Tag Archives: peace

BOND OF PEACE AND DOGS

17 Saturday Aug 2019

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The scriptures are clear. The Lord’s apostle said the saints are to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). That can hardly happen where there is present a “Mr. Diotrephes” or a “Mrs. Diotrephes.” John wrote with regard to the “Diotrephes” spirit, “I wrote somewhat unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not” (3 John 9). This is the disposition of a person who wants his (or her) say and way. Those who are of this attitude and spirit have no regard for the words of the Holy Spirit.

In the “funnies” section of the newspaper, the cartoon “The Middletons” make a perfect illustration. There are two dogs barking continuously (like dogs sometimes do). One dog stops and asks, “What are we barking at?” The other dog replies, “A leaf fluttered to the ground.” “Oh” came the reply. The dogs resume barking fervently. This a perfect illustration of the Diotrephes spirit that exists with some. It begins with a lack of biblical knowledge, continues with failure to gain knowledge of the situation as it needs to be properly understood, then proceeds with a lack of a charitable disposition toward the thinking and ways of someone else, coupled with a desire to have control / power / influence over others (all in a compelled sort of way, at least some of the time), all to arrive at a point of “we don’t need a reason of substance, let us just make up one.”

The Diotrephes spirit in a local congregation is exhibited in more than just what the Lord’s apostle wrote; it’s exhibited in identifying “sound brethren” and only those who are identified can be fellowshipped, in telling a preacher from what exclusive translation he can preach (and it better not be the Greek text!), how the preacher can make no use of illustrations that come from life but can only come from Genesis to Revelation (Paul and Jesus would both have been condemned by the Diotrephes spirited person). The Diotrephes spirit splits churches, sometimes those splits manifest themselves in a congregation imploding, the majority of the saints walking out to start a new work or wandering off “back into the mire.”  

Maybe you know someone in the congregation where you worship manifesting all of this, or only some of it. If so, you are headed down a path that brings frustration, confusion and heartache.

What the Lord’s apostle said in Ephesians is not an option or suggestion, it is a command of the Holy Spirit. Those who divide churches because of the Diotrephes spirit will answer the Lord for their self-exultations. We may wonder, sometimes, who is guilty of this sort of thinking. Generally speaking, however, the Diotrephes spirited person is manifest to all. When we wonder, we can be sure the Lord knows! “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3, ASV). RT

I do not like him!

14 Monday May 2018

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Not every personality in a congregation, home, school classroom, or in the work environment will be a perfect fit with another. There are times when personalities just don’t mesh. This is not a problem, but it can be a problem when two personalities not compatible with one another (from the perspective of one) is encouraged to think the best approach is to avoid the other without resolving the issue at hand.

Sometimes it goes like this: two people are together, but one of the two is not comfortable around the other. This dis-comfort does not have to have to be associated with anything sinful, it just may be the difference between personalities. The one who is not comfortable with the other then makes it a problem with the declarative expression, “I don’t like him!”

Wow! Is this because the “one not liked” teaches, preaches, talks, acts, and/or carries himself in some way the other does not like? Evidently. The “one not liked” has no clue, no understanding of what and why a wall of separation exists, put in place by the “one who does not like.” To avoid discomfort, the “one who does not like” finds reasons to, first, not resolve the matter (but maintains the wall of separation) and, second, in spite of denials, not carry oneself as a Christian and worship with the saints.

If one is a Christian, that is, if a follower of Christ, the virtues of character, honesty, generosity will surface to the top of awkward relationships and address the matter that has put a wall between the two by the “one who does not like.” What did the “one not liked” do to earn this response of the separating wall? The “one not liked” is then left on his own to figure out why he is not liked, only to learn no specifics are offered. When the “one not liked” seeks to resolve the issue with the “one who does not like,” the “one who does not like” modifies the declarative expression or just lies to protect herself.

No resolution.

“Is there a problem here?” you ask. This is a problem here and everywhere where saints gather. It’s a problem because of spiritual and moral weakness. The problem exists because at least one person does not want to do as the Lord expressly said:

All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it (Matthew 7:12-14, ASV).

Pay attention to this exhortation, for one must have 1) a charitable spirit of doing to others as you want others to treat you, and if one desires 2) to enter the narrow gate one must do this, for 3) if the Lord’s approval is worth having, then walking the narrow path toward the narrow gate means one does that which is right because it is right; the Lord will accept nothing less. To do less than this is to put a wall of separation between two people; the “one who does not like” is the one putting the wall of separation up between two people called Christians, for at least one is not thinking, speaking and acting like a follower of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility (Eph. 2:14-16, ESV).

Paul’s point was in relation to the separation between Jew and Gentiles, but the point he made there has a principled application to all who put a wall of separation up between self and others. Jesus came to bring people together under His banner, under His way of thinking, for when we are left to ourselves walls of separation arise.

So, because I don’t like her, I will not be around much. The one who thinks this way can’t apply the words of the Holy Spirit, as Paul wrote one is to do: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor” (Romans 12:9-10, ESV). RT

PEACE ON EARTH….

