"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "
(Mat 5:13-15)
In this case, Jesus uses the analogy of Salt and Light to describe His people. Salt and Light have properties which are unique unto them, and can not be substituted by another.
A "house" provides residence and shelter, but so can a hut, a barn, even a cave, though maybe not quite as well. But the essential function of shelter can be still be met by other things, it is only a question of degrees.
A "bowl" can contain flour for cooking, but so can a cup or a pot, or even a pitcher.
A "chair" can provide a place for a person to sit, but so can a stump, a bed, a log, or even a rock. It is just a question of degrees.
But there is no substitute for salt or light. They contain a special nature that is unique unto them. So it is with the people of GOD.
October 17, 2009
A Different Nature - Pt 2
The question was once asked: What really sets a Christian apart? In other words, what actions truly define a Christian? Well, Christians are supposed to do many good things for the benefit of those around them. For example: Prayer, Go to Church, Giving to the poor, Helping our neighbors, Encouraging others, Working productively, Reading the Bible, and the list goes on....
But don't non-Christians also do those same things? Almost everyone prays at some point in their life. UNICEF also helps the poor children. Some non-Christians are better versed in the Bible than the average Christian.
So what actions are actually unique unto Christians?
So what actions are actually unique unto Christians?
(1) Christians show LOVE to those who HATE them.
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Mat 5:46-48)
It is very rare to see an individual that shows love from their heart to someone who is deliberately trying to hurt them. This is not talking about being a doormat or being unwilling to stand up for what is right. This is talking about letting go of our own self-centered egos and following the heart of GOD as exemplified by JESUS CHRIST. The love of man comes and goes, but GOD LOVES ALL THE TIME, even in His Wrath. Because GOD'S VERY NATURE IS LOVE and He changes not.
2) Christians would rather honor others than to be honored
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
(Mar 10:42-44)
Would you rather respect others, or be respected?
Would you rather show appreciation to someone else, or be appreciated?
Would you rather love others, or be loved?
3) Christians seek the Kingdom of GOD above everything else
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
(Mat 6:31-33)
In a recent poll, over one hundred people were asked "What would you pick if you could have just one wish?"
Responses ranged from a million dollars, to never getting sick, to peace on earth, to more wishes. However, not one person wished to better know the GOD who created them, or even to become a better person (although some wished that other people would stop hating).
As good as health, peace on earth, or a million dollars can be, without the knowledge of the infinite GOD these are just short-sighted measures, which cannot bring everlasting life and success. We are just trading in one set of problems for another.
October 12, 2009
Love is a Two-Way Street
Love is a two-way street. GOD created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. All life owes its existence to GOD and GOD loves all of His creation, especially HIS children. He wants all of His children to love Him with all their heart, soul and mind and to love each other, just as GOD loves them with all of His own Heart, Soul, and Mind.
As we put GOD first in our heart, He puts us first in His--this is the correct way. The sinful way is for us to put first our own needs and wants...while expecting GOD to also put first our needs and wants. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but yet only that which is clean can be joined to Him.
As we put GOD first in our heart, He puts us first in His--this is the correct way. The sinful way is for us to put first our own needs and wants...while expecting GOD to also put first our needs and wants. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but yet only that which is clean can be joined to Him.
What is Holiness?
Holiness is a “double-edged sword” with two aspects. The first aspect of Holiness is to be “sanctified” and “set apart” for a purpose and calling of the Lord. The second aspect of Holiness is Wholeness, Completeness, and Unity within that purpose, lacking nothing. The Sabbath was “set apart” because in its rest, the purposes of the previous “week” have been completed.
For example, consider the natural body. Every cell is a separate entity that is “set apart” yet they all work together as one, for the purpose of giving life to an individual. The stomach must be separate from the liver in order for them both to do their jobs, yet they must be unified under the overall purpose of giving life.
Now consider the Body of Christ. Like the natural body, the spiritual Body of Christ has many diverse members and roles. Yet Jesus had prayed that the disciples may all be One, just as Jesus and the Father are One. (John 17:17-22) “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.” (1Co
GOD’s people have been placed on Earth to benefit the nations, but yet must remain spiritually distinct and set-apart from the nations. “You are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1Pe 2:9) “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2Co
Unity of the Body does NOT mean that everyone needs to bare their soul to everyone else all the time, or become clones that are assimilated into a hive-society, or that there is no longer any place for privacy. How to we tell the difference between a proper boundary (e.g. Husband and wife, a support group, 12 apostles, etc) and a divisive faction that separates the body?
To put it simply, divisions and factions within the body arise from distrust, jealousy and sin. Healthy boundaries arise from the life-giving purposes of GOD.
A young woman was engaged to be married. She loved her fiancée very much. Although he had sin and was imperfect, she loved him anyway and was kind to him. Sometimes he would say unkind things that hurt her, but she always forgave him and continued to see the best in him. Therefore her fiancée also loved and admired her very much and was eagerly anticipating their marriage.
One day, her fiancée’s father came to visit. The father said the young woman would not make a good wife for this young woman is not of good character because she does not come from a good family background. He said the reason she is trying to get married so quickly is because her parents were divorced. However, the father did not see that the young woman had just walked into the room behind him and heard everything he said. But the fiancée could see her as she quietly leave the room.
Afterwards, the fiancée went over to the young woman to apologize for his father’s words. “You must understand…my father is very traditional” he explained. Although she was hurt, she never used the angry tongue, the slandering tongue, the gossiping tongue. After they were married, she never spoke badly about her father-in-law, either openly or secretly, but showed only kindness to him. She would sometimes go out of her way to do thoughtful things for him.
Finally, the husband asked her “You know my father does not treat you well. He has said many bad things about you before and even today does not show kindness to you. Why do you treat him so well?”
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