Tag: Romans 12:1-3

Some Subtle Biblical Suggestions for the Cultivation of True Friendships. Proverbs 18:24

Depending on the Bible translation, we discover that “a man who has friends must himself be friendly,” or that “a man with too many friends will come to ruin,” and both are true in their own right.

In the former, we are instructed that in order to have friends, we need to show friendship towards other people, while in the latter, we are informed that having a lot of ‘fair-weather friends’ can make us vulnerable, because their loyalty towards us may fluctuate with feelings or change with circumstances.

We would be wise to heed the sound advice contained in each of these translations of this text of Scripture, and apply them to our own lives and the friendship choices we make.

But all translations agree that “there is a friend that sticks closer that a brother,” there is a friend who displays such loyalty towards us that no matter what we say or do they will remain loyal to us.

They will support and encourage us, help and counsel us, comfort and warn us, and they will love us no matter what happens.

Proverbs 18:24 Authorized (King James) Version

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
    and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Glory Be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the Beginning is now and ever shall be. Worlds Without End. Amen, Amen, Amen.

Friendship Arises Out Of Mere Companionship

“Friendship arises out of mere Companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, ‘What? You too? I thought I was the only one.’” – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves 

It is indeed truly wonderful to find a companion who shares something in common with us which then, over time, builds into a genuine friendship.

However, we must also be very aware that there are times when making and sustaining lasting friendships does not and will not come to us very easily.

For adults, life can get busy with balancing various responsibilities at work, home, hobbies, family life and myriads and myriads of other activities.

Finding time to cultivate friendships can be challenging and there will always be those that we struggle to connect with.

Forging true friendships takes time and commitment.

Are we making it an authentically active or authentically passive priority?

Are there things that we can do, or need to do to start, continue a friendship?

I am a firm believer that God’s truth as found in the Bible can help us in times when finding, making and maintaining, sustaining friendships, can be tough.

What is Friendship?

Proverbs 18:24 Amplified Bible

24 
The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin,
But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother.

The union between God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit reveals a closeness and relationship which we all long for, and God invites us to be a part of that.

People were made for companionship as image bearers of the triune God and it was declared that it was not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18 Amplified).

18 Now the Lord God said, “It is not good (beneficial) for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [one who balances him—a counterpart who is] [a] suitable and complementary for him.”

From Adam’s own body, God made Eve as a helper for Adam and walked with them in the Garden of Eden before the fall.

God himself was relational to them and they were relational toward Him and in turn, to and towards one another.

Even after Adam and Eve sinned, it was the Lord who first embraced them and unfolded His plan of redemption against the evil one (Genesis 3:15 Amplified). 

15 
“And I will put enmity (open hostility)
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed (offspring) and her [a]Seed;
He shall [fatally] bruise your head,
And you shall [only] bruise His heel.”

Friendship is most clearly demonstrated in the life and death of Jesus.

He said, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:13-15).

Jesus has revealed Himself to us and has not withheld anything, even His life.

When we follow and obey Him, we are called His friends.

He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature (Hebrews 1:3).

We can come to know God because He became flesh and has made Himself known to us.

He laid down His life for us.

To be known and loved by God and be blessed by God to be called His friends should motivate us in being a friend to others out of our love for and obedience to Jesus – We can love others because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). 

1 John 4:19 The Message

19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

Biblical Ways to Forge Friendships

1. Pray for One or Two Close Friends

Have we asked God for close friendships?

He cares very deeply about everyone of us and knows exactly all that we need.

It might never have been something we would think to pray for.

In 1 John 5:14-15 it says,

“this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

In an expectant faith, we can each ask Him to bring someone into our lives to encourage us, to challenge us, be with us and to continue to point us to Jesus.

If we have asked God to help us cultivate close friendships that can spur us on in our faith and life, we need to anticipate and to believe that He will answer us.

Let’s be expectant that God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine by His power at work in us (Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message). 

20-21 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!

2. Look to the Bible for Wisdom on Friendship

The Bible is filled with wisdom and the book of Proverbs has much to say on friendship, including choosing friends wisely and being a friend.

It speaks of good counsel from a friend: “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice” (Proverbs 27:9).

Proverbs 27:9 The Message

9 Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,
    a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

It also warns about those who can break down friendships:

“A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28)

Proverbs 16:28 The Message

28 Troublemakers start fights;
    gossips break up friendships.

“Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends” (Proverbs 17:9).

Proverbs 17:9 The Message

9 Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
    fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

In the New Testament, Jesus is our greatest example of what it means to be a friend.

