Faith Joy & Coffee

The Word Says:
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

Verse Thoughts:
“Do unto others what you would have them do unto you’ is often referred to by both believers and non-believers as “the golden rule’. It is often considered to be the root of our Christian faith .. but this is a misinterpretation of this scripture and a misunderstanding of this biblical passage.

The implication is that this ‘golden rule’ is the singular foundation upon which the Christian life is built, containing the total truth of God’s Word – but this is certainly not the message of salvation and this is not a verse upon which ones entire Christian doctrine should be founded.

The “golden rule’ is only one aspect in the life of a spirit-filled Christian. Although it should be evidenced in the life of all believers, who are learning to walk in spirit and truth, ‘the golden rule’ is only one element of the man or woman who is growing in grace, and learning to love as Christ loved us, and gave Himself for us.

This verse however is certainly a guiding principle for Christians, and should influence our attitudes and motives as well as our seen and unseen actions, and it should be a life-principle that impacts every area of life and is exercised on all with whom we come in contact – but when it is considered to be the sum total of all biblical truth as is evidenced in many parts of Christendom today, it is to water-down the whole counsel of God, to circumvent the cross of Christ and to redefine the truth of God’s word.

Our Christian life should not simply be an absence of what is evil but the presence of that which is good – for the benefit of others and to the glory of God. Let us seek to walk in spirit and truth and to love as Christ loved us, so that whatever we do in word or deed we do all to the glory of God – so that the life of Christ is reflected in every part of our living.

The Word Says:
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Verse Thoughts:
What marvellous words of encouragement are couched throughout Scripture and here we discover God’s sufficient grace is available to all His children in the midst of the various trials and temptations that we all have to face during our earthly sojourn.

God does not promise to keep our lives free from difficulties and danger. He does not pledge to exempt us from fiery trials and troublesome temptations – nor even to prevent persecution, but He does undertake to limit its intensity and to provide a way of escape, so that we may be able to bear it.

These are truly heartening words that have helped to bring consolation and comfort to generations of believers – young and old, who have clung to this precious promise as a spiritual life-line, knowing that His grace is sufficient for all eventualities and that His sufficient grace will expand and multiply to encompass every and all temptations, trials and tribulations that we may be called upon to endure in this life.

This particular verse is preceded by a section that uses Israel wilderness wanderings as a witness and warning to the church. Israel was saved out of Egypt’s oppression by grace through faith in God’s word. And all who obeyed and applied the blood of the Passover lamb were passed over by the angel of death. Like Israel we too have been saved by grace through faith in God’s Word and cleansed by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world and triumphed over death – for all who trust in Him.

But following their miraculous escape from slavery in Egypt and God’s covenant to provide for all their needs, some turned away from the God of their salvation and became idolotors. Some turned to sexual immorality and some grumbled, complained and spoke evil against the Lord – they did not trust God to provide for their needs and Paul used Israel’s lack of faith in the wilderness as a warning to the Church against unbelief.

God’s promises to Israel and those to the Church stand fast for ever and ever. And God has promised that no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, Who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide a way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.

Let us never forget that the temptations and trials in our lives are no different from what others experience – and God is faithful and has promised that He will not allow the temptation to be more than we can bear – but in His grace will provide a way out of it, so that we can endure it.

The Word Says:
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”

Verse Thoughts:
The thoughts of God should be as precious to us now as they were to the writer of this psalm. God’s thoughts are truth, and they bring life and beauty to our world. God takes his delight in sharing his thoughts with us, and the thoughts of God are vast in number. There is always something new God wishes to seed into our souls. It is a great privilege to be a human being and to be the recipient of the thoughts of God. We should treasure them higher than any worldly gain.

We live in a world awash in information; in fact, we are drowning in it. Every day we are flooded with more information than we can absorb, and many of us have become addicted to the constant stream available to us. We can barely go a day without checking the news stream or seeing what others are posting. The problem is that much of what we see and hear is either inaccurate or damaging. The constant barrage does not bring our soul the peace we crave, but actually does the opposite. As a people, we are more anxious and worried than ever before. But God wishes to speak his truth to us, and God’s truth is what our soul secretly craves. Nothing can take its place. So begin to curtail the constant barrage of endless information and begin to listen for the gentle voice of God. Turn off your devices and tune in your heart. And trust that God will provide everything you need!

