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Deuteronomy 16:18-20 Judges and Justice

3/11/2016

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Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.  John 7:24
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. John 7:24
Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Our Lord is the God of Justice. He cares very much about justice in all its forms and definitions. Deuteronomy 16:18-20 reads,
“You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
When Israel settled in the Promised Land, God wanted them to be different from other nations. He was their God, their Sovereign, and their Justice, so rather than appointing a king, He wanted them to have judges over portions of Israel and officers in each town. This was not a new thing for Israel, They had judges and officers when they were in the wilderness. At first Moses would sit as the intermediary between Israel and The Lord. He described what He did to Jethro, his father-in-law who had brought his wife and sons to visit him in Exodus 18:15-16,
“Because the people come to me to inquire of God; 16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.”
Jethro told his son-in-law that he and Israel would wear themselves out that way. It was too much for one person to take on. So Jethro offered Moses some advice in Exodus 18:19-23.
“Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, 20 and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. 21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”
This was God’s way of governing His people. The people did not bow down to an earthly king, they had a representative, an intermediary who brought the pleas of the people to Him and He directed them. The Judges system worked in the wilderness and it would work in the Promised Land. It is a picture of Jesus, our Righteous Judge as intermediary between us and The Father. It is a picture of us as intermediaries for one another in the body, elders praying for teachers, teachers praying for students, and students praying for one another. It is a picture of us standing in and praying for the lost. Romans 8:31-35 describes Jesus as our intermediary.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
The judges who represented the people had to be able to judge with righteous judgement. Righteous is צֶ֫דֶק transliterated tsedeq. Strong’s defines it as accurate, fair, just, righteously, vindication, and what is right. Judgement in verse 18 is the word מִשְׁפָּט or mishpat. It is defined as cause, charge, court, judgement, justice, ordinance, manner of life, and way prescribed. They had to know God and His will them to judge with righteous judgement. They had to know what righteousness was and what the way prescribed was.
John 7 describes Jesus at the Feast of Booths. The Sanhedrin were seeking to kill Jesus. They used the excuse that He had healed a man on the Sabbath. Although, many people knew it was dangerous for Him to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Booths, He went anyway. When He was there, Jesus stood up and taught and the people were amazed by his teaching and they wondered how He could speak with such authority. John 7:16-24 reads,
“So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
Righteous judgement means we think, speak, and act on God’s Word and will, not our own. We judge from His viewpoint, not humanity’s viewpoint. Verse 19 reads,
You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous
Perverting justice is done by showing partiality toward the rich, poor, Hebrew, Greek, whoever, to give one group of people more consideration. Justice is also perverted when a verdict can be bought. The judges (and we) had to look at everyone on the same field. Leviticus 19:15-18 describes it this way,
“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
Love your neighbor as yourself. Do for your neighbor and consider your neighbor the same way you consider yourself. In Acts 10, Peter saw the vision of the clean and unclean foods so that God could teach Him that He shows no favoritism. Romans 2:1-11 describes the difference between righteous judgement and perverted justice, loving your neighbor as yourself and showing partiality.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality.
12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
God is our Judge and He is Justice. Jesus Christ our Faithful and True Judge will come to judge the world, riding on a white horse and when He does there will be only one criterion, are we righteous because of Jesus’ blood or not. Vengeance is His and He will exact it on the Day of the Wrath of the Lamb. He is our Justice. Verse 20 reads,
Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
It is tempting to give in to the perverted governments of this world, to fall prey to the schemes of the accuser and follow leaders of countries instead of Jesus. While we are called to remember that God placed these people in office and render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, we do not bow down to anyone but The Lord, Our Heavenly Father, Awesome Savior, and Holy Spirit. He is God. We live in whatever country we live in, but we abide in Christ and we are citizens of Heaven.
God called Israel to be different, to stand out with Him as Sovereign instead of a man. He called us to the same thing. It was after Israel chose to be like the nations around them and have kings that they followed those kings to their own destruction.
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Psalm 82 You are an Agent of Justice, Judge with Righteous Judgement

8/11/2015

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Matthew 25:37-40 On Photo of Agents of Justice by Glynda Gordon
Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:37-40 On Photo of Agents of Justice by Glynda Gordon
Psalm 82

At first reading of this Psalm, I was confused. I read it again and asked for understanding. And of course God revealed some things to me. I am not a Bible scholar. But I am a child of the Living God, saved by Jesus Christ and filled with His Spirit.

