Biddeford Church of Christ

Over the last couple of weeks, we have talked about the hope and confidence found in none other than Christ Jesus.  Because of our knowledge of Him, He has provided us with “His divine power,” which in turn gives us “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2^nd Peter 1:3).  That is ours!  That said, we walk with the awareness that Satan is active in this world, looking for “whom he may devour” (1^st Peter 5:8).  His efforts seek to destroy the redeemed and keep the captive… well… captive.  There is still another element in all this, us.  Consider the caution Peter concludes his letter with, “beware, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness” (2^nd Peter 3:17).    The writer of Hebrews says, “Help each other so that none of you will be fooled by sin and become hard to change” (Hebrews 3:13, ETRV).  Growth in Christ, as was noted last week, helps us to continuously be “useful to God” (2nd Peter 1:8, ETRV) while at the same time, helps us to “never stumble” (2^nd Peter 1:10).   Spiritual growth is less about achieving and more about cultivating the blessings given to us in Christ.  With this in mind, let us consider two things that Peter encourages his readers to pursue diligently.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence,

add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…”

                                                                                                                   2nd Peter 1:5

The very first thing that Peter encourages his readers to pursue is virtue; your translation may use the word goodness.  Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as conformity to a standard of right, particular moral excellence.   According to Strong’s, the Greek word carries the idea of a gracious act, uprightness, i.e., excellence. Thayer defines it as any particular moral excellence.  One author says, “the basic meaning of the word indicates the quality by which one stands out as being excellent.”  Simply put, it is the determination to do what is excellent in God’s sight in all situations.  Paul uses the same word at the end of Philippians 4:8, when he says, “… if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.”  Virtuous things is something Paul encouraged the Philippians to mediate upon.  Also, when the apostle Paul writes about the need to “put off, concerning your former conduct” and “put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:22, 24) or “put to death members which are on the earth” and “put on” (Colossians 3:5,12), he is, in essence, talking about the pursuit of virtue.  How important is this pursuit?  Paul encourages Timothy to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1^st Timothy 4:12).  Why?  Paul goes on to explain, “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1^st Timothy 4:16).  The pursuit of virtue is not simply about transformation; it is about our ability to influence those around us.

Along with virtue, Christians are encouraged to pursue knowledge.  Although we have obtained the knowledge of Christ, there is still more knowledge needed.  Why is it important to grow in knowledge?  Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”  There could be no better reason than that very thing; still, there is more.  We gain some insight from Hebrews 5:14 (ETRV), “But solid food is for people who have grown up.  From their experience, they have learned to see the difference between good and evil.”  Our world has a difficult time discerning good from evil.  What was once evil is now said to be good, and to think otherwise is evil.  Crazy!  But why would the Holy Spirit guide Peter to urge them to grow in knowledge?  Listen to 2^nd Peter 2:1, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you….”  Paul wanted the church in Ephesus to grow so they would “no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14).  Growing in our knowledge helps to protect us from the deceitfulness of sin.  It also protects us from Satan’s efforts to deceive us through false teaching, something that is every bit as real today as it was then. 

Knowledge links us to our ability to be useful to God while at the same time keeping us from stumbling. It reminds me of something critical, “The foundation of all human excellence must be laid deep in the blood of the Redeemer’s cross and in the power of his resurrection.”  Let all of our efforts to grow be because of Him and for Him.

Dennis

Most of us have heard those very words at some point.  I suspect that your response is the common one, “No need to repay.  I am glad I could help.”  There seems to be woven deep within us this need to “balance the books,” so to speak.  We don’t want to be indebted to someone.  This mindset can quickly trickle into our relationship with Christ; that is, we do the things we do to sort of balance the books.  That approach is an impossible task!  The past few weeks, we have endeavored to reveal the gift of Christ. His redemptive work and the blessings that come from being bought by the blood of the Lamb.  The gift is both free and something we could never repay.  I suspect you are familiar with the story of the slave who was purchased by someone and set free to do as he wished.  As the man who bought him walked off, he turned to find the free man following him.  “Why are you following me?” said the man to the free man.  “You are not obligated to follow me.”  The once enslaved man responded, “I know I am not obligated to follow you; I want to.”  Although this story may not fit the redemptive story of Christ perfectly, it does speak to the idea of what someone wants to do once they are set free.  It is here that we pick up in 2^nd Peter 1:5.

