Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10). This passages speaks to how we treat each other in the church. Paul had just written, “Let love be without hypocrisy,” in verse 9; our actions must match our words!
In another place, the apostle wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).
Do you see a brother or sister in need? Whether it is a spiritual, emotional, or physical need, it is our duty (and should be our delight!) to fulfill that need. Listen to each other and offer whatever assistance you can.
Our primary goal is to get to heaven, and secondary is to take as many with us as possible. This congregation is full of Barnabas-type encouragers, saints who want to see each other in glory. Keep lifting each other up and looking out for the eternal interests of your brothers and sisters in the Lord.
All posts by JT
Cling To What Is Good
“Cling” is defined: “hold on tightly to; adhere or stick firmly or closely to; be hard to part or remove from.” Paul says that we are to “cling to what is good” (Romans 12:9). How do we do that?
First, we must know what good is. It is said that Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), so we can start by looking at His actions and imitating Him. We are also told that the will of God is “good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2), so we can study what He reveals to us (James 1:21-25).
Second, once we know what it is, we need to think about it and apply it. Paul writes that we should meditate on noble, just, pure, lovely, virtuous things (Philippians 4:8). What is the result of such meditation? Jesus tells us, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things” (Matthew 12:35).
Are you clinging to what is good? Studying it and meditating on it? Are you bringing forth good things to encourage those around you?
Let This Mind Be In You: Compassion
Matthew 14:13-21
I. THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST
- A. Feeding the 5000 (Matthew 14:13-21)
B. Feeding the 4000 (Matthew 15:29-38)
II. COMPASSION NOT ONLY FOR PHYSICAL NEEDS, BUT SPIRITUAL CONDITION
- A. “Like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:35-36; Matthew 7:15; 2 Peter 2:1-3)
B. Jesus had compassion and demanded action (Matthew 9:37-38)
III. COMPASSION IN RESTORATION
- A. The prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24)
B. Our role in restoration (Galatians 6:1,10; James 5:19-20)
Abhor What Is Evil
To “abhor” is to “regard with disgust and hatred.” This is how God sees sin, and it must be how we see sin as well.
Christians have long opposed the action of abortion, seeing it as the murder of an innocent, defenseless human being. The New York state legislature recently passed a law that allows abortions after 24 weeks if the mother’s health is at risk. Certainly there are difficult decisions that need to be made by some in such cases, but there is a fear that the law can be manipulated and interpreted too broadly. One does not have to scroll through their Facebook feed very long to see several posts, editorial cartoons, and links to articles about the evils of abortion.
There is no doubt, per Romans 12:9, that we are to “abhor what is evil,” and that certainly includes abortion. Yet, how do we approach this and other subjects in our interactions with others? Do our words, either online or in person, do more harm than good? There are many in the world that have been deceived by people they trust, taught to accept things that Christians find unconscionable. If we verbally attack them, more times than not they will simply dig in and defend their position regardless of any argument presented.
Consider the approach God commands in Galatians 6:1 – “in a spirit of gentleness.” Think about the Facebook posts and interactions you have witnessed over the past week concerning abortion. How many times would you say the godly position was presented “in a spirit of gentleness”?
What we say absolutely matters, make no mistake about it! Should we oppose the evil of abortion? Of course we should! However, we need to be certain how we say it does not hinder our neighbor’s acceptance of the truth. Be gentle and patient and kind while being steadfast and uncompromising in God’s Word.
May we always be those who “abhor what is evil” while we seek to guide the erring toward God’s truth in gentleness. We must abhor the sin, but see the soul as precious to and wanted by the Almighty.
Let This Mind Be In You: Humility
Philippians 2:5-8
I. THE HUMILITY OF CHRIST (Philippians 2:5-8)
- A. Who is Jesus? (Isaiah 9:6; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:4)
B. Why did He come? To accomplish the will of God (Matthew 26:39,42; 1 Peter 2:18-23)
C. The result of Christ’s humility: God exalted Him (Philippians 2:9-11; 1 Peter 5:5-6; James 4:10)
II. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO “HUMBLE YOURSELF”?
