Parenting and Childing

Think back with me to an experience in your past...when you've been out among others and encountered a child being nasty to his or her parent(s).  Did you immediately feel insulted and/or disgusted?  Oh, I'm not talking about a young toddler who cries in the restaurant.   I'm talking about rebellious, in-your-face disobedience.  Most of us find that repellent or at the very least pitiable.

What about older children, adult children - - are they required to obey their parents?  What, then, does it mean to honor one's father and mother?

In Ephesians 6 Paul continues his admonitions concerning relationships of various kinds.  Thus far, he has addressed relationships between us and our God, us and other brothers/sisters in the Lord, and our relationships with our husband or wife.  Now, in chapter 6, he addresses children and parents.

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH.

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Speaking as a child of one living parent and also of a parent of two living children, this is a topic on which it is difficult to write.  "I hate to use personal experience, but it's the only kind I've had."  :)

Our attitudes toward this passage are no doubt colored by our own personal, family experiences.  If you had a mean, dangerous, neglectful or otherwise unloving parent, those experiences will color your interpretation and govern your reaction toward Paul's words.  If, on the other hand, you did not, but rather had a loving, nurturing godly parent, your reaction will be different.  Similarly, if your children exhibited no more than the normal fractious behavior, but were generally obedient and respectful in your home, your reaction to this passage will be positive.  If that was not the case, or if you have never had children, your impressions will be affected by your life experiences.

Even though these "family rules" of Paul's are applicable to all families, the underlying principle behind Paul's words is that they are being said to Christians, who are endeavoring to function in a godly manner in their families.  So, Paul adds "in the Lord" to indicate that no family interactions should be contrary to the will of God, as revealed in Scripture.  So, if your alcoholic parent told you to beat your sibling, and you disobeyed, you are not judged for your disobedience.  Or, if your calling from the Lord does not set well with your parent, you should prayerfully consider your godly parent's opinion, and then go as the Holy Spirit leads you.  Often He will lead us to see the wisdom of our parent's advice; other times we will realize that God's will lies elsewhere.  Our allegiance to the Lord, and to His will, is greater than our allegiance to our parents and children.  (Matthew 10:37 and 19:29)

However, the Bible is clear in its condemnation of those who neglect either or both.  (1 Timothy 5:8)

I have some rather new friends who are retired foreign missionaries.  Both their sets of parents are dead.  The woman's parents died early, but the man's did not.  Although these missionaries lived half-a-world-away, they made certain his parents were cared for.  Our local church, one of our Sunday School classes, helped to look after and watch over his mother in her final days.  Some would argue that, because he did not live next door or in the same town, he did not care for his mother.  I would argue that he did care for her very well.

Paul says that children should obey their parents "for this is right".  From Barnes Notes on the Bible:

For this is right - It is right:
(1) because it is so appointed by God as a duty;
(2) because children owe a debt of gratitude to their parents for what they have done for them;
(3) because it will be for the good of the children themselves, and for the welfare of society.
Well said.  For millennia, civilized people have recognized that children are under the authority of their parents until they reach adulthood (until they are "adulting" as the current expression goes), and that they should therefore both obey and respect them while children are living at home and/or mom and dad are "footing the bills".

Even in adulthood, however, we are commanded to show honor and respect to our father and mother.  I find it curious here that Paul specifically mentions both, as opposed to saying just "parents".  Both are recognized by God as having distinct and crucial roles in the family, and both are deserving of honor.

Verse 4 gives the ultimate responsibility for the discipline in the home to the father, although the mother plays an important and supportive role.  While both should establish order and maintain discipline, it is each father's duty to see that the children respect both him and their mother, and to ensure that children are treated respectfully as well.  This does not give any parent, father or mother, permission to be a tyrant, but rather urges them to be disciplined, loving leaders of their children who administer order and correction in love.

Tomorrow, we'll explore the next verses....about "slavery", and it's modern-day application to us.