“But also for this reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith…”

(2^nd Peter 1:5)

The ETRV says, “Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things; to your faith add…”  You may recall a question I shared last Sunday, “What determines ‘all diligence,’ ‘every effort,’ or ‘all you can’?”  Well, to gain insight into answering this question, we need to consider two words.  First, the word “all” comes from a Greek meaning all, any, every, and whole.  Then, there is the word diligence or effort.  The Greek word here means diligence, earnestness, enthusiasm.  It also carries the idea of haste, meaning undue eagerness to act.  It is used in Luke 1:39 to describe what Mary did after found out she would give birth to Jesus, “Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah.”  It is how Herodias responded in Mark 6:25 after her mother told her to ask for John the Baptist’s head, “Immediately she came in with haste to the king..”  The Scriptures are filled with visuals of how we approach our newfound confidence in Christ’s redemptive work.   We can find one of these places in 2^nd Timothy 2:15 where Paul exhorts the evangelist Timothy saying, “Do your best to be the kind of person God will accept, and give yourself to him” (ETRV).   As one person explains, this is speaking about “bringing in all diligence to the side of God’s gifts and promises.”  So, what is diligence?  As I thought about it, I came to this thought, “Diligence is not measured by how far one moves, but how committed they are to moving.”

We can say that we are being encouraged to “Give it your all.”  If we are saved and have so much to look forward to, why is there reason to do anything?  I shared the simple reason a few weeks ago, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).  Because of what Jesus has done for us, enabling us to “be partakers of the divine nature” (2^nd Peter 1:4), we, in turn, earnestly seek to “add to your faith” (2^nd Peter 1:5) so that we can be of service to our Savior.  Listen to how the ETRV translates 2nd Peter 1:8, “If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God.  You will produce the kind of fruit that should come from your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   That is what spiritual growth is about, right?  It is a yearning to want to become more useful to God.  It is not so much a response of gratitude measured in what we do, as much as it is the heart of the one moved by the hope of Christ.

Why did the servant follow the man who bought his freedom?  He didn’t merely want to follow him; he wanted to serve him.  Over the next couple of weeks, we will consider some things the Holy Spirit guides Peter to urge the early Christians to add to their faith.  Each plays a role in enabling us to be more effective in that knowledge we now have concerning Christ.  May God bless us all as we endeavor to grow in His likeness.  One final thought, let’s remember that such endeavors to develop are not an effort to pay back God, for the debt we owed, we could never, ever payback.  Our efforts are in response to His marvelous gift.  Thank You, Lord!

Dennis

My intent this week was to do one of a couple of lessons that build on what we considered from 2nd Peter 1:2-4; that is, the “exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature” which comes through “the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”   The very next verse begins with these words, “But also for this very reason…” (v5).  We respond, react, and engage our newfound hope because of what He has done and continues to do.  For what reason?  I am purposely repetitive.  Because of everything that verses 2-4 speak of concerning what is now ours in Christ Jesus.  So, what are we to do?  Listen to these following few words, “giving all diligence” (NKJV), or “make every effort” (NIV), or “do all you can” (ETRV).  As many times as I have preached on this over the years, I have never asked this question. “What determines “all diligence,” “every effort,” or “all you can”?

I will leave that question for next week.  This week I wish to build on the power behind this hope rooted in faith: that is ours in Christ and how it plays a significant role in our ability to finish this race.  If you recall from last week’s lesson, I asked a rhetorical question, “Anyone here felt like quitting?”  The apostle Paul knew all too well the challenges of walking with Christ in this world. In Acts 9:16, the Lord told Ananias this concerning Saul (soon to be Paul) concerning the road ahead for him, “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” And suffer he would: persecution (Galatians 5:11), “distresses…stripes… imprisonments…sleeplessness” (2nd Corinthians 6:4-5).  Paul would write, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…” (2nd Corinthians 4:8-9).  After studying Job, I asked myself, “How can people endure so much?”  Why does the apostle Paul seem optimistic?  Faith beckons us to look beyond the here and now.  To anticipate what is just down the road.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing,

the inward man is being renewed day by day.”

