Volume 11 Post/Email 2 – Action and Courage
by brian
Maya Angelou visited Belmont University a few weeks ago on a Tuesday night to speak. One of her quotes, which was cited in The Tennessean the following Wednesday, was "Courage is the virtue that makes all the other virtues possible." She was saying that courage is the virtue that sustains the other virtues.
Action takes courage, especially action in the midst of obstinate people. Loving people takes courage, especially when people are resistant to that love. To be a people of sustained action and virtue, we must have conviction and courage.
Hebrews 12:12 reads, "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees." The Hebrew writer is using the metaphors of arms and knees to address our tendency as Christians to become weak in life and relationships. We become weak as a result of a lack of courage. We lack courage and moral fiber because we lose sight of faith in God. We must be resolved to be people of strength and courage. Our help for this courage, confidence, fortitude, power and resoluteness comes from the Lord. Hebrews 13:6 reads, "So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"
Reflection:
Are my daily choices and actions revealing courage in the face of any opposition?
For what am I fearing, or lacking courage and strength?
(Ask the Lord for courage to take action concerning any issues identified.)
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 8 – Faith(#8)
by brian
As best biblical scholars can tell, Habakkuk was written in 607 B.C. just prior to the Bablyonian invasion and exile of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar. This event results in thousands of casualties and loss of freedom for the survivors.
The first 2 chapters describe a conversation between God and the prophet Habakkuk about why this is happening to all of Judah, including the "righteous".
Chapter 3 concludes with a prayer set to music (v.1, 19). The end of the prayer is a powerful expression of faith, as Habakkuk tells God that no matter how bad circumstances become, he will continue to rejoice in the Lord. May this reading bless us.
3:17-19 "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." For the director of music on my stringed instruments.
Reflection question: Would my current faith be described accurately as one of worship and rejoicing when circumstances are challenging or unpleasant?
-Brian
Volume 4 Post/Email 3 – Faith(#3)
by brian
Faith is precious, especially when dealing with adversity.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:7, "These (v. 6 'trials') have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold (NKJV 'much more precious than gold'), which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
Whether it is sickness, loss, or other forms of suffering, faith in God is what propels us forward with a positive attitude and actions of perseverance. Faith says "I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)
I honestly don't know how people without faith deal with problems and trials of life.
The longer I live, the more grateful I am for faith, and the more I realize how precious my faith is to me.
-Brian
Volume 3 Post/Email 10 – Discouragement
by brian
There are so many encouragers in my life, as I hope are in yours, and greater than all, is the encouragement of Scripture.
The next time you find yourself discouraged, read from God's Word.
Among several verses on the topic of encouragement, Romans 15:4 reads, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
-Brian
Volume 2 Post/Email 9 – 1 John 4:13-16
by brian
As we continue on the primary theme of spiritual formation, another great text to ponder concerning union with God is 1 John 4:13-16.
"We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."
These words make the profound mystery of God practical and understandable!
These words convey what it means to have a relationship with God, and how this relates to and impacts daily living.
Does God live in me? Do I live in God?
John states that faith (specifically in Jesus) is the avenue to such a union/relationship. "If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God."
Furthermore, John makes this otherwise abstract concept more concrete and tangible. "Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."
Do I bask in God's love for and affirmation of me each day?
You cannot truly love yourself more than He does! He is wild about you! He delights in you! There are NUMEROUS Scriptures that say so!
Do I reciprocate God's love? Do I show Jesus I love him? Do I tell my Father I love him? Do I tell Jesus I love him? Do I thank Jesus and the Spirit? Do I worship the Father? > An affirmative answer to these type of questions is vital to truly experiencing God (and union with a tri-personal God), and not just having dry knowledge of God, or having what we might describe as an intellectual or academic spirituality.
The other type of questions I need to reflect upon for spiritual inventory and application pertain to my relationships and interaction with people.
Do I love and help others, including those with whom I am different? Do I love, forgive and serve people who have not always treated me with love?
Am I relying on God's love for me and my sinfulness, or disregarding this need and reality? Am I trusting in the transforming power of God's Spirit and Jesus' presence to change inwardly and overcome my unloving attitudes and tendencies toward people?
God wants us to learn, and be ever learning, how to live in union with him.
Through our love for others and from others we experience the loving presence of God - heaven on earth.
Fellowship (loving union) with God is what creates transformation in our lives. Faith in Jesus expressed through prayer to God (in love) and through love for others are tangible acts that help us consciously be aware of this all-important, imperative union.
Think of what your life would be without an authentic relationship with God!
Think of what your relationships would be without the giving and receiving of Christ's love!
First John 4:13 states that God's Spirit is in you, filling you with love and empowering you to love!
We cannot love very long on our own resources. We need the presence of God's Spirit permeating and saturating our lives with His goodness!
Brothers and Sisters - Keep living in God!!! Keep living in love!!!
