For us the focus of our mission is at home in life’s most intimate relationships. It’s where people really know us. It has a focus at work and in the community where the consistency of our life and witness can be observed. How can we keep the gift of salvation quiet and not share it with others?

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1486-1487)
2. Jeremiah, David: A.D.: The Revolution that Changed the World (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2015; pp. 40-44)
3. Jeremiah, David: Acts: The Church in Action, Vol. 1 (San Diego, CA: Turning Point for God;2006,2015; pp. 13-36
4. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
5. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 36-48)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
8. “Devoted to Prayer.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmaillcom
9. “Power to Proclaim.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmaillcom
10. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Our Calling.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
11. Pastor Greg Laurie, “The Explosive Power of Pentecost.” Retrieved from www.harvest.org
12. Pastor Ken Klaus, “An Unstoppable Message.” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
13. T.M. Moore, “Kingdom Power.” Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
14. Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, The Ascension of the Lord (A).” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
15. Richard Neill Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 1:6-14.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com
16. Pastor Ed Young, “The Joy of Witnessing.” Retrieved from www.edyoung.com
17. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Joy of Witnessing.” Retrieved from www.leadingtheway.org
18. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.; 2016; pp. 20-26)

Have you ever wondered how you can reach and teach people who don’t know Christ? If so, you can learn from the example Paul used in the passage from Acts 17:22-31.

Paul approached the subject of his message from the viewpoint of the Greeks. He did not use flattery. He complimented them on their pursuit of spiritual knowledge. He used something familiar to the Greeks to introduce them to something that they weren’t familiar with. The Greeks accepted all gods, but in case they forgot any gods, they built an altar to an unknown god. The Greeks were searching for knowledge. They didn’t have to look any further than Jesus. If we are looking for knowledge, all we have to do is look for Jesus. Paul proceeded to tell them about the one god they overlooked in their pursuit of spiritual knowledge.

Paul understood the character of his audience and tailored his message to them. He acknowledged their gods and then proceeded to teach them about the god they knew as “the unknown god.” In doing so, he gently tried to convince them that their worship of multiple gods was foolish He spoke of God as the Creator of a world who could control every event and could not be confined to temples. The Creator does not need to depend on us for happiness. The Creator created life, and so we depend on Him.

Paul developed his theme carefully. He emphasized four points:

1. As the Creator, God can’t be contained.
2. As the Originator, God has no needs.
3. As the Sovereign of the universe, He has a purpose. He is accessible to everyone.
4. As the source of life, God does not depend on us. We, on the other hand, depend on Him.

Paul applied his message to the needs of the Greeks. God wants people to repent so He can grant them unmerited favour.

After laying the groundwork, Paul moved on to the main point of his message. Jesus has been revealed. His authority was validated when he rose from the dead. Paul introduced the concept of resurrection into the Greeks’ concept of the universe. The Greeks considered the concept of resurrection to be absurd. Paul brings Christ into the picture by pointing out that the Resurrection proves Jesus as God’s Man who will one day judge the world in righteousness.

Standing amid countless idols created by humans, Paul made the point that humanity does not create God. In fact, the Greeks’ own poets had recognized that God created humans, not vice versa.

 Everyone can learn about God, and Paul provided the Greeks with the same opportunity. He encouraged the Greeks to search the Scriptures and find the proofs of his existence. They were invited to learn about God’s perfection and His laws. God is near to us because the proofs of his existence and power are all around us.

God’s purpose is for us to seek the Lord, in the hope we will search for Him and find Him. When we look for God, we are looking for a God who is already known to us. He invites us to search for Him, and He promises to reward our search.

How should we defend our faith when people ask us to explain the hope that is in us? We can follow the example Paul used with the Greeks. We can start by acknowledging points of common interest. At the same time, we must hold our ground in matters that strike at the nerve of Christian faith. This is an uneasy, unresolved tension that witnesses to Christ learn to live with.

The gospel sounds different every place it is told, because it is connected linguistically, culturally and personally to humanity. That’s why Paul chose the approach he used when he preached to the Greeks. Paul explained that Jesus fit within basic Greek religious ideas, but Jesus also confounded them by being something new and unfamiliar.

Paul met the Greeks on their own time and at their own place. He set a good example for us as Christians to follow. Instead of expecting people to come to church and learn about God, we can teach them about God by meeting them where they are-at work, at home, in school, in clubs or in groups and so on. We must be involved in our world. In a society where technology and communications change rapidly, we must search for new ways to relate to people (including non-Christians) and preach the Good News.

How can we do this? Well, for example, we can:

1. Spend time understanding the people who live in this world of new media and communications.
2. Follow the Twitter feeds and Facebook posts of those who are not Christians. They pay attention to the same social issues and problems that Jesus encountered though His ministry.

For example, James and his wife were at church one Sunday when they noticed a new couple sitting not far from them. After the service, they walked up and greeted them. The new couple asked where they lived, so James described his neighborhood and talked about how nice it was.

The same question was asked to the new couple, who lamented about where they were living. They said that in the few weeks since they moved in, not one of their neighbours had stopped to say hello.

 The two couples parted, got into their cars and drove home. As James and his wife were pulling into their driveway, they were shocked to see the new couple…pulling in the driveway just next to theirs.