The Word Says:
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Verse Thoughts:
Too often in life, we discover the folly of opening our mouth and responding in careless haste to the words and actions of others, and too often we react in annoyance or anger only to discover that we had misunderstood the facts of the matter, causing us to regret that we spoke so quickly and reacted so hastily.

There are many Scriptures that warn of the poison that can fall from the tongue and the damage that unguarded words or fiery tempers can produce, which can so often spark a fire that harms so many people. Other Scriptures advise us to listen to what is said, to hear what is spoken, to guard our lips in what we say, and our reactions in all we do, in order to diffuse a situation and not be a cause of a flare up.

In this passage, James was writing to warn believers against self-deception. In particular, he was encouraging them to pay careful heed to the Word of God: “For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

If our words and actions are to be seasoned with salt and honouring to our Father, we should especially be quick to hear the words of wisdom that come from the Scriptures and to be wise in our response to God’s voice.

Sometimes we may not like what we hear, and sometimes believers have been known to argue with God and become angry at His Word, but the wise man or woman will be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, particularly in the things of the Lord. 

The Word Says:
8. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
9. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.“

Verse Thoughts:
Peacemakers are not the people who simply want peace or long for peace. They are not the governments that pass laws on peace, or legislators who write policies on peacekeeping. Peacemakers are those whom the Lord God uses to bring reconciliation to a fallen world. As Christians, we have peace with God through faith, and have been made ministers of reconciliation, so that fallen sinners may be reconciled back to God and gain true peace in their heart.

God in His grace has reconciled those who believe in the Lord Jesus to Himself, and through Christ, we have been given this important ministry of reconciliation, so that the world may know that God is the Lord and Saviour of mankind. Christ came to earth to reveal God’s goodness and grace, and His death on the cross opened the way for fallen man to find peace with God – to be reconciled back to Him through faith in His Son.

During Christ’s absence from the earth, those who believe on His name have been entrusted with a life-work that proclaims the gospel of grace to a lost world, so that men, who are dead in their sin and estranged from God, may know the truth, be saved by grace through faith in Christ and find peace with God. Jesus came, so that the world might be reconciled back to their Father – and we are called to be His peacemakers.

Man seeks after empty happiness and longs for peace in a world at war, but the child of God who has been saved by grace through the sacrificial work of Christ on Calvary’s cross, gains more than happiness. He is blessed to be reconciled to God and to have peace with Him through the forgiveness of sin. But there is so much more, for we who have peace with God, in a world at war, and we have the peace of God within. We have been promised when we rest in Him and walk in spirit and truth, His peace will guard our heart and guide our path.

Our initial salvation brings peace WITH God but during our walk of faith through the journey of life, we can enjoy the peace OF God – God’s continuous, divine peace in our hearts, “Let not your heart be troubled,” Jesus told his confused disciples just before He was to walk to the cross, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in Me.”

We who believe, can receive that peace that passes understanding as we remain in right relationship with the Father, through faith in the Son. But we are also given the authority to go into all the world as God’s peacemakers. We are to be witnesses to the truth of the gospel and preach the truth to every creature – that peace with God IS possible by His grace, through faith in Christ.

There is a blessing that is pronounced on peace-makers. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Godly peace-makers are indeed blessed folk who seek to live peaceably with all men, through prayer, and to actively intervene to make peace, when strife and animosity raises its ugly head. As God directs, they follow after peace without any spiritual compromise, while binding up the broken peace of others, which is caused by depression, disease, divorce, and distress.

Peace-making is not the attitude that cries ‘peace at any cost, so let’s not rock the boat’, nor are peacemakers those who march around carrying banners or sit around selfishly seeking their own well-being with little interest in the distress, discomfort or discordant lives of others. True peace is not found in a ten-step meditation programme, a walk in nature, thinking about nice things or relaxing on a beach, although these activities may provide certain benefits. Nor is it discovered in a psychiatrist’s chair, the massage parlour or a cup of green tea with friends.