He says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

John 15:13-15 The Message

11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

From the first verse of Genesis to the last verse of Revelation we see the story of God’s love and friendship with people.

He has always been Shepherding us.

Will we shepherd others with this same love that Christ had for us?

3. Be a Friend

It is not just about our own edification and what we can get out of a friendship. 

Philippians 2:4 says, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others’ and 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

There are many who are feigning, choosing to remain hidden who are lonely and struggling, longing for a friend, to be noticed and for someone to listen.

Who can we bless and encourage?

Is there anyone that we should get to know?

Not every acquaintance or person we help will become a close friend.

Yet, we are called to love our neighbor and even our enemies, and serve those that we meet and love them like Jesus does (Matthew 5:43-48 The Message).

Matthew 5:43-48 The Message

43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

As it also says in Romans 12:10, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

Romans 12:10 The Message

9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

4. Take the Initiative

Taking a step of faith can be really difficult.

Asking someone to meet up for a meal or coffee, inviting someone into our home or doing something that we hope will bless someone can take courage.

There may be all sorts of barriers.

Perhaps it is overcoming shyness or fear.

Maybe there is a cultural or societal wall that needs to be broken, prejudices or biases or stereotypes that needs to be confronted, challenged or we simply need to trust that Jesus will go before us, will 100% be with us in all our interactions.

It may well be daunting and difficult, complex and quite overly complicated.

Following Jesus first, not self, is not easy, yet there is no greater way to live.

We must be intentional and open up our heart and home with those around us, showing hospitality and kindness, and loving them first as Christ first loves us.

It was Jesus who initiated redemption by pouring out His grace on us when we were still enemies and sinners against God (Romans 5:6-10).

Romans 5:6-11 The Message

6-8 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

9-11 Now that we are set right with God by means of this sacrificial death, the consummate blood sacrifice, there is no longer a question of being at odds with God in any way. If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose. We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah!

If God can first lavish such amazing grace onto us, we can pour out that same measure of “first” amazing grace on others also.

5. Live Sacrificially

Matthew 14:13-21 English Standard Version

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14  When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17  They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus was always moving from place to place, meeting different people from the crowds and meeting their physical and spiritual needs.

Yet, He continuously made time to spend with His Father in prayer and with His disciples.

Ultimately, Jesus lived a life of complete sacrifice as He obeyed His Father and ultimately laid down His life on the cross for us.

We can now be a friend of God’s because He died for our sin, reconciling us into a right relationship with Him.

We are likewise covenanted to go and do likewise and live a life that is less about us, and significantly more about Jesus and is as self-sacrificing toward others.

Being transformed by the Savior’s sacrificial love, we are able to love others in a radical way and invest in people like Jesus did. 

Romans 12:1-3 The Message

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

6. Stand by Friends in Ups and Downs

A true friend is steadfast and immovable and will remain by our sides in times of hardship and sorrow as well as sharing in moments of joy and celebration.

Friends share both trials and accomplishments, are transparent and truthful.

The close friendship shared between David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18:1 demonstrates this:

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”

Jonathan showed kindness to David when his father King Saul pursued David’s life.

David trusted Jonathan to help him persuade his father to relent, but also to alert him if Saul was still after his life (1 Samuel 20).

After Jonathan was killed in battle, David was grieved which showed the depth of their relationship (2 Samuel 1:25-27).

7. Remember that Jesus Is the Ultimate Friend

It can be difficult to forge true, lasting friendships but as we trust the Lord to help us in this, we need to remember that Jesus is our ultimate friend.

He calls believers His friends because He has opened up to them and kept nothing hidden (John 15:15).

He died for us, He loved us first (1 John 4:19), He chose us (John 15:16), and when while we were still his sworn enemies, we were still far off from God He brought us near by His blood, shed for us on the cross (Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:13).

Ephesians 2:11-13 The Message

11-13 But don’t take any of this for granted. It was only yesterday that you outsiders to God’s ways had no idea of any of this, didn’t know the first thing about the way God works, hadn’t the faintest idea of Christ. You knew nothing of that rich history of God’s covenants and promises in Israel, hadn’t a clue about what God was doing in the world at large. Now because of Christ—dying that death, shedding that blood—you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything.

He is the penultimate friend of sinners and promises never to leave nor forsake those who trust in Him.