 Bibliography

1. 1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, pp. 1517-1518)
   2. Swindoll, Charles. R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Acts (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers; 2016, pp. 348-350)
   3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
   4. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 252-255)
   5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
   6. C. Clifton Black, “Commentary on Acts 17:22-31.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
   7. Matt Skinner, “Commentary on Acts 17:22-31.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org
   8. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “From Synagogues and Sanctuaries to Bars and Boardrooms: The Apostle Paul at the Aeropagus.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net
   9. The Rev. Hardy Kim, “Proclaiming Christ in the New Aeropagus.” Retrieved from www.day1.org
   10. Dr. Randy Hyde, “Seeker Unsensitive.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
   11. “How to be a Light Where God Has You.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

• Richard Neil Donovan, “Exegesis for Acts 17:22-31.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com

One of the interesting aspects of humanity is the fact that all of us are different. These differences make the world interesting to say the least. After all, the world would be a very boring place if everyone was identical. On the other hand, differences can lead to problems if they are not dealt with. In terms of Christianity, these differences can divide people into two groups-those who have weak faith, and those whose faith is strong. Those who have strong faith are to accept and help those who are slipping in their faith. We see an example of how differences in faith can divide people in the passage from Romans 14:1-12.

Many Christians in Rome were converts from pagan religion. Part of pagan religion involved sacrificing animals in honour of a god. Any meat that was not burned in fire or eaten during the ritual could be sold in the market. Converts from pagan religion were afraid to eat meat that was offered to idols, so they usually did not eat any meat that they did not prepare themselves.

Some people in the church who felt free to eat meat passed judgment on those who did not. Those who made the criticisms were weak in their faith. When Paul suggested vegetarians also judged those who ate meat, he was saying that the sin of despising and disgracing brothers and sisters can work both ways. Neither behavior is acceptable to God; both must be avoided in the body of Christ. Paul urged those who were on either side of the issue to show understanding, compassion and tenderness. He urged those who were strong in faith to be considerate in the exercise of their freedom and strengthen the weak. Love and fellowship in Christ should be the basis for Christian acceptance of one another.

The church faces similar issues today. How many churches condemn their members who don’t behave according to that church’s teachings? Every church could be changed if it took these principles to heart:

1. A life of grace begins with mutual acceptance. Accepting another person doesn’t mean that we must agree with him or her. We can respectfully disagree with ideas or opinions without rejecting the person who holds them.
2. An attitude of grace requires releasing others to be who God wants them to be.
3. A commitment to grace forbids one from judging someone else. We don’t know all the facts of the situation. We can’t be objective. We can’t redeem. God is the only person who can fulfill these criteria.

All of us are faced with people who seem different. We have different values and can use those to judge ourselves superior to others, but God has already judged us and found us worthy of love, compassion and salvation. Instead of focusing too much on how our differences stack up against each other, we should turn our focus toward the God who sees us and loves us all the same. All of us are the same in the only way that matters. We are God’s beloved, for whom Christ died so that we may life forever. None of our differences compare to this one, essential similarity.

We belong to God. He will renew our minds. We must give Him the chance to change us and fellow believers. We must not try to control others’ behavior based on what pleases us. The motivation to change behavior must come from a conscience that has been changed by God. God is pleased with the individual Christian because of Christ, not because of his or her views on peripheral matters. Christians are to have the same attitude, striving toward unity, not unnecessary dissension.

We are not to judge others when it comes to non-essential matter of faith. We must ask ourselves, “What would Jesus do?” Every believer should make sure their conscience does not condemn them and then act on what they believe, being responsible to make judgments about things not specifically covered in Scripture. The centre of Christian life is faithfulness and love toward God-whether in obeying Scripture or seeking to apply scriptural principles .

Paul wants believers to deal with controversial issues on the solid base of commitment to Christ instead of surrendering to pressure. This does not mean that it doesn’t matter what Christians believe or how they believe. In many matters, Christ and the apostles were clear. In many areas of spiritual experience there are no hard and fast rules, so a certain degree of freedom has been granted.

God tells us that there will be a day when each of us will have to give an account of what we did with the gifts He gave us. Why does He do this? It’s because He knows that we don’t want to behave well unless acting badly has consequences. If we judge another person, we assume God’s role. We place ourselves above Him.

To play the role of God in another person’s life is dangerous. God is the only person who has the right to judge others. His standards are much higher than ours. If He is not pleased with a person’s conduct, He will deal with the situation as he sees fit. He will use the Holy Spirit to change the offender’s conduct so that it will be more Christ-like, just like the Holy Spirit changes our behavior. Christians will stand one day before Christ’s judgment seat, not to determine their salvation, but to have their works examined before receiving rewards.

Bibliography

1.  Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1564)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Romans (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010, pp. 286-294)
3. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 1 Bible software package.
4. Briscoe, D.S. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 29: Romans (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982, pp. 244-247)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, New American Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)
7. Joe Gibbs, “Judgment Day.” Retrieved from www.GamePlanForLife.com
8. Richard Niell Donovan, “Exegesis for Romans 14:1-12.” Retrieved from www.sermonwriter.com