Have you ever wondered if your life had any spiritual value to others? Have you ever felt ineffective, useless, like your Christian influence over anyone else was minimal if not nonexistent?
Peter says if we diligently pursue faith, virtue, knowledge, self- control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness; and love, we will not be unfruitful (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Friday, January 9, 2015
Gaining Spiritual Eye Sight
To kindness we need to add love (2 Peter 1:7). Without love, our kind act can be condescending.
It may seem counterintuitive, but being aware our own foibles, our faults, our weaknesses will help us appreciate and love others. Our self righteousness blinds us to who we really are, neither can we see others clearly. When we experience losses due to our shortcomings and we see how our behavior has harmed others, we are far more patient when we experience loss as a result of other peoples choices.
Jesus put it this way, "Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" ( Mathew 7:4).
To honestly love we must be able to accept the fact that we are all equally in need of a savior. We must recognize both healthy and poor behavior so that we can do the loving thing that fits the circumstance. Sometimes love is telling someone no. Sometimes love is saying yes. Open and honest communication will go a long way to understanding what is the most loving and kind decision.
It may seem counterintuitive, but being aware our own foibles, our faults, our weaknesses will help us appreciate and love others. Our self righteousness blinds us to who we really are, neither can we see others clearly. When we experience losses due to our shortcomings and we see how our behavior has harmed others, we are far more patient when we experience loss as a result of other peoples choices.
Jesus put it this way, "Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye" ( Mathew 7:4).
To honestly love we must be able to accept the fact that we are all equally in need of a savior. We must recognize both healthy and poor behavior so that we can do the loving thing that fits the circumstance. Sometimes love is telling someone no. Sometimes love is saying yes. Open and honest communication will go a long way to understanding what is the most loving and kind decision.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Blinded by Spirituality
Job’s friends are a prime example of virtue, knowledge, faith, self control without brotherly kindness.
One of Job’s Friends called Eliphaz told Job that he had seen a spirit that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. From this dream or vision Eliphaz concluded that Job had to have done something wrong for all the bad things to have happened in Job’s life, and he urges Job to repent of whatever evil Job has been secretly committing (4:12-21).
Job responds, “When I say my bed is a comfort to me , my couch shall ease my pain; then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me with visions, so that I rather hang myself than live. I loathe it!”
Eliphaz thought he had faith, virtue and knowledge, but if he did he was sorely lacking in brotherly kindness to someone who had just lost his entire family and his income.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
How My Faith is Made Ineffective
Let’s say I have faith - I believe God can do anything. I have virtue - I don’t steel, kill, or lie. I have knowledge of God’s word and his commandments. I have self control; I don’t over indulge in anything. And I am patient. I am willing to wait for things. I consider myself very godly. I have all the things going for me on Peters list thus far; faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, patience and godliness (2 Peter 1:4-5).
But…I am unkind. I tell other believers what I think is wrong in their lives. I obnoxiously share my faith. I make everyone dread what I will say or do next. In my own eyes I am righteous.
If you have ever dealt with anyone like that, you know the devastation and death it can bring. That is why we need to diligently add kindness (2 Peter 2:6). Without it, I make all other qualities void.
If you have ever dealt with anyone like that, you know the devastation and death it can bring. That is why we need to diligently add kindness (2 Peter 2:6). Without it, I make all other qualities void.
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