Deuteronomy 31:7-8Amplified Bible

7 Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all [the people of] Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you will go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you will give it to them as an inheritance. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

The foundation of a true and lasting friendship will be one that spurs us on to follow God and Jesus in all of life, willing us to finish the race towards eternity.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Thank you for your great love and blessing over our lives. Thank you that your anger is brief and your favor has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime. Forgive us for sometimes forgetting you are intimately acquainted with all of our ways, that you know what concerns us, and you cover us, as with a shield. We ask for your guidance so that we might walk fully in your blessing and goodness today. We ask that your face would shine on us. That you would open the right doors for our lives and for our loved ones, that you would close the wrong doors and protect us from those we need to walk away from. Establish the work of our hands and bring to fulfillment all that you have gifted, given us to do in these days. We pray that you would make our way purposeful and our footsteps firm out of your goodness and love. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear your voice, and make us strong by your huge favor and grace.

Glory Be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the Beginning is now and ever shall be. Worlds Without End. Amen, Amen, Amen.

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Does God Care About My Feelings? Psalm 137

At times, you may feel too alone, and think that you have no one to care for you.

Know that all of us are God’s children, and he never allows us to stay alone.

There’s no point in keeping yourself aloof from the rest of the world, for God is always there even when we are too emotional to acknowledge it, to help guide and move you out into the light from your entire struggle.

You may feel that you have not got anyone to be there for you, and support for you.

Although it is easier said than done, we often tend to suffer from such kinds of frustrations and suppressing thoughts.

However, you need to understand that you are not alone. You are never alone, for God is always there with you and you have your guardian angels to pave your ways, no matter how tough the situations get! Just be humble, have patience and get going!

Nothing is hidden from the Almighty, and he has been keeping an eye upon you all the time. He is there to guide you in all your odds, and even when life has been making you walk through the hurdles, you have Him.

Believe me, God is always there for you and he has been working behind the scenes of your life. You may find it difficult to get going, but if you have faith, things will surely start falling in their places all by themselves.

God is always there to talk care of you, even when you aren’t aware of it. He is going to take over when things go out of your hand. In any case, if situations seem to be pushing you to the last extent, keep your trust upon God’s powers and God’s promises and in time, by God’s grace, things are going to work out all by themselves, sooner or later.

Psalm 137 GOD’S WORD Translation

137 By the rivers of Babylon, we sat down and cried
as we remembered Zion.
2 We hung our lyres on willow trees.
3 It was there that those who had captured us demanded that we sing.
Those who guarded us wanted us to entertain them.
⌞They said,⌟ “Sing a song from Zion for us!”

4 How could we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget ⌞how to play the lyre⌟.
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth
if I don’t remember you,
if I don’t consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

7 O Lord, remember the people of Edom.
Remember what they did the day Jerusalem ⌞was captured⌟.
They said, “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundation.”
8 You destructive people of Babylon,
blessed is the one who pays you back
with the same treatment you gave us.
9 Blessed is the one who grabs your little children
and smashes them against a rock.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

The book of Psalms is a book of poetry; most often each Psalm is a song written for a specific purpose.

These songs and poems consist of praises to God, sorrowful lamentations, and joyous celebrations. 

Psalm 137 falls into the sorrowful lamentation category.

The Psalmist here is speaking of Israel’s captivity in Babylon (vs. 1).

The southern tribes of Israel, the land of Judah, were all that remained of Israel after the Assyrians had captured the northern tribes (2 Kings 15-17).

Later, the southern kingdom was taken captive by Babylon (2 Kings 24-25).

In this Psalm, the psalmist is lamenting that the captors of the Jews, the Babylonians, are asking them to sing songs about Jerusalem, or Zion.

Because these were songs of worship and praise to God, they would remind the people of their sin against God, the thing which led to their painful captivity.

These songs would also remind them of their longing to be back in Jerusalem.

The second stanza of the Psalm is a self-reflection of what the author would wish upon himself if he were to ever forget Jerusalem.

The final stanza is what revenge the Psalmist wishes upon his captors.

While the picture is disturbing and graphic, it gives us a real portrait of how desperate the Jews were and how badly they wished to be freed from captivity.

It also reveals to us the incredible depth of emotions these exiles were feeling.

The depths of rage, anger and of depressive sadness is quite palpable and for us who would come to read those hard words, quite emotionally provocative also.

God had sent His chosen people into a seventy year exile for their sins against Him – and the beginning of that exilic road to Babylon was exceedingly brutal and one could easily use the word merciless unto the very absolute maximum.

But God is a God of Mercy, of Grace, Slow to Anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving of transgressions, remembering them no more, casting them into the sea of forgetfulness, as far as the east is to the west – just max gone!

So, it leaves open to the reader of such scriptures the very significant question;

Does God Authentically Care About Our Feelings?

