Sister's Day

Sister's Day?  Oh, some people call it "Sibling's Day".  How did it get started?  Originally it was started by a lady named Claudia Evart to honor the memory of her brother and sister both of whom died at early ages; she wanted a celebration of those relationships.  She must have been a very loving sister.  She celebrated around 10 April which was her sister's birthday; however, time and place really don't much matter for those of us who wish to honor our own siblings.  Although Evart has so far been unsuccessful in getting this day instituted as a public holiday, it doesn't need to stop us if we want to celebrate.  Some people do just that and many have chosen the august month of August.  But hey, does it really matter when?

Originally the following sharing was presented at a church ladies' fellowship group where we wanted to celebrate our relationship with our sister's-in-Christ in the area.  We wished to help strengthen relationship among each other with prayers and togetherness.  We also invited our friends to join us in the hopes that they too may one day become part of this wonderful bond we can have through Jesus Christ; to become part of God's family along with us.  I present this sharing here in an adapted form and may God bless all who read it.

 The ladies' group had always wanted to build each other up in their most holy faith in God and get to know each other so well that when joys or troubles came our way we would feel freer to share more easily and openly, with less shyness and to find help and strength from God together.

When we build these friendships well, we will even know our friend's dog's name and as one character named Charlotte Gray is purported to have said:

                        "You can kid the world but not your sister." 

Let us observe our sisters, not to be busybodies, but out of sincere love and concern for each others' well being:  spiritually, emotionally, physically and mentally.  Get to know each other so well in appropriate ways, that whether in joy or in sorrow we can connect and detect where and when help is needed.

At the start of our celebration, we had a mini garage sale of "white elephants" from our homes (one person's junk is another's treasure), followed by a dinner. (The proceeds of the sale to go to a charity we were helping to support.)  During that time we each had a rectangle of paper taped simply to our backs with scotch tape.  On that piece of paper we wrote a mini message to as many of the ladies as we wanted to.   We wrote what  that sister meant to us; what we liked about her and/or mini words of encouragement.  This is an exercise to help build up each sister as a woman of worth, not only in God's eyes but as a sister in God's family.  Later on they got to read what was written.

The term "sister" is used among Christian circles when referring to one another because when we become a  follower of Jesus Christ, God calls us His children.  No matter what we look like or from which country or race we are from, we are God's children.  If God is our Father that  means we each are His children and in His family; thus each of His children would then be brothers or sisters in Christ. 

"You may be as different as the sun and moon, but the same blood flows through our hearts.  You need her, she needs you."  ~George R. R. Martin~

With sister's-in-Christ, we also talk about the blood.  Who's blood?  Jesus Christ's...but let's go back a bit...

In life there is plenty of suffering.  No doubt most, if not all, here have experienced such:  money problems; health issues; marital stresses; boy-girl relationships; worry over our children or even the loss of a child.  Just so much suffering in this old world. 

Prince Siddhartha Gautama of India (also known as 'Buddha'), after being traumatically shocked at the sight of the abject poverty and suffering of his fellow countrymen, when he had his first glimpse of such when he'd escaped out of his 'ivory palace' at the tender age of sixteen, philosophized and wondered...

People suffer...why?

He acknowledged...people have sin.

We know from our Bibles how sin entered the world; through one man named Adam (and his wife Eve).

Prince Sid went on to ponder...people sin, therefore there will be punishment.

The first Buddha said that that punishment is suffering in life and then in the end, death and after death, hell.  There are different levels of hell depending on the degree of sin.  Buddha developed many rules and regulations for living by, to minimize the sin people got up to, with corresponding levels of hell if they didn't follow them.

To follow all this takes ones' own effort.  One might be able to make a go at it for a while, but in the end there would be much failure and frustration and one would still have to face at least one of those levels of hell no matter what, according to those beliefs.  Man's, or woman's, in our case, efforts fall short.

God's Word tells us that the curse and wages of sin is death and hell.  That is our punishment; forever.

NO sinner can get off the hook.  No matter how good living a person is in this life, and there are some very, very good living people, I definitely grant you that, there doesn't seem to be much hope for any of us using our own efforts of righteousness.

BUT God offers us hope....He has a rescue plan...the Bible says in John 3:16...

"For God so loved the world..."

Stop there for a minute...

God sooooooo loved...He didn't leave us with the death sentence hanging over our heads because He so loved us...His love prompted His action.

"...that He gave His one and only Son..."

How many of us would willingly give our child up to take a gangster's punishment; a gangster who had raped and murdered or kidnapped children to sell into prostitution?  Oh you might not think you are a gangster...I believe that most reading this are likely very good living people but we all have the 'death sentence over our heads' if we are not a child of God.  Thank God that His love for us compelled Him to do something about that and He gave His "one and only Son".  One and only...!  Think of that!

There is a story from a way back in the 1800's about a fellow named Pierre Paul Emile Roux who worked with the Louis Pasteur Foundation.  He was in the medicine line as well as bacteriology and immunology and developed the vaccine for black diphtheria, a dreaded, fatal disease. 

Most of the medical world of that time eventually wouldn't sanction Pierre and his work, so he took his experiments and bacteria into the forest.  He brought twenty beautiful horses, so the story goes, into the forest and infected each with the black diphtheria bacteria.  All but one died and then the last of the twenty horses was in the last throes of the disease, lying down moaning.  In the middle of the night, however, one of the assistants awoke Pierre to tell him that the horse's fever was reducing and by day break it had come down to normal.  Pierre got a mallet and whacked the horse on the head and the horse died.  This is a gruesome story but I do have a point.  Pierre then collected the horse's blood from which there was antidote...a vaccine.  He and his cohorts rushed that vaccine into the hospital, breaking through those who would stop them, and vaccinated three hundred black diphtheria-sick babies who were quarantined til death.  All but three of those babies survived!  The life of that last horse was given for the life of three hundred babies; one died for all.  And likely a whole number more people were vaccinated since then.

Back to the story of God and His Son Jesus..

Why did God give His Son?

"...so that whosoever believes in Him..."

"Whosoever" = you, me, anyone...believes in Him,

"...should not perish but have everlasting life." ( John 3:16). 

To perish would be to be put into hell forever with no way out, termed, everlasting death; everlasting death as opposed to everlasting life.

Everlasting life however, means to be with Jesus Christ in heaven forever.

Jesus, the One and Only Son, died for our sins, every single last one of them, from every single last person in the whole wide world.  One died for all, for the "whosoever".  He took the penalty for those sins.

What was the penalty?  Death and hell.

Praise the Lord, He rose again from the dead securing our rescue.  This is all Jesus's effort; not an ounce of our human effort was required at all, at all to secure payment for our sins.  It was noted that our human effort would fall short and we'd still end up in hell.  Jesus's effort is all encompassing and enough.  Enough to pay for the penalty for our sins and enough to keep us out of hell and forever in heaven at the end of our earthly life.  Praise the Lord for His rescue.

Jesus is THE WAY, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

Jesus is the way to heaven.

Jesus is the way to avoid going to hell.  Hell with all its torments.

