Day: May 7, 2014

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Liberty and the Standards of Jesus

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free . . . —Galatians 5:1

A spiritually-minded person will never come to you with the demand—”Believe this and that”; a spiritually-minded person will demand that you align your life with the standards of Jesus. We are not asked to believe the Bible, but to believe the One whom the Bible reveals (see John 5:39-40). We are called to present liberty for the conscience of others, not to bring them liberty for their thoughts and opinions. And if we ourselves are free with the liberty of Christ, others will be brought into that same liberty— the liberty that comes from realizing the absolute control and authority of Jesus Christ.

Always measure your life solely by the standards of Jesus. Submit yourself to His yoke, and His alone; and always be careful never to place a yoke on others that is not of Jesus Christ. It takes God a long time to get us to stop thinking that unless everyone sees things exactly as we do, they must be wrong. That is never God’s view. There is only one true liberty— the liberty of Jesus at work in our conscience enabling us to do what is right.

Don’t get impatient with others. Remember how God dealt with you— with patience and with gentleness. But never water down the truth of God. Let it have its way and never apologize for it. Jesus said, “Go . . . and make disciples. . .” (Matthew 28:19), not, “Make converts to your own thoughts and opinions.”

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Praying in a Crisis

Numbers 21:6-8

When was the last time you got on your knees and cried out to God about something other than personal issues? We’re often so involved in our own lives that we fail to see the crises facing others. I’m talking about situations that don’t affect our family at all—even more unrelated to us than, say, the deployment of a soldier we know or a terrorist attack on our land. But whether circumstances touch strangers or hit “close to home,” doesn’t it often feel as if such matters are just too big for one person’s prayer to make a difference?

Well, don’t believe it. The enemy wants us to assume that cataclysmic or tragic problems are too vast for our petitions to have any effect. But Scripture assures us that “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). And the next verse gives a powerful example: “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.”

Almighty God is able to heal, bring peace, and change circumstances. And He allows His children to participate in the process through prayer. He instructs us to talk with Him about everything (Phil. 4:6) and promises to hear when sin does not obstruct our communication (Ps. 66:18).

The next time you hear of a tragedy or problem—regardless of whether it affects strangers or people you know—resist the temptation to distance yourself from it. You can have an impact on the lives of others when you intercede on their behalf. So let news of a crisis become a catalyst for prayer.

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Judging Others

“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1)

This is a very familiar maxim, often cited by unbelievers and carnal Christians as a rebuke to Christians whom they regard as intolerant. These words of the Lord Jesus Christ do, indeed, warn us against a self-righteous attitude, condemning others who disagree with us on the basis of superficial criteria.

On the other hand, this caution by no means relieves us of the responsibility of evaluating the beliefs and practices of others in the light of Scripture. In the very same sermon, in fact, Jesus said just a few moments later: “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine”; and, “beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:6-15). Obedience to such commandments obviously requires one to make a judgment as to whether certain unbelievers should be regarded as “dogs” or “swine,” to whom it would be counterproductive to try to speak of spiritual matters, or whether certain professing Christian leaders are actually false prophets who should be repudiated. Jesus also said: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Since the Scriptures themselves are to be used in the final judgment (John 12:48; Revelation 20:12; etc.), it is obvious that we should use them right now to discern truth and error, right and wrong. “For the word of God . . . is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

There is another basis of judgment that the Lord Jesus has authorized us to use. “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. . . . Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:18-20). Thus, the test of Scripture plus fruit produced can serve as the basis of a valid judgment. Until adequate data for making such a test are available, judge not! HMM

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This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.—1 John 4:10.

I SAW a little child, with bandaged eyes,
Put up its hands to feel its mother’s face;
She bent, and took the tender groping palms,
And pressed them to her lips a little space.
I know a soul made blind by its desires,
And yet its faith keeps feeling for God’s face—
Bend down, O Mighty Love, and let that faith
One little moment touch Thy lips of Grace.
ANNA J. GRANNISS.

IF I felt my heart as hard as a stone; if I did not love God, or man, or woman, or little child, I would yet say to God in my heart, “O God, see how I trust Thee, because Thou art perfect, and not changeable like me. I do not love Thee. I love nobody. I am not even sorry for it. Thou seest how much I need Thee to come close to me, to put Thy arm round me, to say to me, my child; for the worse my state, the greater my need of my Father who loves me. Come to me, and my day will dawn; my love will come back, and, oh! how I shall love Thee, my God! and know that my love is Thy love, my blessedness Thy being.” GEORGE MACDONALD.

Be persuaded, timid soul, that He has loved you too much to cease loving you. FRANCOIS DE LA MOTHE FÉNELON.

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How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 1 Corinthians 15:35

Beloved, now are we the Sons of God; … it doth not appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. —As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of heavenly.

The Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; … shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. — He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once.

If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

1 John 3:2. 1 Corinthians 15:49. Philippians 3:20,21. Luke 24:36,37. 1 Corinthians 15:5,6. Romans 8:11.

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Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psalm 85:10

A just God and a Saviour.

The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. — Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forebearance of God; to declare I say at this time his righteousness: that he might be
just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. — He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes, we are healed. — Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. — To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly; his faith is counted for righteousness.

Isaiah 45:21. Isaiah 42:21. 2 Corinthians 5:19. Romans 3:25,26. Isaiah 53:5. Romans 8:33. Romans 4:5.