Tag: Example

Love to Fulfill the Law

I believe I have spoken about my wife’s former coworker that we just pour love on as opposed to beating him up to get to church and get right with God. This morning in my continued study of the word “law”, I was brought to the passage that brings that to life.

“10Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” “8Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” – Romans 13:10 & 8 (ESV)

The title of the passage, in my ESV Bible, where these verses come from is “Fulfilling the Law Through Love”. You see, our approach should be one of love. We are called to fulfill the law through love, not through other means. Jesus was the shining example of this approach. He loved all, not just those who would be following Him. He loved the tax collector and the adulteress. He dined with all. He healed those who would come to Him. In all, He loved.

I want to be careful not to glaze over the idea of accountability to our sins. Yes, Jesus loved all without exception, just as He continues to do today with you and me. But, He did not condone all of the actions of those He loved. He dined with the tax collectors yet did not avoid conversation. He spoke truth to the adulteress at the well. In just these scenarios Jesus delivered accountability through truth yet displayed love and forgiveness.

“14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” – 2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV)

We fulfill the law of the LORD when we spread His love to all. Paul, even as he spoke truth to the Corinthian church, did so through love and as you can see above, ended his letter letting them know where the love came from.

Love is from the LORD. We are called to live as the LORD and be His example here in this world. We are then called to live a life of love. Loving others does not mean that we avoid the truth to keep things cordial. Loving others means that we bring the truth but do so to guide and direct to the LORD, not to condemn. We are not the judge of others, that is left to the LORD. We are however bringers of love to the people as Jesus did and in doing so, we work toward fulfilling the law.

What is your approach to fulfilling the law? Are you rigid in the keeping of the rules to be just in all your work? What if you were to simply bring love and truth to all and know that in doing so, you will be fulfilling the law as God intended?

God’s Law Was and Is

The Law of the LORD was in the Old Covenant and is in the New Covenant. There, I can see, a tendency to split the law from the Old to the New Testaments in God’s Word, the Bible. I hear all of the time that things in the Old Testament are void based on a few items that no longer hold true in the New Testament. Take the eating of pork for instance. In the Old Testament pork is considered unclean and in the New Testament that has been voided.

“16The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.” – Luke 16:16-17 (ESV)

It is not that the law of eating pork has been voided, it is that the eating of pork was a symbol of uncleanness and now, thanks to the coming, dying, and resurrection of Jesus, that symbol has been overridden. Pork is still unclean when one has not adhered to the salvation that comes with the acceptance of Jesus as our savior, it is just that the intent of the pork has lost its sting for those who have.

In Texas for instance, it is illegal to allow your camel to roam free on the beach in Galveston. The truth is that it is illegal to allow any large animals to roam free on public streets or other public property. When they animal is attended to there is no such restriction. When we are attended to by God, eating pork is not a thing anymore.

You see, the Law of the LORD was around in the beginning and the Law of the LORD is around today and the Law of the LORD will be around forever. The Old Covenant required the strict adherence to the law to be in right standing with the LORD and therefor. One set time and place was in place for the chance to seek and be granted forgiveness of our sins against the Law. This created the sense that there were those who were more holy than others as they were closer to the time and place regularly. In reality, it was just that those were “showy” in their adherence to the Law. In private there were those who where no different than everyone else.

In the New Covenant, this singular place and time were removed and all who accepted Jesus as Savior were made clean and were given the unlimited access to Him to seek forgiveness of our sins. We are no longer unclean and can come to Him for forgiveness. The New Covenant is in place for eternity. We all now have unlimited access to God.

Even with the unlimited access, the Law of the LORD is still in place and valid, The Ten Commandments are still there. Although that is just an example. The difference is that we follow the Law of the LORD today as a result of our forgiveness and not in our quest for it. The Law of the LORD is not the way to God, but is the way to show His example to others. The Law of the LORD was and is.

What is your view of the Law of the LORD? Is is something that no long applies as we have now moved into the New Covenant? What if we see God’s Law as always valid, only we don’t use it to get to salvation, but now it is the example of our salvation?

Blessed Walking in the Law of the LORD

Again I find benefits to the Law of the LORD. This morning I am in Psalm 119 and I see that I am blessed through the Word of God.

“1Blessed are those whose way is blameless,

who walk in the law of the LORD!”

— Psalm 119:1 (ESV)

In the above verse I see that I am blessed as I walk in the law of the LORD. Walking the way that is blameless. As the example of Jesus who was himself blameless.