I've heard that in Singapore there is a hell museum type of place you can go through.  You can look it up on Google.  I've never been but they say its very scary.  For example, there are ten levels of hell depicted in that Buddhist belief of Hell.  Level three is for those who have been ungrateful and have disrespected their elders.  Their hearts will be cut out.  In level seven, rumor mongers and those who sow discord among family members get to have their tongues cut out.  That is only a model...what would the real place be like?

The Bible talks about Hell being a place of darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Jesus is the Way to escape, to never ever have to go there. 

Jesus offers salvation to one and all.  He holds it out in His hands to you as if on an offering plate or a present on your birthday.  He holds it out to you.  It's yours, it's got your name on it.  If you never reach out and take it, its not going to be any use to you.  You must choose to take it and then take it.

When you receive God's offer through Jesus, you come into His family.  He calls you His child and He loves you to the core; way deep down where you crave acceptance and validity as a person.  He loves you.  He accepts you as you are.  He has forgiven you your sins and taken your punishment for you.

People want longevity and immortality.  They do not want to die.  Jesus is the Way.  Through Jesus's death and resurrection and our acceptance of His gift of salvation, we have everlasting life.  This is what people yearn for.

Our bodies may crumple up and die but our spirits and souls live on.  As a child of God we go to heaven because from the exact second we accept Jesus we have "everlasting life".  If a person dies without Christ their spirit and soul will eventually go to everlasting death and torture in hell.  It's as plain as that.

When we come into God's family, He takes care of us.  He loves you.  He has forgiven your sins because the blood of Jesus Christ has washed those sins away.  He has given you everlasting life.

When each individual comes to God through Jesus Christ, its because the "blood of Jesus Christ has washed away and cleansed us from our sins" (1 John 1:7).  Our hearts are now clean.  Our hearts now flow with the same blood, not from biological parents but from our adoptive parent God, through Jesus.  God looks down from heaven at our hearts and sees His one and only Son Jesus's sacrificial blood has wiped and washed them clean from all sin and replaced it with His righteousness, and He accepts us into His family.  Any of His children are now brothers and sisters in Christ.

Many of us ladies reading this are likely already sisters.  We would like all readers to be our sister (or brother) too.  Then we can begin that special sisterly bond and relationship with you too.  We need each other.  We need you.  You need us.  Reach out to the sisters in your neck of the woods and connect with each other today. 

You see, we get so much because of God's love for us.  He gave His Son, but has also given us His family.  As we build our relationship with God (that's right, I'm talking about 'relationship' NOT religion) we must also build with His family.

I mentioned that God accepts us as we are, on an "as is where is basis".  We don't have to attain to a certain level of goodness in order for God to love us and offer us his salvation and this means no matter what you have done, or to what degree of wickedness a person might have committed, He still wants you in His family.  He loves you too much to reject you now in this day of grace period.  However, there is a saying that goes something like this:  "God loves you and accepts you into His family as you are but He loves you too much to leave you that way".

Picture a coin; it's two-sided.  On one side you come into God's family as you are--you have forgiveness of sins and everlasting life and a brother-&-sister-in-Christ family.  The other side of the coin is, how am I suppose to live in this family?  How to live like a Christian?  How is a Christian to behave?

There are many, many things we are supposed to do in the way to behave in God's family.  We live this way so we don't give God, Jesus or His family a bad reputation.  For example, a senior pastor in a regional mega church grossly mismanaged church funds.  He ended up in prison.  People look at that and say, "If that is what a Christian is like, I definitely don't want to have anything to do with God or Jesus or any Christian, for that matter and I certainly don't want to become one!"  And so we are all in disrepute. (Yet our Father is a forgiving one and would hold out forgiveness to that brother.  If he repents, we too will have to forgive him.)   Thus, God in His great wisdom has given us a whole Bible full of ways in which to please Him.  Read well to know and obey His will and ways. 

Matthew 28:19,20 says,

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you..." 

A disciple is a follower of Jesus and the emphasis I want to make here which often gets overlooked, is "teaching them to obey".  Once we are a follower of Jesus we must follow, we must obey and not pick and choose what to obey but to obey "everything" in God's Word.

The New Testament has so many instructions on how to live for God.  The more we submit to God and obey them, the more Christ-like our behavior will be.  God wants us to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15).  Many of our ways of living, habits we have, language we use, we need to be rid of them and start acting more like Jesus would.

How to know how Jesus would behave?  By reading God's Word.  The first four books of the New Testament tell many wonderful stories of Jesus:  what He did and how He did them and how He treated the people with kindness and goodness, helping the poor and needy and much more.  The more we read and study God's Word, the more we will know how to behave in His family.  By reading and knowing God's Word and obeying it we will slowly become more like Him and will please Him. 

This is the Way to follow.  Jesus is the Way.  Follow Him.  He is the right Way.

We have God's Word, we have Jesus, we have our brothers and sisters-in-Christ to connect with to help us in this new life with Him.  There is more...the moment we accept Jesus's gift of salvation we also get forgiveness of sins and everlasting life.  We are also given the Holy Spirit of God to indwell us.  His, God's, Spirit!

His Holy Spirit can lead and guide us.  We don't need to beg for dreams in temples or use other methods of divination to know our future or to find our way out of our troubles.  We have God's Word the Bible and God's Holy Spirit.  And it is all free for us.  When we talk to God He will talk to us through His Word and His Spirit.

We can show our gratitude to Him by worshiping Him.  Him, the Creator God of all the universe; our almighty God , our loving, Heavenly Father.  Worship Him, the Creator, not His creation.  It's lovely to get into a 'back to nature' setting and relax in front of beautiful scenery and feel cool breezes on our faces as it can be so refreshing and de-stressing.  A grand feeling of wanting to commune with nature may come to us.  But nature is not God.  Nature is creation not our Creator.  God wants us to worship Him and to become one with Him, not with His plants, birds or bees.

Certainly there's no harm in being in nature and calmness can come from that but Jesus tells us a sure way of de-stressing...

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28,

"Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Another verse, 1 Peter 5:7 says,

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

"Him", meaning, God and His mighty hand outstretched to you, this time offering you rest and peace and to de-stress.  Take a deep breath, hold for the count of five then slowly let go.  Do that two more times. Make a list on paper of your anxieties, worries and cares.   Now talk to God. Give Him your weariness, burdens and anxiety.  He'll give you rest.

We all need to go to God and rest in Him.  Close your eyes, breathe deeply again, take time for another short time of individual prayer and bathe in God's love and care.

Do you realize that the number of stress related diseases or conditions there are out there?  High BP; various heart related diseases; migraines, etc.  Medicines mostly do not cure them, they only manage them.  But God has asked us to put our fears, anxieties, worries, and stresses on Him.  He's got a mighty hand.  Trust Him.  He'll give you rest.  The root cause of many diseases are because we do not obey His simple commands.  I read this fairly recently from a book called Be In Health, A More Excellent Way by Dr. Henry W. Wright.*

This is getting to be a rather long article and so I won't go into too much greater detailed description of this "other side of the coin" of behavior in God's family.  However, remember some of these following thoughts are in regard to our character and conduct in His family that need to be brought into line with God's Word, which is our standard.

Briefly...

