Be Not a Respecter of Persons

Colossians 3:10-17  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

   Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

   And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 

How much more should we as children of God accept others who walk in Christ, based on eternal standards and not on the outside appearance, race, age,  place of origin, or financial status. God is not a respecter of persons and neither should we be. For He chooses where we are born and when we are born.

Act 17:26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation

When we find it hard to like someone, but we know they are Christ’s, then we remember how He is merciful, kind, esteeming others more highly, and patient.  We should recognize we are called of God to follow His lead.  Love of course is His perfect law when it comes to relating to others, especially if we claim to know God Mark 12:30-31, 1Cor 13:1-13 We should be thankful for the circumstances and the people He has put in our life…

1 Cor 4:5-8, 2Ti 2:12, Rev 5:9-10, Rev 20:6, Rev 22:5

Scripture of Note: Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan

Wallowing in the Mire

Like the son in the parable of the wayward son in Luke 15:11-32, we take what we think God has to offer, the benefits of a happy life, the blessings of material goods, the title of being heir to salvation(by saying a sinner’s prayer and calling ourselves christian), the reward of heaven; and like the prodigal son we think that it is sufficient to get us by in this world until we die.  The altar call that led you up to the front of the church building is not sufficient to save you; the baptism when you were a baby is not sufficient to save you; and even that sinner’s prayer does not guarantee you a place in glory when you die.  When trials and tribulations come, those past experiences won’t comfort you, they won’t keep you going and help you to overcome in this life.  After the “wealth” the son took with him was gone, he began to experience famine and then trusted in the world and himself to eat instead of going back to his Father. But the world is of no help, all it has to offer is scraps, of no substance to sustain a child of God, the wisdom of men, and those sugar-coated empty things that only make you fat. All it will leave you is emptiness.  But…

Pro 3:5-10  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.    It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

It is the Lord God in heaven who will supply all that we need to get us through the time we have to spend on this earth. We must stay in his word, remembering what he has told us. The apostle Peter in 2 Peter chap 1 exhorts us to remember that he has given us all we need if we know God. He reminds us that we can partake of the abundance if we remain in and with Him and allow Him to conform us to be like his Son Jesus Christ. We won’t fall away from Him if we are diligent and let him sustain us. Stay in His word brethren, hold fast, don’t listen to the wisdom of men in this world. Don’t trust in yourself to get you by. Many have already lost sight of of what the Lord has told us, and are sliding back into wallowing in the mire.

Amo 8:10-12 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.

2Pe 2:20-22  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.  21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.  22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Observing Wheat and Tares

We went out into a wheat field yesterday and the Lord gave us a wonderful lesson on the difference between wheat and the tares…

On first observance, the wheat was so close together, intermingled, touching one another; a small area but an innumerable amount. Like we are. Secondly, there were the not-so obvious weeds and the obvious weeds. Some were very hard to distinguish from some feet away, but others boldly made their presence known. Sometimes people blend in among us as children of God looking almost exactly like us, but then through closer discernment, there is bad fruit like a weed, good for nothing. But others stick out like a sore thumb, blending with us in the younger stages of being a christian, and then they manifested pretty boldly  and are definitely not of us. Next, I could see that as the wheat had matured it had bowed down, but not the weeds.  For it is of a poor and contrite spirit that our Lord desires from us, not the outward look of being a christian and without fruit. A humble heart bows down, but not a proud one.

As we were first plucking the heads off the wheat, Brandon showed how to crush the heads and then blow the chaff away, so that the fruit could be revealed and useful to eat. We must go through much suffering when Lord is getting rid of all the sin and vain, profitless things in our life. It is only then that good fruit that the Lord has been cultivating in us can be revealed. I remembered our Lord taking the disciples through the wheat field on the sabbath and them being hungry, so they ate (Matt 12). Teaching the pharisees the true meaning of the Lord’s rest and not trusting in earthly means(I will have mercy and not sacrifice). Relying totally on him for all our earthly needs, for he gives us all things if we seek to follow him. The disciples followed him into that field, but not on a road. He didn’t have to go through that field, but knew they needed mercy for their hunger pains.  But all the pharisees worried about was the law(“your not allowed to do that, you need to follow the preset rules our system that we have put you in bondage to”) As in the field, I was standing in last night, O, the mature weeds love to stand up and say “here I am look at me, I’m tall and proud”.

The next thing I was shown as we were plucking were, the dead ones. They were slightly shorter and obviously dead and not that golden color(light) of the live ones but dark. I also noticed they had not bowed down before they died. “twice dead plucked up by the roots” Jude 1:12 The seed had originally died for life to produce, but never came to completion in what it was to do. So now it was good for nothing but to pulled up(dead plants are easily pulled up) and to throw into the fire with all the weeds. And the little fruit it did have was not accounted for.
For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 25:29-30
And with the good wheat(bowed down, Light in color)there were various  sizes to the heads of the grain. Some very small, some of average size and some very large heads.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Mat 13:23

All of the wheat that endures to maturation will bring forth much fruit. Some more than others, but all good and profitable for use.

Unfeigned Love of the Brethren

Joh 15:12-14 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Do we claim to know the one true God and obey him? He commands us, not just asks us to love the brethren. To truly love one another we must look into how how he loves and follow in His example. For being a disciple and the proof of God truly dwelling in us through his Holy Spirit, is evinced by the love we have for each other.

Joh 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

1Jn 4:7-13 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

What is the godly kind of love he calls us to? As John 14:12-14 above states “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. ” Do we do this? Is it a bother to give up our time to others? Is our schedule too busy to carve out time for a letter, phone call, to encourage, comfort, help others in the body of Christ? One hinderance to loving is that we don’t know those we call our brethren. One morning for two hours a week doesn’t cut it. People can’t get to know the needs of others by looking at the back of their head, sitting in pews one day a week.

1Th 5:11-15 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

The apostle Paul reminds us that we should know those that are in the body. Or else how can you be aware of someone’s needs, lack in finances, sin creeping into their lives. Love helps someone up when they sin or stumble; but if you know not the person and live totally separate existences six days a week, you can’t really know them enough to say, “hey brother, I see a problem here and I am concerned you are not following the Lord in this area of your life”

Jas 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

We can say we love someone, for the words flow easily from our lips, but do we back up those words with deeds. Words can mean nothing, but action proves everything, even the proof of the very life of Christ dwelling in us.

1Jn 3:14-19 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

Our love for each other should not half-hearted also, but fervent (1Pet 4:8), without pretense, without hypocrisy(which is only the words flowing from out lips without action). Seeking not our own but the good of the other person.

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

Rom 12:9-10 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

To be fervent means to be ardent, zealous, devoted, eager, and vehement. There is no room for complacency in our love for one another. For if we desire to love like this, just as He did, laying down our whole lives for Him and the brethren, He will gladly show us how to love in the way He does and abound in it. And since it is a fruit of having the spirit Gal 5:22, we know that fruit does not develop overnight. It takes much time to take root and come to fruition. But God is faithful, and if we desire to be like Him, He will bring us to point of maturity. To that point of being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Th 3:12-13 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

2Th 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

Let us so desire to be like him, mature and not babes; so that we spur each other on daily in love until the day of our Lord Jesus’ coming to receive that beautiful and spotless bride for which he laid down his life.

Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.