According to my research, this psalm was to instruct kings and courts of justice in many nations. Asaph reminds them that The Lord is among them. Verses 1-4 read,

“God has taken his place in the divine council;
    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”


The kings, princes, and judges of the world sometimes consider themselves gods. It was certainly true during the times when this Psalm was written. King’s demanded worship from their citizens. I know many people today who consider every person or at least themselves gods. And whether they admit it or not, they judge, they dole out their brand of justice as if they are gods. They decide people’s fates by perpetuating inequality and withholding the justice the weak, poor, orphaned, and troubled need.

Asaph told the kings and princes they had power given to them by God and they ought to use it properly. Believers today are royalty. We have an onus to be the righteous royal judges the Father appointed us to be, Jesus made us to be, and the Spirit enables us to be. We do not judge in the sense most people consider judging. We are not saying “I’m better than you. You are evil. I am good.” We judge with the discernment of God through His law to say what is just, what is unjust, what is of God and what is not of God. We are to judge what is right for us to do in order to love people as Jesus loves us, in order to bring justice to those who suffer injustice. John 7:21-24 reads,

“Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

We do not judge the lost for being lost. We do not judge the poor for being needy. To judge them doesn’t make sense. Verse 5 reads,

“They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
    they walk about in darkness;
    all the foundations of the earth are shaken.”


It is an upside down skewed world which blames the victim and not the perpetrator for injustice. But that is so often what we do. The courts throw down mandates based on the law and the constitution without concern for the effects. Fatherless children wander the streets looking for their needs to be met and instead of freeing them from the bonds of Satan, we blame them for their ignorance and tell them they deserve to be in chains. Don’t we all deserve to be in chains? Isn’t Jesus the only reason we could be reconciled to The Father? Already the world judges and promotes injustice. Already, the powers of the world get more powerful, the rich get richer, and all on the backs of the oppressed.

God cares deeply about the poor, the prisoner, the oppressed, the widow, and the hungry. He cares about social justice as much as He cares about spiritual justice. So should we. James 1:22-27 says it this way,

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

Jesus told us when we clothe to the poor, feed the hungry, and visit the prisoner that we are not just serving them, we are serving Him. (Matthew 25:31-46).

No matter who the king, prince, or judge in this world is, he will die. Every person will die and every person’s sin must be paid for. It will be paid for by our own death or by Christ’s. Verse 6 reads,

“I said, “You are gods,
    sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you shall die,
    and fall like any prince.”


We are sons of God. We were all created by Him. None of us was begotten by God, only Jesus has that distinction. (John 3:16). He was not created, He is God. (John 1:1-5). And so we are merely human. We will suffer a physical death, but we have eternal life with God. Because believers are imbued with the Spirit of God and have eternal life through Jesus, the Son of God we are judges and kings. We are royalty. We are distinctive or as Peter said it, peculiar. Our appointing is higher than the judge of the highest courts. Our call is higher than the king of a nation. Our anointing is for The Lord. In that role we are called to be merciful, forgiving, and compassionate. 1 Peter 2:9-10 reminds us who we are.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Do not be afraid to embrace your identity as a royal child of The King of kings. Do not forgo nobility because you are trying to be humble. Nobility and humility go hand in hand, they are not opposites but two traits which describe Jesus and should describe us. We are to love one another. We are to love as Jesus loves. We are to love others the way we love ourselves. That kind of love implies we would not allow harm or injury to come on someone else if we can help it.

Now on this earth we are agents of justice and it is serious business but one day we will judge in a way we never imagined. If we can’t be just and loving now, how will we fulfill the calling of Jesus? People are watching and they judge us harshly against their imagined image of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 says this,

“When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous instead of the saints? 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? 3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! 4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? 5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, 6 but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? 7 To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? 8 But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even your own brothers!”

True love would rather take the injury on himself that let be inflicted on someone else. John 15:12-17 says it this way,

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

As agents of justice, lovers of the Lord, and doers of His Word, we have to remember Judgement Day is real and it is coming. The lost will perish. Verse 8 says,

“Arise, O God, judge the earth;
    for you shall inherit all the nations!”


I implore you to deliberately go out and glorify the Lord. Intentionally go out and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ be the light to those who have neither knowledge nor understanding and walk about in darkness.

 

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Psalm 9 What Do You Have To Thank God For?

5/29/2015

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Psalm 9

Verses 1-2 read,

“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”


Why should we thank God? What is it that have to be thankful for? Sometimes I know people don’t think they have anything to be thankful for. They look at their lives and see lack instead of plenty. But Believer, we have so much to thank Him for and so very much to praise Him for. Verses 3-4 read,

“When my enemies turn back,
    they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.”