Ever feel like God gave up on you, does not care about your feelings?

You are absolutely not alone.

This assumption is one that can promote a sense of invalidation within our relationship with God.

In many ways, this belief can frame our faith in such a way that it leaves us quick to mask the messiness of our emotions for the sake of spiritual maturity.

If we authentically feel our feelings, does that mean our faith is fragile?

When our emotions overwhelm us, is God actually 100% for us or against us? 

This disconnect between emotional health and Christian theology has been at odds for some time.

The common Christian response to uncomfortable emotions is phrases like “You just need to pray more” and “trust the Lord in all circumstances,” which risks adding to the distortion that our distress impairs our spiritual maturity.

I whole-heartedly believe that the spiritual disciplines found in Scripture were never meant to invalidate our pain and problems, but rather not so subtly invite us into expressing our feelings openly and freely unto a loving and caring God. 

Here is the truth: You absolutely matter to God, feelings and all.

Never in Scripture do we see Jesus dismiss the feelings of others or invalidate those in distress.

On the contrary, God’s Word repeatedly reiterates the safety found in seeking God as our refuge when we are weak (Psalm 46:1–3), and as a shelter when we are suffering (Psalm 62:8). 

When we are faced with a depth of feelings that shake our faith to the core of our being, we must go back to Scripture and be reminded that our emotions, created by God, are meant to bring us closer to Him, not pull us farther away.

In my frequent exploration of this concept, I have found 4 ways God responds to my feelings which have ultimately strengthened my faith, comforted my soul.

1. God Is Present in My Feelings 

  In Psalm 34:18-19, David speaks of how God is attentive in our distress saying: 

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

    and saves the crushed in spirit. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

    but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” 

God does not leave us in our distress or dismiss the weight of our worries, but graciously and mercifully comes near to us as a father comforts his dear child.

His awareness of all things at all times is absolutely active 100% of the time.

The passage states God saves the crushed in spirit, delivering them out of pain.

What is even more powerful about this passage is that in the original Hebrew, the term for saves is translated as “to be safe.”

God is not simply standing with us, around us, by us, but He actively provides absolute safety for us in His presence. 

2. God Values My Feelings 

In addition to God’s attentiveness, He also values emotions.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see His expression of emotion and how He values caring for those who were suffering.

Jesus wept with those who experienced loss (John 11:34-36) and comforted many with compassion and consideration (Mark 6:50). 

The intersection of emotional expression and feelings validation was first modeled for us by God throughout the Old Testament, and then again by Jesus throughout the narratives of the 4 gospels and Paul’s letters to the followers.

We see how God so gently guided the Israelites to their promised land flowing with milk and honey and manna and quail and water and shelter against the sun despite all of their rebellion and complaining throughout the book of Exodus.

Similarly, Jesus speaks to many emotions in his Sermon on the Mount saying, 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,

    for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:3-4).

The apostle Paul in Romans speaks on this same value of emotional expression, encouraging believers to, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another” (Romans 12:15).

I wonder what it would look like if we too were to authentically begin to value the emotions we experience and authentically own all the freedom to express them, knowing our God is near and desires to comfort us with His compassion.  

3. God Challenges My Feelings  

Within God’s attentiveness and compassion for His children, He challenges the feelings that no longer have a place in our lives and hearts.

Paul writes on this disputation of futile feelings, encouraging his young protégé Timothy to not be overcome by the spirit of fear but to remember his faith first. 

He says, “For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit, not a spirit of fear but power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

This very Pauline response to my own feelings is one that helps me identify the foundation of my emotions.

As I seek to understand God’s Word and His truth, I am reminded to focus upon my aligning my feelings with the myriad of God’s promises found in Scripture.

This passage reminds me of the truth of the Holy Spirit of God at work in me. 

4. God Reframes My Feelings  

Finally, I believe that God’s Word so beautifully helps us to reframe and to refocus our emotions by placing our focus and intention back on God’s power, God’s provision, God’s strength, and God’s ability to meet us in our emotions. 

One of my favorite passages that help reframe my feelings and focus on my faith is found in Paul’s prison letter of Philippians 4:8-9 where Paul writes, 

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” 

Then further bolstered by these words of God assurance, Christ like confidence;

Philippians 4:10-14 GOD’S WORD Translation

Thanks for Your Gifts

10 The Lord has filled me with joy because you again showed interest in me. You were interested but did not have an opportunity to show it. 11 I’m not saying this because I’m in any need. I’ve learned to be content in whatever situation I’m in. 12 I know how to live in poverty or prosperity. No matter what the situation, I’ve learned the secret of how to live when I’m full or when I’m hungry, when I have too much or when I have too little. 13 I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, it was kind of you to share my troubles.

