Even and Pure

Even and Pure

1 Timothy 5: ²¹ In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the holy angels I solemnly call upon you to obey these instructions without showing any prejudice or favor to anyone in anything you do. ²² Be in no hurry to lay hands on people to dedicate them to the Lord's service. Take no part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

 

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Writing ideas on a pad helped me keep track of the things I wanted to come back to. But one day I caught a boss “snooping” around my desk, reading my idea pad. I didn’t say anything and I noticed he mentioned an idea in a meeting. I figured I would get him back by writing absurd ideas that seemed like good ones.

 

• I wasted so much time trying to trip him up that I did not do my job.
• I wanted to keep him and people like him away from me.
• I thought it would be easier to simply meet with likeminded people and share my ideas there and never have to deal with people like him.

 

Paul gives Timothy some sage advice regarding treating people with respect. He knew Timothy would run into people who did not look or act like him. He suggests that Timothy treat everyone “even.” No prejudice and no favor; this way his actions will be without sin or retaliation or deception.

 

My Observations

• In my “mind”, people can do some things that make me want to sin.
• GOD wants me to get control of my “mind” and treat people with HIS love and respect.
• My “mind” is controlled by what is in my heart, so GOD wants me to keep my heart pure.

 

Seeds get planted and grow into trees. The seed of hatred seems to grow faster than the seed of love. My heart is the soil in which the seed can grow. Each seed affects the way I see things. Instead of me asking my snooping boss how I could help him, I tried to hurt him. GOD is the remedy.

 

HE sees people differently than you and me. HE wants “everyone” to be saved and went through great lengths to do so. HE loves, loves, loves the person you may dislike or even hate. HE wants me to treat everyone the same and keep my motives pure. I am glad HE treats me with love.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer mention GOD and JESUS in his urge?
• Have you ever treated someone one way and treated someone else another way and tried to justify this inconsistent action?
• Will you add pure love to your heart by accepting the HOLY SPIRIT inside so HE can guide your motives to pure love and to treat everyone with the respect GOD wants you to show today?

Hair or Heart (Feel free to comment)

 

Hair or Heart  (Feel free to comment)

1 Corinthians 11: ¹³ Judge for yourselves whether it is proper for a woman to pray to God in public worship with nothing on her head. ¹⁴ Why, nature itself teaches you that long hair on a man is a disgrace, ¹⁵ but on a woman it is a thing of beauty. Her long hair has been given her to serve as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about it, all I have to say is that neither we nor the churches of God have any other custom in worship.

 

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My wife’s hair dresser took off a few months to take care of her mother. This left her with a decision; go to someone else or get braids. She chose the braids. It took hours to get them put in. At one time in our country, it was taboo to wear braided hair to work. Hair, to me should not represent the heart.

 

• To me, appearances can bring on a biased opinion.
• To me, hair and clothes are yet another reason to show dislike for someone.
• To me, people judge on what people have on their head, face and body without knowing the heart.

 

Paul explains there is no custom whether to allow a long haired or no haired woman to pray to GOD in public. This may make many people think the Bible is dated, but I think it referenced a law “Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the edges of their beards or cut their bodies.” Since this was confusing, he puts their mind to rest.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to know HE looks at my heart, not my shaved head.
• GOD wants me to understand that my appearance is not what HE will judge me on.
• GOD wants me to believe that anyone can speak about JESUS as long as he or she believes in HIS power to forgive.

Sometimes I think we place too much credit in appearance. I mean, whether a person wears expensive shoes or no shoes, the words “GOD loves you” are still true. The same goes for hair, glasses, tee shirts or shoes or any other controversial facial or body covering.

 

GOD sees the heart and as long as it is aligned to spreading the great news of forgiveness, anyone can speak about JESUS.  I am glad HE accepts my bald head.

 

Challenge

• What are your observations about appearance?
• Do you think appearance hinders your ability to hear the message of GOD from a person?
• Will you consider your heart over your appearance and speak about HIS love and saving grace today?