                         More About Christian Living

James 3:  Tame your tongue; don't let praise and cursing come out of the same mouth.  I can tell you that driving in the city I now live in can really give cause to curses coming out so, so easily.  The way people drive and cut in on you is enough to make a big sinner out of you.  I admit, I am guilty of a lot of cursing and God is having to get a hold of me with these verses.  So now, I say, "God, look at that guy, look what he did, he cut right in front of me and now he's blocking the way, blah, blah, blah."  And what does God say?  "Are you now going to praise Me?"   And I say, "Ok, ok, Lord, I will bless that fellow.  May he have a good day, maybe he's on the way to the hospital to see a sick and dying mother, or maybe he's in a hurry because he has to go to the bathroom.  God he needs your help and needs you if he is not a Christian yet.  Let Him know you so he won't cut in on me again..."  And then God says to me, "Are you asking me that with wrong motives?"   I say back to God, "Ok, ok, Lord, he needs you so he can go to be with you someday..."

You see how this works?  We have to submit even these simple mundane areas of our life to Him so that He can make us more like Him.

James 4:  Submit to God; resist the devil. When we submit to God, the curses won't come out so easily and that is also resisting the devil.

James 4 is also "do not slander one another".  That old tongue needs the taming on this too.  If they are bros and sis-in-Christ, why do we want to talk bad about them; they are our kin?  Why can't we, by God's grace, be forgiving of wrongs (real or imaginary)?

Actually if you read from 1 Corinthians all the way clear to Jude you'll see that malice and slander are a HUGE issue.  God sees them equally as bad as adultery (1 Corinthians 5:9-11; 6:11 [NIV])!  Much of that slander stems from unforgiveness, anger and bitterness in our lives towards others.

1 Peter 2:1 says,

"...rid yourselves of all malice and slander of all kinds..."

That is a command in God's Word!  What should we do instead?  Here comes another command:

"Crave pure spiritual milk..."

Craving....think of something you really like.  I mean really, really like.  Take for instance, people who love to play badminton.  They go and play two or three times a week.  They watch it being played on TV especially when their 'star' player is playing.  And if they are not playing or watching they are talking about it.  They saturate themselves and everyone else with it.    Or people who love shopping, just can't seem to get enough of it.   You get the idea.

So too, with God's Word.  Read it and drink it in.  Crave it.

I want to tell you about my "Thankfulness Book".  An 'angel' from Sunday School once gave me a hot pink spiral notebook in a gift exchange around Christmas time a couple of years ago.  I started to jot down on a daily basis at least one thing that I was thankful for that day.  Some days I was hard put, but I'd 'vowed' to write, so write I did even if it was only to say to God, "Thank you for the food I had to eat today; I am grateful."

Have you tasted that the Lord is good?  Jot that goodness down and then you can go back and review His ways of goodness to you.  In return, honor Him with obedience to His Word, will and ways.  He says in 1 Samuel 2:30, that those who honor Him by obeying His commands, He'll honor back.

So what I'm saying my friends and sisters (& brothers), Come to Jesus, He is the Way to God, the Way to everlasting life, the Way to forgiveness of sins, the Way to a new life in a new family:  God's family, with new brothers and sisters to interact and connect with.  Jesus is the Way to have a Spirit guide in your life and that Spirit is God's Holy Spirit.  Jesus is the Way to God and upon whom to put our stresses, worries and grievances.

You want to go the right way?  Come to Jesus Who is that Way.  Come and follow Him.  Obey Him you'll not regret it.  He loves you to the core and wants you in His family.  You can then truly celebrate the relationship we have in Christ.  May each of you truly experience Sister's Day to the full.


If any of you readers would like to come to Christ, to be His child and be my sister or brother-in-Christ , here is what you can do.

Admit to God that you have done wrong, that you have sin and are a sinner.
Tell God you repent of those sins and confess them to Him.   Ask Jesus to wash all your sins away with His precious blood which He shed for you on the cross.  Thank Him for taking the penalty of your sins by dying and going to hell for you.  Thank Him then for that forgiveness of sins, this gift of salvation and for the everlasting life.  Find then, someone to tell and find a group of brothers and sisters-in-Christ to connect with.   Build your relationship with God by reading His Word and obeying it and talking daily with Him.  

May God bless you all.

*Note:  Re:  Dr. Henry  W. Wright and his ministry... I may not agree with all he says but most is ok.


                                                         ~ERC  2016~

Dare We Question Authority? Q & A

An umbrella, what's the good of it?  Protection from rain and shine (in some sunny countries).  So what happens if you get a hole in one (No, I'm not talking about golf)?  You get wet, of course; or not so shielded from the sun.  What if you get out from under that ole umbrella completely?  You lose your protection entirely; right?  Of course, right.

Similarly, God puts various persons in authority over us to give us guidance and protection for our lives (Romans 13:1).  I like the umbrella symbol of this which I've learned about from a seminar I went to many years ago; an IBLP*1 seminar.  They use the umbrella as a symbol of God's chain of authority and command over us; God, who initiates the authority, is over all at the top of the umbrella.


Most of us will know how Moses came to be in a huge position of authority over the Israelites to lead them out of the land of Egypt into the Promised Land God had for them.  That Promised Land later known as Israel but then inhabited by Canaanites.  You can read all about it in the books of Exodus and Numbers in the Bible.  Moses had actually been rather reluctant to do the job, but when he got "the call" from God, he did eventually obey God's bidding.

But Moses hadn't married a Hebrew woman and his sister Miriam and brother Aaron took exception to this and began to question Moses' authority; had God really put him in charge (Numbers 12:1-2)?!  Oh, he hadn't seen that coming.  Wow, his own brother and sister!  God had something to say to this questioning of authority.

The Lord's response can be learned in Numbers 12:6-9.  The Lord's "anger burned against Aaron and Miriam".  Miriam became leprous and had to spend seven days outside the camp of Israel in shame.  God had said that if her own father had spat in her face, she'd be unclean and disgraced for that long too.  This was like God, her heavenly Father, 'spitting in her face' for the sin of questioning Moses' authority.  I'm not sure why Aaron didn't have any repercussions but I do know that later on when he had made the golden calf for the Israelites to worship instead of worshiping God that he forfeited being able to go into the Promised Land.

The Lord sees the questioning of His authority and of those He puts into authority as an extremely serious offense.

There are other examples of this.  One is when the whole community of Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, so much so, they wanted to stone them to death.  Here they held God in contempt.  This was the time they feared entering the Promised Land due to fear of giants living there.  Thus they spurned God's gift; God's promise of new land, especially just for them!  They didn't trust God to help them get victory.  You can read this from Numbers 14:1-45.

Moses and Aaron were petrified then. Not at the possible stoning, rather at the turning against God and the disdain for His gift.  Moses and Aaron fell face down, tore their clothes and pleaded with God not to totally destroy the Israelites.  They made the pleas in verse 15-18 regarding God's reputation and character saying, "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion" although He "doesn't leave the guilty unpunished".  But they appealed to God in this way so the other nations wouldn't make a laughing stock out of Him nor His people.

Yet, as the verse said, God did forgive yet there are consequences of contempt for authority, for rebellion and disobedience.  They must still be dealt with.  The punishment came in the form of denying the grumblers and would-be 'stoners', entry into the Promised Land.  They would wander the wilderness for forty years and die there.  Furthermore, this not only affected them but also their 'innocent' children.  The children would have to endure the hardships for all those forty years.