The Lord’s enemy and ours are the same. And in Him we have nothing to fear from Satan or his minions. God is just and He will send them to eternal Hell. And that is another reason to thank Him because he is a God of justice. And He judges with righteous judgement. We in His image have been given the ability to do the same. God doesn’t judge with bias or favoritism, and we should not either. He doesn’t judge based on what is apparent to others, He assesses the heart, the mind, and the motives. In John Chapter 7:23-24 Jesus told the Jews who accused him of being demon possessed,

“If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Verses 5-6 read,

“You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.”


The Lord has warned everyone that they have to choose Him or Hell. And those who choose Hell will get what they asked for. On God’s timeline it is already done, because He said it will be done. Their names ae blotted out forever, as if they never existed. But for His children, those who choose Jesus eternity is very different and it is done! God’s enemy is our enemy, we win. We go on to eternal celebration and Sabbath with God and the enemy perishes. Jesus told the disciples who rejoiced over the awesome works they did in His name, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20).

Their name is forgotten, but ours is written in the Book of Life forever. And God our King is king forever. He is on the throne now and He will remain there eternally. He is Awesome Holy God, yesterday, today, and forever. He is our Righteous Judge, but we have nothing to fear because He gave us His own righteousness. Verses 7-8 read,

“But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.”


He judges righteously. He rules virtuously. He will not let the enemy harm us, or even touch us. When the enemy hurts us, it is because we invited him to do so, it is because we let him. Although bad things happen to us God is with us. The LORD God of Angel Armies fights for us and works everything out for our good, the good of becoming more like Him as we are meant to be. Verses 9-12 say,

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.


11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
    Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”


What do you have to Thank God for? He loves you so completely. He fights for you. He won for you. We may feel like we’re still in battle with the enemy, but He already won the war. Jesus said, “It is finished.” He didn’t mean His life, He meant that the war is over and He won. He won and we won. He is King of kings. We can trust Him. The enemy oppresses, but Jesus liberates. He is our rock and our Strong Tower in times of trouble and always, but the enemy is chaos ad loves to make more. God adores us. He thinks of us. He cares about us. Everything He does is for our benefit. We can cry to Him because He loves us. We can pray and know that He hears us and cares.

Of course we are in a reciprocal relationship with God. We don’t only tell Him our troubles, we thank Him and praise Him. We talk to Him and we listen as He talks to us. Isn’t that glorious? God talks to us! David prayed and David thanked the Lord for answering in the same breath. He prayed and He knew that God already knew his troubles and that our Just and Righteous God would do what was best. Verses 13-20 read,

“Be gracious to me, O Lord!
    See my affliction from those who hate me,
    O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation.


15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.  Higgaion. Selah


17 The wicked shall return to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.


18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.


19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O Lord!

    Let the nations know that they are but men!  Selah”

What do you have to thank God for? If you do not know then I pray you will.

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James 4:11-17 Who are We to Judge?

2/2/2015

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James Chapter 4 Verses 11-17

Unity of the believers, unity of the church is what sets us apart from the world. The way we treat one another is what people see when they look at us. Infighting, and bickering are bad enough. It makes us look petty and gives the world a reason to call us phonies and haters. But to speak badly about one another is even worse. To judge one another based on our own pride rather than Jesus’ love and mercy is worldly. Verses 11-12 read,

“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”

When we say evil things about our fellow believers or judge them, are we loving them the way we love ourselves? When we consider ourselves, we give defenses, reasons, and explanations for our slip ups. I didn’t sleep well. I was hungry. My childhood was difficult. Whatever it is, we realize we have reasons that we fell short of perfection. If we love our brother as we love ourselves, can’t we consider that he may have issues as well that make perfection difficult? Rather than cut him down, perhaps we should help build him up. James also includes our neighbor. We have no right whatsoever to judge the lost on this earth. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 read,

“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

The judging believers do with one another is not judgment based on conceit but a way of helping one another to stay the course. It is exhortation, edification, and walking together, bearing one another’s burdens. We have to judge one another to some degree if we are to do that, but it is in love not pride. It is to help, not harm. It is not accusatory but allows the Spirit to reveal.

We have a judge. He is the one who made the law. Jesus is our Judge. God made the law. Jesus gave us the law of liberty. We are not here to judge whether Susie Q is keeping the law. We are here to fulfil the law of Christ.  If we are judging one another we are not being a doer of the law. In other words, we are not loving one another as Jesus loved us. We are not loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Pride is what causes us to judge each other, pride at what good Christians we are, or how much God uses us, or all the things we have done. We have no reason to be prideful. It is Jesus who made us righteous. It is the Spirit who enables us to do anything at all for God, including believe. It is the Father who allows us to know Him and draws us near to Him. We are no better than any other person in the church. We are no better than any other person full stop.

