James 3:13 - "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom."
Thoughts on today's verse:
There was a story in the news a few months ago about a woman who had claimed to be a soldier with the U.S. Army. She made quite a claim and probably took quite a bit of time coming up with her story so that she could furnish the details when people from her small hometown would ask her about her time in service. You see, she wasn't really a soldier with the U.S. Army. She had never gone to boot camp, never been to a recruiter, and the military had no record of her. She made a big claim, but it was unsubstantiated!
Here James is telling the believers that there may be some among them who are making spiritual claims, that is, to be wise and understanding, to have knowledge of the Scriptures. However, he said that the true test of one claiming to be wise and understanding would not just be in the claim, or the ability to parse verses and recite whole sections of Scripture, but rather the test of the actual fruit of the life of that person!
The truly wise and understanding Christian will be marked with good conduct performed in the meekness of wisdom. So the truly wise one won't have to say it at all, for their life will manifest it and, as Solomon said in Proverbs 27:2 - Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips."
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
1 John 4:16 - "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him."
Thoughts on today's verse:
We all know the most famous verse of the Bible - John 3:16, which speaks of love. "For God so loved..." We often share this with others as we share the gospel with them, for part of the message is indeed the love of God. In that sense every true believer should know of the love of God, and every true believer has known the love of God. And, lest we forget, we have a picture of God's love in the form of Christ on the cross, dying for our sins, then being gloriously resurrected with a glorified body. Thus, in a very real sense, we see that, as John states - God is love!
We are then reminded of what this is to do in our lives. Jesus said that "if you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). No doubt John recalls this as he writes this letter, that the one who has experienced the love of God in his life, here, in the form of salvation, is to abide in love.
One commentator noted that "the only way to love, as the only way to believe (15), is by living in God and God in us. For it is the divine indwelling which alone makes possible both belief and love. They are its fruit, and therefore its evidence: ‘he who dwells in love is [i.e. is thereby seen to be] dwelling in God’" (Stott, John. TNTC Letters of John).
We cannot truly love others without first experiencing the love that God had for us and shared with us through Christ.
Thoughts on today's verse:
We all know the most famous verse of the Bible - John 3:16, which speaks of love. "For God so loved..." We often share this with others as we share the gospel with them, for part of the message is indeed the love of God. In that sense every true believer should know of the love of God, and every true believer has known the love of God. And, lest we forget, we have a picture of God's love in the form of Christ on the cross, dying for our sins, then being gloriously resurrected with a glorified body. Thus, in a very real sense, we see that, as John states - God is love!
We are then reminded of what this is to do in our lives. Jesus said that "if you love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). No doubt John recalls this as he writes this letter, that the one who has experienced the love of God in his life, here, in the form of salvation, is to abide in love.
One commentator noted that "the only way to love, as the only way to believe (15), is by living in God and God in us. For it is the divine indwelling which alone makes possible both belief and love. They are its fruit, and therefore its evidence: ‘he who dwells in love is [i.e. is thereby seen to be] dwelling in God’" (Stott, John. TNTC Letters of John).
We cannot truly love others without first experiencing the love that God had for us and shared with us through Christ.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Philippians 2:1-2 - "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Thoughts on today's verses:
Taking a trip down memory lane can be a sweet thing! Here, Paul exhorts the Philippians to reflect on the transaction that took place when they exchanged their worthless works and the necessary resulting death, for faith in Christ and eternal life.
He begins with the idea of consolation or encouragement in Christ. What is it that can console you or encourage you in the darkest of times? What is it that can give you the motivation and encouragement that boosts you on in your day-to-day living? Here, it should be Christ! When you think about what Christ has done for you, and the great love that he has for you, how can that do anything but encourage and console the believer?!
He then goes on to speak of the comfort of love. At times, it is possible to feel lonely, even in a crowded room. Many people have given testimony of this in their own lives. Yet, for the believer, this really shouldn't be the case when we remind ourselves of the great love wherewith Christ has loved us, and indeed, continues to love us!
The excitment builds, as we have already been encouraged, experienced the love of God, and now Paul reminds the believer that the relationship that is in place is one of fellowship - a holy fellowship, with the Spirit of God, who dwells within us. What an incredible relationship and time of rejoicing!
These things culminate in properly aligned affections toward Christ, which will in turn result in mercy toward others. It is, "the divine compassion and mercy that came from Christ himself to us at salvation and now passes through us to others" (Preach the Word: Philippians. R. Kent Hughes, p. 76).
All of this then serves as the foundation for the relationships that we have with other believers, as we are all encouraged in our own relationship and position in Christ, so we will act accordingly, in Christlike unity, humility, and love toward one another. Let us remember that it is only upon the foundation of Christ and his work that the church, of which we are a part, can exist the way God has declared!
Thoughts on today's verses:
Taking a trip down memory lane can be a sweet thing! Here, Paul exhorts the Philippians to reflect on the transaction that took place when they exchanged their worthless works and the necessary resulting death, for faith in Christ and eternal life.
He begins with the idea of consolation or encouragement in Christ. What is it that can console you or encourage you in the darkest of times? What is it that can give you the motivation and encouragement that boosts you on in your day-to-day living? Here, it should be Christ! When you think about what Christ has done for you, and the great love that he has for you, how can that do anything but encourage and console the believer?!
He then goes on to speak of the comfort of love. At times, it is possible to feel lonely, even in a crowded room. Many people have given testimony of this in their own lives. Yet, for the believer, this really shouldn't be the case when we remind ourselves of the great love wherewith Christ has loved us, and indeed, continues to love us!
The excitment builds, as we have already been encouraged, experienced the love of God, and now Paul reminds the believer that the relationship that is in place is one of fellowship - a holy fellowship, with the Spirit of God, who dwells within us. What an incredible relationship and time of rejoicing!
These things culminate in properly aligned affections toward Christ, which will in turn result in mercy toward others. It is, "the divine compassion and mercy that came from Christ himself to us at salvation and now passes through us to others" (Preach the Word: Philippians. R. Kent Hughes, p. 76).
All of this then serves as the foundation for the relationships that we have with other believers, as we are all encouraged in our own relationship and position in Christ, so we will act accordingly, in Christlike unity, humility, and love toward one another. Let us remember that it is only upon the foundation of Christ and his work that the church, of which we are a part, can exist the way God has declared!
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