John 3:18

Sons;

One of the verses I use during the semester is John 3:18 - "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."  Of course, John 3:16 we already know - it is a statement of God's love, and how that love is shown.  Verse 17 helps with the context ("For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."), by showing what Jesus came to do.  This is important to state, because Jesus did come to deliver salvation as a sacrifice; on His second coming, Jesus will fulfill the promise by setting apart those who are saved from those who are not.

Verse 18, however, provides a very clear statement about our part in Christ's salvation.  If He did not come to judge, then how are we to be judged?  Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus, points out that, in the end, it is we who judge ourselves.  If we accept Christ, then we will not be judged; when the time for the final judgement of all men comes, and our moment to face God is at hand, Jesus stands besides us to say our debt has been paid.  If we do not accept His salvation, then we face God alone, and nothing will be good enough to substitute for our sins.  

So, the question of our judgement before God is not, as most people think, some far off event; no, it is something that is being lived out right now.  Once we accept that belief, once we accept Jesus' substitution for us, then the question of whether we will go to Heaven is answered.  We will not be perfect, we will not be done growing, but we will not be judged.  For one decision to see us into eternity in Heaven, the choice is worth it.

But of what value is this in our day-to-day lives?  Well, certainly it is important to know how and why our faith and our salvation works.  Perhaps more important, however, is living in such a way that we show by demonstration that believing in Jesus and His name is actually worth it.  Think of it this way - we are walking advertisements for Christ.  If people look at us and say, "Well, there's no difference between him and us, so believing in Jesus must not really be worth anything," then we have not been a good advertisement.  If people say, "Wow, I want what he has!" then we've done our part, by showing the believing make a difference.  That's why it's important to know John 3:18, because it helps give us a reason to keep on  living a righteous life, and that is what it's all about!

Love,

Dad

Proverbs 16:9

Sons;

Today's verse in class was Proverbs 16:9 - "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."  This idea has been used enough that it almost seems cliche, but it really does make a good point - how any day ends may not be the way we think it will.  Yesterday, for us, is a very good example.  When I got out of bed I didn't think that, within two hours, I would be sitting in an emergency room.  I had planned to do quite different things - my "way for the day" had been set out.  God, however, had other plans.  

That is a constant in life, as we never know where the adventure of being a Christian, a man, a husband, a father, will take us.  Sometimes it is good, sometimes not, sometimes in-between and totally neutral.  We can trust, however, that God is indeed directing us; He tells us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan for our welfare, not our destruction.  Every place He takes us, whatever He has us do, both furthers His plan for creation in some way and will work out to our best.  That is a promise we can count on!

So, how do we live in a world where our plans can get upended at any moment?  First, be flexible.  Be willing to adjust to whatever happens with grace, kindness, and helpfulness.  Usually when things change, it's a bit stressful for everyone, so we must act in such a way as to not add to that stress - rather, we should be doing what we can to lower the stress and help everyone out, while being the example of adapting to whatever.  Second, we need to learn that our plans are usually not that important.  If we end up not going to do something, it's not that big a deal, we can do it again another time.  If we cannot get some thing we want, then it's okay as it's only a thing - easily replaceable - and not worth a fuss.  Much of our lives is "day-to-day," and we can work around what we need to.  

In the end, however, it does come back to trust.  Trust that God knows what He's doing and that it is good for you in the long run, and you can deal with whatever changes come along in your day!

Love,

Dad

Ephesians 5:1

Sons;

One of the verses I use during the school year is Ephesians 5:1 - "Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children."  This is, of course, Paul writing to the church in Ephesus; in the previous chapter, Paul had been commenting on the "Christian walk," how we are supposed to act as Christians.  He follows this by a command, and a context for that command.

The command is simple - follow God's example, and do what He does.  Of course, you have to use your common sense, as no one is expecting you to create a universe in the next six days.  Rather, it means to exhibit the same attributes as God - honest, loving, kind: all the different things that it is good for us to be.  God models those things, and we follow.

Next, Paul puts this in context - do this as dearly loved children.  As children, we all imitated someone in some way, because that's how children learn.  Of course, ideally you learn from the example of your parents (which is a lesson to all of us, that we need to be careful in our walk for the sake of those who would follow our lead).  Because God loves us so much, He does all good things for us - He gives to us the best of who He is.  In return, we should do the same and give to Him the best of who we are. 

Sounds simple, right?  Well, it is and it isn't.  Like so many things in the Bible, the concept itself is easy enough to understand, but the practice is a whole different story.  We spend our lives putting this command into practice, constantly striving to do better at it at all times.  So, that's our goal, follow God's example, especially as we set the example for others! 

Love,

Dad

Romans 8:32

Sons;

The verse for today's class was Romans 8:32 - "He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?"  First, we have to realize that this is Paul writing, and Paul often gets all tied up with his pronouns, or otherwise it would read like this: "God did not spare His own Son, but gave Christ up for us all - how will God not also, along with Christ, graciously give us all things?" 

Either way, the meaning is clear, and speaks to the subject of faith.  If God will make the ultimate sacrifice for us, to wit: Jesus' death on the cross, then we can be assured that He will take care of everything else.  I think this has applications to both now (God provides for our needs) and in Heaven (where we will have all things).  We have to remember that God's promises to us extend beyond our life here and into eternity.  

So, we can rest confidently in God's love for us - the greatest example has already been made, and the rest is just a reminder of how true and magnificently generous His love for us is.  