24 Sunday Dec 2017

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For generations, people have lived with the idea when man’s Savior came to this earth, peace would dwell amongst all men. Yet, as we look at society, we readily see this is not the case. What then are we to understand when one reads a passage like this: “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:12-14, KJV).

This is complicated all the more when we note the words of the Lord to His disciples, sending them out in what is called the “limited commission”, that is, when the disciples were sent to the house of Israel only to preach the Lord’s coming to their community. He told them, in essence, “I want you to understand that you are being sent out as sheep among wolves…“And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:21-22).

One can clearly see the “peace” of Luke 2, is not peace at all in Matthew 10, but as it reads in, there is much resistance. What the angels meant was not peace between people, family members, communities or nations; what the Lord meant when He sent the angel to declare was something far more important. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us”  (Romans 5:1-5).

The Lord’s peace, then, is in relation to Him who is Lord over all. It is wisdom of God that each who loves the Lord to understand this and to adopt the Lord’s way of thinking in regard to life lived. “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:34-37).

I can’t imagine a single person who desires conflict in life; the apostle Paul exhorted us to live peaceably with all as much as is possible (Rom. 12:18), but some can do as much as still have conflict. The Lord did; we also will. Nevertheless, let us not forget the “peace” of the Lord that surpasses all understanding is in relation to a relationship with the Lord Jesus; let us think the way He thought, walking the way He walked, and being willing to give up life for His cause, rather than our own.

This holiday season, have you lost sight of this important point?

I Need Thee every Hour.

20 Monday Jun 2016

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“What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me–practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you….And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:9, 19 ESV)

Peace and tranquility in life is very important to each of us. Sometimes, however, it seems to be missing. In Scripture there is a peace from God that is never missing. Paul reminds us of that in the two verses from Philippians 4. We are also reminded of this in the song we sing, “I need thee every hour.” Let us reflect on a few thoughts from the song.

1) No tender voice like thine can peace afford. There is nothing like the soothing voice of a mother to help when the pain of life is so great it makes one immobile. Jesus’s voice is tender (Matthew 11:28-30), but let us not think it is so tender than He does not demand that we turn from our sins and live righteously (Ephesians 5:17, 17). It is unfortunate that many in this world look upon Jesus as only a tender voice that calls us from despair, and while He is that, I am glad the He is certainly that and more.

2) Temptations lose their power when thou art nigh. When you are tempted, and the temptation is overwhelmingly powerful, to whom do you turn is this time of crisis? Or, perhaps, a better question might be, do you turn away from the temptation? Temptation hits us all differently, but also with a good deal of sameness (if you will). In times of weakness, it is the time when the Lord’s name is not only on our lips, but in our heat. Though we are vulnerable, He is our strength. Sometimes the temptation is so great the ability to withstand seems impossible. Consequently, we just say to ourselves, “I will pay the price later.” The problem is, when later comes, the price is every bit as oppressive as the original temptation. The weight of guilt is oppressive, and those who give in are called to run from the continuing danger in soupy mud two feet thick.

3) In joy or pain, come quickly and abide or life is vain. There is no person like a Christian who has life laid out in such a way the path is clear. Some who try to live without the Lord can turn to a loved one to help in time of need, but sometimes that loved-one has no answer, no solution to the deep and dark counsels of one’s heart. To who, then, does a non-Christian turn? The Christian turns, and continues to turn to the Lord, for only He can give an answer and solution to most emptiness of life, taking the “vainness” away and giving hope. Sometimes, however, the taking and giving experience can be painful. What will you gain for your pain?

4) O make me thine indeed, thou blessed Son. God’s love is so great that His Son came to this earth to not only give us relief from sin, but hope to tread our way thought this life. More than that, however, He came to give us life, life in Him, in the Father’s Son. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27, KJV).

Does peace flow like a river through your soul? It won’t if the love of God is not center-seat in your heart. It may be a challenge for each of us to find that desired peace, but the peace we should desire is the peace that comes from God, surpassing all understanding.

 

Romans (5)

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

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To this point, Romans 1-4, we have learned that not only are the Gentiles (non-Jews) guilty of sin, but also the Jews are guilty of the same. The significance of the Law of Moses was to point this out (3:20), but also to speak of justification apart from the Law. The standard example of justification is seen in Abraham. Just as Abraham was justified, those who respond in faith as Abraham did will have the peace that he had. This peace is not peace from the world’s perspective or afflictions, but peace between God and the individual who responded in faith. Along with this peace there is hope (5:5). The significance of what God did in Christ is seen in His having done so even while man was living in rebellion to his Creator. Sin entered the world through disobedience; the result of that sin brought death into the realm of the natural world. Since that time man has been plagued with the burden that death brings. On the other hand, with the actions of Jesus He brought life into the physical realm, that is, spiritual life. Thus, those who respond to God in faith are the recipients of that life. The contrast is before us: to get out of the realm of the physical and into the realm of the spiritual, that is, heavenly, one responds to God in faith. RT