JACKS DAILY DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
(1st John 4:18) “Perfect love drives out fear”
According to psychiatric statistics, there are approximately 2,000 classified fears or phobias that exist and have been catalogued.
What’s interesting is that psychiatrists say we are born with only two innate ones… the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises.
That means that the other 1998 fears that plague humanity are learned.
This seems inconceivable I know… but I don’t argue with folks that are smarter than me.
But more importantly, if these fears are learned fears, then that means we can unlearn every other fear.
The majority of our lives are shaped, for better or worse, by a handful of experiences.
These defining experiences can plant a seed of confidence or a seed of uncertainty, a seed of hope or a seed of vulnerability, a seed of faith or a seed of fear.
John expresses the end goal of our relationship with God… “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear” (1st John 4:18)
The words “perfect love”, do not describe our love for God, but rather God’s unconditional, unearned, unfailing love for us.
(John 3:16) “for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that we might be saved”
(Ephesians 2:8) “for by grace we are saved thru faith and that not of our selves but it is the gift of God”
The goal of love is fearlessness!
As we grow in a love relationship with God, we unlearn the fears that paralyze us and neutralize us spiritually.
That is the essence of faith.
Faith is the process of unlearning our “irrational” fears.
The only God-ordained fear, is the fear of God.
And if we fear… as in love, honour, reverence, and respect God… we don’t have to fear anyone or anything else.
Unlearning our fears is really a process of learning to trust God more and more.
One of the greatest promises God has given to us in scripture is this…
(Hebrews 13:5-6 ) “He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
So we may boldly say… The Lord is my helper… I will not fear.
What can man to do me?”
In (2nd Timothy 1:7) Paul writes to the early church of his day saying… “for God has not given us spirit of fear…but of love, power and a sound mind”.
Its time to unlearn the fears that we have been indoctrinated with from the enemy of our soul and the world around us… and in turn cleave to the confidence and faith in God that drives out fear.
To overcome fear… through faith in God… consider the following principles.
Put your confidence in God instead of relying on your own strength.
Trust in God for His guidance.
(2nd Corinthians 3:4-5) tells us “Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
The Bible reassures believers that they are not alone in their fears.
For instance (Isaiah 41:10) states… “Do not fear for I am with you… do not be dismayed for I am your God… I will strengthen you and I will surely help you”
Biblical examples of Gods promise are found in the accounts of David and Goliath.
Scripture exemplifies how faith can conquer fear.
David’s confidence in God enabled him to face the giant with out fear, demonstrating that faith can also dispel anxiety and uncertainty!
Developing faith takes daily discipline, prayer, and a relationship with Christ that goes beyond a church service once a week.
Engaging in regular prayer and meditation… feeding on scriptures that reinforce the promises of God… can help you filter out fear and align it with God truth.
Developing that faith takes daily discipline, prayer, and a relationship with Christ.
Engaging in regular prayer meditation and the reading of Gods word can help filter out fear and align it with God’s truth.
By integrating these principles into your life… you can cultivate a deeper confidence and faith that drives out fear.
“Gods perfect love for you casts out all fear” (1st John 4:18)
Good Day
(Romans 3:17) “The way of peace they have not known”
Think about when Abraham and Lot had become prosperous, and their herds began competing for the grazing land.
There was strife between the herdsmen of Abraham and the herdsmen of Lot.
So what did Abraham do?
He gave Lot first choice of the land!
That sounds like an “inequitable solution”, but God made “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28) for Abraham, because of his desire for peace and his generosity to others. (Genesis 13:1-17.)
The same with Isaac in (Genesis 26:12-33) His neighbors kept stopping his waters sources and demanding he move else where, so Isaac would move down the road find another spot to live, dig another well and then his neighbors would come along and do the same thing.
This happened several times and for some time, but in each case Isaac practiced making peace.. and the bible eventually records that his neighbors finally came to him, admitted that they could see God in his life and they wanted to make peace with him.
(Genesis 26:30) records the following “Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they went away peacefully”.
The bible is filled with stories of this same turn around happening in the life of Gods people and each story from scripture dealt with “no small dissension” but serves as an example for you and I to consider today in the manner of walking in the way of peace.
Each story chronicled was a “crisis event” for the people of God.
One of the most interesting examples is found in the New Testament Church at the Jerusalem conference in Acts 15.