Our boasting about all the great deeds we will do in our lives, or all the mighty things we have done for God shows our pride and creates bitterness. That bragging exalts us, not Christ. Our crowing doesn’t allow us to submit to our brothers and sisters in love. It harms the church, it harms us. Can we really take credit for anything good in our lives? Isn’t it God who blesses us, provides for us, and gives us every good gift? Is our arrogance or self-glorification edifying anyone else? Is it helpful to a single other person? Verses 13-16 say,

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Remember who is God and who the person is who needs Him. Remember without God, you have no righteousness. Without God you have nothing. He is Sovereign, Mighty, Redeemer, All Powerful, and He is the LORD. He gave you redemption, wisdom, discernment, and love. You know the difference between right and wrong, love and hate, and humility and arrogance. Love one another as Jesus loved you. Love your neighbor as yourself. Love with compassion, kindness, gentleness, and submissiveness. Verse 17 reads,

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”

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James 2:1-13 Love Your Neighbors Without Partiality

1/29/2015

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James Chapter 2 Verses 1-13

I think it is common to judge people based on appearances. One looks at a man wearing an expensive suit and carrying a brief case and judges that he is likely a wealthy businessman. We tell others a little about ourselves by the way we dress. We express interests, finances, and even confidence by the way we present ourselves.

But if we let the judgment affect the way we think about or treat the other person, then we are sinning. Treating a person poorly or well based on our impression is prejudice. Bias leads nowhere good. James had something to say about the subject as well. Verses 1-4 read,

“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

It is too easy to see a person, assume he is affluent and treat him a bit better than everyone else. It is almost natural to offer him greater respect than others. It is just as easy to discount the poor man, to not pay him much attention, and in that way disrespect him. In God’s eyes, they are both worthy of the same respect. We are supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves, not some, but all. We are to show everyone that same favor.

Consider this as well. We are supposed to build one another up, encourage each other, and meet each other’s needs. Chances are the rich man has an easier life than the poor man. It was probably easier for him to get to church, his needs are not so hard to meet. Faith is easy for him since he has probably had fewer struggles. Although we can’t and shouldn’t assume that. But the poor man almost certainly has had many struggles, has a difficult time getting his needs met, and his faith is exercised much more often than that of many of us. He really deserves our admiration. Both men deserve equal treatment. If favoritism were going to be showed at all, it might be just to offer the respect and a respite for the poor man so that he is brought up to the same level as the rich man. What has the rich man ever done to earn our deference? The wealthy, especially the very wealthy who had few trials in their lives do not have to lean on God and they have a hard time making Jesus their Lord. Making Jesus his Master means putting money, power, and reputation out of his heart. Jesus said it is really hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:22-24). He needs our love in order to be able to do that. Verses 5-7 put it like this,

“Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?”

We are supposed to love everyone without bias, just like God does. God gave Peter a vision to teach him that lesson. In Acts 10:34-35 Peter said, “…Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),”

We are supposed to go out of our way to show esteem for one another. Romans 12:9-13 reads,

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.”

Showing partiality regardless which way it goes, is ungodly and therefore sinful. James doesn’t try and sweeten his message. It is plain that it is sin. It goes against the second of the commands Jesus told us was the crux of the entire law. Verses 8-9 say,

“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.”

James wasn’t kidding around. Treating some well and others inadequately is sin. It is also often done in order to look good. Treating the congressman like a king can get us some points in the world. But treating the homeless man like a king doesn’t get us any advantages. If we are trying to gain benefits by our actions that is bad news. Our actions are meant to be expressions of our faith and love. God loves everyone, not just the rich, or only the poor, or merely the Jew, or only the Greek. Gaining rewards by our deeds is an attempt to keep the law. Looking good to the world is trying to keep the law. Verses 10-11 read,

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

Forget about how you look to the world when it comes to loving your neighbor. Love him as God loves him, not because he is a well-to-do influential man, but because he is a man created by and loved by God. We were saved by grace. We have been showered with mercy. We have grace and mercy to spare. We are free to do it. God wants a relationship with both the destitute and prosperous. He wants the priest and the prostitute to know Him. We are free to show love to all. We don’t have to worry about anyone defiling our buildings with their sin. We do not have to be concerned with anyone corrupting our temples or our souls because Jesus blood sanctified us. We don’t have to kowtow to money because we know God provides for us.

Verses 12-13 say,

“So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

So my fellow believers and followers of our King and Lord Jesus, I encourage you today to examine yourself and see if you are showing partiality in your dealings with people. Are you out doing yourself and others in order to show honor to one another? I exhort you to go out of your way and love all your neighbors, regardless of appearance, regardless of bank account, and regardless of any of our perceptions.

