Be united in Christ

Friends,

One of the most common tactics of warfare is to to "divide and conquer". Christ Jesus warned against allowing this tactic to gain traction in the body of believers, and we see its devastating effect on families everyday.

We enable our enemy when we look at each other and see the differences, rather than seeking out what unifies us.

Proverbs 22:2 [NKJV]
The rich and the poor have this in common,
The LORD is the maker of them all.

Brothers and sisters, do not allow the culture, the politicians, or the preachers to sow strife and divisiveness among us. Seek out the evidence that we share a Father in Heaven who has adopted us, brought us into His Kingdom, and paid the ultimate price for our redemption. Treasure that unity in Jesus.

Be encouraged, Jose

A worthy challenge

Friends,

Everything is important to God.
The reverse is also true: Nothing is unimportant to God.*

With this in mind, we are challenged ... and well-served ... to examine every thought, every action and every word. Measure them against this standard:

Philippians 2:3a [NKJV]
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit

It is truly a great challenge - worthy of energy and great enthusiasm. This passage challenges you and me to stop and think before speaking: are my words self-serving or will they encourage and edify another? These words call us to stop and think before acting: will my actions bring joy and comfort to my brother or sister, or are they meant to draw attention to myself?

To obey this passage is to imitate Christ Jesus and, in so doing, bring great joy to our Heavenly Father.

Be encouraged, Jose

* note: Man cannot function in this state, for when he tries, the result is the opposite. But God is not man. His abilities are not limited.

The whole church

Friends,

We are part of a great and mighty thing. Its power is undeniable, though many fear it, ridicule it, ignore it, and deny it.

Ephesians 2:20-21 [NKJV]
... having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord

Never forget, brothers and sisters, that the foundation of this body is Christ. It is not a pastor on TV or in the pulpit of the biggest church in town. It is not the praise band or the most out-spoken member of the congregation.

When we forget that the foundation of the whole church is Jesus, we splinter, argue, divide, and are easily conquered.

When we remember that Christ is our cornerstone and source, we are more than conquerors.

Be encouraged, Jose

Where is this headed?

Friends,

As our kids were growing up, we made sure to keep an eye on how they behaved around their friends. We always felt a little better when friends encouraged them to do the right things ... behave in school, tell the truth, and stay out of trouble. Of course, there were some kids who did the opposite. The most troublesome would even encourage our children to disobey and lie to us. We would step in and express our deep displeasure with the relationship, reminding them that anyone who encourages you to do the wrong thing is no friend.

In the same way, our Father instructs us to examine the fruits of every relationship. He wants us to seek out those that produce good fruit. He wants to end the friendship that leads us into temptation and delivers us into evil.

Romans 16:17
Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. [NKJV]

Take some time during the Sabbath and submit your friendships before the LORD. Ask Him to show you which ones bring you closer to Him, and which create distance in your relationship with God. And when the LORD reveals to you that a certain friendship must be ended, then end it knowing that you are being obedient to the glory of the Father.

Be encouraged, Jose

How to deal with the scoffer

Friends,

In every congregation - whether large or small - there will be found at least one person who finds a way to sow dissension and confusion. In an effort to be polite, we give them time and attention. But perhaps that isn't the best response.

Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.
Proverbs 22:10 [NKJV]

In this verse, "scoffer" is translated from the Hebrew word luwts, which can be understood to mean one who boasts, shows scorn, mocks, or derides. Those kinds of words and attitudes are almost always directed towards those in authority. They surely undermine the authority of leaders and confuse the thoughts of followers. Nothing good comes from them.

When we encounter the scoffers and scorners, the boasters and the mockers, we would do well to remove their influence from our lives. When we do, the peace that Christ promises will be freed from the contention, the strife and the reproach that those people bring. We will be free to enjoy the great calm and contentment that flows from being deeply connected to Jesus.

Be encouraged, Jose

Bring forth Unity

Friends,

There is one promise for all of our Lord's people. He has elevated each and every one of His followers to the same exalted position ... seated at His right hand.

...the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,
Ephesians 3:6 [NKJV]

Too often, we exalt some ministries above others. Or we give favor to those who possess worldly credentials. And even more, we too often place our flavor of Christianity above all others, arbitrarily separating ourselves from the believers in the church down the street or around the corner.

Have you done this?
Has your church group done this?

The time is past for separatism in the Body of Christ. We are one Body, and it is time that we treat each other truly as brothers and sisters.

Be encouraged, Jose

Misplaced focus

Friends,

Over the years, my wife and I have watched the news on television with decreasing regularity. She is down to maybe once per week, and I watch sometimes once per month. Negativity, violence and controversy dominate their words, their headlines and their imagery. We simply don't need that.

But at a deeper level, none of us needs to be reminded of what the world is going through. Economic times are tough, and will likely get tougher. Wars are raging, and our leaders attempt to appease those who wage them, which only incites and encourages greater bloodshed. Politicians exploit the jealousy and covetousness of man to stoke envy and strife among our citizens.

All this happens in the midst of our Lord's amazing provision ...