 

 

The Them Effect

John 4: ⁷ When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” ⁸ (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

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“Watch out for those people” I was warned mistrustfully. I could hear the years of hurt mixed in with bitterness from this seemingly innocent person. Unfortunately, hate was the motive of the statement. Another unfortunate thing was they were justified in their thinking because a lot of mistreatment did occur.

• I have to decide whether or not to lump people into the “them” category every day.
• I have to decide if my hurt and pain is causing others to hurt and feel pain.
• I have to decide if my broad statements about people are blinding me to someone who may need my help.

JESUS did a few socially abnormal things in this passage. HE spoke to a woman in a subordinate tone by asking her for a drink. A woman? No demands? Yes, JESUS asked politely. Next, JESUS spoke to a Samaritan. A Jew speaking to a Samaritan? Unheard of. BUT JESUS saw something different.

• JESUS wants me to see all of HIS humans as valuable.
• JESUS wants me to stop propagating anger and hurt so others can be saved.
• JESUS wants me to get rid of my biases towards other people so I can be available to be sent to whoever HE chooses.

No respect of person is an old way of saying no prejudices towards or against a certain group of people. GOD wants to take my small-mindedness and stretch it into love for the world. This is hard. I mean, aren’t they supposed to act like I act and do what I do? No. GOD has an individual plan for HIS people.

HE wants me to reach people where they are and point their lives to HIM. HE will change them from the inside and I do not have to see the change, because I am too busy noticing how much he is changing me. I am grateful to be part of GOD’s vast family.

• Are you fearful of “them?”
• Do you secretly or overtly speak against “those people?”
• Will you drop your prejudices so you can be used to reach many people for GOD today?

Breaking Barriers

Matthew 15: ²¹ Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²² A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³ Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴ He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵ The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶ He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

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Fear of another race came quite naturally for me. My neighborhood was full of people who looked like me and acted like me. Then high school came. I travelled out of my neighborhood to attend a school where the students were multi ethnic. All of my assumptions about “those” people were challenged.

• Fear of others who did not look like me was a barrier.
• Assumptions of others who did not look like me was a barrier.
• Wanting others to act like me was a barrier.

If I wanted “friends” I needed to change my thinking, quickly! How?

• GOD said to me “I came to save those who are lost.”
• GOD said to me “I came for all mankind.”
• GOD said to me “I came to show you how to love the world.”

JESUS could read the racial and gender barrier easily. HE could see into the hearts of those around the Canaanite woman and leveraged the situation to break down barriers with HIS words and actions. HE wants me to do the same. HE wants me to humbly serve those who do not look or act like me and serve those who do.

GOD wants me to take down barriers to HIM to enable many to follow HIS ways.

• Are you racially blind?
• Do you feel inferior or superior to another gender?
• Can you remove barriers to people coming to CHRIST today?

Shielded from Hatred

Matthew 10: ²² You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

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“Get that Bible off of your desk!” was the exclamation from the account manager. At that time I was taking a theological class and wanted to get my studies in before work. I would arrive at 6:30 AM, thinking I was a model employee, instead I was met with opposition. I did not hang out with the fella’s drinking or carousing. Should I have tried to fit in?

• Sometimes I’m face with the dilemma of fitting in.
• Sometimes I am challenged with choosing between following GOD and looking good before humans.
• Sometimes I face the world with my beliefs and I’m met with being outcast and labeled.

I felt like I was on an island, but something within me said “Keep going, it will be alright.” After a while I was moved from that account. I saw my career diminish so I changed jobs. At the next place I ran into a group of people who would openly pray at lunch. I didn’t think this could exist at a company.

• GOD wants me to stand firm so HE can deliver me.
• GOD wants me to stand firm even though people may hate me.
• GOD wants me to stand firm when I am not quite fitting in.

Instead of compromising my beliefs, GOD wants me to stand firm. HE has a marvelous plan for me on the other side of someone’s hatred. “Standing Firm” on GOD’s word is the shield HE gives me to battle hatred. I can place my belief, trust and faith on GOD and let HIM handle my haters!

