GRACE OR WORKS

GRACE OR WORKS?

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This is another of my favorite portions of scripture. It makes you think. It stretches your mind. It begins with grace and ends with works! Maybe that’s the way it should be!

In the English New Testament grace is always a translation of (charis), a word that occurs in the Greek text over 170 times and in both Biblical and secular Greek it is used with far more meanings than can be represented by any one term in English. But the word has abundant use in secular Greek in the sense of unmerited favor, and Paul seized on this meaning of the word to express a fundamental characteristic of Christianity.

n  International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.

For the Apostle Paul, GRACE was defined by experience.

Acts 9:1-5

9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].  AMPLIFIED

Paul’s spiritual and emotional condition remained vile and violent. He travelled with evil authority; letters from the high priest. He was obsessed with a wicked intent, to bring believers into captivity. SUDDENLY, and without any initiation of goodness on his part, the resurrected and glorified Jesus met Paul and CHANGED him forever. That is grace!

But our original portion ends with the words… a peculiar people, zealous of good works. What about that? How do we reconcile the seemingly opposite aspects of grace and works? Well, one is the prod and the other is the product!

Put on your thinking cap because Adam Clarke explains it this way.

Jesus gave his life for the world, and thus has purchased men unto himself; and, having purchased the slaves from their thralldom, he is represented as stripping them of their sordid vestments, cleansing and purifying them unto himself that they may become his own servants, and bringing them out of their dishonorable and oppressive servitude, in which they had no proper motive to diligence and could have no affection for the despot under whose authority they were employed. Thus redeemed, they now become his willing servants, and are zealous of good works-affectionately attached to that noble employment which is assigned to them by that Master whom it is an inexpressible honour to serve.

n  Adam Clarke's Commentary

More simply put – Jesus purchased us away from a cruel and abusive master, cleaned us up, healed our wounds of abuse and gave us honorable assignments. What servant would not joyfully engage in labor for such a kind Master as Jesus? So, beginning with GRACE we engage in WORKS.

Dear Lord, thank you for purchasing me away from a cruel task master and giving me duties that are a joy to perform! AMEN

HE FEELS IT TOO

HE FEELS IT TOO!

"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them: and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old."-- Isa_63:9.

He knows the misery and pain of illness!

Beyond the physical pain of the illness itself, there is the fact that we must temporarily assign our duties to others or else leave them undone. There is the sleepless nights and the inactivity and loneliness of the long days while our bodies recover. We become needy and fear that we are a burden to others. We become concerned that important things will not fare well without our personal attention. We feel helpless and weak. This is illness and we have all felt it from time to time.

He knows what it is like to be poor!

The pain of unemployment or “underemployment” has brought some to difficult circumstances. He knows what it is like to have nowhere to lay His head. He knows what it is like to draw coins from the fishes’ mouth, to scrape the bottom of the barrel for meal and to drain the cruse of oil of its last drop. He knows when the rent is due and the faces of our children show the pinch of deprivation. He feels it too!

He knows the pain of unfriendly friends!

He knows what it is like to see a multitude of followers dwindle to a handful. He has asked “Will ye also go away?” He knows what it is like to stand upon principles and lose companions because of it – or simply to have those leave your company who expected a product you were not manufacturing. He knows what it is like to be “unfriended.”

He knows the struggle of temptation!

He has felt the pang of hunger and desire and declared that man shall not live by bread alone. He was in all points tempted like we are – yet without sin.

Dear Jesus, I can face the afflictions of this day at least knowing that you know. Thank you for being my companion in trials and the abundant provision of my need. Come quickly to help when we need you. AMEN

SUSTAINABLE MISSIONARY ENDEAVOR

SUSTAINABLE MISSIONARY ENDEAVOR!

Matt 28:18 - 20

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Matt 10:7-11

7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,

10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.