Paul’s thoughtful and timely words subtly remind me how to slow down and replace my thoughts that have led to distress and distortions within my heart.

When feelings flood our minds and muddy the truth of God’s goodness and grace, we are invited to renew our minds in the truths found in His Word. 

Romans 12:1-3 GOD’S WORD Translation

Dedicate Your Lives to God

12 Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God’s compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to him. This kind of worship is appropriate for you. 2 Don’t become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants—what is good, pleasing, and perfect.

3 Because of the kindness [a] that God has shown me, I ask you not to think of yourselves more highly than you should. Instead, your thoughts should lead you to use good judgment based on what God has given each of you as believers.

So, whatever you may be feeling, acknowledge them, just remember that God is near and desires to be involved in the fears and failures, the loss and laughter.

His Living and Active Word continually reminds us to always feel and to be free from the false kind of faith negating the weight of legitimately raw emotions.

Let us continue to seek after God, training our hearts, tuning our hearts, to find rest in the absolute truth (Matthew 11:28-30, John 5:1-9, John 11:35, John 14:1-6), knowing God authentically cares about all of our feelings no matter how deep.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Psalm 23 King James Version

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

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What Happens When We Think Precious Thoughts about Jesus? Romans 12:1-3

Romans 12:1-3 Amplified Bible

Dedicated Service

12 [a]Therefore I urge you, [b]brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be [c]transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

3 For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service].

The Word of God for the Children of God.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Amen.

One of the most precious things a person can be given by God is a heavenly mindset, a mindset formed by the cross, a mindset that sees earthly reality in view of Scriptural truths. 

Romans 12:2 teaches: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

During seasons of Lent, when we encounter the living Christ through Scripture, and Prayer, Devotions, Sermons and Service, our minds need to be opened to being changed and transformed as when we first come to know Savior Christ.

The more and harder we seek after Him, the greater the transformation we see, we will gradually come to experience within the thoughts of our minds.

We need begin an unplanned approach, with the goal of coming to the end of ourselves, then steadily ask for a bit more of God’s Spirit to come and change us, to conform us to spiritual realities rather than the principles of the world.

Here are some suggested ways we can prayerfully expect to see, feel our minds being subtly, utterly, transformed into greater and greater union with Christ.

What Matters Is What Will Last into Eternity

The things of this earth will be seen as finite, temporary and transient.

There is surely goodness to enjoy on this earth.

But what matters is the spiritual work of God in us, and that spiritual work we participate in mission and ministry and acts of aid and service with others.

His Suffering for Us becomes Our Most Precious Thought

The reality that God came in flesh to suffer on the cross for our sins becomes precious beyond comparison.

We revere this truth and treat it as holy.

Our Savior has become so precious to us we can hardly bear the thought of Him hanging on the tree for us.

We treasure His sacrifice deeply.

His Work in This World Is Our Priority

Jesus has given the church a mission: to make disciples of Jesus around the world.

His work of doing that, at home and abroad, takes deep roots in our hearts.

He loves His gospel, and we love His gospel.

We want to do our part to see His gospel shared and to see it shine around the world — no matter where we live and what our daily calling.

The Person and Character of Jesus Is Our Loveliest Treasure

Jesus is held up as our priceless treasure.

When we come to know Him better, to take in His character, to learn about His truth and His ways in the Scriptures, to behold His grace in our lives, we realize that we are all treated impeccably by the perfect One of all time and all eternity.

Jesus becomes our richest prize, our first and only singular aim and goal.

God’s Goodness Is Never in Question

We balk at the idea of God’s goodness being in question, when He is the One who bore with all of our failures, all of our rebellion, all of our sinfulness and still — in His immeasurable kindness — offered salvation to the world.

What kind of God is this?

We cannot and will not come to entertain the thought of Him not being always considered the good God He is, was, and forever will be.

The Salvation That God Offers Is Unfathomably Good

Evil is having its day.

The world and worldly values around us threaten to pull us in on all sides.

By contrast, the things of the Lord and of the Scriptures are pure and holy and righteous.

We come to love the righteousness that has been revealed to us.

Salvation into the things and ways of the Lord is an unfathomable reality — one that we will never fully grasp for all of eternity.

We will glorify, praise God always for the greatest gift He has ever given to us.

Sin becomes Utterly Undesirable

When we are thinking and focusing precious thoughts about Jesus, the sinful ways of our hearts and natures fall completely out of favor with us.

