The meek shall inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5
Jesus had some strange teachings. At least they are strange to the normal way of thinking. The world teaches us that to get ahead we have to be all we can be. We have to look out for ourselves because no one else is going to look our for us. Some would go so far as to say that we must step on others or be stepped on. Jesus taught the complete opposite of this. He taught that meekness (humility) was the way to great riches. In fact, he went so far as to say that they the meek would be given the earth as an inheritance.
Most find this concept hard to grasp because we tend to think of meekness as weakness. Meekness is not so much weakness as it is gentleness. It is having great power yet knowing how to control it. This is the picture of Jesus. The same man who could walk on the sea and calm storms also took children in his lap and healed them.
Judith Bentley, a schoolteacher who did mission work in the former USSR tells about a man who had confused weakness with meekness. She had been teaching an educational seminar and at the end she opened it up for questions. The man asked this question: In teaching our children to be like Jesus are we not teaching them to be weak? In the end, will we all be crucified as he was? I find part of her answer to be very relevant. She said, " Your question implies that Jesus was a weak person. I have always tried to follow Jesus' teachings and to be like him and I have never thought of myself as a weak person."
I can identify with Judith. I have always strived to be like Jesus though naturally I have a long way to go. I want it to be said of me, as it was of the apostles, that I have been with Jesus. This means that sometimes I will have to choose to do something he asks me to do even if it does not fit with what I wanted to do. I have to give my will to another. But in doing so I gain far more than I will ever give up. And who knows? One day I just might inherit the earth.
Prayerfully,
Sullivan Jones
6/19/13
6/18/13
The Righteous and The Wicked
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Proverbs 24:16
Have you ever contemplated the difference between a righteous man and an unrighteous man? Just what is it that makes the righteous man righteous and the unrighteous man unrighteous? Is it the deeds that they do? Although actions are very important I believe attitude has more to do with righteousness than actions.
The scripture tells us that a righteous man falls seven times and gets right back up. Therein lies the secret to righteous living. A righteous man does not make excuses when he falls. He desires to do what is right so he gets up again. The wicked, however, fall into mischief (or sin) and stay there. No effort is made to avoid the sin the next time.
Although we have been born again spiritually we must still contend with our fleshly desire on a daily basis. Because of this, some have adopted the idea that we must all sin a little every day and it is alright that we do. This attitude is what separates the righteous from the wicked more than anything else. The righteous man has purposed in his heart to do what is right. If he falls, he repents, and gets up again. The wicked makes excuses for what he has done. He excuses himself with phrases such as "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." As reborn believers in Christ we should not think this way. We should constantly remind ourselves that we are being remade into the image of God. If we fall along the way (and we will) so be it. The answer is not to make excuses for why we did fall but to get back up again.
I am thankful for God's amazing mercy and grace. Without his grace all of us would be lost. But the words of the Apostle Peter echo in my ears: "Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil." In other words, when we fall, get up, repent, and go forward.
Yours in Christ,
Sullivan Jones
Have you ever contemplated the difference between a righteous man and an unrighteous man? Just what is it that makes the righteous man righteous and the unrighteous man unrighteous? Is it the deeds that they do? Although actions are very important I believe attitude has more to do with righteousness than actions.
The scripture tells us that a righteous man falls seven times and gets right back up. Therein lies the secret to righteous living. A righteous man does not make excuses when he falls. He desires to do what is right so he gets up again. The wicked, however, fall into mischief (or sin) and stay there. No effort is made to avoid the sin the next time.
Although we have been born again spiritually we must still contend with our fleshly desire on a daily basis. Because of this, some have adopted the idea that we must all sin a little every day and it is alright that we do. This attitude is what separates the righteous from the wicked more than anything else. The righteous man has purposed in his heart to do what is right. If he falls, he repents, and gets up again. The wicked makes excuses for what he has done. He excuses himself with phrases such as "I'm just a sinner saved by grace." As reborn believers in Christ we should not think this way. We should constantly remind ourselves that we are being remade into the image of God. If we fall along the way (and we will) so be it. The answer is not to make excuses for why we did fall but to get back up again.
I am thankful for God's amazing mercy and grace. Without his grace all of us would be lost. But the words of the Apostle Peter echo in my ears: "Do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil." In other words, when we fall, get up, repent, and go forward.