           There is a picture in my mind, a snapshot from an old denominational tabloid, of missionaries standing on a dock before a huge ship. These were black and white people in a black and white world; dressed for Sunday school in suits and ties and not in Hawaiian shirts and flip flops. This trip was not a vacation; it was the beginning of a new life. Their belongings were stuffed into a few trunks. “Neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; because all that they needed would be provided little by little. They would be captured by the Japanese and placed in a prison camp because the world was at war. Why is this snapshot so different from missions today?

           I have been thinking about what I call “sustainable” missionary endeavor. I am convinced that mission work is very PERSONAL and therefore moves at a slower pace than the current crowd-gatherers and feeders-of-thousands. Feeding thousands is not wrong but it is unsustainable. Jesus fed the 5,000 because they were hungry. Some of these same people later joined in the shout to crucify him. Jesus was not a mega-event promoter. Jesus was a missionary and it required his life.

           The plan is not only personal but it is PURPOSEFUL. “As you go, while you are going, preach!” If we want a formula then Jesus gives us one in Matthew 28. We are to GO! Mission is always a going! We are to reach all nations because mission work is one culture reaching another. We are to make disciples and to gather them into indigenous churches. We are to train leaders to become national pastors and then repeat the process again and again. In doing this we build something that will last beyond the missionary himself. This is sustainable mission work.

           “Mission trips”, as they have come to be called, are not wrong either but it is not sustainable missions. Many valid short term efforts give relief but do not disciple; do not establish churches. Sustainable mission work takes time; requires the investment of a life. In fact I don’t even like the term “career missionary” for it places a time limit on the effort. It is also redundant! The missionaries standing on that dock never intended to return.

Dear Jesus, bless the life-long missionaries today. Honor the lives they have given with sustainable missionary endeavor. AMEN

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP!

Mal 3:16

16 Then they that feared the Lord  spake often one to another: and the Lord  hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord , and that thought upon his name.

           Our verse today makes it clear that these are people that fear the Lord. We share a common past of sin, a common yet personal deliverance, and a common destiny. We enjoy a common hope and a common companion in the Holy Spirit. We may suffer individually but we never suffer alone.

           It is important that believers gather together often! Be careful not to allow the troubles of this world choke the very thing that will soothe it! Don’t isolate yourself from good and wholesome Christian fellowship.

           God personally and intentionally hears our conversations during fellowship. The word “hearkened” is the Hebrew word qashab and literally means “to prick up the ears.” God leans low and pricks up His ears to hear the mutual encouragement of His children. He then writes it in a book so that He can rehears it from time to time. Our fellowship is important to Him.

Ps 66:16

16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

Dear Lord, thank you for my brothers and sisters in Christ. How I miss them when we are far apart. How lonely I feel without them and how blessed I am when I am gathered with them. Let me be an encourager today. AMEN

HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT

HOW TO EAT AN ELEPHANT!

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

           Most of us are familiar with the well worn question: “How do you eat an elephant?” We also have learned the answer: “You eat it bite at a time!” Most problems present themselves as huge and overwhelming. We feel we have been asked to eat an elephant. However, upon further investigation, we see that the task is not impossible if we simply focus on eating this elephant “bite at a time” instead of swallowing it whole.

           Erwin W. Lutzer said:  Jesus was not distracted with trivia. He was never in a hurry, for he knew his Father would not give a task without the time to do it. Christ was not driven by crises, feeling he must heal everyone in Israel. He could say, "It is finished,” even when many people were still bound by demons and twisted by disease. What mattered ultimately was not the number of people healed or fed, but whether the Father's will was being done. His clearly defined goals simplified his decisions.

           Most of our panic is produced because we fail to see our resources in God. We know that we are weak and we fail to consider that He is strong. We know that we are bankrupt and we fail to consider that He is rich. Our purposes seem unclear but He is ever in control.

           Elisha had become very unpopular and the king sent an army which surrounded him in the night. In the morning his servant was thrown into a panic because he could not see God’s resources all around him. Elisha prayed that God would reveal himself clearly. Panic faded and confidence was renewed!

2 Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord  opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Dear Lord, open my eyes today that I might see my resources in you. Take away the panic from my spirit and restore my confidence. AMEN