2nd Corinthians 4:16

The ETRV says, “That is why we never give up.”  You might recall Hebrews 12:1 from last week, which discussed how we need to “run the race that is before us and never quit” (ETRV).  The idea of losing heart means to be faint, weary, and weak, i.e., to fail.  This weariness is not talking about the times we struggle with sin and question His forgiveness: although those times sin can rear its ugly head.  Here, it is the temptation to throw your hands up and ask, “What is the sense in all this?  Is what I am facing worth the trouble?”  How do we keep those moments from consuming us?  Paul gives us, at least in part, the answer to this question.  First, grasp the sense of time that faith reveals.  He says, “For our light afflictions, which is but a moment…” (2nd Corinthians 4:17).  So often, when faced with some difficulty in life, time seems to slow down.  We have all said it one time or another, “I had a long day.”  What made it so long?  Almost always, it has something to do with adversity.

Paul reverses this, shortening the adversity, realizing that it is but short in comparison.  Comparison to what?  These light afflictions are “working for us a far more exceeding and ETERNAL weight of glory” (2nd Corinthians 4:17).  What is coming our way is something worthy of our constant attention.  The heavenly home that Jesus is building (John 14:3), a place of no more tears (Revelation 21:4), a body that is immortal and glorious (1st Corinthians 15:43, 53).  Of course, there is the joy of always being in His presence (1st Thessalonians 4:17).  All of this forever without end!  These blessings are every bit part of the eternal life we now have in Christ.  These benefits are what we have to look forward to by faith.

“For the things which are seen are temporary,

but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

2nd Corinthians 4:18

I can almost hear the words push to the front of my mind, “Easier said than done!”  It’s true; it is not easy.  Even so, this is the confidence faith beckons us to grab hold of as we journey homeward.  So many things seek our attention each day, and the vast majority of them are temporary, or as the ETRV says, they “last only a short time.”  Tribulations, not forever!  Forsaken, only for a short while!  Perplexed, it will be brief in comparison!  Whatever this world brings forth, as true as they may be, and they are, will pass!  Yet, so often, it is those very things that grab my attention and hold me captive, robbing me of what is genuinely mine because of Christ; that is, hope and joy, along with the anticipation of things to come.  Consider how Paul open’s the next chapter, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2nd Corinthians 5:1).  Heavenly Father, as we face a broken world that is increasingly hostile towards You and Your children, help us through faith to look beyond the temporary.  Strengthen us to look forward to receiving all You have in store for us.  Amen.

Dennis

As followers of Christ, there is an absoluteness to the hope we have in Christ Jesus and the eternal life that is ours through Him.  John wrote these comforting words in 1st John 5:13, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”    That said, there is still a “race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1) that needs our full attention, and with good reason.  Satan is on the prowl (1st Peter 5:8).  He is an opportunist, and he is looking for, you guessed it, opportunities to pull us back into his domain.  It is for this very reason we are exhorted to “put on the whole armor of God” so we can “stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:16).  The One who has given us hope for eternity has also provided all we need to get home safely.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,

through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue….”

                                                                                                                                    2nd Peter 1:2-3

Once again, we see our Lord as the great provider, only this time, He is offering all we need to finish the race, survive the battle, outrun the adversary.  Peter wants his readers to realize the source with the words “His divine power.”  Paul’s words quickly came to mind, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  This word strengthens means to fill with power, make strong, to empower.  All the things we may face in life: all the obstacles that seem too challenging and impossible are only so if we rely on ourselves.  Jesus offers us everything we need to finish!  What does He offer?  All we need for life is the new life we now have in Christ Jesus.  What he gives also includes all that we need for godliness; that is, what we need to be respectful towards God.  When God invites us to “Be holy because I am holy” (1st Peter 1:16), He provides all we need to pursue that goal.  When He encourages us to “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1), He has given us the One to mimic to do so.  One person notes this important caveat, “He does not give life and godliness in maturity, but supplies us with the means of winning them for ourselves.”  All the tools we need, He provides!  All the protection we need, He gives!  All the help we need, He provides!  Where?  Through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.  The Great I AM, Lord of lords, King of kings, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, He who is glorious and holy has invited His children to be a part of something so much bigger than just life as we know it.

“…by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises,

that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped

the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

                                                                                                                                    2nd Peter 1:4

God doesn’t want us to claim salvation merely. He wants us to rise above the darkness that surrounds us so often.  Through Jesus, we can do it!  The promise maker is a promise keeper.  The ETRV says, “With these gifts, you can share in being like God.”  Not be God, but be like Him.  Partakers of the divine nature.  The very One who made it possible for us to escape the corruption in this world promises to provide us with everything we need to be partakers of the divine nature.  It is never a question of whether we can, but rather, whether we trust Him enough to provide us with what we need.  With faith in place, transformation, although challenging at times, is a given.  That is His promise.