They all mourned, then; bitterly (vs 39, 44).   In folly and presumption they try to make amends and go into battle without God's orders or blessing.  Did they think their mourning got them more into God's favor?  It was too late for that.  Into battle they went and lost, badly.

So we, ourselves, need to beware of rebellion, disobedience, contempt of authority that we harbor in our own lives.  Not only are they serious offenses in God's sight, they are punishable and often affect those near and dear to us.

In the case of the Israelites, it was NOT just one or too families affected but the WHOLE community!!  How many thousands of them at the time?  To get an idea of the number see Numbers 2 which lists the different divisions of each tribe and how they were arranged in camp.  The figure for each tribe totals to thousands and added together were over 600,000 and that count didn't include the Levite tribe.  Gauge the seriousness of disrespecting and disobeying God's authority.  Read Numbers 15:31, 35 for further proof.

Human beings are slow learners.  So far the Israelites have had two major lessons in 'obedience training', in learning to respect God's authority and those whom He puts in positions of authority.  Moses' authority was questioned by his own siblings was one, and the failure to trust God to take them safely into the Promised Land, grumbling against Moses and Aaron, and holding God's gift in disdain is two.  Now we will be surprised by a group who should have know better but whom became insolent and opposed God's chosen 'holy' ones.

This time, 250 well-known community leaders from the priestly tribe of the Levites oppose Moses and  especially targeting Aaron's position of leadership as the high priest of God Most High.  You can read about it in Numbers 16.  These leaders were appointed members of the council.  They think Moses and Aaron have set themselves above the Lord's assembly.

Moses is immediately on his face again (vs 4), this time on Aaron's behalf.  He said the Lord will choose who is holy.  So then he unfolded a plan of how to see how God designates who's who for which distinction (Read vs 18-35).  Aaron joins Moses face down, beseeching God (vs 22) to spare the congregation of Israel and not to punish them for the sins of only one man.

The ringleaders:  Korah, Dathan and Abiram, their wives and children are swallowed up by the earth.  Their whole families and possessions, gone!  The rest of the Israelites fled in terror.  Fire came out from the Lord and "consumed the 250 men".

You'd think the survivors would learn the lesson real quick like, wouldn't you?  But they couldn't leave it well enough alone.  Read verses 41-50.  The very next day the WHOLE community still dares to question!!  They still dare to oppose!!

Moses and Aaron are really keeping their noses to the ground!  They were helpless in themselves but they knew their resource was God and to Him they retreat to entreat.  Quick action is needed so not all would be exterminated.

A plague had started among the people but Aaron, the high priest, interceded on their behalf by running.  Running was seen as uncouth for an adult.  The urgency of action was imperative.  He ran full tilt with his censer among the people and then stood between the living and the dead; and so the plague stopped.

Significant that the high priest they questioned was the one doing his duty for them.

God was not yet finished, however.  He has had enough of their 'upstarting' business.  For once and for all He'll show the remaining Israelites, in a very definite way (as if the punishments already meted out weren't clear) whom His chosen high priest is.

Read Numbers 17 especially verses 5, 8, 10.  So God had Moses get Aaron's staff and the staffs of the leaders, one per tribe to represent.  Aaron's rod was well differentiated so no mistaking would ensue.  The person whose staff would sprout overnight would be God's chosen one.  Come morning, not only had Aaron's staff sprouted, it had "budded, blossomed, and produced almonds" (vs 8).  Clear?  Of course, clear.


God's mercy and His love for His children came through despite all the rebellion, disrespect and disobedience.  Does this mean we are 'safe' then if we also question God's authority and those He puts in authority over us?

Can we say..."Never mind, God is merciful!"?  Reread Numbers 14:18a,b.

"The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.  Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished;..."

What about Numbers 14:20, 21...

"I have forgiven them...nevertheless..."

Ephesians 6:1-4 talks about obedience, honor and a promise of "going well and enjoyment of long life".  Let us obey those in authority over us; remember there are consequences and hard lessons--hopefully learned--otherwise awaiting.

The Scripture says in Psalm 51:17,

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise"

God allows for repentance.  He is a forgiving God.  When we confess our sins "He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  (1 John 1:9).  What an awesome God and Savior we have.  Let us bow to Him in submission and obedience.

The word 'submission' is going to pop up a bit more now.  It goes hand in glove with the words authority and obey.  Lets see a definition thereof, compliments of Google:

sub·mis·sion

səbˈmiSHən/

noun

noun: submission

1.

the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person.

"they were forced into submission"

synonyms:

yielding, capitulation, acceptance, consent, compliance "submission to authority"

The "superior force" in our context being God Himself, the Ultimate Superior Force of Authority.  To Him, may we be yielding, in humbleness, honor and respect.  He is our loving Heavenly Father.  I do not believe that God forces us into submission however.  He does compel but still leaves the choice up to us.

The New Testament records incidents of those who questioned the authority of Jesus and later of Paul; to mention two examples.

                                                         Jesus's Authority Questioned

Matthew 21:23-27.  People were asking from whence Jesus got his authority.  Was it from heaven or from men, the "chief priest and elders of the people" wanted to know.  Perhaps they were just doing their job to protect the general populace of the Jewish community, keeping it 'safe' from false teachings.  Yet again, I believe Jesus knew their hearts; the leaders were a jealous lot and afraid their leadership positions were in jeopardy.   Thus a 'preemptive strike' to cast doubt on Jesus's credibility and integrity.

John 5:24-27.  God gave Jesus life in Himself.  God gave Jesus authority to judge because He is the Son of Man.

Jesus's reply in John 5:30...

"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent Me."

Jesus Himself was content to be under the authority of His Father, God.  He was always in submission to Him.  Jesus is our wonderful, perfect example of how to relate to authority.

In John 5:31-40 we see four witnesses to confirm Jesus is who He says He is and therefore shows He has all authority for what He says and does.  He is no man's debtor (Hebrews 6:10).

Jesus tells His questioners in verse 31 of John 5, if He "testifies about Himself then that testimony is not valid".  Truth told.  But He says He has other witnesses as well:

1.  In verse 32 we read, John testifies as to who Jesus is;

 2.  Verse 36, Jesus's good works (miracles, healings, etc) testify as to who He is--God;

3.  Verse 37, God Himself declared Jesus to be His Son at Jesus's baptism; and 

4.  Verse 39, these Pharisees and lawyers study the Scriptures diligently--like saying to them "You read all that, come on, 'get it', you should put two and two together and know who I am!"  Those very Scriptures (they would have been reading the Old Testament; there are something like 44 fulfilled prophecies in the Old Testament relating to Jesus and His coming to earth) testify.

Those are the four witnesses.  If you jump ahead to John 8:17-18 you'll see that their own laws say they only need two or three witnesses to testify to have validity.  The above makes four witnesses.  So do they have any room to question Jesus's authority?  NO, of course, not.

                                                         Paul's Authority Questioned

It appears that some of the Corinthians were looking down on Paul.  Read 2 Corinthians 10:9-11; 11:5, 6).  He may not have been a trained speaker but he does have knowledge.  He said he does what he does as his " hope is that as your faith continues to grow", and his "areas of activity among them will greatly expand..." (2 Corinthians 10:15-16).  Paul continued that he can't toot his own horn, he doesn't "approve" himself rather its the "one whom the Lord commends " to do the work (2 Corinthians 10:18).