• Are you hated by someone?
• Do you feel like you are on an island even when you are in a crowd?
• Can you “Stand Firm” on GOD’s word so HE will fight your battles for you?
• Will you put your trust in GOD today?

Douse the Anger

Amos 1: ¹¹ This is what the Lord says:

“For three sins of Edom,
    even for four, I will not relent.
Because he pursued his brother with a sword
    and slaughtered the women of the land,
because his anger raged continually
    and his fury flamed unchecked,
¹² I will send fire on Teman
    that will consume the fortresses of Bozrah.”

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Salt chunks kept hitting my windshield as I fruitlessly attempted to pass the salt truck on the icy road. I got angry. When I arrived at work my check stub showed the wrong amount. They had given me too much and I had to give money back. This required extra work on my behalf to correct “their” mistake. I got angrier. When I got back to my desk I noticed my “sneaky” boss looking at some of my stuff. “You know, I really do not like that person!” I thought to myself!

• Anger starts small and builds to something bigger.
• Anger turns into negative thoughts and negative thoughts into something else bad.
• Anger is the beginning of hatred.

Internal rage is very problematic and can leak out at the wrong time towards the wrong people. When I am so full of rage and anger, the day doesn’t seem as bright. I miss out on delightful moments only to replay old tapes of the dog that ate my wax figurine when I was eight. That dog did make me mad!

• GOD knows I will get angry, but HE does not want it to turn to rage.
• GOD understands I will be disappointed, but HE does not want me to escalate it to revenge.
• GOD cares about my worries, but HE does not desire that I exchange my worries into blaming HIM for where I am at.

“Unchecked fury” is a serious problem with GOD. HE sees me brooding over a situation and says to me “Give ME the problem and I will exchange it with peace.” Instead of thinking of ways to “get back” at the person, GOD wants me to think of ways to bring peace to the situation.

He wants me to reflect on HIM being my shepherd and leading me besides still waters and restoring my soul. GOD desires that I have peace. I can trade my anger in for peace daily.

• Are you bitterly angry at someone?
• Do you realize you can have peace with “that” person or “those” people if you ask GOD?
• Will you douse your furious thoughts and ask GOD to lead you to a place of peace?
• Will you drop your “steering” expectations of GOD and let HIM execute HIS plan HIS way today?

Those People

Ester 5: ⁹ Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. ¹⁰ Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.

Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, ¹¹ Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. ¹² “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. ¹³ But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”

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Riding my bike made me feel free. One time I was asked to go on a bike hike so I begged my mother. After her reluctant twenty questions she caved in. I jumped on my bike and we rode further than I would have ever imagined. We crossed the railroad tracks and went into a very unfamiliar neighborhood. Suddenly many of the people in the park chased us, calling us names. We sped away.

I recalled this incident as my parents were driving through another unfamiliar neighborhood and as we sat at a light someone threw a slush ball with a concealed rock at my window. I then recalled these incidents as I walked down the hall at a major university, only to be called a name. This lit my rage. I bundled the incidents together. Found a friend and was going to teach “those people” a lesson!

• Sometimes my hatred is cloaked in justified rage.
• Sometimes my hatred is hidden by something I wanted to do anyway.
• Sometimes my hatred is mixed in with a misunderstanding of a group of people.

It is so easy to stoop to a low position of looking on the outside of a person and putting them into a category, but I have done this in the past. This has caused me to mistake good people for bad and lumping what a single person did into an entire category of people who really shouldn’t be categorized.

• GOD said to me “All have sinned and fall short of MY glory.”
• GOD said to me “I have no respect of persons, I want salvation for all of my human creations.”
• GOD said to me “It does not matter where they came from, it matters where I am sending you.”

If I go down the road of hatred or counter-hatred then I am on a very destructive path. GOD knows my heart has evil in it and has forgiven me through HIS SON. HE desires that I tell people of HIS everlasting love for me regardless of my sins. HE needs to be my focus of resolution.

• Are you mad at “them?”
• Are you lumping large groups of people together without looking at your own sins?
• Can you start searching for those who need to hear GOD’s message from you rather than teaching “them” a lesson?
• Will you seek first the kingdom of GOD today?