In fact, our ways of rebellion, the sin which has seeped into our pockets as we walk through the world, the fallen ideas that have passed through our ears, all come to be undesirable to us.

God shows them to us for what they are, and we want to abandon evil ways — whatever they are — and not allow them to take root within us.

God hates sin, and so do we; that becomes our true heart’s desire.

There Is Accountability before God for Everything That We Do

Because we know that God hates sin, we take seriously that we will stand before God for all that we think, say, and do in His world.

All of our wrongdoing will be covered by His grace.

But He wants relationships of truth with us.

So, we will stand before Him for our doings, whether good or bad.

I want there to be so much goodness, so little badness when I stand before Jesus.

The greatest words that I so want to hear are “well done, good and faithful servant.”

We take seriously everything we do when we are thinking precious thoughts of a Savior who died to remove our sins from us.

All of Life Is Lived by the Rule of Grace

Grace is the rule by which we live our lives.

Jesus loves His gospel of grace.

He loves that He offers us forgiveness as far as the east is from the west.

He loves that He has won a people to Himself.

When we come before Him with our sins, He welcomes us and washes us with his blood.

And He does that by His incredible grace that we can never exhaust.

It is truly amazing grace.

Each one of us is a small picture of His gospel, when He looks at us who believe.

We don’t fear sin because there is no punishment.

Rather, we live by His cleansing grace, and honor it highly just as He does.

To Fear the Lord Is Easy because God Is Great in Our Eyes

When we are thinking precious thoughts about the goodness and greatness of Jesus, we do not question whether or not God is to be feared.

He is the great One.

We possess a holy disposition before the great God of our souls.

Our hearts bow because God is very high.

Our hearts yearn for His glorification.

Our minds know that He is exalted and His thoughts and ways are not ours.

We stand apart from Him and know that He is to be magnified.

The Lordship of Christ Is Longed for So That We Can Reflect Jesus

Jesus is the Lord — and we are so grateful that He is.

We long for Him to lead and guide us in the ways of truth.

We long to follow Scriptural patterns of goodness.

We fully long to walk the straight and narrow path that brings holiness and righteousness to our days.

In short, we yearn for Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives.

We don’t want to lead but want to submit to His control.

The Care and Comfort of Jesus Exceeds Our Desires

When we think highly of Jesus, we value our relationship with Him very highly.

We draw near to Him, and He draws near to us.

So, when we reach out to Him for help and comfort, His care for us exceeds our desires.

We feel enveloped by His comfort and love.

The fact that the holy God of the universe would pour His love into our hearts is beautiful beyond description.

We thank Him greatly and welcome all that He gives and brings to us, as He is the vine and we are the branches.

We Have Contentment Based on Our Relationship with Jesus

Because the things of this earth matter less and less to us, we are transformed into a spirit of contentment.

We know that there is nothing we can gain that is of any value but Jesus Christ Himself.

We know that it is good to know God.

So, we can let possessions and values of this earth go.

We Are Willing to Be Called into Service of God, However He Wills

When Jesus is our highest prize, we wait upon Him to see if He might call us into His service.

We are honored so highly if He allows us to serve Him in any way.

And we leave open the possibility that He might call any one of us at any time to take His gospel to a lost world.

Turn the Fullness of Your Thoughts Upon Jesus

Romans 12:1-3 The Message

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

My friends, let us practice thinking more precious thoughts about Savior Jesus.

Let us practice becoming ever more separate from this world, and practice being ever more, upper-most clinging to the Way, Truth, Life of our Savior.

Let us care about spiritual realities more than earthy realities.

Let us become more and more transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Let us make a greater effort, practice of daily approving of what is good and great according to the Lord, and seek Him — draw near to Him — so that He and His gospel, His Resurrection, alone might be so very highest in our sights.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,

Let us Pray,

Father, teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your Holy Spirit lead me on level ground. I see your faithfulness and goodness in what you have done for me throughout my life. I think about these things, and I thirst for you. Let me hear of your unfailing love every morning and every night, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Keep me on firm footing for the glory of your name. Shift, transform, my thoughts away from the world and unto you alone.

Adeste Fidelis! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.

Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen.

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Powerful People are Transformed, Renewed and Empowered by God! 

Here, The Apostle Paul is now describing to the Followers at Rome how to be different, how to be transformed, to be God’s singularly unique servant in a hostile world. He honors particular character traits, offers special rewards for each. Anywhere in the world we live right now, we are dared to be different!