Blessings of peace come from the Father of peace, and the blessedness of peace-making rests on the Prince of Peace, Who has become both Founder and Finisher of all our peace, and imparts His eternal peace by His Spirit of Peace, which flows out of us to others as we rest in Christ and permit His peace to flood our heart. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” is Christ’s promise to us.

May we who have made peace with God by believing on His Son as Saviour, continue our Christian journey by walking in spirit and truth, maintaining that blessed fellowship and peaceable communion with God our Father. And may we become ambassadors of God’s peace in a world at war, through our ministry of reconciliation – through Him Who is our one and only mediator between God and man – Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Word Says:
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Verse Thoughts:
For three whole chapters Paul gives a lengthy but beautiful discourse on the gospel and its relationship to Israel. He recounts Israel’s past history in chapter 9. He describes Israel’s future hope in chapter 11 and he explains their present condition in chapter 10. For some reason certain people consider that because of her apostasy God has terminated His promises to Israel, but that is not so. Paul’s decisive response to this is, may it never be as clearly laid out in these chapters

Chapter 9 focuses on the sovereignty of God and His unchangeable promises to Israel. Their divine election and His changeless plan, particularly in connection with Israel. Chapter 11 reaffirms the plans that God will one day carry out through His people Israel and gives a strong rebuttal against the false teaching that the Church has replaced Israel, while chapter 10 has its sights on the place of Israel in the present during this Church dispensation.

Christ became a stumbling block to the Jews at His first coming because He did not fulfil their Messianic expectations and was rejected by them… but the day is coming when the stone which the builders rejected will become the Corner-Stone. Israel had to learn the lesson that righteousness comes from God and not from national parentage and so Paul deliberately quoted Isaiah saying: ‘Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.

Despite Israel’s rejection of their Messiah-King, Paul is giving full assurance that God’s gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ finished work, is wide open to both Jew and Gentiles alike and he gave the assurance to both Israel and the nations: if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

And so here in his letter to the Romans, Paul makes it very clear that although Israel has a zeal for God, they were ignorant of the purpose of the Law, and sought to attain their own righteousness by the works of the Law. Their legalist practice sought to get God’s approval, without understanding that only the blood of their Messiah could pay the price for their sins. Neither Jew nor Gentile need to jump though legalist hoops to achieve salvation… They do not need to: ‘climb up to heaven’ for God’s approval… for God incarnate had already come to earth to meet with them… nor did they need to: ‘go to the place of the dead’, for Christ has been raised from the dead, thus completing the work of salvation on behalf of all who will believe.

Isaiah foretold that Emmanuel, would one day dwell with man… and yet the Jews did not recognise the incarnate Word in their midst. Because of their religious bias and flawed perception they did not understand that Jesus is Lord of all and the God of Israel. Christ had died for their sin, and was raised from the dead as reported by many witnesses. Yet how difficult it was for the Jews to believe in His resurrection. Nevertheless, Paul promised that if they were able to confess JESUS, as the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and if they believed in their heart that the Messiah was raised from the dead, they would indeed be saved!

There are not two steps to salvation as some like to suggest, confessing Jesus is Lord & believing in Christ for salvation, but simply two sides of the same justification coin. Only a born-again believer can confess Jesus is Lord, for no man speaking in the Spirit of God can say, ‘Jesus is anathema’; and no man can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’, except in the Holy Spirit!

It is God alone Who knows the heart. It is He alone Who knows when a man or woman believes in their heart that Christ died for their sins and rose again.  And once that hidden heart decision to trust in Christ for salvation is met, the man or woman is immediately born from above by the power of the Holy Spirit and is freely able to confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord! For as the apostle John reminds us: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and the Spirit of God abides in him.

The Word Says:
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Verse Thoughts:
It was the Lord Jesus about Whom it was said: “No man ever spoke like this man,” and it was the Lord Jesus who spoke in spirit and truth. Jesus only said what He heard the Father say, and He only did as the Spirit of God instructed Him.

Some people think this showed that Christ was less than God. NEVER! He is co-equal with the Father in every respect, but while on earth, the Lord Jesus subjected Himself to the will of the Father. He did this to demonstrate that a man who is subject to the Holy Spirit will walk and talk in accordance to the will of God.