Continue experiencing formation into the likeness of Jesus!!!
ELGUY!!!
Continue loving your family, including that family member who others and/or yourself finds difficult to love!
Continue loving your congregation, including that brother or sister who others and/or yourself finds difficult to love!
Continue being Christ-like at work, including toward that co-worker or boss who others and/or yourself finds difficult to love!
Resist the temptation to not love! Refuse to be a container of even a smidget of hatred! Resolve to be empty of any ill-will, or even indifference!
To summarize and clarify:
Continue investing your life in people - even people who seem to not appreciate you, value you, your friendship or help, and people for whom it appears that your love and investment is not making any difference.
God's unending love for you and investment in you has made all the difference for you, and your unwavering love for someone with whom you could easily give up on is what could make all the difference in their life and future.
Be a vessel full of God, overflowing with love for God, for yourself, and for others!!!
-Brian
Volume 2 Post/Email 7 – John 15:4
by brian
This is our 7th post of thoughts on spiritual formation, and a continuation of the 6th message on the concept of prayer and union with God.
In Thomas Brodie's Commentary on the gospel of John, he argues persuasively that the starting point of John's theology is abiding restful union.
1. The prologue speaks of Jesus being "at the Father's side" (literally - 'in the bosom of the Father') in John 1:18.
2. We see "the disciple whom Jesus loved" reclining on Jesus' bosom in John 13:23.
3. John repeats this intimate moment at the very end of his gospel in John 21:20.
In the middle of the gospel narrative, we find Jesus speaking not only of his oneness with the Father (as in Jn. 17:22-23 from last week), but also of Jesus' union with us. He states in 15:4a, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you."
Brodie writes, "Thus there is a form of restful union which exists first of all in God, but in which humans can participate both during this life and during a later life." (1)
The Apostle Paul speaks of this concept of oneness with Jesus in several of his writings. One example is Galatians 2:20a - "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me."
Biblical scholar John McKenzie writes about our experience and recognition of the divinity of Jesus (such as John 1:1a "In the beginning was the Word."), and the immediate cause of psychological and spiritual change.
"We recognize that the person whom we have encountered speaks to our innermost being, supplies our needs, satisfies our desires. We recognize that this person gives life meaning. I do not say a new meaning supply, for we realize that before we encountered this person life had no real meaning. We recognize that this person has revealed to us not only himself, but our own true self as well. We recognize that we cannot be our own true self except by union with this person. In him, the obscure is illuminated, the uncertain yields to the certain, insecurity is replaced by a deep sense of security. In him we find we have achieved an understanding of many things which baffled us. We recognize in his person strength and power which we can sense passing from him to us." (2)
Lastly, back to Brodie's commentary, he explains:
"Oneness with the ultimate reality is not an abstract idea; it is a spiritual experience of knowing that the timeless God is at the door inviting you to full union. It is an attentiveness to the present, a readiness, at every moment, to receive reality, to enjoy deeply even the simplest things." (1)
-Brian
1 Thomas L. Brodie, The Gospel According To John (New York: Oxford University Press), 60-61.
2 Dictionary of the Bible (New York: McMillian, 1965), 269.
New Prayer Page
by brian
Greetings again to all who have subscribed to ELGUY.ORG!
I wanted to briefly mention that a new page has been added to our website, titled "Lift Up My Eyes". On the page are various Scriptures on prayer to teach, remind, and encourage us on the matter. Likewise, by highlighting the page at the top you can access articles from different Christian authors on the topic. Since these are not mailed to subscribers, I wanted to take a moment to send out this post informing those who might be interested. Prayer, of course, is vital to our faith and spiritual life.
-Brian
Volume 1 Post/Email 8 – Philippians 4:13
by brian
Today will be the completion of spiritual thoughts and food from Philippians. Hopefully these first 8 mini-messages have been a blessing and encouragement to us all. Our next mini-series of thoughts for the weeks to follow will be on the topics of spiritual renewal and spiritual formation, beginning with some spiritual principles taught in Jeremiah 17, followed by a message on some spiritual concepts from Jeremiah 18.
Philippians 4:13 is perhaps the most well-known verse in the 4 chapters of the letter. Here Paul writes, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
What an incredible statement of faith and truth!
What do you need strength for today?
What do you need help doing this week?
You can forgive all wrongs through Christ who gives you strength!
You can make that tough decision through Christ who gives you strength!
You can love that difficult person through Christ who gives you strength!
You can grieve without being hopeless through Christ who gives you strength!
You can do without through Christ who gives you strength!
You can overcome that addiction through Christ who gives you strength!
You can raise your children through Christ who gives you strength!
You can handle rejection through Christ who gives you strength!
You can rise above the petty through Christ who gives you strength!
You can serve others through Christ who gives you strength!
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:12-13
Every day let God use you! Today let God use you! Today let Christ strengthen you!
-Brian