Father, I know all too well that this post and the last will pick at scabs in some cases.  Many of us did not have happy home lives, either in the past or in the present.  It seems that when Satan attacks, our most vulnerable spots are in our familial relationships.  It is there that wounds are the most severe.  I'm grateful that You are more powerful than any situation, that Your grace is greater than any broken relationship, and that Your forgiveness is complete.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Source:

http://biblehub.com/commentaries/ephesians/6-1.htm

Knowing Our Place

When Bible teachers are led to teach on husband and wife relationships, they often use as their text our specific text for today:  Ephesians 5:22-33.  The apostle Peter also wrote about this topic, and in going through his letters just over a year ago here at the blog, I blogged about those relevant passages, as well as this one.  So, I'm not going to re-create, but instead am going to ... review, that is, borrow from myself for today's post.  :)

The basic concepts in this passage, applicable to all of us whether we're married or not, are "position", "authority" and knowing where we fit in.

When tackling this controversial Ephesians passage it is important to realize that the topic does not begin with verse 22.   It is part of a larger message Paul has been giving to the church on how to live well together, walking in the Holy Spirit.  So, let's frame today's specific text appropriately by adding on the preceding verse (vs. 21), (although it's part of a long typically-Pauline sentence that starts in vs. 18.)

18And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  

21and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

{underlined emphasis above is mine}
It is important to remember that Jesus Christ modeled this "knowing your place" stuff for us.  (One specific example of this included His baptism, and another His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.) While in human form, Jesus subjected Himself, submitted Himself to God the Father.  He limited Himself through putting on flesh and living among us.  We need to follow his example in our resplendent walk.  God has given us various authorities to which we should be subject.  I'll bet you can name some of them. Here are a few, along with substantiating Scripture:

1.  Jesus submitting to the Father.  Luke 22:42
2.  Believers submitting to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, by being obedient to His Word revealed in the Bible.  James 4:7  1 Peter 5:6 
3.  Believers submitting to one another in their fellowship, interactions with one another.  Ephesians 5:21
4.  Slaves submitting to their masters.  Ephesians 6:5-8  (Modern-day application: the workplace)
5.  Obeying the laws and governing authorities of your homeland.  Romans 13:1  1 Peter 2:13
6.  Wives submitting to their husbands, and husbands loving their wives as Jesus loves His Church. Ephesians 5:22-25  1 Peter 3:1-6
7.  Children submitting to the authority of their parents.  1 Peter 5:5  Ephesians 6:1

Rarely is it easy to submit to authority, nor is it a popular theme in our culture today.  The opposite of submission is rebellion.  The reason for the vitriolic reaction "the world" has to these passages is because the unsaved have not yet gotten right the most important relationship of all - - - that is, their relationship with God.  Once that is made right, then God's design for other relationships can be understood and put into practice.  Rebellion against God and/or the authorities He has established is a product of self-centeredness and pride.  The apostle Peter warns us in 1 Peter 5:5 - - - 

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because, 'God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble."

This does not mean that we should be "doormats", allowing the world to trample all over us! Sometimes, our earthly authorities are plain-out wrong.  God does not say that we should violate His Word in submitting to those in authority over us.  But, as often as we can, we must obey the hierarchy He has established.

Today's specific application is in the home, however.  So, let's take a look at that in more depth.

22Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 23because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. 24But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 26to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, 27so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 28In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 30for we are members of his body. 31For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 32This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Crucial Point: both husband and wife must remember that they are co-heirs in the grace that is ours in Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17).  Husbands don't get a greater portion of that grace; neither do wives. Neither role is superior; both are necessary.

Husbands:

• love your wives in the same manner that Christ loves His Church.  This implies tremendous sacrifice, giving her your whole heart.  A husband who does this will rarely have to remind his wife of her role.
• nourish and cherish your wives, in order to help them grow deeper into their relationship with Jesus; celebrate the ways your wives are different from you and how they complement you.
• let your highest earthly loyalty be to your wife; don't let anyone or anything get between you, including parents, children, friends or activities.  Wives need to feel secure in your love, that you esteem her above everyone else and that she can trust you to care for her.