Dennis

Many of us have had the arduous task of making a resume as we seek employment.  Merriam-Webster defines a resume as a short account of one’s career and qualifications and a set of accomplishments.  If you have made such a document, I would be willing to suggest that you only noted those things that shined a good light on you.  Would anyone share their tardiness, previous work problems, or any other blemish that might threaten a possible job?  How about those references?  Of course, we would provide names of those who would speak positively of us.

As he writes to the church in Philippi, the apostle Paul does so to keep them safe (3:1).  Safe from what?  The following words are harsh and direct, “Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!” (Philippians 3:2).  Who are these people?  It was the Judaizers!  As one person said, they were “Jewish Christians who sought to induce Gentiles to observe Jewish religious customs: to ‘Judaize.'”  To them, placing confidence in Christ was not adequate, or so they taught.  The Greek word translated confidence, carries the idea of reliance upon.  If there was any way to put confidence in self, Paul would be the one.  He had the best of all resumes, a Judaizers dream list: circumcised on the eighth day, the stock of Israel, tribe of Benjamin, Hebrew of Hebrew, a Pharisee of the law, zealous to the point of persecuting the church… BLAMELESS! (Philippians 4-6).  That last word is powerful, for it means free from fault or defect, irreproachable.  The Judaizers would hang posters of Paul in their recruiting office.  Combine Christ and this guy Paul and you have it made… or do you?

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.  Yet indeed I

also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,

for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ…”

                                                                                                                                                                   Philippians 3:7-8

It is important to remember that Paul is writing this to help the Philippian Christians stay safe.  Safe from misplaced confidence.  Listen to how the ETRV translates v7, “At one time, all these things were important to me.  But because of Christ, I decided that they are worth nothing.”  What he thought was “gain” (his advantage, as an asset), he now sees them as “loss” (a detriment).  Why?  Because any list that places reliance on self minimizes the cross of Christ, diminishes His work, and elevates ours.  What he once held so dear, he now counts “them as rubbish,” that which is thrown to the dogs, i.e., refuse.  Why would he throw away his resume with such a great list of accomplishments?   Listen closely to what he goes on to say,

“…and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law,

but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith….”

Philippians 3:9

Paul’s placement of his confidence has changed completely!  He had come to realize that no list is adequate, worthy of the claim of righteousness.  That only trust in Christ’s work on the cross could enable him to have such confidence.  That the best place to be found is “in Him.”  The law may have led him to Christ (Galatians 3:24), for which he could be thankful.  But all credit for who he knew himself to be now rest in Christ and Him alone.  His greatest desire now was simple, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10-11).  His resume would now read, “Paul, dead to self and alive in Christ.”  There can be no better resume one could write.

Dennis

I want to begin by expressing my thanks for the wonderful lesson John shared with us last Sunday.  As God’s children, it is vital that we grasp the amazing grace that is in no one else but Jesus Christ.  Through God’s demonstration of His love for sinful man (Romans 5:8), He provides an opportunity for man to be set free from sin through faith.  And as Paul revealed to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 2:10, that because of His grace, God brought forth our true purpose in that we are “His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…that we should walk in them”.   I guess the question could be, “Do I understand what Christ has made me [us] to be?”  What does it mean to be His workmanship and what are these good works?  Well, thankfully we have His word to provide the answer to these questions.

With those questions in mind, let’s consider today’s text.  The apostle Peter is seeking to exhort God’s redeemed in a process called transformation, i.e., spiritual growth.  Like with any endeavor, there needs to be a starting point.  First, they needed to be reminded that their “living hope” was “through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1^st Peter 1:3).  As Peter sought to call them to duty, they were to first “rest (their) hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1^st Peter 1:13).  Don’t lose sight of the reason for doing good works!  Why?  Once you lose sight of God’s love, you lose sight of your intended purpose.  That said, what can truly help us along the way.  Here is what the Holy Spirit guides Peter to say.

…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word…

                                                                                                                                    1^st Peter 2:2

To do the good works God desires, we must, as newborn babies, crave the pure milk of the word.  The word “newborn” here means newly begotten, newly born which in the spiritual sense means that Peter is talking to young converts.   Okay, I realize that most of us have been in Christ for years: still, we can grasp the attitude being provided here.  He encourages them to “desire the pure milk of the word.”  Your translation may use the word crave.  It means to dote or be extremely and uncritically fond of.  What is it in life that you crave?  Listen to how the ETRV translates this, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit.”  I couldn’t help but remember what Jesus said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.”  Why is this so important?  Consider the following from Peter.