Yours in Christ,
Sullivan Jones
6/17/13
Superfluity of naughtiness
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21
The Apostle James uses the phrase superfluity of naughtiness to describe the condition of his world. This is a good 17th century phrase for overabundance of wickedness. If there ever was an age that could lay claim to this statement it is the present one.
Today we are bombarded by lewdness from every side. From billboards to television programs, nudity and sexually explicit images abound. Advertisements for alcohol are on every corner. At times even the newspapers contain questionable material. And that's not even mentioning the internet; One can not even go to Facebook or yahoo mail without having to avert one's eyes. Truly there is a "superfluity of naughtiness." If one wants to be involved in evil surely there is the opportunity.
How should the Christian respond to this onslaught of evil? Do we retreat into a shell and shut ourselves off from the world. This is not only impractical but dangerous as well. If we as Christians shut ourselves off from the world we cease to be an effective witness. We have no chance to influence those around us with Godly ideas. We have no impact upon decisions that affect our destiny. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus instructs to let our lives shine before men so that by seeing our good works they will glorify God. In order to do this we must function in this world no matter how wicked it becomes.
How can we do this and still remain Holy? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 12:2. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The secret is in constantly renewing our minds. We do this through prayer, reading the word of God, listening to Christian music and preaching, etc. We must counteract the onslaught of evil by purposefully feeding on the word of God.
It is so easy to get caught up in the entertainment of this world. Our flesh likes to be entertained and there is an overabundance of entertainment available, most of it extremely ungodly. It takes a disciplined mind and lifestyle to set aside the entertainment and fill our minds with wholesome things such as Christian music, preaching, etc. For the mature Christian a daily intake of the word of God is not only beneficial but necessary in order to counteract the onslaught of wickedness in our world.
Truly there is an overabundance of wickedness in our world but we are promised that where sin abounds grace will abound even more. (Romans 5:21) We can live victorious Christians lives no matter how wicked the world is. As the world grows increasingly more wicked the church should shine increasingly brighter.
Let's light our world for Jesus. After all, we are the light of the world.
God Bless,
Sullivan Jones
The Apostle James uses the phrase superfluity of naughtiness to describe the condition of his world. This is a good 17th century phrase for overabundance of wickedness. If there ever was an age that could lay claim to this statement it is the present one.
Today we are bombarded by lewdness from every side. From billboards to television programs, nudity and sexually explicit images abound. Advertisements for alcohol are on every corner. At times even the newspapers contain questionable material. And that's not even mentioning the internet; One can not even go to Facebook or yahoo mail without having to avert one's eyes. Truly there is a "superfluity of naughtiness." If one wants to be involved in evil surely there is the opportunity.
How should the Christian respond to this onslaught of evil? Do we retreat into a shell and shut ourselves off from the world. This is not only impractical but dangerous as well. If we as Christians shut ourselves off from the world we cease to be an effective witness. We have no chance to influence those around us with Godly ideas. We have no impact upon decisions that affect our destiny. In Matthew 5:16 Jesus instructs to let our lives shine before men so that by seeing our good works they will glorify God. In order to do this we must function in this world no matter how wicked it becomes.
How can we do this and still remain Holy? Paul gives us the answer in Romans 12:2. "Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The secret is in constantly renewing our minds. We do this through prayer, reading the word of God, listening to Christian music and preaching, etc. We must counteract the onslaught of evil by purposefully feeding on the word of God.
It is so easy to get caught up in the entertainment of this world. Our flesh likes to be entertained and there is an overabundance of entertainment available, most of it extremely ungodly. It takes a disciplined mind and lifestyle to set aside the entertainment and fill our minds with wholesome things such as Christian music, preaching, etc. For the mature Christian a daily intake of the word of God is not only beneficial but necessary in order to counteract the onslaught of wickedness in our world.
Truly there is an overabundance of wickedness in our world but we are promised that where sin abounds grace will abound even more. (Romans 5:21) We can live victorious Christians lives no matter how wicked the world is. As the world grows increasingly more wicked the church should shine increasingly brighter.
Let's light our world for Jesus. After all, we are the light of the world.
God Bless,
Sullivan Jones
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