The book of Acts explains that Paul and Barnabas, and later Paul and Silas were commended to the ministry through Holy Spirit guidance and that of the brothers (Acts 13:2-3; 15:40).

Another point we glean as Paul establishes his credibility, we see in Galatians 1:11-24.  In verse 11 Paul tells his readers that what he teaches is not from man or anything he has made up, rather his message comes directly "by revelation from Jesus Christ".  Back up and compare this with verse 8,

"if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!"

Paul, in his position of leadership was not worried to be questioned, as from the above mentioned establishment of his authority and credibility, we see his 'right' to be in such a position.  It is praiseworthy to note that he does not boast of it, rather is humble in it and praises God to be able to do His work.  In another place he wrote that he was the "worst of sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15) and that God had given him "a thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12: 7) to keep him humble.  I never used to like the apostle Paul very much but from reviewing as I write, I see he was a right decent chap.

In Ephesians 3:7-13 he speaks of the "grace given to me to preach..."   God had given him his position of authority.  In Philippians 3:2-10 he declares he has no "righteousness of his own...but that which is through faith in Christ" and that he wishes to become more like Christ.  His focus is on his life for Christ.

Isn't this the depth of leadership we want nowadays?  We need to be working on this in ourselves here and now and not be criticizing, slandering, etc those in authority above us.  Encourage them all the day long.  Build them up in their most holy faith; be part of the 'team' that pulls together "keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3) rather than tearing down and dividing.  See 1 Thessalonians 2:6-12.  The Thessalonians were witnesses to the care Paul and company gave to them and "so was God" of how "holy, righteous and blameless" they were "among them who believed".  That's two witnesses: the Thessalonians and God.  With such witnesses, the work and feelings of those in authority can flourish well for those under their care.

When those who are in authority need to give us instructions or reprove or rebuke us, it is not that they are being so "high and mighty" per se, but that it is by "the authority of the Lord Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:2).  Paul went on to say, "it is God's will that you be sanctified..." (1 Thessalonians 4:3) thus we need to swallow our pride (it's not fattening) and accept our correction.  (Let me say though--not blindly accept--establish from Scripture if you are truly in the wrong--no doubt Scriptures have been pointed out.  Go to God in prayer and repent and confess what needs to be and get God's forgiveness and purification in those areas (1 John 1:9).   If they are wrong, then by God's grace we really need to get our noses to the ground like Moses and Aaron were in the habit of doing and forgive those who are doing this to you and seek God for what you should do.  In these we can develop meekness which is fruit of the Spirit and grow in grace.  It is God who gives authority so when we submit, we submit to Him.)

There was a time when leadership rightly rebuked leadership.  It was Paul rebuking Peter.  In Paul's own writings he tells Timothy (1 Timothy 5:1) "Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort as if he were your father..."  I'm not exactly sure of the age difference between Paul and Peter but Peter was  one of the twelve disciples, one of Jesus's inner circle of friends, Peter had 3000 people come to Christ in one of his preaching sessions, Peter was an eye witness to all Jesus had done and said, Peter was one of the twelve apostles.  How dare Paul rebuke the "great" Peter?!

But leadership is not exempt from sinning nor are they exempt from rebuke and reproof.  There's no 'diplomatic immunity' in God's way of dealing with sin.  BUT there is a way in which to address those in authority.  I believe there is also a criteria of the when and where, considering the particular situation.   Look at Galatians 2:11-16 when Paul "opposed Peter to his face" and it seems to be in front of everybody too.  I believe Paul was justified in so doing.  There was some hypocrisy involved here and if  left unattended would have cause doctrinal division.

"Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ".  "Justified by faith in Jesus Christ".  (Galatians 2:16). 

If Peter had been allowed to keep on doing what he had been doing he would have swung "the Law" back onto solid action.  Peter had to come back to the plumb line of what God had revealed and instituted with this new covenant with mankind.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast."  (Ephesians 2:9-10)

We don't read of Peter making a big fuss and kerfuffle about this.  He must have known he was in the wrong and so righted himself catalyzed by Paul's faithfulness to God and His ways.

My point is, submit to God and you will submit to those in authority.

Having said that, I believe that any brother or sister in Christ who believes that even someone in a position of authority over them is in the wrong, that they have the responsibility to address the issue.

There are ways to do so.  One was mentioned above. We also have Matthew 18:15-19 to show us the way.  Just the two of you.  If that doesn't help, then with two or three witnesses.  If that still doesn't bring results then address the whole congregation.

For questioning leaders, beware, beware, beware.  Be sure to have your two or three sincere witnesses. 

"Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.  Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly,  so that others may take warning" (1 Timothy 5:19, 20).  "Elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor..." (1 Timothy 5:17).

All this finger pointing...I'd like to add a quotation from a little booklet entitled "Assembly Discipline" by one John Bloore.  Bloore says,

"To exercise discipline in a manner suited to God, the assembly" (meaning a particular church congregation) "needs to be brought to see the sin of the individual as the sin of the assembly.  The apostle" (Paul) " pressed this upon the Corinthians --sin and the evil doer are among you; ye have not mourned; put away from among yourselves" (1 Cor 5).  Thus he would lead them to the conviction that the sin is theirs, as well as that of the man." *2

I think we all get the point of this pointing.

A few further Scriptures you may ponder on on this aspect of questioning authority are:   1 Corinthians 4:1-5; 4:14-21; 9:1-27 and 2 Corinthians 6:3-12.  Our key to submission to the authority God has put into place is that the authority is from God (Romans 13:1).  Let us keep that in mind.

Paul was an exemplary leader.  He gets on with his job despite rebuffs.  He doesn't dwell on them but does warn others about troublemakers such as Alexander the coppersmith who had done him "much harm" (2 Timothy 4:14) and the disappointment of a promising young brother Demas whom he may have been mentoring but who had "deserted" him (2 Timothy 4:10).

The times his authority may have been questioned or his person held in contempt, he briefly acknowledges and adds his comments, some of which we've seen already.  He doesn't fly off the handle though.  As he writes his various letters to the various assemblies or individuals he does teach by word and action how to be a leader and how to submit to authority.

"Yes," he says, he may have a speaking ability problem (2 Corinthians 11:4-6) but counters that he has knowledge and that God gave him the authority to build up the Corinthians, not to tear them down (2 Corinthians 10:8-11).  He received his teaching, position and authority from God (Galatians 1:11-24; Ephesians 3:7-13).  He doesn't dwell on his past pedigree and good points but is determined to use his life for God and the good of the Lord's people.

He has encountered strong opposition and false teachers but doesn't let them hinder him.  He focuses on his tasks and gets on with his responsibilities.  He helps others in their roles; eg. Timothy and Titus.

His naming of the troublemakers shouldn't be seen as slander but warning for other leaders and believers in general to be wary of the danger in pandering to them.  He doesn't let any of that stop him from his teaching and preaching even when he gets shut up in prison or under times of his house arrest.

We have covered the ground of how to treat a person, mostly of those within the family of God who are in positions of authority.  Treat them with double honor, don't accept accusation against an elder  unless you're sure of two or three sincere witnesses, and treat the elder person as a son entreats a father--with respect.  We saw that Paul did  entreat Peter (Galatians 2:11)  and that in the public arena.

