“We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.”

1 Timothy 1:8-11

“A society of laws is a high vision for a nation or secular society, but too low a goal for a Christian community.”  This quote came from the “Talking Points” that were provided to Daily Bible Blast writers in support of the current sermon series (Sermon on the Mount).  Our experience tells us that we need laws to maintain an orderly society.  We need boundaries to live well together.  But the second half of the quote is what really got my attention.  Jesus addressed the issue of “too low a goal for a Christian community” in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7).  He talked about things like anger, and language, and lust.  He makes it clear to his followers that the obedience He wants is from the heart!

If only it were easy to live in obedience to God’s law and in relationship with one another!  We struggle, but we have some good company.  Look at what Paul says in Romans 7: 21-25: 

^“21 So I find this law at work:  Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature^[a] a slave to the law of sin.”

Thanks be to God for the gift of the law that ultimately points us to our Savior.  Even though we will inevitably fall short of the obedience that God desires, we can join with Paul in thanking Him for the gift of His Son, Jesus, who fulfilled the law for us and the Holy Spirit who helps us in our walk of faith!

Fruit Insptector

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,provoking and envying each other. -Galatians 5:22-26

My Father-In-Law used to own an orange grove. This was over 40 years ago, but he has shared stories of how he, and a crew of people, would have to go out into the grove and inspect the fruit. The grove was in Florida, so one of the things they had to be aware of was the temperature. If it got too cold, they would light tires on fire throughout the grove which would raise the temperature and keep the fruit safe.

We are called to be fruit inspectors too. We are to inspect the fruit in our own lives and make sure we are keeping with the Spirit. Our passage today says, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." How can we know we are keeping in step with the Spirit?

Well, we need to inspect our fruit. Is the fruit we produce in our lives consistent with the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says,

 "22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." 

If we can see the fruit of the Spirit at work in our lives then we know we are keeping in step with the Spirit, if not then we know we have some work to do.  One great way to make sure you are on a good path is to allow others to be fruit inspectors in your life.  They will see things that you may overlook.  

It is always nice to have safe accountability, someone who knows us and loves us and wants the best for us and others around us.  We need someone we can trust to inspect the fruit we are producing, because as you know, one rotten apple can ruin the whole bunch.

The Power of THE Unbalanced Force

Matthew 6:13

Matthew 6

 Newton's first Law of Motion reads like this:

 “An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.”

 According to teachertech.rice.edu, “This means that there is a natural tendency of objects to keep on doing what they're doing. All objects resist changes in their state of motion. In the absence of an unbalanced force, an object in motion will maintain this state of motion.”         

 Newton’s three Laws of Motion are the foundation of classical physics. I hated physics! It just didn’t make any sense to me. Apparently though, the main goal of physics is to understand how the universe behaves. Now that interests me, because we as humans are a part of the universe.

If you apply Newton’s first Law of Motion to people it might read like this:

Every person has their own beliefs, attitudes and habits which will remain the

same unless acted on by an unbalanced force. The result is that our human nature resists change.

Like Newton’s physical laws, there are spiritual laws at work in our world, and in our hearts.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7:21-25 NIV

Because of this battle with us, it is critical for us to pray in the way that Jesus taught his followers including, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Or from the Good News Translation: “Do not bring us to hard testing, but keep us safe from the Evil One.”

In other words, “Lord, please be that unbalanced force that redirects my life; that engages me where I am at; that leads me through trials and temptations; that delivers me from evil; that protects me from myself and from the evil of the world; that changes me into the person you created me to be.”

 But, if you pray this prayer, be ready for THE unbalanced force.

Genesis 3:1-11

We all know the story of Adam and Eve with the serpent. It’s difficult to imagine how Eve could possibly have found credibility in a slithering snake.  The Lord had offered them the most beautiful gift they could ever receive, but they didn't know what they didn't know.

God is our ultimate source of life and fulfillment. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s command, they demonstrated a lack of trust that brought separation from God and therefore, death.

Verse 4-5: “You will surely not die,” the serpent said to the woman.” 

         For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Though the couple did not physically die, they lost the blessing of paradise, recognized their nakedness in shame, and ultimately hid from the Source of Life, who sustained them. This is the spiritual death that sin brings.

