Bearing Evil without Resentment

Recently I have been wrestling with the following verses and how to apply them in my life, the life of the church and within our community.

24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

The context of these verses is this: Paul instructs his spiritual son, Timothy, on how to relate to troublemakers within the church. I want to focus on the instruction of “patiently enduring evil” or another way to translate this verse “bearing evil without resentment.”

What kind of evil is Paul talking about?
Paul describes these troublemakers or false teachers as the following in 2 Timothy 3:2ff:

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

This is a description of folks within the church and obviously an extremely dangerous, harmful and somber problem. So Paul encourages Timothy to bear with this kind of evil without resentment. We are not to hold grudges against them. We are not to be quick to take offense but quick to forgive. We are to forebear with them in hopes that they may turn from their evil and find a true and real relationship with Jesus Christ. I don’t know about you but that is the last thing I want to do when people personally sin against me. I confess this even at times with my own family. I am tempted to get even by responding with unkind words or holding it against them for a while. I don’t naturally want to bear with those who hurt me with their words or actions.

So how do we really bear evil without resentment? What will empower us to relate in this way when faced with similar evil?

I believe that it is impossible apart from an active and dependent faith on Jesus Christ. The ultimate beauty of this verse is that it points us to the Cross: Jesus bore all kinds of evil from humanity when he suffered and died on the cross. His own family and friends rejected and denied him; his peers laughed at and made fun of him; Roman guards severely beat him by a spiked whip; and ultimately His Father removed his presence from him on the cross and received His wrath and punishment we deserved for our sins and evil against God. He did this willingly and in radical love. Instead of being resentful in bearing this evil, he delighted to do this so that He could display God's glory but also to bring us in a right and acceptable relationship with God.

We see in Jesus’ life and death how he identifies with us for he experienced and understands the pain we face when evil is done against us but we also we see in Jesus that He bore all the evil stuff that we done to him (we all stand guilty of committing evil, we all rejected and betrayed him). Through Jesus’ work on the cross, He forgives those who confess this evil. He does not hold grudges against us. He forbears with us. Through faith in Him, He actively works in us and enables us by His Spirit to forgive, forbear and patiently endure without resentment with others in our lives. No, this is not easy nor does it come naturally to us. I know that for many there are many barriers we need to work through to even come to the point of wanting to forgive and forbear. But the hope for all Christian is this: God has given us all the resources we need in Jesus Christ to believe this grace for us and to apply this grace to others.

Let me be clear, this does not mean that we excuse or ignore the evil done to us or that we may become best friends with those who caused the evil (but in God’s powerful grace that could happen). But it does mean that as we depend upon the sufficient grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we will not let the evil destroy us or have power over us. We can experience healing and strength to move on in our relationships and not let the pass evil ruin our current or future relationships. Christ’s death is that powerful for us!

I think of George Washington Carver, a well-known African-American scientist who developed scores of products from the peanut. Dr. Carver was also a humble servant of God who took every opportunity to speak to others about the Savior he loved and served.

During the 1920s, members of the YMCA and the Commission on Interracial Cooperation asked Carver to address white student audiences at colleges and universities in the South. Carver, realizing that there may be many in the audiences who were racist and thought ill of him, gently and kindly spoke to them about the beauty of the gospel and how Jesus invites all kinds of people into a relationship with Him. You may ask: How could he stand and speak to these white audiences in such a way? I contend as he actively depended upon His Savior who loved him, the Spirit of Jesus Christ enabled him to bear evil without resentment.

May God give us His grace!

Warmly,

Jeff

The Lord Will Provide

May you be encouraged by this old hymn by John Newton. Check out Matthew Smith's version in his new album "All I Owe", www.matthewsmith.us or www.igracemusic.com.

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The Scripture assures us, the Lord will provide

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread;
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,
So as it's written, the Lord will provide

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages, the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide

His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we havea good Guide
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, The Lord will provide

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide

No strength of our own, our goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide


The Lord Will Provide,

Jeff

Love that is Better than Unconditional

I am in the long process of reading Seeing With New Eyes by David Powlison. The process is long because he has so much good stuff to say as well as what he says is both convicting and hopeful. For awhile I have been thinking about sharing some of his insights. Well, the chapter I read yesterday really wowed me for I sometimes struggle with believing the radical love of God and how his love can change me. The chapter is entitled: God’s love: Better than Unconditional (pp. 164-166, P&R Publishing). Psalm 36 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 support his below thoughts. I reference only the Corinthians passage.