Love,

Dad

Deuteronomy 30:16

Sons;

One of the verses I use in class is Deuteronomy 30:16 - "I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it."  This is, of course, Moses speaking to the Israelites just before his death, and he is making a statement of about God's promise for the future.  If the Israelites will love God (and to love God is to keep His commandments), then He will bless them as they move into the Promised Land.  Certainly, the land has been promised to them (via Abraham), but God is now saying, "I will not only give you this land, but I will also bless you in being there."

So, that's great for a group of (briefly) semi-nomadic laborers who are about to turn into farmers.  What does this have to do with us?  After all, we aren't about to enter into a new land and take it over!  But, I would say to you that, in fact, you are entering new lands to possess them.

Think about it this way.  God has a plan for our lives, things that He wants for us, and wants us to do.  We are in school, or taking on new jobs, or what have you - whatever new thing it is, it is a "new land" that we are taking over.  So, if we want to do well in this job, if we want God's blessing on our efforts, then we must love and obey Him.  It's as simple as that.  And of course it need not be only jobs or school - this can be with families, with churches, with anything.  As we honor God in our actions, He honors and blesses us.  

I want to encourage you to see your life as an adventure, a moving into new places, and in that encourage you to live in such a way that God pours out His blessings on you as it says in Luke 6:38 - "a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over!"

Love,

Dad

James 3:17

Sons;

Today's verse in class was James 3:17 - "But the wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds."  At first look this seems to be only a descriptor, but then we realize how this list can be used.

Certainly, it is a descriptor.  This is what wisdom from God looks like.  It is pure, there is nothing "bad" involved with it.  It is something that works to end arguments, not to start them.  This wisdom is gentle, never aggressive or "in your face."  It has a willingness to yield, to give precedence to others.  It has mercy, giving forgiveness and aid where it is not deserved.  It leads to good deeds, to making the world a better place rather than making it worse.  And these are all good things!

So, how do we use this?  By using it to test our own "wisdom."  When we are pondering doing something, we can compare the results of using our wisdom with that illustrated in this list.  If it will cause arguments, will involve sin, and so on, then it is not from Heaven (and we shouldn't be doing it!).  This provides us a way to weigh our thoughts and see if they match up with God's will.  This is a blessing from God, to give us a way to evaluate what we are doing in light of what He wants us to do.  

I would suggest that this is a verse worth memorizing, or at least keeping in mind.  You'll never know when you'll need to check on your ideas!

Love,

Dad

Luke 6:27-28

Sons;

One of the verses I use is Luke 6:27-28 - "But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you."  As with most of the "classic" verses, we've heard this before, and we usually just let it go in one spiritual ear and out the other.  However, like all scripture, it deserves a closer look.

And our first thought is:  "Man, the Bible is inconvenient!"    This is not what we want to do, this is not "natural" for humans.  We are born with a "sin nature" that makes us want to lash out at all those who do us wrong, who offend our sense of justice, who do and say bad things to us.  It's the way we are made!  But, we are Christians, and we are called to do things that go against our nature - righteousness (doing the right thing even when you don't want to) is an effort, or everyone would do it.  And I think God uses that to strengthen us spiritually.  So, we are Christians, and we must love (not necessarily associate or be pals with, but love), and do good, and bless and pray.  And certainly the pray is easy enough, and a good place to start.  [Pray that God will help you carry out this commandment in relation to whomever.]

So, there's that part of it, but also in doing so we are demonstrating what being a Christian is like.  Whether we like it or not, we are witnesses to everyone around us.  If they know we say we are Christian, then our every word and deed will be parsed and checked to see if we live up to what we say - do we put our money where our mouth is?  If so, if we show this love, we stand a much greater chance of cultivating an interest in being a Christian - planting a seed - than if we don't.  Even those who don't know us respond to the spirit within us, and  know that something is different in our lives.  By loving those who wrong us, we show what the Kingdom of God is worth.

Then, there is the idea that it is the best way to deal with such people - nothing irritates people who want to be mean and hurt others more than to see that it's not working.  Paul quoting Proverbs 25 says it best: "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)  You show yourself to be morally better, you make them look bad in front of others and who knows, you may win a friend out of it in the end.

We should note, as well, that God does indeed say, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay."  Getting revenge for anything done to us is not our responsibility.  We are to focus on doing good, and let God deal with the rest.  Why?  Because we are human, and the temptation to let our revenge get out of hand will be too much for many to handle.  ("Eye for an eye" is the Old Testament way of keeping revenge from going too far.)  And God's revenge is there - He does not let people get away with messing with His children.  Certainly there will be payment in eternity, but sometimes even in this world.  Your grandfather once had bad things said about him in court by a cousin, but did not seek revenge.  Before the year was out, the cousin was dead, and his family dispersed.  I cannot prove that that is God's vengeance (and he does not say much about it, either), but I always think that it could be.  That idea should give us pause, at least.

Finally, and absolutely most importantly, we should obey Jesus in this because it is what is best for us.  God does not want us to get trapped in a world of anger, rage, hurting people because they hurt us, a perpetual cycle.  That's not the life He has planned for us.  Treating our enemies in a godly way is always more about us than it is about them.  It keeps us pure, it does not rob us of our joy, and it will thwart the evil that only seeks to create more evil.  Practice this, and in doing so live a full and fruitful life (God promises in Proverbs 25:22 to reward us for being this way), which is what we want for you, more than all else, to have.

Love,

Dad