Thoughts on Christ and His Word

I need to stand firm as a God- pleaser , not a People- pleaser . Jesus warned that some people would not believe in him because they loved the praise of man more than of God. > How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? John 5:44 Fear of man, trying to win man’s approval, loving to be liked, is all a trap. Not only do these make us slaves of others (in a bad way), they nullify our usefulness for Christ. Paul said he could not even be called a servant of Christ if he was still trying to be a People- pleaser . Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Galatians 1:10 NLT Paul was so radical on this point that he wrote to the Corinthians: I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is...

Yesterday, I was reading the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians. Clement was one of the elders of the church at Rome and was seen by some as an apostle. He wrote to the Corinthians about a schism (division) in the church brought about by envious (power hungry) brothers. He pleads with those causing division to stop and submit to their elders. What struck me was this one sentence: "Let us then also pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and humility may be given to them, so that they may submit, not to us , but to the will of God." His appeal was not to submit to him or the elders because of they were great and very wise, but because their division was outside the will of God being fueled by envy, not truth. Some exalt loyalty to themselves to their own harm. Their is definitely a need to promote the virtue of loyalty. But when it is raised too high (or one of the highest virtues) we run the risk of manipulating people or at least be perceived tha...

I have been thinking lately about the importance of maintaining clear thoughts and healthy values. Without these we will eventually and unintentionally harm others. Think about the following situation: 10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 13 Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." 15 The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abr...