The Measure Of Character

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not the publicans the same? But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matthew 5:46,44

The following is edited from some counsel I read recently:

“One of the most important things to know about someone, if not the most, is how they handle people who get on their bad side. It’s just a clear, concise, extremely reliable measure of character. Do they turn on people lightly, arbitrarily, or only on matters of substance and only when they are presented with no other choice? Do they stoop to silent treatments and other emotional war crimes, or are they forthright and civil in choosing to keep their distance? Do they close themselves off permanently once crossed, or are they open to forgiveness based on the relative severity of the harm done and/or on the sincerity of efforts to make amends?”

“Let all your things be done with charity.” 1 Corinthians 16:14

“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.” 1 Corinthians 14:20

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

As we study the Bible, seeking the mind of Christ and the understanding afforded by God’s Word, it is quite evident that faith is all about rising to the occasion of overcoming the host of life’s challenges. One of the biggest of these is human relationships.

Rather than go on the offensive or withdraw into our shell, we need to seek the grace of God to minister to and learn from our encounters. Rather than accumulate a stash of unresolved differences, we need to seek the wisdom from above for the needed maturity to grow bigger than our problems.

“If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how will thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5

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The Old Paths

I like the old paths, when Moms were at home. Dads were at work. Brothers went into the army. And sisters got married before having children! Crime did not pay. Hard work did. And people knew the difference.

Moms could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave. Husbands were loving; Wives were supportive; And children were polite. Women wore the jewelry; and Men wore the pants. Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; and children looked decent.

People loved the truth, and hated a lie; they came to church to get in, not to get out! Hymns sounded Godly; sermons sounded helpful; rejoicing sounded normal; and crying sounded sincere.

Cursing was wicked; drinking was evil; and divorce was unthinkable.

The flag was honored; America was beautiful; and God was welcome! We read the Bible in public; prayed in school; and preached from house to house.

To be called an American was worth dying for; to be called a Christian was worth living for; to be called a traitor was a shame!

Sex was a personal word. Homosexual was an unheard word, and abortion was an illegal word.

Preachers preached because they had a message; and Christians rejoiced because they had the victory! Preachers preached from the Bible; singers sang from the heart; and sinners turned to the Lord to be saved! A new birth meant a new life; salvation meant a changed life; following Christ meant a victorious life.

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the Word of God; being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord; being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus; and being a sinner meant someone was praying for you!

Laws were based on the Bible; homes read the Bible; and churches taught the Bible.

Preachers were more interested in new converts than new clothes and new cars. God was worshiped; Christ was exalted; and the Holy Spirit was respected.

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord’s day, rather than in the garden, on the creek bank, on the golf course, or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best!

–Copied

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We Were Drugged

Bless our parents who drugged us!

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farmhouse in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, “Why didn’t we have drug problems when you and I were growing up?” I replied, “I had a drug problem when I was young”:

I was drug to church on Sundays. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults.

I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered a profane four letter word.

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flowerbeds and cockleburs out of dad’s fields.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline, or chop some firewood; and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place!

–Copied

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What Is New Testament Church Membership About?

–It’s about having a God given position. (1 Corinthians 12:18)
–It’s about doing for God, rather than self-service. (Ephesians 3:21)
–It’s about loving others with the love of Christ in us. (John 13:34)
–It’s about service, rather than personal position. (Psalm 84:10)
About cleaning the floors and windows; about picking up pieces of paper (rather than leaving it); it’s about washing dishes after a church supper, etc., etc.
–It’s about doing things for God without seeking the praise of men.
–It’s about being slow to take offense & always seeking reconciliation.
–It’s about trust and staying on board, knowing that with God, all things are possible.
–It’s about looking beyond people’s faults to minister to their need.
–It’s about taking responsibility, rather than letting the burden fall on someone else.
–It’s about not quitting, but fighting the good fight of faith, knowing your labor is never in vain.
–It’s about confessing our faults one to another, rather than criticizing others for their faults.
–It’s about empathizing–putting yourself in the other person’s shoes–where they are, not where you judge they should be.
–It’s about keeping a good conscience with both God and men, knowing God will uphold you for your faithfulness.
–It’s about starting again when others are quitting; it’s about singing when others are grumbling; it’s about finding a way when others are making excuses.
–It’s about getting up after you’ve fallen; it’s about coming back after you’ve strayed away.
–It’s about wanting to encourage others, by the things you do and say.
–It’s about wanting to be found faithful when Jesus comes again.

About our discouragements and negative thoughts: let them testify of how much we need God’s vision in doing His work.

About the changes we see in others: let it remind us of our need to “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”, who changes not.

About continuing in the church fellowship: it’s according to the triumph of the tie that binds our hearts together (the love of God, which is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us) “Sure and Steadfast”.

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Jephthah’s Rash Vow (Judges 11)

Judges 11:39 – “…who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed.” So it is just a matter of what did he vow? Judges 11:31 – “…whatsoever cometh forth to meet me…, I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” So, unless Judges 11:39 is wrong, Jephthah offered his daughter up for a burnt offering.

To argue that since Jephthah was a man of true faith, and that other scriptures teach against human sacrifices, somehow assures us that Jephthah didn’t offer his daughter for a burnt offering, would then also allow us to argue that since David was a man after God’s own heart, and since God’s laws forbade it, then David did not really commit adultery with Bathsheba, or cause Uriah’s death.

Even if there had been some way for Jephthah to redeem his daughter from this vow, according to Judges 11:39, he did not do so, for the scripture states, “he did with her according to his vow which he had vowed.” Had he just redeemed her for thirty pieces of silver (the price of a dead slave), it would have been no big deal for either him or her. It would have caused him no sorrow, only just brought him relief. Had she been redeemed from the vow, she would have been freed from all its claims and there would have been nothing to bewail. And rather than the scripture speak of Jephthah doing to her according to his vow and the daughters of Israel lamenting her four days a year, the Bible would just say she was redeemed and everyone went on with their lives as before.

Regarding Jephthah’s vow, the only thing he did that was lawful was perform his vow. NOTHING else about his vow was under Divine direction. God never required this vow. Jephthah did it rashly on his own without spiritual wisdom or consideration, because thoughtfulness would have considered that it would be a loved one who would be the first to go out to meet him upon returning home. Rather than Jephthah go forth to battle on the strength of faith alone, he yielded to the temptation of projecting that he was a mighty man by making such a bold vow.

Learn from this not to make our lives subject to any word but God’s Word. Beware of setting ourselves up as being a person of some superior principles. We must only make vows that are right with God and that we will keep. Human intentions, no matter how grand they may supposedly be, are never infallible. Be wise, understanding what the will of the Lord is.

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