A “dissension rose up” between the leaders involved in the early church.
The dissension was over “the practice of circumcision”.
Some of the Jewish leaders in the early church felt that the early church needed to continue in this practice of circumcision.
Those that were Gentile leaders following Paul’s message of “freedom from the law in Christ”… felt that circumcision was nothing more than bondage.
It was threatening to “split the church”, with “no small dissention among them”.
Though the scripture says their was “no small dissension” and there was “much dispute”, they managed to come to a “peaceful” resolution.
Verse 22 says, “Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church” to announce the decision they reached.
It is interesting to note the process the council followed in resolving this conflict.
First, the problem was clearly stated… each side was presented in a public debate.
Second, the facts were presented by those who were acquainted with them not just here say or rumors.
Third, counsel was given by a person who was trusted for his
“objectivity and wisdom”.
Fourth, “unanimity” was sought in the decision.
Fifth, the attitude of “preserving the unity of the Spirit” remained utmost on every ones mind.
The council was more concerned about what God truly thought about the situation, than what mans opinion was!
They all wanted “the mind of Christ” in this situation and they all wanted the Spirits leading.
That is when “true peace” is found,
This same formula would be helpful in resolving conflicts today.
The way of peace is found in the mind of Christ.
So today I ask you, are you “like minded”?
Is it your way or “Christ’s way”?
What would Jesus do?
That needs to be the motto of each of us as we live out our lives as “Ambassadors of Heaven”.
It’s a way of life that is simple (not complex) but hard, (not easy).
Yet it is the way that works… that brings many wonderful benefits.
And it’s the only way to achieve real, lasting peace!
Good Day!
(Romans 3:17) “And the way of peace they have not known”;
In (Matthew 5:9) called “the “Beatitudes” Jesus said “blessed are the Peace Makers”.
And in (Romans 3:17) Paul speaks to the lack of that “beatitude”, when he is making his case that ‘natural man’ or (mankind) is a sinner and needs the redeeming and regenerating work of God in His or her life (Romans 3:11-18)
To walk in or live in “The way of peace”, we need to be a people that love and obey “the Word of God”, and submit or obey to His “law of love” (Psalm 119:165)
We also need to get “wisdom” at any or all cost (Proverbs 4:5-7)
Thirdly we need to walk in “maturity”; “spiritual maturity” is made evident or proven through being more careful about the words we say.
(Hebrews 6:1) “Therefore, let us leave the ‘elementary teachings’ or as Peter puts it in (1st Peter 2:2) “desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby... in regard to evil, be infants… but in your thinking be mature.
Today I want to talk about “having the mind of Christ”.
To walk in “the way of peace” is to seek for, desire to, reject the philosophies of the world and adopt “the Word of God” into our heart and life as being “the end all, to all”.
Jesus said “man shall not live by bread alone” (Luke 4:4).
(Colossians 3:16) says “let the Word Of Christ dwell in you richly”.
We need to seek the mind of Christ.
(Philippians 2:5-8) talks about having the mind of Christ!
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking on the form of a servant…
Being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
What was the mind of Christ?
How about humility, servant hood, humbleness and obedience?
Can we do or be any less?
Consider Paul’s “human relations” advice in (Philippians 2:3-5):
“Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each “esteem others” better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
To “esteem others” means to use a “thorough analysis” to see the value of other people’s strengths and to recognize their challenges and needs.
I’ve read the following thoughts by many esteemed writers and counselors of the past who all agree… “we should seek first to understand others, then to be understood”.
In verse 5 Paul explains that we each need the mind of Christ, to copy to imitate His willingness to sacrifice and to serve humbly.
This takes the work of the Holy Spirit and being spiritually minded, as Paul put it in (Romans 8:6)
Ultimately, every conflict can have a solution that will benefit all parties for eternity.
We can learn from those who have met the challenge of reaching workable solutions in conflict
After all that was the mind of Christ... "Peace I give unto you... Not as the world gives, give I unto you"
Lets look at that together tomorrow…
Good Day!
Lets look at that together tomorrow…
Good Day!
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
As touched upon yesterday, “The way of peace”, requires walking in “The way of Maturity”.
As we have looked at over the last couple days spiritual maturity is gauged by the following attitudes or spiritual principles:
#1) Spiritual Maturity receives the truth with out arguing it or manipulating it.