Paul himself was rebuked in public for his speaking strongly and disrespectfully to a man he didn't realize was the high priest.  Paul had basically called the guy a two-faced hypocrite (which the guy may well have been).  Paul immediately apologized when he is told who the fellow was.  Let us also be sensitive to such corrections and not take overblown offense.  Acknowledge our faults and repent thereof making remuneration in word, deed, or in whatever way the situation demands.

There are sundry ways to show our respect, honor and submission to authority.  That authority being either within the church; within our family (husband-wife; wife to husband; children to parents); or within the country in which one lives.

Galatians 6:1-5 leads us to be responsible for our own actions
Ephesians 5:21 asks us to "submit to each other out of reverence for Christ.
Romans 13:1-5 tells us to submit to authority, even when we don't like it; don't rebel; God puts us under certain authority for His good reasons.

We can demonstrate our submission to the country's powers-that-be by paying taxes, respect and honor (Roman 13:6-7).  Further to that we need to pray for them.  Why?  So we can live in all godliness and honesty (1 Timothy 2:2).

1 Corinthians 14:34-35, now here's a touchy one..."women should remain silent in the churches.  They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission, as the law says...it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church".  If we sisters truly wish to obey God and be submitted to Him we will zip the lip.  I have found that in a place where the women do say a fair bit, that the men will take a back seat and let the women have their say, relinquishing their given-by-God responsibility of spiritual leadership!  (This is a whole other kettle of fish we won't 'catch' here.)

These verses can be coupled to 1 Corinthians 11:10, "women ought to have a sign of authority on her head"!  She can pray apparently but with a sign of authority on her head meaning some sort of head covering (1 Corinthians 11:4). 

This "sign of authority" is meant to show our submission to God, not to men.  Not to be put down and squashed by man.  But to show, on behalf of all Christians, we honor God and submit to Him.  People cannot see the chain of God's command but they can see the sign of it.

We sisters-in-Christ should feel honored to be singled out by God Himself to "show off" His authority.  I really hope you sisters can grasp this.  Grasp it as an honor not as an insult to our

femininity or a bothersome put down by men or others in authority over us.  Rather, to wear a head covering as a banner of thankfulness and gratitude to Him who has done so much for us.  We wear it as a badge of honor for Him and to let all peoples know God is the author of authority in our lives. 

When most brides and grooms marry, they are honored to wear a wedding ring as a sign of their enduring love and attachment, fidelity, faithfulness and pledge to each other.  Many people wear crosses around their necks to say they are Christians.  These are visible signs evidencing their code-of-honor and beliefs.  

There are those who would say the head covering is out of date or was some cultural thing of the past or that only certain world religions force their women to cover up.  Those cover ups are for a vastly different reason to what God has intended for we sisters-in-Christ!

If you examine the Scripture of 1 Corinthians 11:8-10 you'll discover other reasons for the head covering besides being a "sign of authority on her head".  We may not always understand God's reasonings but the crux of the matter is submission to His authority in our lives.  Are we willing submit to Him?  Are we?  Then even if we don't understand we will submit to Him.

Verses 7 and 8 state reason #1:  "woman is the glory of man" and for the sister to cover "her glory"; "the man did not come from the woman but the woman from the man".  Verse 9:  "neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 


Verse 10 (NIV) states reason # 2:  "because of the angels".

Now I won't pretend I understand those reasons but there they are in God's Word, written in black and white.  These reasons also don't seem to be cultural.  There is something further...

To top the above off, go back to the opening remarks of the letter to the Corinthians and read 1 Corinthians 1:2 and note the wording.  Not only was this epistle written to the Corinthians but it was to "those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours."   So you see, this is all still relevant to our day and age.  No loophole that I can see.  I still need to wear that "sign of authority" as the man must remove any such head covering (1 Corinthians 11:4) in the presence of God as we worship  Him and talk with Him.  Do you wish to question Him on this?  He alone is worthy of all honor and praise and obedience from us His children.  Amen.

Sisters-in-Christ, we have the privilege to show God's authority, not only in our individual lives but in what should be the whole attitude of the collective church, the bride of Christ.

God's covering of protection for each and every believer in Christ is His authority.  His authority sanctioned in the various people in our lives, be it:  parents, church leaders, teachers at school, employers or governors of the land we live in.  We need to keep under His radar, or as we started out with, His 'umbrella'.  As actions speak louder than words, keep an umbrella nearby to remind yourself always; unless of course, you are worshiping God and praying, then sisters, don the head covering.  Let us not question God's authority in our lives; rather submit, with our hearts, to Him.

                                                               ~ERC  2016~

Bibliography and Notes

1.  IBLP=Institute for Basic Life Principles.  I believe they are good.  However some may have learned that the founder has been under the radar of the USA law (you can Google and find out for yourselves).  Please don't throw the whole thing away just because of the founder's wrong doings. 

2.  Assembly Discipline by John Bloore; Walterick Printing Co. Fort dodge, Iowa, 1956; page 11.

3.  All Bible passages have been taken from the Classics Devotional Bible NIV; The Zondervan Corp 1996, Grand Rapids, MI 49530 USA.

Fishy Business-A Story

It's funny that, though living a long chapter of our lives in a Nova Scotian fishing village, my siblings and I never acquired much of a taste for fish; at least, I didn't.  Maybe because we were 'imports', or because Mom couldn't stand the feel and looks of gutting a fish (became Dad's job), or, perhaps she was afraid one of us would choke on a bone.  We did, however, have a few 'fish-capades' that could've molded our bias.

Halibut

My two younger brothers and I, along with some neighbor boys would go fishing with improvised lines off a local fisherman's wharf.  Those fish were small, and ugly as anything.  None of us wanted to eat them even though they were about all we ever caught.  The poor things would be thrown, unceremoniously, back into the sea.  Sounds like cruelty to animals to me, now that I look back on it.

One time Dad went to the fish plant to get some of the 'fresh catch' of the day.  Unbeknownst to Dad, some prankster had hidden fish in the car while he was making his purchase.  It being cooler weather, a few days elapsed before the dubious aroma pervaded the car's atmosphere enough to trigger an investigation.  Sure enough, Dad discovered the offending fish, gift-wrapped in newspaper, tucked neatly under the front seat.  So much for that.

Another time, fresh home from a trip to Newfoundland, Dad decided that his souvenir gift to us would be a Newfoundland favorite:  fish 'n brewis.  That was salt cod and some extremely hard chunks of bread that had to be soaked overnight in water.

Fish and Brewis

Dad set about the concoction with such enthusiasm that we dared not disappoint him with our skepticism.  We humored him, but next time we'll ask a Newfoundlander to cook!

Mackeral

Many summers, fish-deprived friends from 'Upper Canada' would visit and insist on the fresh-
mackeral-for-breakfast delicacy.  Mom, with clothes-pinned nose, could be found politely frying up a mess of mackerel; enough to satisfy any fish-lover's palate.  But phew!  So glad we did not have to partake!

Halibut and swordfish were the saving grace of the ocean's offerings.  Both were treats at our table and so on those special occasions, they'd be served with a flourish and eaten with a relish.