…that you may grow thereby. 

1^st Peter 2:2

This is one of those times I don’t like the ETRV rendering, which says, “With it you can grow up and be saved.”  This seems to suggest that there is some question about whether one is saved and thus vigorously pursues the word to affirm it.  The NIV reads, “so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”  The word of God enables the redeemed to expand their understanding and thus, grow in His likeness.  It His through His word that we can “try to learn what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10, ETRV).  It is through His word that we are able to become “complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2^nd Timothy 3:17).  His word brings to view the good works we have been called to walk in.  Outside of that word, we wonder aimlessly and without purpose. 

I have been giving much thought to the amazing gift of Christ and the fact that He did it for me, for you, for all of sinful man.  This extraordinary gift put in motion not only redemption, but also to inspire us to learn what it means to be His workmanship.  To grow in our salvation and better understand the good works He has in store for us all.  So, are you hungry for God?

Dennis

I always appreciate feedback from my lessons, but I was touched by how many reached out to me this past Sunday to express some thoughts about it.  I suspect that it was the simple fact that we so desperately yearn for mercy.  Mercy from the Lord, of course, and from those around us, in our workplaces, the stores we patron, the homes we live in, maybe even ourselves at times.  Someone suggested that I build on that lesson with the intent of seeking to bring into view practical ways revealed in the scriptures on how we can show mercy.  As one of you brought out, the story of the Good Samaritan is a beautiful place to begin.

And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this, and you will live.”

                                                                                                                        Luke 10:28

This was the response from Jesus after he and a lawyer had a conversation about inheriting eternal life.  It was more than a simple conversation, for the lawyer was testing Jesus.  So, what did Jesus mean when he said: “do this”?  In the previous verse, He talked of the need to love God and his neighbor fully. (v27)  But the lawyer did not end the conversation there. He asked another question, “And who is my neighbor?” (v29). Little did he know that now that the table was about to turn, and Jesus would be testing him.  Here, the story of the Good Samaritan begins, and we get a sense of the answer to this often-challenging question.

Realizing the story is familiar, I have chosen to be general in my approach.  First, we see this man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho: about a 17-mile trip known for being treacherous, which would be on this day.  Attacked by thieves and left for dead, he is in desperate need of help.  This man is the neighbor.  Someone in obvious need and unable to do anything about it, we have all seen them before.  Onto the scene comes first a priest, then a Levite, both fully aware of the text spoken by the lawyer to Jesus found in Leviticus 19:18 & Deuteronomy 6:5, understanding their call to love God and their neighbor.  Both “saw him” or “came and looked,” the same Greek word meant to stare and thus discern clearly.   Both knew of his plight, but neither came to his care. Instead they, “passed by on the other side” (vv31-32).  It reminds me of that quote from last week’s lesson, “Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.”  When it comes to showing mercy, we often need not look for opportunities; but rather ready ourselves for when the opportunity presents itself.   Jesus found his life filled with such moments. The sinful woman in Luke 7:36ff who interrupted the meal at a Pharisee’s home and Jesus showed her mercy.  Many of the healings Jesus performed were opportunities that presented themselves and where He showed mercy over and over again.  These moments are often in front of us; it is just a question of whether we can see them or not.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.

                                                                                                                        Luke 10:33

            The tension between the Jewish community and the Samaritans is essential to note.  At best, the Jews viewed the Samaritans as second-class citizens who were beneath them.  Like the other two, this Samaritan also saw the man in desperation.  The difference was that he had compassion; he pitied him, and it moved him inwardly.  I use both aspects of this word’s definition because it reveals the two sides of mercy.  First, something causes the inner person to be moved with compassion in a situation and put that pity into action.  He cared for the man on the spot, bandaging his wounds.  Then, he brought him to an inn and made sure his needs were met.  This took his time, money, and sacrifice.  Mercy is free, but not free.  Does that make sense?  It is free to receive but always costs the one offering it.

            Well, back to the story where we find Jesus asking the lawyer, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” (v36).  Notice, though, the question is not asked “who is my neighbor”; but rather, “who is the neighbor.”  The neighbor is the one who offered mercy and took advantage of the opportunity to care for someone in need.  So, Jesus responds, “Go and do likewise” (v37).

