Self-Examination: Part I

 “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (I John 2:3; 3:24; 5:3)

Jesus constantly probed the conscience and examined the heart of those He encountered.  He still desires to help us see ourselves as seen by the Father. The appeal extended in the text is for us to examine ourselves as to whether we are “in the faith.” Since there is no issue more vital than determining whether we are in the faith, let’s begin.

Test number one: “Do you keep His commands?” (2:3).

It is not enough just to know the language, we must live the life. Four times in the opening verses of I John the author refers to a person who says one thing and does another: I John 1:6, 8, 10, and 2:4.

First a word of caution. You will never be able to do this by imitation. It must be by incarnation.

Sir Walter Scott warned us of the urgency of destroying the seed of a deed before it sprouts and flowers with these words:

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive!”

Obedience results from one of three stimuli:

We have to. A slave has no choice.

We need to. An employee obeys because he needs to. He may not really want to obey, but he does want the rewarding pay that results. We all need what results from obedience — God’s blessings.

We want to. We have matured in the faith when: “His commandments are not burdensome.” (I John 5: 3)

Assurance comes through obedience to His will. This is inner loving submission. The second “know” in the text is perfect tense meaning to know Him by experience. That experience results in obedience.

The word “keep” was used of a sentry walking his post. It means to watch over so as to guard the commands of Christ. It is in the present tense meaning this should be the habit of one’s life. This obedience is to be habitual action.

The person who “keeps his word” (verse 5) is one in whom God’s love is “perfected”. Again this is a verb in the perfect tense meaning to bring a thing to a desired end or goal. Proof that we are “in the faith” is that the love of God is in us. This love results in us keeping His commands. We are therefore obedient.

Pause now and evaluate how you can improve on your walk with Him.

Praying for Your Enemies

“Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Luke 12: 51 – 53)

What Jesus was teaching was His body of truth and that of the world are opposites. Some would be His followers and others not. Thus, the division.

As with people, so with nations. Some oppose the Bible body of truth and others embrace it. Some opponents become overt, even aggressive ones.

Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies: “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…. (Matthew 5: 44) That is applicable to individuals and nations.

How are believers to pray for them? When Christians are told to pray for those who oppose God’s standards most think that means we are to pray for God to send them to hell. Psalm 129 is called the Imprecatory Psalm. Precatory means prayer. The “im” preface means prayer against. It is a lesson on how to pray for those who oppose Bible principals.

First, pray that they will not be honored. What’s there to honor in opposing God’s will? Instead pray that they may “Be put to shame.” Vs 5

Second, pray they will not succeed. “Let them be as the grass on housetops.” Most of the houses of the time had mud roofs. Grass seed sown there grows, but soon dies. May their opposition to the gospel wither.

Third, pray they will not be blessed. “Neither let those who pass by them say, ‘The blessing of the Lord be upon you; We bless you in the name of the Lord!’” Don’t pray God will honor the efforts made against Him.

Every time a believer prays this portion of the Lord’s prayer, “thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven,” (Matthew 6: 9 – 1) that is equivalent to what is taught in Psalm 129.

Jesus gave us the model prayer contained in Matthew 6 and told us to include it as a part of our prayer life. Join me in praying it several times a day. Keep in mind the One to whom you are praying even more than what you are praying. This passage from Psalm 129 needs also to be prayed often and earnestly.

II Corinthians 4: 10 describes believers in the eyes of the world and of Jesus. The italics are mine inserted for clarity. “We are fools for Christ’s sake, in the eye’s of the world, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, from a worldly perspective, but you are strong! You are distinguished, in God’s sight, but we are dishonored!” by the world. Like the apostles we should consider it an honor to suffer for Jesus’ sake. No whining allowed.

The Old Testament Lord’s Prayer – Part Two

In the Old Testament era followers of Jehovah were taught a special prayer which gave cause for optimism. It is often called the equivalent of the Lord’s Prayer in the Old Testament. It is known as the Aaronic Benediction.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”

Doctors of Mayo Clinic did a study resulting in them making a four equal armed cross composed of factors leading to a better lifestyle and health. They are:

WORK, PLAY, LOVE, AND WORSHIP.

First, work. There is therapy in work well done. A sense of satisfaction relieves stress. The way in which work should be done is found in Colossians 3: 23: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

Put yourself into your work as though creating a work of art to be viewed by the Lord Himself. 

Second, play. Unplug, recreate, and enjoy amusement. Allow yourself to relax and laugh.

Stress, prolonged fatigue, negative emotions, and a pessimistic outlook flood the body with toxins. They release chemical toxins within your body. Don’t make your body a toxic waste dump by depriving it of play.

Health is no laughing matter, but it does help if you laugh.

The body is under a biochemical onslaught. Mounting research makes it clear that one’s attitude and emotional state are impressively vital to the preservation of health and recovery from illness.

Third, love.  Try giving yourself away. If you try loving and giving yourself away, there will be lots of offers.

A short version of Jesus’ summation of the law is simply, “You shall love…” He went on to conclude the statement saying, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37)

Don’t look upon God with suspicion. Release yourself to love Him.