#2) Spiritual Maturity stops pointing fingers at every body else’s failures and mistakes.
#3) Spiritual Maturity knows when to and when not to speak.
#4) Spiritually mature believers are less dependent on themselves and increasingly dependent on Christ… the Word… and the Holy Spirit.
Mature Christians do not make much of themselves and their good works and progress… they make much of Jesus.
They believe and practice what Jesus said: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit”.
Even while mature Christians are growing in faith and holiness, they do not grow more dependent on themselves, because they know their growth comes through abiding in Christ - dependency on Christ alone - and obedience to His command to “love God and love others”.
Mature Christians don't take credit for themselves… they humbly follow Jesus.
#5) Spiritually Mature Christians make every effort to build themselves up in faith.
The good news is "Come close to God, and God will come close to you." (James 4:8)
As we take steps closer to God, we experience His goodness, grace and glory in our lives in new ways.
The Apostle Peter tells us: "Make every effort to add to your faith goodness… and to goodness, knowledge… and to knowledge, self-control… and to self-control, perseverance… and to perseverance, godliness… and to godliness, mutual affection… and to mutual affection, love.
For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.
For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2nd Peter 1:5-11)
We need to understand these biblical principles so we can help others learn to calm their anger and put away their generations-long cycle of revenge.
If we learn these lessons of love, controlling our tempers and fighting the desire for revenge, we will be able to practice and later to teach others these essential components of, “The way of peace”.
Good day!
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
As touched upon yesterday, “The way of peace”, requires walking in “The way of Maturity”.
Spiritual maturity is something learned, developed, and grown into or acquired through disciplining our selves to obedience to the Word of God.
Submission to the Word of God opens up heavens store house of maturity
Following are several points that indicate our progress in the process of developing spiritual maturity.
#1) Spiritual maturity receives the truth of the Word and applies it with out trying to twist it or manipulate it to fit into our human wisdom or understanding.
A faithful follower of Christ doesn't add to or take away from the Word of God.
In the words of Greg Laurie, "you are simply God's paperboy", delivering the newspaper that declares the message about Christ and His ways.
#2) Mature Christians stop pointing out everyone else’s sins short comings and mistakes and are quick to confess and admit to their own.
DL Moody said, "I've had more trouble with myself than any other man I've ever met".
Jesus taught us in (Matthew 7:1-5) "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. You will be treated as you treat others.
The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
Why do you worry about a speck in your brothers eye when you have a log in your own?
How can you think of saying to your friend or brother, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye’, when you can't see past the log in your own eye?
O Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your brother or friend's eye."
A mature Christian comes to this place where they see their own glaring sins failures and short comings… and continually focus on repenting in their own lives, and stop trying to be the watchdogs of the world.
#3) Mature Christians watch their words, and know when not to speak.
“Immature” believers can't help but speak their “opinions” on everything and everyone around them.
They act often times as if they are the world's spiritual police and make sure every one knows their opinion.
Now there is nothing wrong about having an opinion on any given subject… but a spiritually mature person asks himself or herself... “Is my opinion based on fact, on truth, or on here say”.
(James 3:2) "Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way."
This passage is extremely sobering - first, because James calls it as it is - we all make way more mistakes than we care to admit.
Secondly, spiritual maturity comes through being more careful about the words we speak.
(Ephesians 4:29 and 4:2-3) take us further: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Be completely humble and gentle… be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."
If we are going to be spiritually mature in our faith, we must live in these verses.
Spiritual maturity passes everything we do in our Christian life through these life style attitudes outlined from scripture.
Walking in humility, gentleness, and patience with and for others, keeping a careful guard over our mouth and the words we speak.
Lets talk more about this tomorrow…
Good Day!
(Romans 3:17) “The way of peace they have not known.”
In discussing “The Way of Peace”, we have looked at “the Way of Love” and “the Way of Wisdom”, today I want to look at the Way of Maturity”.
“The Way of Maturity” is seen in spiritual growth.
And as a believer in Christ we must be a people that “seeks to mature” in our faith, and our relationship together as believers in Christ.
That means that we must “grow up” or “mature” in our relationship with God as well as with others.
(1st Peter 2:2) “As newborn babes, we need to desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”.
(1st Corinthians 3:1-3) “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ”
“For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men”?