- A. The example of Christ: serving (John 13:3-17)
B. The struggles of the apostles (Mark 10:35-45)
III. THE BLESSINGS OF HUMILITY
- A. God will lift you up (James 4:10)
B. God will guide and teach you (Psalm 25:9; Jeremiah 10:23)
C. God will give you grace (Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; Luke 18:9-14)
D. Humility is accompanied by wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)
E. Humility is honorable (Proverbs 16:18-19; 29:23)
Let love be without hypocrisy
“Let love be without hypocrisy” (Romans 12:9). Don DeWelt paraphrased these words, “Let your professions of love be real” (Romans Realized, page 197). Inspiration teaches us that love is the foundation for all of God’s commands: “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). If we say we love, but do not allow it to influence our actions, that is the height of hypocrisy.
Christ warned against hypocritical behavior in Matthew 6. He said the hypocrites said and did things to “have glory from men” and to “be seen by men” (6:2,5). The love and honor professed by hypocrites is betrayed by their hearts, resulting in vain worship (Matthew 15:7-9). Hypocritical judgments hinder our influence for Christ among seekers of truth and guidance (Matthew 7:1-5).
Many opponents Christianity will use the word “hypocrite” as if they make a dollar every time it is said, but we need to be careful that we do not dismiss such accusations without self-examination. That is Christ’s point in Matthew 7. We cannot effectively teach the world about sin and redemption if we have not corrected the sin and sought redemption in our own lives.
Once we determine to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12), we can get to the business of leading others to their salvation. Continually examining ourselves, spending time in the Word, living it and teaching it. “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 Timothy 4:16).
Looking to the Word as the standard, ask yourself, “Does the love I profess for God and man match the life I live?” Be honest with yourself and make the changes necessary so that you can, as Paul wrote, “let love be without hypocrisy.”
What My God Does
‘Tis the Season
Christmas carols often highlight the joy associated with the holiday season. The lyrics of “Deck the Halls” remind us, “‘Tis the season to be jolly.” For many, however, the attitude exhibited during this time of year is anything but jolly. Perhaps it is the stress of finding the perfect gift for a loved one that causes one to be impolite toward strangers, or the additional hustle and bustle in traffic on the roads and in the stores that brings out selfishness. Whatever the case may be, the attitude of Christmas shoppers is frequently the opposite of the joy expressed in the carols.
For the Christian, each day should be filled with happiness as we wait for the Savior and fellowship with each other. Do we demonstrate the delights of following Christ? Or do those around us look at our disposition and decide they would never want to be as miserable as we are?
The inspired apostle Paul wrote, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking by put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).
Which words describe you? Bitter or kind? Angry or tenderhearted? Clamoring or forgiving?
Not only during this Christmas season, but throughout our Christian life, we must show others what is available in Christ. “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).
“Lord, Will You At This Time Restore The Kingdom To Israel?”
Acts 1:1-8
I. PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE KINGDOM
- A. Daniel 2:31-44
B. Isaiah 2:2-3 (cf. Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:15)
C. Joel 2:28-32
II. THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KINGDOM
- A. Acts 2:1-21 (cf. Acts 11:15)
B. When they asked the question, the apostles didn’t fully understand the nature of the kingdom (John 16:12-13; 18:36; 1 Samuel 8:1-7)
III. MANY STILL MISUNDERSTAND TODAY: THE FALSE DOCTRINE OF PREMILLENNIALISM
- A. Recommended reading: God’s Prophetic Word by Foy E. Wallace Jr.
B. Premillennialism “means that the second coming of the Lord will occur before the millennium begins…upon his return Christ will inaugurate the earthly kingdom referred to as the millennial reign” (Wallace 346)
C. Consequences of premillennialism
- 1. Makes God false to His promises (Mark 1:14-15; Deuteronomy 18:18, 22)
2. Alternates Judaism and Christianity (Hebrews 8:13)
3. Demotes Christ from His place at the right hand of God in heaven to the earth (Hebrews 1:3; 8:1)
“But Lord, What About This Man?”
John 21:15-21
I. DISTRACTIONS
- A. Peter’s distraction in this context (John 18:15-18,25-27; 21:21-22)
B. The distractions in the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-15)
C. Peter’s earlier distractions
- 1. When Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14:26-30)
2. At the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-7)
II. OUR FOCUS MUST BE ON FOLLOWING THE LORD
- A. God must be first (Matthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-2,5; Matthew 6:19-21; Hebrews 11:6)
B. Barclay: “Let a man serve Christ where Christ has set him” (John 21:15-22; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:12-22)
C. Where is your focus? (Philippians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Matthew 7:3-5; Galatians 6:1; Romans 12:1-2)
ConcerningJesus.com 