Wives:

• recognize that your husbands are the leaders of your homes.  When agreement cannot be achieved, defer to your husbands' authority.  This is part of respecting your husbands. Sometimes, in hindsight both of you will realize that the husband was right.  Other times, he will be proven wrong.  That is not the point.  No one "bats 1000".  Regardless, your husbands, in order to properly fulfill their roles as leaders MUST have your respect.  It is their #1 need from you.
• live a life of holy beauty (1 Peter 3:1-6)
• be responsive to their needs.  Let me just put it plain as the wife of a happy husband.  Men who have their physical needs taken care of are happy husbands.  So, keep them well-fed and happy in bed.  Make your home a place they want to be, and the godly husband will not want to wander.

For those of us who live in the "modern" Christian age, we take a healthy marriage relationship model for granted.  What we fail to realize is that this teaching from Paul was revolutionary to the early-Christian world. Except for the Jewish people, who generally treated wives with care (although there were exceptions), the majority of the world viewed women as the possessions of men.  They were esteemed lower than the male children of the family.  The gospel of Jesus Christ has been the greatest civilizing force of the past 2000 years, and women have the gospel to thank for their "advancement" in the USA and in the West.

I am not a perfect wife, nor is my husband a perfect husband.  However, both of us do our best to follow the model presented in these passages.  I know that, at times, this has been difficult for both of us.  My personality is quite strong, and it is a work of God in my heart to let my husband lead.  Like God, my husband is naturally very loving toward me, even when I am "unlovely".  We have extremely different approaches to solving problems.  We have different needs.  It is amazing that God put two such different people together.  But, through us, His supernatural grace is revealed to our children and to the world.   What a blessing to be able to show to an unbelieving world a microcosm of how Jesus Christ loves His Church!

Good morning, Lord!  Thank you for the clear instructions You have given to us, regarding how to build godly families.  Please do a mighty work in our hearts, as it is only through mutual selflessness from the Holy Spirit that such a beautiful picture of Christ and His Church can be achieved.  In Jesus' name, amen.

No Time to Waste!

 

The other day I had the opportunity to walk down a path I'd never been before, literally.  One of the local parks had opened a new walking trail.   What an enjoyable walk it was, in the beautiful springtime weather!  However, I was by myself; and, it was an unfamiliar path.  As I walked, I looked around carefully at my surroundings, even though there were other people walking on the path also. 
Although I didn't see any that day, I have in the past seen deer, gophers, snakes, rabbits, birds of prey, etc.  If I had not been carefully looking, I'd have not seen them which, in some cases wouldn't have mattered and in others could have been dangerous.  Truth be told, I'd have not seen some of them at all, had I not been walking with a friend.

Today's text is Ephesians 5:15-21 (NET).

15Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, 16taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

In the King James Version of the Bible, the crux of verse 15 is translated "walk circumspectly".  This means to look all around you (like looking in a circle) as you walk, to intercept hidden dangers.  This is wise behavior.  Fools just go blithely skipping along, singing "tra la la la la", oblivious to dangers lurking.  Paul goes on to admonish us to keep a clear head, and the example he gives is that of getting drunk.  If you are drunk, or overmedicated or negatively influenced by some other "excess" (such as not getting enough sleep), you can't think clearly.  Consequently, you may make foolish, ill-conceived decisions.  Who among us has not ever experienced "morning after" regret?

Why is it important to avoid excesses of this nature? 

One reason involves excesses becoming habits of life which have long-term, negative impact.  That occasional drink, to use Paul's example, becomes an every-day habit.  Health becomes adversely affected.  Effectiveness for the Lord is diminished or extinguished entirely.  Testimonies become compromised.  Relationships become either strained or broken.  This is often referred to as "carnal living" - - pinging back and forth like a pinball, without spiritual discipline, according to the whims and cravings of our flesh.