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John 7:10-24 Is it you or Jesus That is good?

11/28/2014

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John Chapter 7 Verses 10 -24

Jesus had gone to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem privately rather than go with His Family. There were some people upset enough to want Him arrested and killed. There were some who thought He was leading people away from Judaism by His teachings, and others who thought He was a good man. But most of them were not vocal because they were afraid of the repercussions for themselves. Their private opinions and their murmurs and whispers didn’t help the situation. Those who thought Jesus was a good man, but didn’t believe or take any action on their belief may as well as agreed with the Pharisees seeking to kill Him. Those who thought He was leading the people astray but kept their complaints to mumbled criticisms were no more influential than those they argued with.

About the middle of the feast Jesus began teaching in the temple. The people listening to Him were amazed. They knew He had not studied but He spoke with knowledge, eloquence, and expertise.

Verses 16-18 read,

“So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”

Some people look like really good people but they are not actually pursuing God’s glory. They work toward their own. The Pharisees were like that. They studied the scriptures. They gave exactly the right amount of money. They did everything right in the law except seek God’s will and love. The people were very impressed by their goodness. But their righteousness wasn’t leading anyone to God. They were leading people away from God’s love and His will and straight to Hell. Hosea 6:6 reads,

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offering”

The people couldn’t even recognize God in Jesus. He was supposed to be the focus of their lives. He was right there in front of them, and they didn’t recognize Him. How many people who claim to be Christians have lost the object they are supposed to be following and instead glorify themselves with their goodness or begin following rules and ritual rather than Jesus?

Jesus continued in verse 19.

“Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?”

I’m sure of the listeners were offended by His accusation they they didn’t follow the law. Here they were at the Feast of Booths in the temple. They gave money. They kept the Sabbath. They observed the feasts and special days. They were good Jews. But Jesus told them none of them kept the law. Deuteronomy 6:5 reads,

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Leviticus 19:34 says,

“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”

They were not keeping the law. No one likes to have their flaws pointed out to them, especially if they are quite proud of their perfection. The crowd got so upset they accused Jesus have having a demon and in an effort to put him on the defensive told him he was crazy for thinking people wanted to kill him. Jesus didn’t fall for the goad. He didn’t have to defend Himself or argue about things that would take the light of the Father’s will. Verses 21-24 read,

“Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man's whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Jesus had healed a man on the Sabbath. He had done an act of love as God desired. But He was being persecuted for it. The Jews were so careful about obeying the letter of the law that would circumcise on the Sabbath to ensure they didn’t break the law by circumcising a day late. Circumcision was an outward sign of a covenant with God. It was an act that required cutting and pain. What Jesus did was heal, take pain away, and give a man a chance to receive grace and forgiveness. The man’s heart would have been circumcised, it would have been in inward and complete sign of his covenant with God. Rather than change one thing about the man, Jesus had made his whole body well.

Which act is better? Is it better to heal a man and give him new life or circumcise a man? The Jews were judging through eyes of law, rules, and ritual. Their perspective was narrowed to the point that God was not no longer in it. They couldn’t follow God if they had left Him out of their view. Right judgment requires looking at the whole picture. Jesus was trying to open their eyes to the truth. They didn’t like what they were hearing and what it showed them about themselves.

Ask yourself some questions.

1.)    Who are you glorifying in your life?

Does your life shine the light on Jesus? Is Jesus being praised by your deeds? Are you getting the acclaim for the good things you do? Are there any signs of your relationship with Jesus to be acclaimed?

2.)    Are you following a list of rules and laws or are you following Jesus?

If you were running late on your way to church and you met a drunk, hurt, and lost man that needed help, would you stop, help him, and miss church?  Would you say a prayer that someone who has time would stop and help him? Would you be disgusted by his drunkenness and feel he deserves what he is getting? Would you even notice him as you rushed to church?

3.)    Are you loving God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and your neighbor as yourself?

Is your lifestyle one of active and intentional love? Has Christianity become a checklist rather than a relationship?

4.)    Are you judging the situation, yourself and others with right judgment?

Is the love of God, His plan, and His sovereignty in the picture? Or are you basing your assessment on appearances? Do you assume the woman leading the church food drive is good and the goth teen who doesn’t go to church is evil?

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    Donna Campbell

    As I read the Bible every day, I take what God teaches me, what He says, and write it out. I then share that with you. It gives me a deeper understanding of the Word and I hope that it will encourage you as it does me, to put your love and faith into action.

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