  1. Those who are genuinely humble before God, who turn to Him in absolute dependence, will be assured of a place in His kingdom.
  2. Those who show compassion on behalf of the needy, the hurting, will receive (in return) much comfort in their own lives.
  3. Those who are gentle—strong within yet controlled without, who bring a soothing graciousness into irritating situations, will win out.
  4. Those who have a passionate appetite for righteousness, both heavenly and earthly, will receive from the Lord an unusual measure of personal contentment and satisfaction.

Before going further, let’s ask ourselves these questions (try to answer each one decisively and directly, studiously and honestly, and hopefully and prayerfully):

  • Am I really different? How do I define ‘different?” How does Paul define it? How does God ultimately define “being different? being empowered? being inspired?
  • Do I take “being different” seriously . . . so much so that I am willing to change?
  • Is “being different” coming through to me that serving others, empowering and inspiring others are some one of the most Christlike attitudes I can have?
  • What significant difference will the ideas expressed throughout Scriptures have on my life? The life and lives of my family? The life and lives of my community?

The bottom-line question is not, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” but rather, “What “different” are you and I becoming, now that we are being empowered, inspired by Father, Son and Holy Spirit to “Go! Light up our world?”

Romans 12:1-3 The Message

Place Your Life Before God

12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

3 I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

The Word of God for the Children of God. Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia! Amen.

Powerful People are Transformed and Renewed by God

It’s been a while, but I’m going to start with a question:

Are you and I actually allowing God to work powerfully in our lives?

Today I desire to try to encourage you that if you really want to experience God working powerfully in your life you need to allow Him to transform your mind.

Let us begin our time of transformation here;

Romans 12:1-2 Authorized King James Version

12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We are transformed, renewed, empowered, enlightened, by sacrificing the whole of ourselves to the perfect will of God. That is a whole lot to think of.

let us try to briefly address that one first:

The will of God is a phrase we might use as disciples of Jesus.

The “the will of God” has two or three biblical meanings.

First, there is the “sovereign will of God”, that is something that will always happen whether we want it to or not. We cannot slow it down, we cannot hinder it by any of our means, any way shape or form, nor can we ever hope to stop it.

Second, there is the “revealed will of God” in the Bible, things like do not steal, do not lie, do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

In this our sinful world, people might know what the revealed will of God is for humanity and yet still choose to willfully, ignorantly, ignore what God has said.

Then third, there is the path of wisdom and spontaneous godliness.

Wisdom is when we consciously apply the word of God with our transformed and empowered and renewed minds to address complex moral circumstances.

Spontaneous godliness can occur when we live most of our lives without conscious reflection on the hundreds of things we say and do all day.

For us to live and move into our faith, for us to live lives which are holy and acceptable to God we each need to allow Him to change and shape (empower, transform) our minds so that both you and I will have this inspired feeling, urge, this irresistible growing, and maturing desire to seek to freely “give the whole of ourselves up,” to His will and purpose for us in every area of our lives.

As King David Prayed,

Psalm 17:1-4 Authorized King James Version

A Prayer of David.

1 Hear the right, O Lord, attend unto my cry,
give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night;
thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing;
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips
I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

When I became a Christian around 20 years ago, I read the book of Romans for the first time.

Since then, I have revisited the words of the Apostle Paul on many occasions.

Romans contains the beautiful message of the gospel and practical insights into how we should live.

There are four words that can be used to summarize The book of Romans:

SIN, SALVATION, SANCTIFICATION AND SOVEREIGNTY.

SIN: we are all sinners.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered into this world and every generation since then has been damaged.

All of us are born with a corrupted human nature, we sin because we are sinners, we experience less than we were created for in this life.

In our natural fallen sinful nature, we are enemies to the will and purpose of God.

Because of sin we are separated from God, our relationship with Him is broken and we would spend eternity apart from Him.

SALVATION: We need a way to be saved.

We need a way back to God.

We need a way to be forgiven of our sin.

The message of Romans 6:22-23 is clear, the wage of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus, God incarnated into flesh, Jesus lived a perfect life, and willingly went to the Cross so that He could take the punishment our sin deserved.

Because of His sacrifice on the cross, His perfection, His righteousness is imputed to us when we trust in Him as Lord and Saviour.

Imputed, that means by faith we are treated as if we had never affected by sin. Through faith in Jesus, we are ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven by God.

Best of all, our salvation is not something we have to earn it is given as a free gift to all who believe and trust Jesus.

Because of His work on the cross we can have a restored relationship with God in this life and for eternity.