I have to be careful in taking this verse and other too far. See what is written in that the way is blameless, not me. I am to “walk” in the law of the LORD, I am NOT the law of the LORD. It is easy for me to presume that I am somehow above all because I happen to be following the example of Christ. It is easy to act better than I am as I am seen as walking in the law of the LORD. The reality is that no matter what, I am a sinner as is everyone else and am no better than anyone.

I am no better, but I am saved. I have accepted Christ as my savior and I choose to walk in His way. I choose to abide by the law of the LORD. I choose to walk the narrow path. I choose to follow Christ. With my choosing, I have been blessed to know God. I have been blessed to call Him Father. I have been blessed to see the narrow path. I have been blessed to know that my lasting home is in heaven co-heirs with Jesus. I am blessed walking in the Law of the LORD!

Where are you walking? Are you walking your own path and hoping for some elevation to greatness? What if you were to accept Jesus as your savior and walk in the Law of the LORD to realize the blessing that comes with the blameless way?

Meditate of God’s Law

“8This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” – Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

God is speaking to Joshua directly here. Moses has died and Joshua has been tasked with leading the people into the promised land. A big task, yes, but God will be with them and here He is telling them how to go about thing. They are to follow the Law as it is written and not deviate. The thing is, as noted in Deuteronomy, they did not have everything written in books to read and take with them, there was reliance on the passing of Law down from person to person and generation to generation. As such, God has given the command to no only read and know the Law, but to “meditate on it day and night”.

This is the command to us and not just the Israelite people. We have to not only read, know, and understand the Word of God, we are to “meditate on it day and night” to ensure that we are living it out daily. It is easy for us to read God’s Word as we have bibles readily available, in many different version and even electronically. We even carry it with us (in the form of apps on our phones). Yet, do we really know and understand His Word. Do we “meditate on it day and night”?

I have on my desk a stack of Bible Verses for memorization. This is my start to meditation. They are right in front of me and I see them and reference them throughout the day. I am not just looking at God’s Word in the mornings as I have my time to study, I am reviewing His Word all day even if for just a moment to read through the verses in front of me. See the last part of verse eight above to see that we will find success in when we are in the Word of God and following His Law carefully. In my interactions with others I have God’s Word and the example of Jesus at top of mind leading to efficient and effective interactions.

Just having the information of God’s Word available is great, as we do have more access today than was available in biblical times. Yet that information is essentially useless in our day to day walk with Christ if we are not keeping it at the forefront of our minds and actions. We have to read, know, and understand God’s Word and then we “meditate on it day and night”.

What is your approach to God’s Law? Are you one that has the information available and then seeks to look it up to determine your next move? What if you were to read, know, understand, and “meditate on it day and night” and live it out always?

A Disciple Can Only Be Like His Teacher

No matter how we count it, Jesus is bigger than we are. He endured more and will always be the example of who we are to be.

“3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” – Hebrews 12:3 (ESV)

The above verse is a reference one as pertains to where I was led this morning in study of the word “disciple”, Matthew 10. Jesus is sending the twelve out and is letting them know that they will be persecuted in their work. Their journey and work are not going to be easy and they should stick together and rely on their teachings and the LORD to get them through. Jesus also reminds them that they are only like Him, but not Him and certainly not greater than He.

“24A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” – Matthew 10:24-25a (ESV)

This should serve as a reminder to us that no matter how “big” or important we may be or get to, Jesus is bigger than we, and He will always be our teacher. We can only work to be like Him and not greater than Him.

I have to remember that Jesus came to save us all and He endured unspeakable persecution to the point of death, just for existing as who He was. No matter the extent of the work that I do, I will always be the disciple of Christ. Even as I take on the task of being a discipler, I will still only be a disciple myself. Jesus will always be bigger and more than I.

What is your thoughts on who you are in relation to Jesus? Do you feel that you will somehow reach heights greater than He? What if you were to see that Jesus is bigger and better and that no matter how “big” we may get, He will always be bigger and better than we?

With All Your Heart

I have been studying the word “heart” for the past couple of months and through my process, have a few weeks to go. In that time I have written a good amount on the subject of “with all your heart” and this morning is another installment, and really more focused on it.

I am currently reading in Jeremiah and have been led to the passage in chapter 29 titled “Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles” in my ESV Bible. Here Jeremiah is relaying the message of the LORD to the people that He will not abandon them and that he will raise them up again. But, as noted above, I am more focused on the one verse, 13, this morning.

“13You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)

I was really struck this morning by this verse, and the phrase “with all your heart”. I was reminded that in all that we do with the LORD we are to do so with all our heart, and not just flippantly or ceremonially. I think the word seek and how it is deeper than just looking. Merriam-Webster Online says: “to go in search of”, and where the second part of that definition is: “look for”, the third part is: “to try to discover”. There is work involved, by more than the eyes.