A second reason Paul gives (as if we needed another) is that time is short to accomplish God's work!  Our lives are short, when viewed in light of eternity.  None of us is promised another day to do what He has called us to do.  Our lives can end in this next hour.  No one knows.  But, in addition to that sobering thought, none of us knows when God will pull back the scrim separating Heaven from Earth and send the Lord Jesus here to receive His Bride!  This will effectively end the Church Age.  What God has called us to do, we should pursue soberly, unhindered by "loose living" of various stripes. No time to waste!

"Nature abhors a vacuum", as the old saying goes.  So, if we don't fill our bodies and souls with frivolous pursuits (which does not mean we can't ever have any fun, by the way), how then should we live?

1.  We are to submit to the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives, allowing Him to "fill us" day-by-day.  So often, we fill ourselves with "counterfeit god", when our true hunger can only be truly satisfied with the "righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Ghost", as the song says.
2.  We are to build Christian community by worshiping together joyfully.
3.  We are to give thanks to the Lord for one another, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
4.  We are to submit to one another, which basically means walking in humility together, viewing others as precious, beloved children of God.  We can help each other be "circumspect", as my walking friends have helped me see things on the walking trail.

The "submit to one another" admonition frames the more specific "submission" admonitions that follow in Ephesians 5, and which we'll look (back) at in the blog post for tomorrow.

Lord Jesus, teach us to walk circumspectly, filled with your Spirit, in right relationship with both You and our fellow believers.  Help us to use our time and resources wisely, for Your honor and glory.  In Your incomparable name I pray, amen.

A Charge to the Light Brigade

There were times in my childhood when I had to navigate down a dark path.  My memories of feeling safest were when I was led by an adult with a flashlight.  My adult guide would shine the flashlight on the path and sometimes back and forth into the darkness as we walked.  I felt completely safe.  Later, as I got older, I received my own flashlight and gained the confidence to walk down dark paths with Him to guide my steps.

What sensible person carries a flashlight down a dark path but does not shine it out in front, to illuminate the path?  Possessing the light is useless unless it is directed by the light bearer and "shone forth".  This is truly "walking in the light, as He is in the light".  (1 John 1:7)

In Ephesians 5:6-14 Paul is describing the resplendent walk:

⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. ⁷ Therefore, do not become their partners. ⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light— ⁹ for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth— ¹⁰ discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. ¹³ Everything exposed by the light is made clear, ¹⁴ for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:

"Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and the Messiah will shine on you."

Previously, in the verses just prior to these, Paul exhorted believers to imitate God by walking in His love.  Here, he begins to talk about our associations with others.  There are times when love must be courageous.

First, he warns us of making alliances with phony Christians - - - those ungodly deceivers who talk a good game, but who have souls empty of the Holy Spirit, who have no flashlight at all.  He labels them as still walking in darkness, that is, not having experienced the salvation of Jesus Christ, regardless of their words.  Indeed, their actions stand in direct conflict with their words.  We are not to line up with them or to become partners with them.

Secondly, since we have the light of life in our hearts, we are not to participate in "works of darkness".  Ok, so, we are to walk in the light, down the path of life, and avoid sinful behavior.

Thirdly, and this is very, very unpopular today - - - we are not merely to go skipping down the path shining our light along the way, refusing to participate in sin.  In verse 11, Paul goes a step further, saying we are to expose the sin that surrounds us.

In a recent Sunday School lesson the emphasis was on learning from, and coming back from, failure.  The majority of the discussion focused on the "crash and burn" types of failures, where we made an unfortunate choice, or an error in judgment or a naive decision and came to an unfortunate condition called "failure".  Well and good.
However, I pointed out that perhaps an even worse failure is the kind where we refuse to obey the Word of God.  Verse 11 of this passage is one such example where in modern-day America followers of Jesus Christ have failed.

There is a pernicious lie which has permeated much of Christendom since the mid-1950s.  It says, "Live and let live."  I can remember seeing this slogan on bumper stickers in years past.  A more modern incarnation of this philosophy is the popular "Coexist" bumper sticker.

