9/20/13

From Gary.... A gift of kindness



Last month I was walking on Brahman St. nearby my home and took this photo.  Just a bird feeder in the morning sun, right?  But it does say something about the people who live there.  They feed the birds out of their love of animals.  They don't have to do it- they want to do it.  Who knows what birds they have helped by their act of kindness?  The thought occurred to me: Where would I be without the kindness of God?  I suppose that there are many answers to this question, but I thought of this passage from Paul's letter to Titus...

Titus, Chapter 3
 1 Remind them to be in subjection to rulers and to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,  2 to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.  3 For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.  4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,  5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;  7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
The birds didn't earn their daily seed; it was (and still is) freely given to them by someone who loves them.  I have never EARNED salvation, or any blessing for that matter, yet because of God's love, I have the assurance of a myriad of blessings; both now and in heaven.  When I take the dogs for a walk today and see this little bird feeder, I will think of how much God loves me.  Think about that the next time you see a bird-feeder!!! 

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 20:1-16: What will I get?

Matthew 20:1-16: What will I get?

Matthew 19:16-30 is the background for the interpretation of the parable in Matthew 20:1-16. It’s all about heart, about motivation and about trusting in God to do the right thing. The young rich man (rich because he was blessed by God) came thinking he loved and served God because God was worthy of it and (perhaps, maybe even probably) he learned that it was God’s blessings he truly cared for. Jesus taught him that if he wanted to come closer to God he needed to distance himself from the blessings. The young man discovered something about himself; he was a poor rich man and now even poorer since he walked away. 
At that point Jesus began to speak of the seduction of wealth (19:23-26) and this didn’t sit well with Peter (19:27) for it sounded like there’d be no reward for faithfulness when in truth the OT spoke of blessing that would come on those faithful to the God of the covenant (compare Deuteronomy 28). Should Peter conclude that God promises come up short? Jesus in 19:28-30 makes it clear that God will do the right thing and that he fulfils his promises. That might have settled Peter’s little heart but there was something Peter and his companions needed to know (19:30), many who are first will be last and the last first. The parable makes that point (20:16). 
I don’t see any reason to think the parable is dealing with Jews in contrast to Gentiles. I see nothing in Matthew’s’ context to suggest that and I see a lot that speaks of the motivation for service. See Matthew 20:1-16. 
  • The Master doesn’t say that all that are first shall be last.
  • The parable doesn’t say all were paid the same amount. (Ten dollars for ten hours work is not the same wage as ten dollars for one hour’s work. The protesters didn’t think they were all paid equally.)
  • The parable teaches that the earlier workers didn’t go to work until they had haggled out an agreed pay with the owner. They got what they bargained for. (This was usual in labour-markets.)
  • The parable teaches that the late-comers only came late to work because they had not been hired. It wasn’t because they didn’t want to work or that they were lazy.
  • The parable tells us that they went eagerly to work without haggling, depending on the word of the owner that he would do what is right.
  I think we’re being taught the difference between a heartfelt desire to please God and a mercenary spirit. That’s what I think. 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Those Who Belong To Christ (Galatians 5:24-26)



                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                  Those Who Belong To Christ (5:24-26)

INTRODUCTION

1. In previous studies we have noted Paul contrasting the flesh and the
   Spirit...
   a. How the works of the flesh:
      1) Oppose the Spirit - Ga 5:16-17
      2) Prevents one from inheriting the kingdom - Ga 5:19-21
   b. How walking in the Spirit:
      1) Helps one to not fulfill the lust of the flesh - Ga 5:16
      2) Produces the fruit of the Spirit in one's life - Ga 5:22-23
      3) Frees one from the condemnation of any law - Ga 5:18,23c

2. In summarizing his discourse on the flesh and the Spirit, Paul
   reminds us of what is true of those who belong to Christ...
   a. They have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires - Ga 5:24
   b. They live in the Spirit - Ga 5:25a
   c. They should therefore walk in the Spirit, not in conceit,
      provoking and envying one another - Ga 5:25b-26

[This passage (Ga 5:24-26) alludes to much that is revealed elsewhere as
to what it means to be a Christian, a disciple of Christ.  For example,
those who truly belong to Christ are those who...]

I. HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH

   A. IN PRINCIPLE...
      1. When we died with Christ in baptism - Ro 6:3-6
      2. So that now Christ lives in us, and we live by faith - Ga 2:20
      -- Have you crucified the flesh in 'principle', through baptism?

   B. IN PRACTICE...
      1. As we seek to put off the old man, and put on the new - Col 3:
         5-14
      2. As we were taught by Christ - Ep 4:20-24
      -- Are you crucifying the flesh in 'practice', by living a holy
         life?

[Crucifying the flesh in both principle and practice cannot be done
without divine help.  And so those who truly belong to Christ are those
blessed to...]

II. LIVE IN THE SPIRIT

   A. IN THE BEGINNING...
      1. It is the Spirit who gives life - Jn 6:63; 2Co 3:6
      2. Which He does in the washing of regeneration (i.e., baptism)
         - Tit 3:5
      3. So that we are truly born again of both water and the Spirit
         - Jn 3:5
      -- Have you been made alive in the Spirit, through baptism?

   B. IN THE PRESENT...
      1. By virtue of His indwelling - Ro 8:11; cf. 1Co 6:19
      2. Who empowers us to put to death the deeds of the body - Ro 8:
         12-13; cf. Ep 3:16
      -- Are you living in the Spirit, by utilizing His strength?

[Because we live in the Spirit, there is great potential for spiritual
growth.  But that growth is not automatic.  We can be guilty of grieving
the Spirit (cf. Ep 4:30).  Thus those who belong to Christ...]

III. SHOULD WALK IN THE SPIRIT

   A. NOT CONCEITED...
      1. Manifested by selfish ambitions, contrary to the mind of Christ
         - cf. Php 2:3-5
      2. Manifesting instead lowliness of mind that leads to gentleness
         (meekness) - cf. Ga 5:23
      -- Are you walking in the Spirit, free from conceit?

   B. NOT PROVOKING...
      1. Manifested by conduct such as immorality, outbursts of wrath
         - cf. Ga 5:19-20
      2. Manifesting instead joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
         goodness, faithfulness - Ga 5:22-23
      -- Are you walking in the Spirit, free from provoking others?

   C. NOT ENVYING...
      1. Manifested by hatred, jealousies - cf. Ga 5:20-21
      2. Manifesting instead love that does not envy, thinks no evil
         - cf. 1Co 13:4-8a
      -- Are you walking in the Spirit, free from envy?

CONCLUSION

1. Those who belong to Christ are they who...
   a. Crucify the flesh in both principle and practice
   b. Live in the Spirit from their baptism to the present
   c. Should walk in the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit

2. Do we truly belong to Christ...?
   a. It begins with baptism into Christ - Ga 3:27
   b. It continues with a life of faith - Ga 2:20
   c. It produces a whole new person - Ga 6:15

Such is the life that Christ offers:  made alive in the Spirit, walking
in the Spirit, bearing fruit of the Spirit.  Is this not the life you
want...? - cf. Jn 10:10

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011