So should we go and do likewise.  Although we may look for opportunities to show mercy, many of those will come upon us.  The question is, will we be willing to see them?  Then, of course, will we be ready to act upon those God-given moments.  Practically speaking, every day, we have opportunities to show mercy: in our workplaces, the stores we patron, the homes we live in, maybe even ourselves at times.  Remember, blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Dennis

I have intentionally decided to deviate from the lessons I have been giving lately to focus on something of great importance.  If you have followed any of my meditations, this lesson may have a familiar ring to it, and for a good reason.  The subject I wish to consider today is that of mercy.  If you want to know the difference between grace and mercy, consider this quote, “Mercy gave the prodigal son a second chance.  Grace gave him a feast.”  John Hagee writes, “Mercy requires that we learn to love others, to value their welfare more than our own!”  Jesus in Matthew 5:3-12 fills the beatitudes with life-changing exhortations, and this is where we begin.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Matthew 5:7 NKJV

The words which Jesus mentions in these verses are life changing.  Mourning: that is, to lament over our sinful state.  Meekness speaks of a mild, gentle, and humble person.  The idea of hungering and thirsting for righteousness speaks of one whose eyes are on the Lord, intent in their pursuit of Christ’s likeness.  Then, we come to the word merciful; it speaks of compassion.  Someone has said that “when a Christian shows mercy, he experiences liberation.”  Do you think that is true?  I do.  Maybe that is why Jesus said that those who offer mercy are blessed, fortunate, and well off.  But why?  The answer is as complex as it is simple.  The simple answer we will consider in a moment, but let’s first look at why it isn’t very easy.  The antonyms for mercy (compassion) are things like callousness, cold-heartedness, hardheartedness, heartlessness.  How do we view the homeless?  The addicts?  The broken and downtrodden?  That is one side of mercy.

The apostle Paul would use words like bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice (Ephesians 4:31) that speak directly to the absence of mercy towards those who have hurt us.  I know what that is like, and I suspect most of you do as well.  Emotionally, we are reactive people that seek overtly or subtly to seek revenge, make things right, even the score.  But if our world has taught us anything, there is no evening of the score.  You see, bitterness internalized is nothing other than a prison cell without bars.  So, Jesus wants us to know that how we see people, both those around us and those who have injured us, is critical to our spiritual journey.  Mercy triumphs over judgment (James 2:13).

“Great blessings belong to those who show mercy to others.

Mercy will be given to them.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Matthew 5:7, ETRV

I like simple things, don’t you?  Well, here is the simple reason behind why those who show mercy are so blessed.  We receive mercy as a result of showing it.  One commentator writes, “No motive to mercy is so constraining as the feeling that we needed it and have found it.”  Still, another writes, “To us, guilty sinners; to us, wretched, dying, and exposed to eternal woe; he has shown his mercy by giving his Son to die for us; by expressing his willingness to pardon and save us; and by sending his Spirit to renew and sanctify our hearts. Each day of our life, each hour, and each moment, we partake of his undeserved mercy.”  Each cry for forgiveness.  Each request for longsuffering from the Lord, we experience His mercy.

My heart grieves at the state of our world, exasperated by the constant lack of mercy.  I have been guilty of it myself.  Lord, help Your church to rise above the darkness and be an example of mercy and compassion to the world around us.  May we do it because You are so merciful towards us.

Dennis

Just this past week, in our young adult gathering at my house, a meal was suggested for the next gathering.  It was sauerkraut.  So, for those who know me, you already are aware of my reaction, ”YUCK!”  What you might not know is the first reason for my displeasure.  It smells horrible…at least to me.  Yet, for others, it causes great anticipation for a tasty meal.  Here are some interesting things about our sense of smell.  It is said that a human can detect as much as one trillion distinct smells.  The scent cells in the human body are renewed every 30 to 60 days.  And guys, it is said that woman have a better sense of smell than we do.  Did you know that Christians give off a scent to the world around us?  Consider these words from the apostle Paul.

and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

                                                                                                                       2^nd Corinthians 2:14

The NIV uses the word “aroma” while the ETRV says “sweet-smelling perfume.”  Once again, the understanding of words enables us to grasp the picture which Paul is talking about.  First, the fragrance (aroma) is attributed to the triumph that is found only in Christ.  This Greek word used here depicts “victorious generals who led triumphant processionals after a great victory.”  In these processionals there would be incense that would be part of the public display of the victory that had be won.  Along with that would be the display of the one’s conquered.  So, what is Paul trying to get across?  Through the work of Christ, Paul, who was once an enemy of the cross of Christ in his persecution of the church (Philippians 3:6) is now a prisoner for Christ (Ephesians 3:1; Philemon v1).  Now held captive by the gospel of Christ, with hope and victory in his grasp, he “diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge” everywhere he goes.  What he says next is powerful.