In other words, "you do your thing, and I'll do mine."  "You leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone."  The problem with this is that it has resulted in an ever-encroaching tide of godlessness across our nation.  It's not quite as egregious as anarchy, "anything goes," because Christian people would have openly rebelled against that philosophy.  However, it is equally pernicious.  Death by inches, as opposed to one, swift blow.

Case in point:
On June 25, 1962, nearly 54 years ago as of the date of this writing, the U.S. Supreme Court removed daily, corporate prayer from the public schools of this nation.  One year later, Bible reading followed.1  The court's reasoning on this matter was that, although Bible reading and prayer had been taught in public schools for the previous 100 years of American public schooling, somehow it came to amount to "establishment of a particular religion." This was a lie, but the American church bought it, and did nothing to stop it.  The truth is that the Bible's tenets, like it or not, formed the foundational moral principles of Western Civilization.  (Ask an American law student, who is familiar with Old Testament law.)   It was Christianity which civilized and modernized Europe in the 1400s-1500s.  It was Christianity that under-girded American civilization for this country's first approximately 175 years.  Instead of standing up to the lie perpetuated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1962 and '63, the American church hid its flashlights under its jackets.  As the past 50 or so years have rolled on, additional losses of freedom have followed, one after another, until this assemblage of 50 states, though still in some ways "united" are certainly not "one nation under God".

Walking down the path, boldly shining the light into the darkness takes tremendous courage.  It is much easier to "go with the flow", to "get on board", to "go along to get along".  The original publish date of this post is Memorial Day, May 30, 2016, a day on which we Americans commemorate and revere those men and women whose courage led them to serve our country and to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, on our behalf.  They died fighting those who had been identified as enemies to our country and to our freedoms.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
'Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!' he said:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

'Forward, the Light Brigade!'
Was there a man dismay'd ?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Some one had blunder'd:
Their's not to make reply,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to do and die:
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Flash'd all their sabres bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air
Sabring the gunners there,
Charging an army, while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the battery-smoke
Right thro' the line they broke;
Cossack and Russian
Reel'd from the sabre-stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the six hundred.

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
While horse and hero fell,
They that had fought so well
Came thro' the jaws of Death,
Back from the mouth of Hell,
All that was left of them,
Left of six hundred.

When can their glory fade ?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wonder'd.
Honour the charge they made!
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred! 2

The battle this famous poem describes was the result of a British military blunder, a miscommunication between a general and his subordinates during the Crimean War.  Yet, these soldiers did not question their orders, nor did they shrink from the battle.  They charged forth into the Russian army, heedless of the enemy's numbers, and made military history for their bravery, so much so that "all the world wonder'd".

As Christians, a Light Brigade, we have no need to fear that our "General" is wrong-headed or confused.
 
Most of the 12 disciples of Jesus died martyrs' deaths, rather than renounce the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They were not content to "live and let live".  They were certain and single-minded, shining their lights so brilliantly and blindingly that the darkness, for a time, fled.

The same challenge given to these heroes has been also given to us.  Will we take it?  Paul uses a well-known saying (even we don't know for sure its source) in verse 14, when he shakes us by the collar to say, "WAKE UP! Rise up from the dead souls who surround you!"  Will each of us who claims the name of Jesus Christ, who bears His light shine?  Will we courageously expose the deeds of the unrighteous in our world, as the Lord gives each of us opportunity, no matter the personal cost, so that all the world wonders at our outrageous love for our Lord?

Father, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit, the Spirit of my Lord, the Light of Life.  Every day You give me opportunities to shine Your Light into dark places, to expose and opposed wickedness.  May I shirk not the challenge or shrink from the battle!  May I emulate the example of my Lord, who did not retreat from the agony of the Cross, as well as those courageous saints who have gone before me in this ages-old war.  In Jesus' name, amen.


Sources:

1
http://religionandpolitics.org/2012/06/25/when-the-court-took-on-prayer-the-bible-and-public-schools/

2
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45319

Out of the Choir Loft

This is going to be a controversial post.  Let's just get that out there.
To begin, let's look at today's text:  Ephesians 5:1-10  (NET).

1Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children 2and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. 4Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. 5For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. 7Therefore do not be partakers with them, 8for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – 9for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – 10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

In yesterday's blog post, we delved deep into the first two verses.  The larger passage's message is this: "If you are a Christian, live like one.  If you don't, you probably aren't a Christian."

Here's my controversial statement:  most people who claim to be Christian ... aren't.

I hate to use personal experience, but it's the only kind I've had.  :)  (See what I did there?!)

When, as a youth, I accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, I knew that my life had been forever changed.  I was standing in church, after hearing a powerful sermon on Hell.  And, I knew I didn't want to go there.  I also knew very well that I was a sinner of the worst order, in desperate need of a Savior.  So, I "walked the aisle", was counseled by a godly woman, prayed to receive Christ as Savior and made my confession of salvation to the church, right then and there.  Later, I was baptized to show the decision that had been made in my heart.  To this day, I am as sure of my eternal salvation as it is possible to be, for several reasons, the chiefest of which is that God's Word is certain.  He will keep His promises. He never changes.

Not everyone who "walks the aisle", however, is a Christian.  Walking down a aisle doesn't make you a Christian anymore than walking into a McDonald's makes you a customer.  It's not until you "buy in" that you become a partaker of either God's grace or a hamburger, whichever the case may be. 

Case study:
The other day, on my friend's website, I was introduced to a wonderful Christian lady who accepted Jesus in adulthood.  I've got a brief (2-min.) YouTube clip of her giving a snippet of her testimony, from the TV show "Life Today", with Beth Moore and the Robisons.  Watch it here, and (perhaps)be amazed:

https://youtu.be/k_ZuGaXG8Fg

Can you imagine being this woman's preacher husband?!  He's standing down there in front of the church, as the "invitation" song is being sung, when out of the choir loft comes....his WIFE, to accept Jesus as Savior.  It's a wonder he didn't faint!  As I shared this with some friends online last night, one of them volunteered that her pastor had made a similar "I was a faker" confession some few weeks ago.

What is my point here?  I'm asking that you examine your heart to see whether you are a Christian or not.  In most cases, if you are honest, you know the answer already.  We all fall into one of several categories:
1.  You call yourself Christian because either you did some "churchy thing" or it was done to you, such as being baptized as an infant.  Wearing the label "Christian", does not mean you ARE one, whether you are a "good girl" or "good guy" or not.  (This was the category Jan Morton fell into.)
2.  You know for sure you are not a Christian, because you know you have definitely NOT thrown your hat into the ring for Christ.  You may have been resisting His call to you, or you may not have yet heard it.  Regardless, you are confident that you are "on the other side" - - - "lost as a coot", as we say in the South.
3.  You know for certain that you belong to Jesus Christ, because you made a personal, heartfelt decision to follow Him, and your life has never been the same.  That doesn't mean you've never had a sinful lapse or a moment of doubt....Satan is a masterful deceiver, who will try to get you to question the promises of God.  In times of doubt, Satan can be shut down with his nonsense by your affirming, "God's Word says it; I believe it; and that settles it."

As Paul emphasizes, the way people live their lives (vs. 9) are strong indicators of whether they actually have met and embraced Jesus as their life-changing Savior...or not.  They are trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord, and are doing their best to live it.  A person's public persona is not a fool-proof barometer.  You heard Jan Morton testify that she was an "always good girl".  NO ONE would have suspected she was anything other than a Christian!  Yet, she was lost and on her way to Hell.  I thank God for her powerful testimony - - - that PRIDE did not prevent her from making her decision for Jesus Christ and "walking the aisle" to testify to that fact.  You may have, in your life, as have I, been "burned" by fake Christians.  Some knew they weren't "the real deal", and others did not because they had been duped by Satan.

My pastor says that we will find ourselves very surprised in Heaven.  Many we "expect" to see won't be there; many we don't expect to see ... will.  Only each individual who honestly examines his or her heart knows for sure.