Swordfish

None of us ever did choke on a bone, and today I can clean and eat fish without much ado if I have to.  Thus, a toast of good camaraderie to all those in the school of fish eating; you just may acquire THE TASTE...someday.

           ~ERC originally written March 1996 but blogged in here October 2016~

Morning Musings-What Jude Has to Say

   Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...




The epistle by Jude is a short one in the Bible but it is jam-packed with things to learn!  Jude deals with "contending for the faith"; lack of sanctification (misuse of God's grace); and touches on the seriousness of rejecting authority; rebelliousness & slandering; and blessedly, encouragement to his "dear friends" to "keep on" for Jesus. 

It seems even in those early days of Christianity Satan was actively maligning the truth.  Jude therefore tells his readers to "contend for the faith" (vs 3).  That faith that was "entrusted to the saints".  We must be alert and vigilant in this too.

Jude addresses not so much of the false teachings that we have been learning much about from the other epistles by Paul, Peter and John, but more about the immorality.  Those who want to follow their own evil desires instead of God's good, perfect and holy will.  These people think God is only a forgiving God.  They forget, or they don't want to know, that He is also a Holy and Righteous God.  They take God for granted.  They take His grace for granted, in fact, they "change the grace of our God into a license for immorality"! 

"Never mind, God will forgive me," says their attitude.

Never forget, my sons, that "Jesus is our only Sovereign and Lord"; we must serve Him alone and submit our will and desires to His.

If we love Him we will obey and submit to Him.  This helps us to "contend for the faith"; helps us to strive for and aim for that holiness our heavenly Father, God, wants for us His children.

This is called "sanctification"; growing and maturing in our Christian living and in relationship with God.  We will behave more and more according to God's way and become more Christ-like in character and conduct.

Key in Romans 6:1-2 is "Shall we go on sinning so grace may increase?  By no means!"  We've covered a lot of Scriptures for many mornings of musings that show all of this too.

Look at the many verses following...go on look them up and read them for yourself...

James 1:13-18; 22-27; 2:20-24
1 Peter 1:7, 13-23;  1 Peter 2:13-17
2 Peter 1:3-9; 3:1 17-18
1 John 2:6, 15-17, 28
1 John 3:7-10; 5:18-20

Take special note of 1 John 3:9:

"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God."

And also 1 John 5:18:

"We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who is born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."

These verses show the responsibility we have to stop sinning; to stop putting the Lord our God to the test; to stop distorting and misusing God's grace.

In the gospel written by John and in the three epistles of John, he has a recurring theme:  Jesus is God's son; Jesus is the Son of God.  Jude touches briefly on it in verse 4.  The 'grace changers' and the people of immorality, want to deny that Jesus is "our only Sovereign and Lord".  When they do this they feel they can live any way they please and numb their consciences and so deceive themselves right into their immoral lifestyles. 

Then it is subtly spread as they "secretly slip in among the believers" (vs 4).  We have to remind ourselves that Satan is only out "to steal, kill and destroy" (John 10:10) and that sometimes he comes as a "roaring lion seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8) and at other times "masquerading as that angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).  He will try any and every devious method and trick he has up his sleeve to turn the believer in Jesus away from a pure and holy way of living.

Society is often used to lull Christians into complacency and imbibing their standards, stating blithely,  "Everyone does it."  We have to beware.  God's standard needs to be our standard if we wish to follow Him no matter the cost to us personally.  Is He your God, your Sovereign?
 

Measure up to God's Standard

 
Then look at verses 20-21:  "therefore keep yourselves in God's love".  Let us use God's grace the way it was meant to be used.

When a person denies Jesus Christ as their one and only Sovereign and Lord and dulls their self with societies anti-God standards, then the next step into rebelliousness and rejecting authority is "easy". It readily enables that "slander of celestial beings" (vs 8, 9) and "speaking abusively against" them and the things they have little to no understanding of (vs 10).

When we hear such talk, or we ourselves engage in it, we had better examine ourselves as to the whys and wherefores, humbling ourselves and falling down on our knees in repentance and confession to God (1 John 1:9).  By God's grace, He will forgive and purify us but we need to be sincere.

Look at the punishment for even angels "who did not keep their positions of authority"--"kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains awaiting judgment".

You'd think angels "had it made" but even some of them wanted to be boss, to be God; eg, Satan, to name a major one.  God dealt with them though as above.  This is serious business with God.

Additionally, the slandering of those in power, even those who misuse their positions of authority, we should not reject nor slander.

Archangel Michael didn't even dare to do so and he had/has a high position.  But the devil was higher still and so Michael said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (vs 8, 9)

Again, my sons, be very wary of criticizing your elders; parents; church leadership; teachers; principal; those in government positions.  Instead pray for us ( your parents) and those in authority above you.  (See Romans 13: 1-6 and 1 Timothy 2:2)  Why pray for them?  So that "we many live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

I will have a lot more to say about this subject of submission to authority but that will be another blog another day.

Many of those people who have "slipped secretly" among us (believers in Jesus Christ) are those who are not listening to the Holy Spirit.  That is, they are "following their own natural instincts" to do Satan's bidding consciously or unconsciously.

However, for those of us who do acknowledge Jesus Christ and His being our ONLY Sovereign and Lord as well as our Savior, let us "build ourselves up in our most holy faith" and "keep ourselves in God's love as we wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring us eternal life."

This is our 'job'; this will keep us busy and wholesomely occupied til he comes.

Thankfully we don't have to "go it" alone.  We have the help from Him "who is able to keep us from falling and present us to His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.  Who is He?  The only God our Savior, Jesus Christ and Lord..."to Him we give "glory, majesty, power" and think of this, "authority".  For how long?  "For all ages, now and forevermore!"

Praise be to His holy name!

                                                          ~ERC  2016~


 

Morning Musings-Brave Gaius

 Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...





Come, meet Brave Gaius...we are introduced to elder Gaius in 3 John.  He was John's "dear friend" and at the time of writing this epistle, John says Gaius was in "good health" and prays that all will go well with him too.  Gaius's soul was also "getting along well"; that's a very interesting statement.

This well-roundedness of goodness in spirit, soul and body, is my prayer for each of you, my sons, too.  That others will report your "faithfulness to the truth" and "how you continue to walk in the truth" as was reported about Gaius.  This not to feed my pride, but for your own good and development of relationship with Jesus Christ.  This is a wonderful testimony to Christ-like character in action.  This is the character that produces Christ-like conduct as we will proceed to see shortly; righteous and upright at heart.

Having read 2 John 7-13 which warns the "chosen lady" about teachers who do not "continue in the teaching that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh" and that He is the Son of God, that if and when they come to her door, she should "NOT take them into her home, nor welcome them", then we come to this 3 John 1-13.  Here is an ironic example of how such deceivers, false teachers and manipulators can wreck havoc in an assembly of God's people, yet how one brother could stand firm for the Lord; this man, commended by the apostle John, was brave                                                           Gaius. 

In the church where Gaius was, was a man named Diotrephes.  The Scripture doesn't actually pinpoint that the problem was false teaching, but he was causing havoc.  Diotrephes "loved to be first".  He should have been putting Christ first.  Christ is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 5:23).