“36Then Jesus went with them to a place call Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here, while I go over there and pray.’” – Matthew 26: 36 (ESV)

When Jesus was facing His crucifixion, He did not pray to the Father where He was at the time. Jesus “went” to “go over there and pray”. He sought the Father, and did not just expect the LORD to come to Him. He went with all of Himself to the Father.

“38The Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.” – John 11:37 (ESV)

Jesus did not just say for Lazarus to rise, as He had every capability to do, he went and sought out the tomb of His friend and was fully there from His heart and mind and body to bring him back to the living. Jesus did all things from His heart and not just to do them because He could. Jesus was all in with all his heart and we should be as well.

I will admit that I am not a very outwardly emotional person. But that does not mean that I am not committed and deeply moved at things. When I commit to something, I commit to it fully to ensure that it is completed and it is done well. I have to remember that commitment is one that should be coming from my heart and not just from my dedication to completing a task. I have to be there with all my heart as the greatest example to me, Jesus, was. We have to be all in “with all your heart”.

How do you approach things? Are you there to complete a task or are you part of the ceremony? What if you approached all things “with all your heart” as Jesus did and we are instructed?

Leaders Not Personalities

Jesus warned of those who would come and lead away from Him.

“11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” – Matthew 24:11 (ESV)

The above verse is found in the passage titled, “Signs of the End of the Age.” in my ESV Bible. And it could not be more true. We are being bombarded by falsities that lead us away from the truth that is Jesus Christ. We are following those things that make us “feel” good as opposed to bring us joy.

My reading this morning is in discussion of leadership in the church and is pointed to the lack of it. The questions ask what leadership needs are there and why are there not more leaders. I think it has to do with a couple of things that are also pointed out in the reading. First, there seems to be a movement toward personalities and not leaders, and second, there is a lack of teaching leadership.

Let me start with the first, personalities. Think about those that influence in the world today. They are those that generate feelings toward themselves and not toward the truth. We have those cult “leaders” that generate a following as they claim to be something they are not and promise things that they cannot deliver. These are the ones that expect individuality to be put aside as blind follower-ship takes over based on the words of the one. And then we have those that generate a massive following through promotion and full control over all. I think of those like Joel Osteen and Ed Young who pastor and without them, nothing happens in the church that they are not privy to or have a hand in. It is not leadership, but their personality and control that dominate.

Second we have the lack of leadership teaching. I see this in the corporate world and it is true in the church as well. In the corporate world people are promoted based on their education and/or their accomplishments and not on the ability to lead. The top performers are given bigger roles and they are not “taught” how to do the next role, they are just expected to replicate their own results to those below them. As noted in my reading, that is also happening in seminary. There is only teaching of God’s Word in depth and little teaching on how to lead a church or congregation. The students are left to learn that on their own and frankly are missing the mark.

How is this fixed? The church needs to find and develop leaders. There is a Teacher who developed leaders to take over when He was gone. He spent three years being the example of leadership and guiding students as to what being a leader in the gospel was all about. Jesus led the apostles and His disciples to make more disciples, using all that He had taught them.

“18And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” – Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

Who are you following? Are you leaning toward following of personalities? What if you were to look for those that follow themselves the example of leadership given by Christ?

Who and/or What to Follow

I have been studying leadership for a while, especially in the corporate world I work. I have wondered about the “leaders” that have been over me and the leader that I am. Yes, the quotation marks surrounding the word “leaders” is intentional as I do not believe that everyone in a position of overseeing a group or task is a leader. As I also believe that you do not have to be an overseer of people or tasks to be a leader.

This morning I have begun a new process or structure to my daily bible study. I am working through a series titled “MasterWork”. This series is from 2011, and where that may seem a bit ago, I went through the first lesson this morning and realized the value even today. There was reference to the speed of technology and the Information Age that we are currently right in the middle. The first section of this quarter’s (as the guide is structured into quarters) is on Spiritual Leadership.

The first question asked in the lesson is who are the leaders who have had an impact and why in my life. I gave this some thought and found a couple to men that helped to shape who I am. I gave some real thought to the who and you know, I am a bit embarrassed that I did not first think of the leader that we should all be shaped by, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. I first thought about man. Why did I not reference our LORD as the one leader who is the perfect example to emulate.

Now, I know that I am doing a bible study and writing in reference to following the Word of God. Shouldn’t I be also looking first to Him for the answers to questions. It was not until later in the reading that I found the better questions that led me to turn to God as the one true and complete one to serve as my example to follow, “But where does one begin? Which book does a leader read next? Which seminar is a must?” My answer, God’s Word.

