 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. defined power as the ability to achieve purpose & the strength required to effect change. Power doesn't always look how we think it should. It's not necessarily obvious or forceful. Sometimes, it’s what goes unsaid that’s most powerful. Like when Jesus remained silent while being questioned & accused by authorities & crowds of people shouted: "Crucify him!"  and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (1 Peter 2:8) Why is Jesus 'a stone of stumbling' & 'a rock of offense'? He was not the king people were hoping for. As it turns out though, His gift of grace, is far better than many can even imagine! He is much greater & beyond all earthly kings & exactly who we need. Lord, please help us see through your eyes & feel with your heart while being doers of your word, amen.  This is a painting I just completed at my friend Suzanne's place to welcome in the new year. Happy New Year!
0 Comments
 The wheel in this photo came from my family's farm house from over 50 years ago in Ontario where I was born. 1 Corinthians 12:27 comes from Paul's letter to the Corinthian church about how Christians are to function & cooperate in harmony, like the billions of parts of a physical body. While the body's many parts do different jobs, they all have one unifying purpose: survive & sustain life. From this analogy, a question comes to my mind. It has a seemingly obvious answer, but its still worth raising: What is the overall, unifying purpose of 'the church'? A few of the previous verses in this passage of scripture, gives us important context & highlights even more of its beautiful truth! 24-26: "But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." Like the body, a wheel, shows us, in a simplified way, how all its parts are connected & how each part, although different, is very needed for the whole to function optimally. And so it is with 'the church', which is not just a building or denomination, but it is everyone who has & will believe in Jesus Christ as God, their Lord & Savior (see What is the Church?). Phew! That is amazing to think about, considering: "For the Scriptures say, "As surely as I live,' says the LORD, 'every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to God.'" (Romans 14:11, NLT). "For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9  This is another wheel art image I made, depicting how 'good works' (represented by the colorful diamonds) come with the Holy Spirit from salvation/belief that Christ is God (represented by the yellow center) as Holy Spirit expands throughout one's soul (the 'spokes' of the wheel), body (the outer part of wheel) & eventually beyond. In chapter 3 of Corinthians, Paul explains to the church members to remain humble, no matter one's function or purpose: "So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. (1 Corinthians 3:7) True Christ-like 'doings' (e.g. good works) are only possible by Him, either: 1). Through 'the body' because of sincere belief, as Holy Spirit-led obedience flows from that belief. And, 2). 'Good works' also happen as part of God's perfect will for the good of those who love him, to inspire belief in unbelievers & to bring back those who have gone astray. Therefore, God works through believers & unbelievers (see: https://www.bridges.church/does-god-ever-use-unbelievers-to-accomplish-his-will/). Lord Jesus I pray, as your 'field or building,' thank you for guiding us, the church, to be open & receive Holy Spirit in service of love - to you & our neighbors. Help us grow in humility, endurance, compassion & worthiness as your body & lead us to be quick to repentance when we are in error. In Jesus name, amen.
 Imagine life without covetousness. No desire for that which belongs to others would create a very different world than the one we live in. Especially for the economy, advertising & social media! But also for personal development. Besides being one of the 10 commandments, many Bible verses confirm the law: "covet-not". The Bible encourages us to be content with what God provides rather than worried or constantly per-occupied with gaining more. God wants the majority of our focus to be on Him; worshiping, sharing the gospel, praying etc... rather than on accumulating more money, things, skills & experiences. Two examples from scripture: The well known Psalm 23 says: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." or in other words "...I lack nothing" (Psalm 23:1 ESV / NIV). Another well known passage of the Bible, from 1 Corinthians, describes many qualities of love, which according to Jesus, summarizes the most important of the commandments - to love God & love our neighbor. Here are 3 versions of 1 Corinthians 13:4, interestingly pointing out that.... "Love doesn't want what it doesn't have." (The Message) "It does not envy..." (NIV) "It is not jealous..." (NASB)  Understanding that, as a Christian, I belong to the Lord, I see now that my past, self-focus on my own desires was a form of covetousness. I spent many years trying to stretch my capacity to achieve what I wanted. It certainly is not for lack of trying that I became unable to continue on as I was. As well as a career in a helping profession, I've wanted my own family, a husband & kids, as surely as I've wanted air to breathe. However, the way I went about this, in combination with God's will, has me living now in quite different arrangements! LOL, thanks be to God for leaving the ninety-nine to come get me! I don't know the future but I do know to continue seeking after & trusting what the Lord provides.  A photo of me with my friend Gaby's beautiful baby boy, Kameron in 2018. When I was around 17, my friend Crystal gave me a 'Love Letter From God' (by Arielle Ford). Back then, I thought that I was abiding by its message, but it turns out that 'belonging to the Lord' is a life-long, ever deepening commitment & most certainly is not for the faint of heart! "You must keep watching Me expecting the greatest of things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM. Keep listening and learning the things that I will tell you. Just wait. That’s all. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry. Don’t look around at the things others have or that I have given them. Don’t look at the things you think you want. Just keep looking up to Me or you will miss what I want to show you. And then, when you are ready, I will surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you have dreamed of." (Arielle Ford)  “This one will say, ‘I am the LORD’S’; And that one will call on the name of Jacob; And another will write on his hand, ‘Belonging to the LORD,’ And will name Israel’s name with honor. (Isaiah 44:5 NASB 1977). As a side note, in case you are wondering as I did, why is it that we are not to covet or be envious but God, who is love (1 John 4:8), is a 'jealous God' (Exodus 20:5)? It is explained well here on this post that when we belong to God & yet stray from Him, He has rightful, Godly jealousy.
|