One last point:  you can become a Christian without walking down an aisle.  All it takes is a true, heart-felt yielding to the Holy Spirit, as He calls you to salvation.  In your heart (not just your head) believe on Jesus as God and as the ONLY way to God; confess your sinfulness and need for Him as Savior; accept Him into your life forever.  No "aisle" needed.  However, I do believe it is important to become part of a Bible-believing congregation and confess your decision to them as evidence of the transformation that has taken place in your heart.  Same with baptism...both these are outward signs of inward grace.

Where "are you" today?  Are you on the outside, examining this Jesus, wondering if He can be truly trusted?  Are you "in the choir loft"?  Don't be in bondage to your pride and/or your "church robe". I'm begging you to be honest with yourself and be sure of your decision today.

Father, so many of my lovely friends are "living a lie".  Reveal the truth to them about their salvation, Lord!  And, please reveal to each of us who are Yours already the truth about areas of our lives where we are "dabbling in the dark", when we need to be walking in the light.  In Jesus' name, amen.

A Fake Purse

 

What comes to mind when you think of the word "imitation"?  Most often, I think "a cleverly disguised fake".  One time, on a trip to NYC, I bought a "designer purse" - - except that it truly wasn't.  I watched the vendor furtively sneak behind a curtain to get the model I had selected, quickly attach the designer insignia on the front and take my cash.  Voila!  Designer purse!  Right?
No.  Instead, I got a cleverly designed fake, which fooled most people.

This is not what the apostle Paul is talking about in Ephesians 5:1-2, today's text.

1Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children 2and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.  (NET)

Here it is in The Message version:

^1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

In the field of education, there is a principle of excellent instruction, and it is this:  you want your students to watch what you do, and then to model their learning after you.  I used to tell my language arts teachers, when I was a principal, "Show the students an example of excellent writing, and show them in detail what makes it excellent."  This is an approach of going from "the whole" and deconstructing, which is easier for most folks than looking at all the small, disparate parts and then putting something together.

In Jesus Christ, we have "the whole enchilada" of God.  Isn't that marvelous?  All we need to do is to study how He lived, and then model our lives after Him.  This results in a life of love.

As I read today's passage, I thought of the fact that I was blessed with a wonderful mother and father, who lavished love on us, their children.  My daddy went on to be with Jesus nearly 19 years ago, but my mother continues to love all three of us.  She prays for us, offers to help us, chides us when we need it and is generous with all she has.  She is a model of both love and virtue.  I realize, though, that some of you have trouble with the parent analogy, because your parent(s) was/were despicable.

My Daddy used to tell me, "You won't know what love is until you have a child."  I found his statement presumptuous and annoying as a teenager; but, wow, did I ever understand it after becoming a parent.  God's love for us is absolutely perfect, and He longs for us to first embrace it so that we may imitate it in our own, daily lives.

So, how does one imitate God?  Or Christ, as other scriptures prescribe?

Dr. Robert D. Luginbill1 emphasized that this is impossible apart from the power of the Holy Spirit and the virtues of scripture.  He defines "virtue" like this:  "Virtue is truth, distilled and applied to the individual life."  I love that!  What I see often is that we want to embrace the "love of God" without truly understanding His ways.  We embrace the love of a god of our own imagining.  To truly love God and to love others as He loves demands an understanding of, and a habitual practice of, His truths, revealed in Scripture. Otherwise, all you've got is a fake purse.

God's model demands that we love through self-sacrifice and with humility, not in an odious, sanctimonious fashion....that we love in trials, under pressure, with great prayer and surrender of our strong will.  Only the Holy Spirit can teach us this, as we yield to His leading.

Here are some related verses on imitating Christ:

http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Imitating-Jesus

Study them for yourself.  They say it so much better than I!  :)

Father, I do not want to be a "fake purse" or a "fake Christian".  I long to be as much like you as it is possible to be.  I confess that daily I fall short of this goal.  Please forgive me of my "falling shorts", Lord!  And, teach me, through the resurrection power living within me, to "love like that" to walk .... resplendent!  In Jesus' name, amen. 