SANCTIFICATION: When we become disciples of Savior Jesus Chrit, God does not immediately transport us to Heaven. There is still some stuff that God needs to do in our lives to make us fit for Heaven.

Think of this as the gradual healing of an opened wound. As time goes on, the doctor attends to it, the body works to heal it, the scab gets smaller. Eventually, our full healing takes place, the scab falls off as it has completed its work. Over time, God takes our scars, forms scabs over them, and then they fall away. As they heal up, they are comforted and they are soothed, and they are healed.

Yes, we are forgiven, yes, we are saved, yes, we are assured of our salvation, yes, we have a new and “healed” mind, a new and “healed” spirit; but we are still under the direct influence of our sinful nature, and still clothed in sinful flesh.

Until we die and God calls us home to be with Him forever, we all will struggle in a continuous battle to be holy as God is holy until we are ultimately glorified.

SOVEREIGNTY:

The Sovereignty of God is the fact that God is the supreme authority, and all things are under His control.

Do we choose God or does God choose Us?

What did Master Rabbi Jesus have to say to this critically important question?

John 15:11-16 The Message

11-15 “I’ve told you about these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things, I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.

16 “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.

Ultimately God is in absolute control of all things, though He may choose to let certain events happen according to natural laws which He has ordained.

God has created a world in which freedom is a real possibility so I have a simple answer, in His Sovereignty God chooses those who will choose Him.

Our thoughts are influenced or conformed by many different things in this world.

Which is why we need God to transform, empower, inspire, the way we think.

Paul instructs us in a few specific areas of our life where our thinking must be transformed from a sinful, worldly way of thinking to a godly way of thinking.

He starts with the Body of Christ, His church, then relationships with other believers, then government, unbelievers, and sharing the gospel with others.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3 AKJV

Let’s return to Romans 12:3, Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be rigorously, vigorously honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves not by the faith of the world but faith God has given us.

Here is one characteristic of a transformed mind, Humility.

Do not think you are .000001% better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Do we tend to think we are better than others?

Do we tend to think we are better than non-believers? Do we tend to think we are better than those with different views on life?

Are we better than those who face different struggles?

Do we judge other Christians who don’t behave the way we do?

Be honest rigorously and vigorously in your evaluation of yourself, measure yourself by the faith God has given you and against God’s sovereignty over you.

This challenge is to church. Your attitude within the church.

Can our attitudes and behaviors cause significant damage within the church?

I am sure most of us could name someone who has been hurt by somebody’s attitude, behaviors or actions within a church.

Maybe you have been personally hurt by someone’s attitude within the church.

If any of us fall into the trap of thinking too highly of ourselves, we will most directly, decisively and very much definitely hurt others and ourselves.

Many modern churches are littered with wrecked lives because of arrogant, self-righteous, and judgmental Christians.

We are meant to be disciples of Jesus who live powerful transformed lives of faith born from a real relationship with God and a growing, maturing, deep understanding of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When we understand the transformational, empowering truth of the gospel, we truly recognise our dependence on Jesus for our salvation and our everyday life.

The gospel, the Word of God is the only true source of our thinking, our acting.

The ways of the world will never lead any one to even .0001 ounces of humility.

Even the faith we have is from God!

Let me be clear, Paul is not advocating self-loathing; I’m a sinner, woe is me, I’m awful!

You and I have absolute worth to God; you and I are so infinitely valuable to our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ! Such a high value – He was willing to die for us!!!

Gain your full significance from the undeniable fact that God loved you enough to give His son for you and for me and the whole world and allow God through the Ministry and work of the Holy Spirit to empower you and to transform you.

Time has gone by quickly so I will close with this:

God gave everything for you and me.

That’s EXACTLY how valuable you and I are.

Jesus gave His life for you.

Jesus gave His life for me.

Our value is not based on what you or I do or even who you or I are. Our value is found in whose (God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) you are.

Your value is measured in nothing less than the price of your salvation – the life blood of Savior Jesus Christ poured out for you and for me.

You and I are indescribably valuable to God.

The question is, “how indescribably valuable is God to you and to me?”

Let me encourage you to allow God’s to change and transform your mind so that you can be a powerful person and live your life as a holy sacrifice to Him.

In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, let’s pray,

God, Our Father, in deepest gratitude for all which You have done for us, we do offer ourselves and our gifts to You—living sacrifices of worship and praise. Transform our hearts and minds from the inside out; show us what is good and pleasing in Your sight, so that we may be quick to recognize Your call, and quick to respond. In the name of Jesus, our Messiah and Lord, Alleluia! Amen.

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