14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Based on these passages and others, Powlison says: “I’d like to propose that God’s love is much different and better than unconditional love. Unconditional love, as most of us understand it, begins and ends with sympathy and empathy, with blanket acceptance. It accepts you as you are with no exceptions. You in turn can take it or leave it.”

He goes on:

But think about what God’s love for you is like. God does not calmly gaze on you in benign affirmation. God cares too much to be unconditional in his love…Imagine yourself as a parent, watching your child playing in a group with other children. Perhaps you are observing your child in a nursery or a classroom, or on the playground, or in a soccer game. You might accurately say that you have unconditional love for all the children in the group. That is to say, you have no ill will toward any of them; you generally wish them well.

But when it comes to your own child, something more goes on. You take much more notice of your own child. Injury, danger, bullying, or injustice arouses strong feelings of protection—because you love your child. If your child throws a tantrum or mistreats another child, you are again aroused to intervene—because you love. If your child thrives, you are filled with joy—again because you love.

Of course, any of these reactions may be tainted by a parent’s sin. Pride, fear of other’s opinions, lust for success, superiority, ambition, or calloused self-absorption can warp parental love.

But imagine such reactions untainted by sin…The Lord watches you. The Lord cares. What his children do and what happens to them matters to him. His watching, caring and concern are intense. Complex. Specific. Personal. Unconditional love isn’t nearly so good or compelling. In comparison it is detached, general, impersonal. God’s love is much better than unconditional.

Then he blows me away in expanding the love of God we have in Christ:

God’s love is active. He decided to love you when he could have justly condemned you. He’s involved. He’s merciful, not simply tolerate. He hates sin, yet pursues the sinners by name. God is so committed to forgiving and changing you that he sent Jesus to die for you. He welcomes the poor in spirit with a shout and a feast. God is vastly patient and relentlessly persevering as he intrudes into your life.

God’s love actively does you good. His love is full of blood, sweat, tears, and cries. He suffered for you. He fights for you, defending the afflicted. He fights with you, pursuing you in powerful tenderness so that he can change you. He’s jealous, not detached. His sort of empathy and sympathy speaks out, with words of truth to set you free from sin and misery. He will discipline you as proof that he loves you. God comes to live in you, pouring out his Holy Spirit in your heart, so that you will know him. He puts out power and energy.

God’s love has hate in it too: hatred for evil, whether done to you or by you. God’s love demands that you respond to it; by believing, trusting, obeying, giving thanks with a joyful heart, working out you salvation with fear, delighting in the Lord.

Remember what Lucy, Edward, Susan and Peter learned in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. They were at first frightened to learn that Aslan, the Christ figure, was not a tame lion. Through their journey with him, they did experience that he was not tame but they also experienced that he was good. Powlison encourages, “In the same way, God’s love for his children is no tame love, no relational strategy. It’s not characterized by calm detachment or a determination not to impose his values on you. His love is good in a way’s that’s vigorous and complex.”

God’s love as shown in the person and work of Jesus Christ as written in the above Scripture passage is much better than unconditional. This love accepts you as you are but also make you over. This love is not superficial or detached but active and purposeful. It is intrusive and yet reassuring. God’s love never stops reminding us of our daily need of him and the power he gives to change us to live and love like Jesus.

So what do you think? Do believe that God’s love is that radical? Personal? Intrusive? Purposeful? Active? Compelling? I would love to hear from you!

Warmly,
Jeff

Finding Jesus in Parenting

This past Sunday I shared from the Apostle Paul's second letter to Timothy. This letter is intensely personal for Paul deeply cares for Timothy and desires to see him flourish in his faith relationship and leading the church. One point I shared that because Jesus Christ has given us spiritual life we can exercise a sincere faith--a faith that can have great impact within our families. Paul says this to Timothy in v. 5 of 2 Timothy.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

This is not a religious feeling but a genuine and without hypocrisy faith that is confidently rooted in the message of the gospel-simply put: Jesus came to save sinners! Lois, Eunice, Timothy and others came to a point in their lives where they saw that they were sinners (sin is when we substitute ourselves for God, putting ourselves where only God deserves to be — in charge of our lives.) and that Jesus alone saved them from their sin when He died on the cross and arose on the third day. Confidently trusting in the person and work of Jesus brought them into a forever relationship with God where there sins are forgiven and now declared righteousness and acceptable in God’s sight.

I mentioned some things we learn from the faith of Lois and Eunice:
1. Lois and Eunice grew in their faith as they lived in a non-Christian environment.
2. They took responsibility and faithfully taught the Christian faith to their son/grandson amidst a culture that was radically non-Christian.
3. By God's grace, Timothy came to that same faith and grew in his relationship with Jesus.