Source:

1
http://ichthys.com/Pet17.htm

7 and 7

We are nearing the end of Ephesians 4 (verses 25-32), where Paul lists 7 things that are central to living a Spirit-filled life ("the new self"), which he referenced in verses 20-24.

I'm going to use the New English Translation to present Ephesians 4:25-32, as well as Proverbs 6:16-19.  We are going to contrast these two passages today.  Let's start by looking at both of them.

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26“In your anger do not sin”^d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 28Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

¹⁶ There are six things that the Lord hates,
even seven things that are an abomination to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that are swift to run to evil,
¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies,
and a person who spreads discord among family members.

In the Proverbs passage, we see 7 things that the LORD considers an "abomination".

By contrast....

In the Ephesians passage, the opposite of some of those 7 are presented by Paul as being attributes of a Christ-filled life. 

Let's look at them in lists, side by side.

           Proverbs                                                                  Ephesians

Lying (Prov. 6:17,19)                                           Speak Truth (Eph. 4:25)

False Witness (Prov. 6:19)                                   Get Rid of Slander (Eph. 4:31)

Murdering (6:17)                                                 Handle Anger Righteously (4:26-27)

Haughtiness (6:17)                                             Work Hard; Don't Steal; Be Generous (4:28)

Scheming and Craving Wickedness (6:18)         Speak Wholesome Words that Heal (4:29)

Spreading Disunity/Discord (6:19)                     Practice Kindness, Compassion, Forgiveness  (4:32) 

                                                                             Avoid grieving the Holy Spirit (4:30)

So, when you compare these two lists, what jumps out at you?  Here are some things that are obvious to me.

1.  Lying is a "biggie" with God.  You may recall that Jesus called Satan "the Father of Lies" (John 8:44).  Lying (or slander, which is "lying to destroy someone's reputation") is mentioned TWICE in the "God hates" list!  Because he is a deceiver, Satan wants to make us believe that "little, white lies" do not matter.  Oh....but they do!  By contrast, Christians are commanded to control our words and to speak only words that are wholesome, that benefit others and that heal wounds.

2.  Anger and Murder are merely matters of differing degree.  Murder is anger, taken to an extreme.  Anger always precedes murder.  Christians are told to keep their anger short-lived and to not let Satan get his "toe in the door" of our lives, through our anger.

3.  Haughtiness has to do with thinking you are superior to someone else, that you deserve more, that you are a better person because of your circumstances.  Haughty people have a disdain for those who have more than they do; so, they think it's okay to steal what others have.  Haughty people are hard-hearted, selfish people, who would not stoop to help someone less fortunate.

4.  Instead of fostering disunity and spreading discord, we are to exhibit kindness and compassion, forgiving others for the ways they have hurt us.   Almost always, disunity and discord get whipped up because someone has had their feelings hurt.

5.  When we plot evil towards others and/or go lusting after wickedness or sin, this most assuredly grieves the Holy Spirit.  It is one thing to sin unintentionally.  But, when Christians embrace favorite sins or go running after evil, the Holy Spirit is "grieved". (In a related verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, the word is "quenched".)  The Holy Spirit is a Person, one of the three Persons in the Godhead, the Holy Trinity.  Only a person can be made sorrowful or can be grieved.  The Holy Spirit is often represented by a dove, (at Jesus' baptism) or as a flame of fire, (at Pentecost), which is most likely why Paul used the "quenched" reference in 1 Thessalonians.  Regardless, we refuse to follow His leading when we "act out" in a sinful manner.  All those heinous sins mentioned in Proverbs 6, and, in deed all sin, grieve the Holy Spirit who lives in the heart of every Christ-follower.

As you review today's content, does anything on the lists above prick your heart?  Is the Holy Spirit nudging you about one of these?  If so, go to Him in prayer today, in order to confess, repent and "make it right".

Father, you know which of these on the list are trouble-spots for me.  I'm so sorry for how I have grieved the Holy Spirit in these areas, and pray for strength to allow His full leading in my life today.  In Jesus' name, amen.