For we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being

saved and among those who are perishing.

                                                                                                                         2^nd Corinthians 2:15

It is noteworthy to realize the subtle difference of the Greek word translated fragrance in v15.  The Greek word Osme used  in v14 can mean a good or bad smell, while Euodia is generally used to denote a pleasant smell.  Christ is that pleasant smell that is cast among the people by Paul as he preaches the gospel.  Here is the part of the processional that is hard to grasp, at least for us.  You see, in that processional were not only the victors (those saved by the gospel), but also enemies doomed for execution (those who refuse Christ).  The wonderful gospel message would produce two very different outcomes.  Paul would say, “To one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life” (2^nd Corinthians 2:16).  Not everyone is going to see the gospel of Christ as a sweet-smelling message of hope, grace and truth, no matter how hard one might try.

Paul’s victorious journey in sharing the gospel was not linked to who did and who didn’t come to Christ.  He walked in victory because of the joy he now had as a prisoner of Christ.  His mission now was to share the fragrance of Christ with those he would come in contact with in his missionary journeys.  Some would respond positively to what Paul shared concerning the gospel of Christ, while others would oppose him.  Either way, Paul was victorious in Christ.

Dennis

With our bible class starting soon, I have been preparing diligently for the class.  While doing so, I came to realize something about one of the initial thoughts presented in the class already and the series of lessons that I have present recently concerning our God given task to evangelize.  With titles like “Walk This Way,” “The Old vs The New,” Let’s Be His Beacon,” and “Think Before You Speak,” the idea of personal growth seemed to be a common thread.  Truth be told, our need to rid ourselves of the old man and cloth ourselves with the new man is a daily and often challenging objective.  One of the stumbling blocks for me over the years is a word that repulses even the irreligious.  It is the word hypocrisy.  It is a word that I have had to face in my own walk with God.   With God’s grace and mercy, it no longer hinders me, but always reminds me of the ease to once again resurrect that old man.  So, here are a couple things to learn about hypocrisy.

Hypocrites!  Well, did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying…

                                                                                                                                    Matthew 15:7

We at times reside Jesus to some passive role in our world, but that is not how He conducted Himself in all situations.  He had strong words to say and often they were left for the religious leaders of His day.  The verse above is but one of many where Jesus confronts His listeners with a painful truth, they were hypocrites.  In Matthew 23:13-36 He uses this word to challenge His listeners no less than eight times.            So exactly what is meant by it?  The Greek word translated hypocrite means “a stage actor.”  Some suggest it comes from the one man play where the actor uses different masks to play a role.  Another suggests it was a mask that could augment the voice of the actor.  Simply put, it refers to someone pretending to be something they are not and with no intent on changing.  This is seen with these sobering words of Jesus, “These people draw near to Me with their mouths, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8).  Hypocrisy is a heart matter!  And those in the church are not exempt from it, including myself.

Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.

                                                                                                                                    Charles Surgeon

            Recently I had a conversation with someone about this very thing.  Then, as I reviewed the material from the class Learning to Love, I came across this quote from Dr. Paul Faulkner in which he defined hypocrisy as one who “is pretending to be something they [you] never intend to become.”  If we go back to Matthew 15, we get this idea as Jesus says, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9).  Through their traditions, they twisted the will of God, giving the appearance of godliness (hypocrisy) while defying God’s command.  They had NO intention of becoming what God wanted.  There is the distinction!  Intent!

            Why say this in the first place?  Transformation is a vigorous and often overwhelming process for many; it has been for me at times over the years.  The frustrations that surface as one painfully sees who they are in light of what God calls them to can be intense.  It can be so easy to look in the mirror and say, “What a hypocrite.”  But I find comfort in knowing some very important truths.  First, I am an imperfect disciple; even so, God loves me where I am at and that will never change.  Yet, He yearns for me not to stay where I am at, so He provides me with wisdom (through His word) and strength to move beyond where I am.  Flawed as I may be, and I am, I fear not the word hypocrite for it does not describe me, for I have no intention on remaining as I am.  Christlikeness is my goal.

Dennis