You can imagine how hard it was for them to be faithful, genuine and without hypocrisy in an environment that was hostile to the Christian faith. Many during that time thought Christianity was foolish and a joke. Yet in that difficult time they found Jesus and the life and strength that he provides in raising children.

My friend, Carol, comes to mind. She became a Christian as adult but her husband did not. She raised her four children as a single mother. She diligently and faithfully encouraged her children in the Christian faith in an environment at times not friendly to it. By God's grace each of her children came to confidently trust Jesus for their salvation. But it wasn't easy. Two of her children struggle for a time in believing the message of Jesus and decided to reject the faith. But as she actively and genuinely lived out her faith before all her children and diligently prayed, these two also came to a confident faith during their young adult years.

What kept her going in midst of the discouragement and rejection was Jesus. The faith God has given us in Jesus Christ is not dormant. God through His Holy Spirit is actively working in us so that we persevere in our parenting no matter what challenges we face. I often want to throw in the towel and say, "God, I am done." But the Holy Spirit will not let me for he shows me the grace, love, and power of Jesus. Jesus keeps me going in lovingly engaging my children in the Christian faith even when most in this world may think I am foolish or wasting my time. It is the Spirit of Christ that shows me when I blow it, my need to confess my sin and failure to my children, and seek their forgiveness.

Friends, I know that some you are discouraged in either your parenting skills or in your relationships with your children. I encourage you: Run to Jesus to find the love, wisdom and grace to continue on! I know that some are new parents and the demands of a new baby and toddler are stretching you to the limits (sleepless nights, nipping the "no" word, keeping up with all the running and the constant crying, etc.). I encourage you: Run to Jesus to find the strength, wisdom, and grace to continue on! This is not easy and often difficult and confusing but God through faith in Jesus Christ has given you all the resources you need to continue on in parenting.

Warmly,

Jeff

The Investment That Lasts: How we use our Money Matters

As I shared last night, here again is Paul's challenge to us in how we should value and use our time and money:

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Clement of Alexandria encourages, “In the end it is not the one who keeps, but the one gives away, who is rich, and it is the giving away, not possessions, which renders a man happy.”

Additionally, here are the lyrics of Cash or Christ by Trip Lee, a Christian rap artist that I mentioned last night.

CHORUS:
Forget about the cash, Forget about the clothes
Forget about the stash, Forget about the dough
Forget about the cars, Forget about the rims
Forget about the stars, Forget about the benz
Forget about the big crib, tryna get rich, the big 64 plenty dough and tryna sip chrys
Forget the cash and chains, that stuff will pass away
And you cant take it with you to your after days

VERSE 1:
Most are concerned with the cheddar flow, but dawg I gotta let them know
A lot of reasons we should be seeking Jesus instead of dough
Instead of mo material things, the jewelry and fame
I speak of the King, but most ain't feeling me main
They would rather let they money stack, tryna get a hundred stack
They pockets fat, but they not ready when Christ is coming back
If they only knew the real truth about the coming wrath
They would probably race to Him faster than a running back
I know the things the cheddar buys, will attract and catch the eyes
Instead of ice, it'd be nice, if we would invest in life
Instead of all that flashy stuff, tryna get our status up
His wrath is just, so if we don't seek Him dawg then we outa luck
What good is it to gain the world and in the end lose ya soul?
Its foolish bro, there's a loving savior you can truly know
I know you seeking satisfaction, you can't find it though
Tryna dash for the cash and designer clothes

(CHORUS)

Verse 2:
Got money, got whips, got ice
Still broke homeboy! No Christ
Got a debt to pay, some real heavy wages
And the payment for his sin is pretty outrageous
I seen him park the car, suicide doors
Without Christ he walking through a suicide door
The dollar bill say in God we trust
Its funny cause money is the only God we trust
And she say that she a Christian, but I can�t tell
She ain't depending on God, she depend on male
1 stack, 2 stack, 3 stack, 4
They spent they whole life stacking up dough
And when they die not a dimes gone go
Now they physically rich, but they spiritually poor
And they probably never heard of 1 Corinthians chapter four
'Cause they said they can't imagine God's people being poor

(CHORUS)

Verse 3:
You might want you some change, yeah you might want a crib
But tell me where the Bible say that Jesus want us rich?
It says we should be content if we got food and clothing
That's the truth and bro, we tripping really being foolish homie
We shouldn't put no value on falling screens and stylish chrome
Even if you saved that stuff can't go with you when you back at home
So allow me to encourage you, if you agree the Word is true
You can only serve one Master, some of us is serving two
You can't serve God and cash, cant love the world and Christ
Put money out ya mind, focus on eternal life
I can't speak from experience, I ain't seen it but I'm betting
Treasures of this world ain't nothing next to the ones that's up in Heaven
Feel free to store em up, since we found the Lord is just
Amazing let us praise Him main and try to give Him more of us
Let us live our lives with Him, spend our days and nights with Him
Ignore the trash the world has to offer and delight in Him

(Chorus)

Finally, more on the story of Ed go to this link http://www.generousgiving.org/articles/display.asp?id=83.