Verses 9-10: Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord

God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid

          from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

Though Adam and Eve disobeyed and mistrusted the Lord, He wasn't content to let them be lost to Him forever. He sought them out, calling Adam’s name. “Where are you?” God knew, of course. But Adam and his wife were being held accountable. How had it come to this? Where did they stand with the Lord? What would happen next?

We too, must ask the question. Where do we stand in the eyes of The Great I AM?

In the book of John, Jesus reminds us:

John 6:35  I AM the bread of life…    
John 8:12  I AM the light of the world… 
John 10:7  I AM the gate for the sheep…   
John 10:11 I AM the good shepherd…  
John 11:25 I AM the resurrection and the life…      
John 14:6   I AM the way and the truth and the life...
John 15:5   I AM the vine; you are the branches...                                                                                                                                                                        

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has made a way for our relationship with Him to be reconciled and restored. Are you going to work on that? I AM!

Read/Listen to Genesis 3:1-11

Cornelius and other good people

“At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius ... He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” Acts 10:1-2

(To read today's Scripture, Acts 10:1-8, click here.)

What a great guy, Cornelius!  Generous, God-fearing, an accomplished leader, great family. If we could choose our next door neighbor, he would be the one!  While we were at it, we might fill out our happy cul-de-sac with Job (“blameless and upright”) and Ahimaaz (“a good man”), and even persuade Joseph (“a good and upright man”) to retire here from Arimathea.

And in doing so, we would have socially engineered “Exhibit A” in a classical debate over human nature, for some hold the opinion that people are basically good, while others maintain we are all inherently evil. And both sides would point to these men to make their case!

For if we compare people to other people, it naturally follows that some indeed rise to the level of “good” and others sink in comparison to “evil” status, like Nabal, “surly and mean ... wicked and foolish.” And we have to chuckle at the caveated description of Hananiah, who “feared God ... more than most people do.” (“Hey!”)

But God’s standard for goodness is infinitely higher than ours. It is not relativistic at all, rather it is one of perfection, as the words of the prophet Habukkuk still resound, “[God’s] eyes are too pure to look on evil; [he] cannot tolerate wrong.” And who among us has never done wrong? No one, says Isaiah: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags ...”

Yes, there is a gap between man’s standard and God’s. And forever speaking truth into each situation, Jesus exposed that chasm: “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Matthew 12:34-36).” And to the rich man who fell on his knees before him, Jesus pointedly inquired: “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God alone (Mark 10:19).” Simply put, our "good by comparison" falls far short in the presence of God.

All people, no matter how highly we think of them, need a Savior who is good by God’s terms. Our new neighbor Job not only knew such need, he embraced it: “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. (Job 19:25)”

Still not convinced? Go next door and ask the Corneliuses. Upon hearing the gospel, these good people put their faith in Christ. And they’re still celebrating.

A Trustworthy Saying - Titus 3:1-8

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good," (Titus 3:1)

What is good?  Who is good?  Where is good? If I were someone who sat around contemplating my naval, I could take this question to the limit.  Dictionary.com defines good as morally excellent, virtuous, of high quality, well-behaved; and the list goes on.

Quite a few years ago I was working with a man who considered himself to be good.  He told me on a number of occasion he thought he would be going to Heaven when he died because he was good.  I would ask him if he ever went to church and he would respond with, "No, but I am a good person, I don't hurt others, I don't steal or cheat.  Wouldn't you say I am a good person?"

"Yes, I would," was my response to him, "You are a good person."  I think of my co-worker often, and wonder if he ever really got it.  I was so new to the Christian faith that I understood what he was asking me and I knew he wanted me to confirm his salvation, but unfortunately I was still struggling with my own and had no clue how to help him.  Now I pray for him and will have to wait to see if we meet in Heaven.

So, back to the question, "What is good?" If I were asked now I could tell him with confidence that no one is good, no one is good enough to get to Heaven by what they have done.  It is only by what Jesus has done that I will be invited into eternal life.

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (Titus 3:4-5)

Read the Titus 3:1-8 text here.  Listen to the text here.