Isaiah 5:2
He dug it up and cleared out its stones,
And planted it with the choicest vine.
He built a tower in its midst,
And also made a winepress in it;
So He expected it to bring forth good grapes,
But it brought forth wild grapes.
NKJV

Let's face it. The LORD has shown Himself to be phenomenally generous and patient. He has given ... and He persists in giving. Not only has He given us all we truly need for physical life on this planet, He has provided us with eternal abundance! And yet, His people choose to focus on what the world has. And His people then begin to look like the world, instead of the Father. Pastors with fancy cars and reserved parking spaces. Evangelists traveling the globe like celebrities with private jets and entourages. Ministers selling books and trinkets.

Sisters and brothers, these are not good grapes. They are not evidence of bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. They are wild grapes, which He would be fully justified in vomiting out of His mouth.

It is time ... now ... to shake off the covetousness and jealousy that the world is propagating. Turn away from envy and the strife it begets. We have everything we need to live lives of obedience, compassion and courage. Let us not wait another moment to do so.

Be encouraged, Jose

To those who follow

Friends,

As born-again Christians, we have a remarkable story to tell. We should consider what our Lord has done. We are commanded to do so by God's word. He exhorts you and me to truly understand His provision and protection so that we can teach those who come after us that He is the One who can be trusted:

Psalm 48:12-14 [NKJV]

Walk about Zion,
   And go all around her.
   Count her towers;
Mark well her bulwarks;
    Consider her palaces;
    That you may tell it to the generation following.
For this is God,
    Our God forever and ever;
    He will be our guide
    Even to death.

These verses require us to live in the city; which is to say... among His people. And as we live out our lives in fellowship with true believers, we will clearly see that we are in a refuge, a place of peace and safety. Our brothers and sisters are our towers, our bulwarks, our walls and our watchmen.

Be encouraged, Jose

One with Christ

Friends,

Have you been struggling to find righteousness?
Are you driving yourself hard to be sanctified?

And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
John 17:19 [NKJV]

Do not ever forget that only Jesus can sanctify Himself. We do not have the ability, as earthen vessels, to sanctify ourselves. We respond to the Word of God. We seek to obey the Lord and to deny the flesh. But we cannot succeed perfectly.

But because Jesus has prepared Himself perfectly and completely, we are made ready to stand before Almighty God. Believers can make this claim because Christ has made us one with Him. And that makes all the difference.

Be encouraged, Jose

Seek fellowship

Friends,

Proverbs 18:1
A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment. -- [NKJV]

Too many of us have fallen prey to the lure of living life in isolation. We seek it out because, when we're alone, there's no one to examine our actions, question our motives, or to offer correction. Beyond a weekly service and -- maybe -- a weekly "small group", we go about our business; answering to no one but our own selves.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. [NKJV]

You see, this is not a new habit. And so the consequences should not be a surprise ...

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. [NKJV]

Sisters and brothers, when we isolate ourselves from daily fellowship & intimacy with the Body of Christ, we are following a path that leads away from God. Even if we have the best of intentions, we have no shot at living a life that is worthy of our calling.

The answer is to be in the Body every day ... to have as our most important relationships the ones that are bound by the Name and the Word of God. It will not be easy on our flesh. But we will expereicne a strengthening of the Spirit within us that will shine for all to see.

Be encouraged, Jose

Start with the heart

Friends,

Our words have great power. We know how our words can impact one another. A wrong word from a father can devastate a child. Words spoken in anger can cause enduring damage to a marriage. And yet, their power cannot go beyond the bounds of what is in our hearts.

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
-- Christ Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 15:18

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
-- James 3:5 [NKJV]

Are you searching for a way to control your tongue?
Then the place to start is the heart. Search for the word heart in the Bible. You will see that it appears over 950 times in scripture. It is central to our faith and to our relationship with Christ. It is also central to our relationships with one another.

Sisters and brothers, take prayer time today to lay your heart before the Lord. Beseech Him to stand guard over it, to protect it, and to heal it. He has promised to create in us a new heart, and as He does so, we will find our words will edify, encourage, and strengthen. They will become powerful forces for the advancement of Christ's Kingdom.

Be encouraged, Jose

Is kindness too much to ask?

Friends,

In his seminal letter to the new church, Paul is inspired by God to write a blunt admonition to his fellow believers:

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
Romans 12:10 [NKJV]

For today ...
For this weekend...
Let us be truly kind to one another. It is a simple thing to ask. And it will make real difference in this life, in our witness, and in the unity of the Body of Christ.

Be encouraged, Jose

Love God?Then love each other

Friends,

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:10 [NKJV]

The Holy Spirit gives us a clear and timeless directive in this one verse. For each one of us, now is the time to look in the mirror and ask ourselves if we are living up to this standard:
Are we practicing ... actually doing ... righteousness, or is it just lip service?
Do we love ... actively demonstrate loving behavior ... our brother?

Be purposed to be able to answer both questions in the affirmative. In doing so, we will make this life better. But better yet, we will please our Father.

Be encouraged, Jose