Isn’t it true that we are always looking for the next gimmick or quick fix to things. We want things to be done with the wave of a few questions or actions to generate results. But, the truth is not in the quick fix, but in the slow and steady application of the proven approach. And where is that proven approach? Who derived the approach that stands the test of time? Why that is God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. The LORD has done it all and not just once but with many. There are so many from time that have followed the will of the LORD and been great leaders in their own right. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and Peter to name just some were men who followed the LORD.

Now, were all those listed above perfect leaders. NO! But they were leaders that followed the direction or example of the LORD. Each of them had their faults and failures, yet ultimately are considered great men who led under the direction of the LORD. They followed the LORD and His direction, teachings, and/or example in leading during their time.

The same can be said of a more modern age of leaders. Whether Billy Graham or John Maxwell, these men and countless others follow(ed) the example, teaching, and/or direction of the LORD as their guiding principle to leading. So, who and/or what to follow, that would the LORD and His Word.

Where are you looking for your leadership example? Are you looking for the next quick guide? What if you looked to true, tested, work and example of our LORD and His Word?

Righteous from the LORD

“7For the LORD is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face.”

— Psalm 11:7 (ESV)

Yes, you see that right. Being righteous comes directly from the LORD. He is where we learn of being righteous as we follow His example. Jesus was righteous and as my example I have the proper way to be righteous myself.

When I am doing the will of God as He spells out for me to do, I will find myself righteous in those moments. I want to be careful with what I say here in that I do not want to declare myself righteous, as only God can declare someone righteous. What I can and will say is that my deeds will be righteous as I conduct them in the will of the LORD.

Recently I was fortunate to listen to the Dean of Dallas Theological Seminary-Houston, Dr. Pierre Cannings speak on the history of God and how His history shows us the future of God through His consistency throughout history which will be consistent through the now and throughout the future. Where the entire message was fantastic, one thing that stood out to me was that I do nothing and that God is the author and director of all that happens in my life. This hits me this morning as I study in that I get all from the LORD and including the example of righteous behaviors.

I certainly do not consider myself righteous. I struggle daily with sin and staying focused on Him. There are a lot of distractions in this world, including those that lead me to believe I had something to do with it. It is not me, it is God working in and through me. Yes, I pick up the hammer to hit the nail, but it is God who gave me the nail and hammer and the physical ability to use them.

Being positive, empowered, or good are attributes that are certainly important to have. But, being righteous trumps all of those. Being righteous is will lead to those attributes, they will not lead to being righteous. I have to continue studying God’s Word to find righteousness. I know where it lies and comes from and that is with the LORD. My job is to do the will of God and allow Him to see me always doing so. This will please Him and maybe, just maybe He will consider me righteous.

Where do you find yourself looking for righteousness? Are you looking/finding it in your own actions and through being positive, empowered, or good? What if you looked to the LORD as the source of righteousness and strive to be like His example and allow Him to declare your righteousness?

Know My Father to Know Me

“1See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” – 1 John 3:1 (ESV)

As a child of God, I am different. I do not conform to the ways of this world that seems to be driven by societal norms. I do not seek to be insta-anything. I do not look to have what the “rich and famous” have. I do not do what I do for the recognition or notoriety of the world. I am here to serve God and to do His will. And that is what you may not know about me.

If you want to know who I am, look to my Father, who is my example. Look to Jesus and know Him to know me. He did not come to be liked by the world, He came to save the world. And that got Him killed, and that was the plan all along! He was not insta-anything, He did not have what the “rich and famous” had. He did not want recognition from the world. He was here to spread the gospel of His Father and to do His will.

Too often in this world, it is as though we are looking to be “like” someone. And usually that someone is from the societal norm that seems to have it all. I am not of that persuasion. I am content with who I am and what I have. Our newest car is a 2005. We are totally okay with having BLTs for dinner. We go shopping at the thrift shops. Our idea of a good night is relaxing at home streaming on the television.

Where the above is true, it is not that we are against what others have created for themselves and we do enjoy letting our hair down from time to time and going all out for some fun. But the difference is that we are not living to do so. We have a higher goal in mind and know that by following the example of our Father, we will reach that goal. By living a life of contentment, we are able to focus on that which will make a difference and that which is of the societal norm is not where we find ourselves longing to be.

If you really want to know me, get to know my Father in heaven. See the example that He gave and recognize that in me to see me in the light. Just because I do not look to be like everyone else, does not mean that I should be shunned by society. It is only because you don’t know my Father and therefor you do not recognize Him in me.

What is it that you are trying to be? Are you allowing society to drive who you are so that you will be known to all? What if you were to be like Christ and encourage everyone to get to know the Father to know you?