Always keep in mind: Generosity must be a way of life because for the Christian we have received radical generosity from God. God is rich and owns everything! All that we have is due to Him. More radically, though, God gives us his most lavish gift in this:

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

This is our motivation and this is our delight, we generously give because God more than generously gave us Jesus Christ, His Son, to meet our immense need and desperation. He did this because He loves you!

Warmly,

Jeff

You Are Loved (Don’t Give Up)

I love the music of Josh Groban. Even now I hear some of you saying, “Jeff, you got to be kidding, you are such a patsy.” My response to you is that you have to love me no matter what!!! Anyway as I was driving back to Columbia today, one of his songs emotionally impacted me. The song is called You are Loved (Don’t Give Up). Here are the lyrics:

Don’t give up
It’s just the weight of the world
When your heart’s heavy I
I will lift it for you

Don’t give up
Because you want to be heard
If silence keeps you I
I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved
Don’t give up

Because you are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the hurt that you hide
When you’re lost inside I
I’ll be there to find you

Don’t give up
Because you want to burn bright
If darkness blinds you I
I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood
Well I can hear you

Everybody needs to be loved
Don’t give up

Because…you are loved

Don’t give up
It’s just the weight of the world

Don’t give up
Everybody needs to be loved

You are loved.

Friends, I know many of us are weighted down with life. I am. The good news is that because we are loved, we are able not to give up. You are loved by God. May you deeply experience Jesus who lifts you; who understands you; who hears you; who brings light to you; and who gives you hope in the midst of your hurt! May you walk alongside others by listening and understanding them and guiding them to Jesus! Here these powerful and loving words from God as we face the weight and hurt of the world.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:1-11)

Warmly,

Jeff

Together is Sweeter

Violets are blue
Roses are red
Let's see what I can do for you
You are white
Like vanilla ice cream
And you are black
Like chocolate sauce
When we put these things together
EVERYTHING gets sweeter!


By Amanda Rickett
Age 9

This is what we are all about at City of Hope Church!

Warmly,

Jeff

Make My Day!

What encourages you? What makes you excited in life? What makes your day? For me, I love to hear people’s stories. This morning, I had the privilege to hear a God story from a new friend. As I listen to his story, I was greatly encouraged by the gracious work of God in his life. I am encouraged because it is so easy to get bored or dull in my faith relationship with Jesus Christ. But when God gives me opportunities to hear someone’s faith story, I see the work of God in the most powerful and unique ways, and it makes my day. It renews my faith and gives me a new hunger to tell the amazing story of God’s redemption found in Jesus Christ.

Not only does hearing the stories of those who have found hope and joy in Jesus Christ encourage me, but also hearing the stories of those who are still searching and wrestling with life. This too is a privilege and honor to walk along side others in search of meaning and purpose; in search of hope and joy; in search of significance and contentment. Knowing this struggle myself gives me the ability to listen and speak in humble and gracious ways.

How about you? Do you love to hear the stories of others? Do you enjoy entering the lives of others and helping them find their story amidst God’s big story? My hope and prayer is that God will continue to grab our hearts and help us hear one another’s stories and the stories of others in our lives so that more and more people will find the connection of their story to the big story of God’s redeeming love.

Here is an honest confession for us to consider as we admit our struggle and find renewal in Jesus Christ.

Father, we confess that we are satiated and bored.
Creation has bored us.
Work has bored us.
Family has bored us.
Friends have bored us.
Our homes bore us.
Television bores us.
Redemption has bored us.
Truth has bored us.
Faith has bored us.
Service to you has bored us.
You have bored us.
No generation in history has ever had so much to entertain it.
We are jaded and cynical.
We think the world is our servant, so we are not thankful when things go well for us, and we are not patient when they do not.
We believe every desire should be satisfied, so we are not delighted when they are, and we are not humbled when they are not.
We laugh, but do not know joy.
We are captivated, but are never really awed.
We celebrate, but we do not worship.
Have mercy on us, and forgive us.
Amaze us with grace – blood stained, incarnate, Messianic grace - the Glory of God in Christ.

Warmly,

Jeff