Paul gave us a prescription for maturity in (1st Corinthians 13) in what is called “The Love Chapter”.
All of the elements of love described in (Corinthians 13:4-7) are worthy of intense study by those whom want to know “The Way of Peace”.
But I think (1st Corinthians 13:5) reveals the essence of true spiritual maturity… “Love does not behave gracelessly… it does not insist on its rights… it never flies into a temper… it does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received.”
So what is meant by “love never flies into a temper” or as the New King James Version says “love is not provoked”?
“The real meaning of this is that Christian love never becomes “exasperated” with other people.
Exasperation is always a sign of defeat.
When we lose our tempers, we lose everything.
Noble Prize recipient Rudyard Kipling wrote… “it is the test of a man… if he can keep his head when everyone else was losing theirs and giving way to blaming others… and… if when hated he did not give way to hating.”
The man who is “master of his temper can be master of anything.”
Paul also writes “Love does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received”.
From the original Greek language, the word translated for “store up”… is the same word used for “accounting”.
It is the word used for “entering an item in a ledger”, so that it will not be forgotten.
And unfortunately, that is precisely where so many people fail.
They hold onto offense instead of forgetting it and letting it go.
One of the great arts in life is to “learn to forget”!
Many people nurse their wrath to keep it warm… they brood over offence and wrongs committed against them until it is impossible to forget them.
Spiritual maturity has learned the great lesson of “forgiving and forgetting.”
When we learn to walk in “the way of spiritual maturity” we are on the brink of becoming “peacemakers”.
There are many attitudes and actions that that go into “maturing in Christ”,
There are 5 keys or milestones that can help you examine your progress or growth that I use to assess or examine my own level of maturity and spiritual growth.
I’d like to look at them with you over the next couple of days so that you to can examine or assess your own growth and level of maturity
Lets look at them tomorrow.
Until then lets pray together asking the Father to open up our hearts of understanding and give us spiritual eyes to examine our self, see the truth, and walk in it.
Good day!
(James 4:1), ““Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your “desires for pleasure” that war in your members?”
When analyzing or studying how to walk in “The Way of Peace”…there are several things that we must do, in order to see the reality of it become an attribute that automatically flows out… or emanates from the believers life.
Yesterday we talked about being obedient to “the way of love”.
If you truly want to walk in peace, then you have to walk in love.
Not just any love, but radical selfless love, “Gods Agape love”, even to the point of being willing to give up your own life.
The second step to walking in “the way of peace”… is to desire, long for, and to seek after wisdom!
(Proverbs 4:5-7) puts it this way.
“Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom… though it cost all you have.
If we are going to walk in the way of peace, we need to grow in Godly wisdom.
Now let me be clear so that you understand the context of what James is referring to using the word wisdom.
He is not talking about education.
As (James 4:1) says… “What causes conflicts and quarrels among you?
Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?
You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it.
You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
Just before asking the question where do wars, strife, animosity, anger, come from”?
James gave some instruction about living in the “the way of peace”.
(James 3:17-18) “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”
James used eight Greek words here to describe “wisdom that comes from above”… and they each counteract the type of worldly wisdom that is “full of bitter envy and self-seeking” that leads to confusion, fights and war. (James 3:14)
The word “peaceable”, the second word in the list, basically means “right relationships” or unity.
So then, what James is saying is, “We are all trying to reap the good harvest promised by God which a good life brings”.
But the seeds which bring the rich harvest, will never flourish in any atmosphere, other than in that of unity or “right relationships between man and man”.
And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward of sowing them, are those whose life work it is to produce such right relationships.
That is to say, nothing good can ever grow in an atmosphere where men are at variance with one another.
In a group where there is bitterness and strife, the soil is barren and seeds of peace can never grow.
Thus the need for forgiveness, mercy, forbearance, compassion… which are all attributes of love.
These are “relational seeds” that will produce a harvest of peace.
So then it is crucial that we grow in Gods love and His wisdom!
(James 3:17) encourages His followers in the early church “to seek wisdom”, not just any wisdom… but the wisdom that comes from above.
James goes on saying that the truly wise and understanding person, is one whose faith in God leads to selfless good works.
Wise people live in humility… setting themselves aside to serve others.
This is totally opposite from the worlds concept which says man is responsible to serve him - or herself first.