Diotrephes, a man, no less, was "gossiping"!  Not just simply "gossiping" but "gossiping maliciously"! If we look back to 1 Peter 2:1, we are told to "rid yourselves of all malice and slander of every kind."  Obviously Diotrephes was not being self-controlled by the Holy Spirit but by his own evil desire.

It is an extremely serious matter here as Diotrephes is gossiping maliciously against leadership.  When we search the Scriptures in such places as Numbers 12:1-16, we see Moses, one of God's chosen leaders, being spoken against by his own brother and sister Aaron and Miriam.  The results of that were that the "anger of the Lord burned against them, and He left them" (vs 9).  Miriam also ended up covered in leprosy and became "unclean" and having to spend seven days outside the camp of Israel til God healed her.  Such shame for her.  God spoke in no uncertain terms about this.  What more, we, in our day need to take note.

To add insult to injury, Diotrephes "refuses to welcome the brothers".  Adding further insult to injury "he stops those who would welcome them and puts them out of the church"!!!

Thank God for brave Gaius.  John commends Gaius for risking that and welcoming those brothers who must have been teaching truth.  Furthermore, these brothers were strangers to them, and "for the sake of the Name (of Jesus) they went about teaching" and that "without help from the pagans".

That sounds like--if the church wasn't going to accept them into their homes and offer hospitality, that the pagans were willing to do so.  Scratch your head on that thought!  Yet these men of God were willing NOT to accept that help to the detriment of themselves; part of that "suffering for Christ" who also had "no where to lay His head" (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58).

Gaius was willing to risk Diotrephes's gossip and excommunication for doing what was right in the eyes of God.  We, too, ought to be discerning and ask God for the wisdom to discern the truth from the falsehood and to stand up under, and for, the truth.  In this case, it meant showing hospitality to brothers who were on "God's errand".  When we do likewise, John says, "we are working together for the truth".

John points out to Gaius that he is not alone as there is the chap named Demetrius who was "well spoken of".  He was well spoken of on three accounts:  "by everyone", "by the truth itself" and by "we",  likely meaning the apostles.  To top that off, Gaius likely knew it to be true as well.  So saying, this must have been encouragement to Gaius who may have been feeling "alone" for doing what was right in God's eyes in this matter.  He too now had a partner "in working together for the truth".

Let us each, also work together for and in  the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, be discerning of what is truth by being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice, stand up for the truth, be an encouragement to others to follow God's way and don't join ranks with those who wish to bully us into boosting their pride and ego by obeying their manipulations.  Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  May you all be in good health but may your souls prosper more for Jesus.

                                                         ~ERC  2016~

Morning Musings-Beware, False Teachings

 Morning Musings for the boys at breakfast...





Deceivers and false teachers are on the agenda yet again.  2 John verses 7-13 doth warn against them.  They would like to put doubts into our minds regarding Jesus but let us always keep in mind that Jesus Christ is God's Son.  That Jesus, who was in Heaven since before the foundation of the world, "has come in the flesh" into the world. He came, not as we human beings who start life at birth into this world, but in a human capacity, to be 'one of us', yet still divine, sinless and eternal.

We must hang on to what we "have worked for" in believing this truth.  Jesus is God's Son and He existed in eternity past, existed at the time of his "coming in the flesh" in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago, and still exists even now and will continue to exist for all eternity to come.  When we "continue in this teaching" we have both "the Father and the Son".

Again, this is how we detect the deceivers.  If they do not accept the above truth, don't even have them in your home!  Watch out!  Always examine what you hear through the microscope of God's Word. 

You may say, "but I thought we Christians are supposed to be hospitable!"  Well, yes we are, but not at the expense of spending more intimate time of fellowship with those who could have the chance of infecting you or a member of your household with doubts about God's truth from listening to their false teachings, subtly or not so subtly, taught.  If we welcome such a person into our homes we "share in his wicked work" making ourselves an accomplice.  They may be nice enough people but BEWARE.  God's Word tells us this.  Listen to Him.

Let us "run the race" for Jesus unimpeded; stand firm in what you've worked for.  "Walk in the truth with obedience to God and in His love" as we learned in Chosen Lady Epistle, and so remain in Him all the days of your life.

"Be self-controlled and alert, as Satan walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour."  (1 Peter 5:8).  "Submit to God and resist the devil." (James 4:7).  At other times Satan masquerades as "an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14); so be on your toes!

                                                            ~ERC  2016~

Morning Musings-Chosen Lady Epistle

 


Morning Musings with the boys at breakfast...




I really like that this epistle is written to a "chosen lady and her children"; this epistle being 2 John.  Focus on verses 1-3.  She was loved not just by Elder John but also by "all who know the truth".  She must have been such a wonderful sister in Christ, dedicated to her children, God and His people.

Why was she loved?  Because of the "truth that lived in all of them and that would be with them forever".  My prayer for you my son (s) is that the same can be said of each of you too.  Let the truth of God reign your lives.

John has to get his favorite message in yet again in verse 3, that Jesus Christ is the Father's (God's) Son.  John wants the "grace, mercy and peace" which comes from "God the Father" and from His Son, Jesus Christ, to characterize the "chosen lady and her children" and in fact, all of "us" which includes John.  He wants them to manifest these, not in some legalistic or false way of living but  in "truth and love".

These are two more of John's themes:  truth and love.  The truth about Jesus Christ being God's Son and all Jesus did for us through His death and resurrection, offering forgiveness for our sins, once and for all, gaining eternal life for those who accept this salvation.  The love that propelled and compelled both the Father, God, and the Son, Jesus Christ, to go through with that salvation rescue plan.

God's love...may God's love propel and compel us too, to extend grace, mercy and peace to others.  Have them in abundance ourselves first, then freely 'dish' them out.

Grace to extend forgiveness to others and treat them with the goodness and kindness that they do or do not deserve.  Surprise them.  That's God's way.

Mercy given despite the others actions which warrant 'no mercy'.  They deserve "to get what's coming to them"-some form of punishment or consequence but withheld due to God's mercy and love able to restrain us from meting out revenge, etc.

Peace...the peace of God in our hearts and minds comes through Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah  9:6).  We make peace with God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  Our sins have been atoned for.  We no longer need to fear death and being placed forever in hell upon our death.

We can have everyday peace too.  When we "cast all our anxieties  (worries and cares) upon Jesus; He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  When we do that, despite life's challenges, we can have peace.

Peace comes through the Holy Spirit as it is one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23).  As we rest and trust in God, greater and greater will be our peace.  

We can make peace and give peace to others.  We can do this fueled by God's love for them, through us, God's channels of blessing.   May we each have grace, mercy and peace in ever increasing abundance and influence others for Christ as the chosen lady must have exemplified.

Read 2 John 4-6.

As we continue in so doing,  let us also "walk in truth", "walk in obedience to the the Father's commands" and "walk in love".  I get the image of a big pond of water where a person can wade in and splash and frolic, or a place where there is a fountain of water with adults, as well as children,  playing in the cascading water...they are "walking in" it.
  

Similarly, we children of God can walk in His truth, obedience and love that is ever available to us.  When we walk obediently to the Father's commands and in truth and love, grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ,  we will discover that the Father's Son will be with us. 

                                                             ~ERC  2016~