Quiet Time: Blessed to Bless

Blessed to Bless

Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. – 1 Peter 3:9

God has blessed me; therefore, I must bless others (Pulpit Commentary)

“Skin for skin”, “an eye for an eye”, and “Don’t get mad-get even” are all well known and well practiced idioms of the day.

(1 Peter 3:9) tells us not to return: apodidontes: to give up, give back, return, restore; evil: kakon: bad, evil for evil or insult: loidorian: abuse, railing for railing. Then it goes on to say we are to give a blessing: eulogountes: to speak well of, to praise the person who insults us.

Why would God command such a realistically implausible and practically impossible response to verbal abuse? It is because He knows us better than we know ourselves. We need to do this. Also it is the fact that His Holy Spirit indwells and empowers the believer to do the seemingly impossible.

Actually, though, in this case, we are told to follow Him in this response because of our future, our inheritance. In other words, this world is where we walk by faith knowing that one day our faith will be sight and we will see Him face to face.

Just in case we think that it really is impossible to accomplish this command, God has given us several examples to follow:

• Joseph could’ve gotten back at his brothers but instead he, “Gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to put each man's silver back in his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey.” – Genesis 42:25

• David had could’ve killed Saul. Instead he said, “But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go." – 1 Samuel 26:11

• Solomon tells us “Do not say, ‘I'll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you”. – Proverbs 20:22

• Jesus, the ultimate example tells us to, “Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you”. – Luke 6:28.

"If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them” (John 13:17). I think that something happens in our heart when we walk out the word. In that instant we experience a little bit of heaven here on earth. We are blessed by God at that moment so that we can give Him glory.

Be a blessing. (Romans 12:14)

 

 

 

Quiet Time: Why Be Sad

Why Be Sad

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it." 

– Genesis 4:7

Sin makes us sad.

We are happiest when we do well, right, and follow the light.

Mastering anything, according to Robert Greene, author of the book Mastery  says the secret ingredients to becoming a world master at something are “desire and time”. Perhaps this helps us understand why Christ followers often find themselves overcome by sin. 

There are two desires within every Christian, the flesh and the Spirit (Gal. 5:17) therefore, we must determine to desire and allocate time for the things that build up the Spirit’s ability to work within us.

A Christ follower is happiest when following Jesus and sad when he sins.Why be sad?

Queit Time: Listen; Just Listen

Listen; Just Listen

They sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great. —Job 2:13

Yesterday I met Mike. Within twenty minutes I knew more about his life than the men I’ve worked with for more than twenty years. He was bringing in the shopping carts for one of the big chain stores when I asked him if he wanted the cart I’d just finished using. He said sure and then asked, “How was your Christmas?” Before I could answer he said, “I was off work for Christmas but…” 

The next several minutes, while standing in that parking lot, I listened without saying a word to Mike as he described, in rapid staccato, a life filled with relentless pressure and pain.

Here’s what I learned about Mike:

•   Forty years old
•  One sibling, a sister, whom he loves
•  Doesn’t drink or smoke
•  Single, never married, and no prospects
•  Living paycheck to paycheck
•  Drives an old car that’s ready to break down at any minute
•  Had to fend for himself by age 14
• 8^th grade education
•  Believes in hard work and no hand-outs

At this point in the conversation, it got personal….

•  Father and mother are alcoholics and as far as he can remember, have always been
• They drank and smoked away any money that may have helped maintain the household
• Mike doesn’t visit them and didn’t see them Christmas; too depressing
• Mike got nothing for Christmas
• The last gift he received was a pair of socks from his dad several Christmases past
• He thinks Christmas is all about getting not giving; and it certainly has nothing to do with Christ
•  He sat around and did nothing Christmas day.
• No one called him and he called no one.
• No one cares

Now, let me be candid, people don’t often open up to me like that. As a matter of fact, I’ve been told by friends and co-workers that I can be a bit intimidating. That’s a laugh. Besides, like most people, I usually try and avoid the Mikes of this world. But, for some reason this guy felt free to talk to me, and I felt free to listen. 

Now that I think about it, may-be it was due to the bible verse from my personal quiet time yesterday (Job 2:13) that made the difference.  I asked God to help me be a better listener, and He did. 

It's sobering to think how many Mikes I may have missed in the past just because I didn’t care enough to listen.

Here are some more verses that come to mind:

(James 1:19) Quick to listen (Prov. 17:27) Restrain your words (Prov. 16:32) Be a patient person

Quiet Time: I Beg to Differ

I Beg to Differ

Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. – Philippians 3:15 NLT

I disagree. 

When did this two word sentence become wrong?

I am a fundamental, bible believing, blood bought Christ follower who understands that the bible teaches many explicit doctrines, many more implicit truths, and an even greater number of not so clear stuff, to which my best answer is, “I don’t know.” This view neither hinders me from searching the scriptures to better understand God’s heart, nor does it keep me from hanging out with those who see things differently.

One thing I see is that the church is changing. Many things are accepted today that would have never been allowed in the past. More bewildering; fundamental doctrines are now being reshaped by some very popular teachers, possibly, for the sake of reaching an ever larger audience. 

Realistically, most of us will never be in a position to talk one on one with a rock star preacher, but there's no reason why individual believers can't sit down with their local pastor, as well as, small group bible studies and reasonably search the scriptures together, agreeing and disagreeing graciously. I see little hope of the body of Christ growing in grace and truth, let alone, being of one mind and spirit serving the LORD (Phil. 1:27) until we do. 

“I disagree”, should not separate but instigate further study and dialog. 

Dig deeper – listen longer – speak slower - practice patience

Quiet Time: Imitator

Imitator

Don't be a poser

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 

- 1 Thessalonians 1:6

John Patitucci is a world renowned bass guitarist. His left hand flies across the fret board while his right is a blur, fluttering like a moth to the light. Many aspiring bassist spend hours attempting to replicate his riffs and arpeggios to no avail. Additionally, a little known fact about John is his Presbyterian elder-ship.  That’s right, this virtuoso, admired and respected by artist the world over, is a strong and vibrant believer who shares his faith without fear in places that you and I could never go

Imitator /mimētḗs (emulator) is always used positively in the NT (seven times) – of followers of Christ emulating a God-approved example. 

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, or so the saying goes, that said, I have a few questions that I intend to ponder:

1.       Who is your hero?

2.       Are you willing to be an example? (1 Cor. 11:1)

3.       Are you joy-filled? (Phil. 4:4)

4.       Are you conforming or transforming? (Romans 12:1-2)

I