The result is self centeredness that brings about disorder and conflict instead of the peace, gentleness, and mercy that follows from living by heaven's wisdom.
The opposite of the worlds wisdom… is found in the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need and who continues to give His children every good gift (James 1:17), and to fulfill every desire of their heart for eternity with Him in Heaven.
As a result, believers striving to walk in heavenly wisdom willingly sacrifice opportunities for "more and more" ie money, pleasure, and power.
Those who truly want to follow after God know that they need to make themselves available, “to serve” the needs of others.
The result of submission to God is very different than selfish, worldly ambition.
Godly wisdom is refined and focused on mainly one thing… and that is being obedient to whatever God has called us to do.
What is it that God called us to do?
(Matthew 5:9) it is to be “peacemakers”.
Godly wisdom is “peaceable” or “peace-loving”, putting a high value on easing conflict.
His wisdom is gentle and considerate, not ready to fight, but ready to serve.
This kind of wisdom is reasonable or submissive… ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way.
True wisdom is full of mercy it is impartial, not showing favoritism or self willfulness.
It is sincere, with no need to manipulate others to get what it wants.
It's amazing how much easier and more pleasant life becomes when a true follower of Christ “gives up” the drive, the all-consuming passion, the selfish need of getting what he or she wants at any cost.
Without that agenda, there's less and less need for conflict.
And yet, the only way to give up that agenda… is to believe that our good God is providing all we need in every moment.
That is Godly wisdom… that is the way of peace!
Good Day!
James used eight Greek words here to describe “wisdom that comes from above”… and they each counteract the type of worldly wisdom that is “full of bitter envy and self-seeking” that leads to confusion, fights and war. (James 3:14)
The word “peaceable”, the second word in the list, basically means “right relationships” or unity.
So then, what James is saying is, “We are all trying to reap the good harvest promised by God which a good life brings”.
But the seeds which bring the rich harvest, will never flourish in any atmosphere, other than in that of unity or “right relationships between man and man”.
And the only people who can sow these seeds and reap the reward of sowing them, are those whose life work it is to produce such right relationships.
That is to say, nothing good can ever grow in an atmosphere where men are at variance with one another.
In a group where there is bitterness and strife, the soil is barren and seeds of peace can never grow.
Thus the need for forgiveness, mercy, forbearance, compassion… which are all attributes of love.
These are “relational seeds” that will produce a harvest of peace.
So then it is crucial that we grow in Gods love and His wisdom!
(James 3:17) encourages His followers in the early church “to seek wisdom”, not just any wisdom… but the wisdom that comes from above.
James goes on saying that the truly wise and understanding person, is one whose faith in God leads to selfless good works.
Wise people live in humility… setting themselves aside to serve others.
This is totally opposite from the worlds concept which says man is responsible to serve him - or herself first.
The result is self centeredness that brings about disorder and conflict instead of the peace, gentleness, and mercy that follows from living by heaven's wisdom.
The opposite of the worlds wisdom… is found in the wisdom of those who trust God to provide all they need and who continues to give His children every good gift (James 1:17), and to fulfill every desire of their heart for eternity with Him in Heaven.
As a result, believers striving to walk in heavenly wisdom willingly sacrifice opportunities for "more and more" ie money, pleasure, and power.
Those who truly want to follow after God know that they need to make themselves available, “to serve” the needs of others.
The result of submission to God is very different than selfish, worldly ambition.
Godly wisdom is refined and focused on mainly one thing… and that is being obedient to whatever God has called us to do.
What is it that God called us to do?
(Matthew 5:9) it is to be “peacemakers”.
Godly wisdom is “peaceable” or “peace-loving”, putting a high value on easing conflict.
His wisdom is gentle and considerate, not ready to fight, but ready to serve.
This kind of wisdom is reasonable or submissive… ready to see things from another point of view and do it someone else's way.
True wisdom is full of mercy it is impartial, not showing favoritism or self willfulness.
It is sincere, with no need to manipulate others to get what it wants.
It's amazing how much easier and more pleasant life becomes when a true follower of Christ “gives up” the drive, the all-consuming passion, the selfish need of getting what he or she wants at any cost.
Without that agenda, there's less and less need for conflict.
And yet, the only way to give up that agenda… is to believe that our good God is providing all we need in every moment.
That is Godly wisdom… that is the way of peace!
Good Day!