Fourth, worship. A clarion call to worship and an unequaled example is found in the book of the Revelation. 

The only way we can stay alert to the reality of God in Christ ruling and saving is in the act of worship.

Worship is the primary means we have to orientate ourselves to God’s will. Therein and thereby we are informed and energized.

Worship is not to be  limited to one hour on Sunday, but should be a part of every day.

Make sure you daily include equally all four of these life points of the cross.

The Old Testament Lord’s Prayer – Part One

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” (Numbers 6: 24 – 26).

God gave us this prayer. Blessing is His idea. A simple response to the greeting, “Hello, how are you?” should well be, “Blessed.”

The praying of this prayer in faith shows expectation God will draw near and enfold you in His grace. To pray is to live expectant of blessings not of dread. The praying of this prayer is a way of saying, “Yes, Amen!” to God’s promises. 

“The Lord bless you and keep you” speaks of present blessings and future care by the Lord. He will “keep you.” 

He will “make His face to shine upon you.” Making His face to shine upon you refers to Him revealing His will.

“The Lord lift up His countenance upon you” is a term expressive of a smile.  May God find such pleasure in you as to smile and reward you with peace.

The prayer speaks of blessing, presence, and the smile of God. It is not man’s idea, it is God’s idea. It is what He wants for you.

In light of that, consider the two most common responses to the innocent greeting, “Hello, how are you?” Why in light of the provisions of this prayer do so many people respond “Tired,” or “So far so good,” as if expecting the “Burden Bear” to attack them at any moment.”

This question concerns the medical community as well as the faith community. Dr. Richard Clark Cabbot of the Mayo Clinic led a team that studied the issue of “How to help people overcome that tired feeling.”

Parenthetically, there are times when we are all legitimately tired. It is a wonderful condition if the fatigue is the result of energy and effort well spent.

However, the doctors of Mayo Clinic in their study were concerned with the chronically tired persons who have no physiological reason for always being tired. 

The Clinic was so impressed with the result of their study they had a logo designed using a cross with four equal arms each of which represented one of the four factors: 

WORK, PLAY, LOVE, AND WORSHIP.

Consider them as a daily antidote to having that “tired feeling.” It is a prescription from a highly respected medical source. The way in which it should be done is found in Colossians 3: 23: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.”

Here comes a part you got to like —– play.

Unplug, recreate, and enjoy amusement. Allow yourself to relax and laugh.

Stress, prolonged fatigue, negative emotions, and a pessimistic outlook flood the body with toxins. They release chemical toxins within your body. Don’t make your body a toxic waste dump by depriving it of play.

A short version of Jesus’ summation of the law is simply, “You shall love…” He went on to say, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37).

The only way we can stay alert to the reality of God in Christ ruling and saving is in the act of worship. It enables us to focus on the provision of this passage.

Heart of My Heart

Editor’s Note: This post was originally written in February 2021.

The organ of the heart is a marvel. This rugged four-chambered, four-valved pump which handles 5,000 gallons of blood a day, almost enough to fill a railroad tank car. It supplies the circulatory system through 12,000 miles of vessels, and in the course of the average lifetime beats two and one half billion times. There is an additional strategic function of the heart long unknown.

A British researcher at Southampton University and author, Dr. Alan Watkins, helpS our understanding. In his book “Mind-Body Medicine: a Clinician’s Guide to Psycho/neuro/immunology” he speaks of the heart as the body’s powerhouse which has a “hitherto unrecognized role in balancing the entire human system.” He states the heart produces 50 times more electrical energy than the brain and a thousand times more electro-magnetic energy. Being the strongest power source in the body, it coordinates all the other body systems, including the brain, commonly thought to be the dominant organ.

The blood it pumps through the body contains hemoglobin, a blood protein that is responsible for carrying oxygen around the body and delivering it to the different cells and tissues. An insufficient supply to the lungs makes breathing difficult. That is but one of my deficiencies.

At birth I had Methemoglobinemia. It is also called “blue baby syndrome.” It is a condition where a baby’s skin turns blue. This happens when there is not enough oxygen in the blood. Some babies are born with it (congenital) and some develop it early in life (acquired). Medicine was not as advanced then as now. I was described as having a hole in my heart. They gave me less than three months to live. Obviously I did. My childhood play was significantly limited. In adolescence I improved dramatically and began living a normal robust teenage and adult life. Unfortunately my heart has been declining recently in its efficiency. I have no reason to complain; it has served me well for nearly 90 years.

Three years ago I had a heart valve replaced. Complications resulted in some health challenges. One is necessitating a stint or stints being placed in the heart March 10, 2021. This should result in better blood flow and more oxygen supplied throughout the body causing all systems to work better. Hence, better breathing. These procedures are a miracle and that is what I am praying for.

The heart has long been thought of as the center of emotions, especially love. Prior to that, the liver was thought of in that regard. Imagine songs in which the liver replaces the heart in the title: “I Left My Liver in San Francisco,” “You’re On My Liver,” or lines like: “I love you with all my liver.” Enough.

The theme text of my life has been: 

“… whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” (Colossians 3:23) No room for goofing is allowed there.