The words of Christ were gracious and seasoned with salt. He spoke the truth in love but did not compromise His speech or language. Like Christ, our speech should always be gracious and seasoned with salt.

Words that come out from our mouth, have their source in the thoughts of our hearts. When our heart is properly focused on the Lord, in fellowship with the Father and being led by the Spirit, our words will be gracious and seasoned with salt. They will be both gracious words and truthful words. They will not be designed to embarrass or hurt, ridicule, or humiliate others, but will speak the truth in love. And when we are led by the Spirit, He will help us to know how we should respond to every person.

We can never learn how to speak as unto the Lord by a 12-step programme designed by man, train ourselves to always say the right thing, try to copy the words that other people speak, or even parrot the words of the Lord Jesus Himself. But a life that is lived seeking the Lord with all their heart – a life that is submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit– a life lived with ears open to hear His Word and eyes open to see His truth, will be a life that speaks the truth in love, with gracious speech and seasoned with salt.

The Word says:
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Verse Thoughts:
Believers in Christ are fellow-members of His Body, which is the Church. All are children of God and all have been born of the Spirit. All have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son. All have received eternal life as a free gift of God’s grace, and all have been granted an inheritance that is kept for us in heaven.

Each member of Christ’s Body is accountable to the Lord for the way we live, but we also are responsible for the attitudes we adopt, and the actions we take towards our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We each have a responsibility to support and encourage fellow believers and are called to “bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfil the law of Christ.”

In the previous verse, the spiritual believer is instructed to help to restore a brother or sister who has fallen into sin – but to do it with gentleness and Christ-like consideration. Indeed, the spiritual one is warned against being adversely influenced by the carnal behaviours of others, or led astray by a misguided brother, lest they also are tempted into similar, ungodly ways, or fall into carnality themselves. Paul instructs those that are spiritual to restore those who are not walking by means of the Spirit – or who have been overtaken by worldly sin, the wiles of Satan, or fleshly carnality.

However, in this verse it is having a caring concern for a brother in Christ who has become heavily burdened or deeply distressed, with whom the spiritual Christian should be concerned. Every one of us has areas of life in which we are weighed down, discouraged, and deeply burdened, and the instruction to ‘come alongside and help one another’ is identified as fulfilling the law of Christ.

The Lord Jesus, Himself, explained the distinguishing qualities of this ‘law of the spirit of life’ which is found in John 13:34 where we read: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” Love for God and love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is the fulfilling of the law – but it can only be carried out by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the life of a spiritual believer i.e. a Christian, who is walking in spirit and truth.

There is much misunderstanding concerning the difference between spirituality and maturity in our Christian walk. Maturity is a life-long process, which takes place over time as we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, study His Word, and apply its principles in our life. The spiritual believer is one who abides in Christ, obeys His commands, honours His name, is growing in grace, and is becoming more Christ-like with every passing day. The more we die to our self-life, and live for Christ, the more we mature in our Christian walk, and the more Christ-like we become.

Spiritual maturity is not the same as spirituality. Spiritual maturity develops as we are conformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus through the wise choices we make. Spirituality, however, is not a process but a state. At any given point, we are spiritual OR we are not spiritual! At any given time in a believer’s life we are EITHER walking in the spirit and truth OR we are living in fleshly carnality. At any moment in time we are either honouring the Lord or dishonouring Him.

We are either spiritual or we are fleshly. We are either walking in spirit and truth or walking in the flesh. We are either living for God or living for Self. We are either in fellowship with our Heavenly Father or we are out of fellowship with Him – because the antithesis of spirituality is carnality. Jesus said, “Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters,” while Peter, who was prompted by the Holy Spirit to confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, became a fleshly tool in the hands of Satan immediately after his great spiritual revelation from God.

Christians do not progress towards spirituality in the same way that they progress towards spiritual maturity. Just as one is either saved or not saved at a given point in time, a believer is either spiritual or not spiritual at a given point and there is no middle ground. When we sin in our Christian walk, we are unspiritual and lose fellowship with our Heavenly Father – we are not fulfilling the ‘law of Christ’. However, as soon as sin is confessed, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and return us into fellowship with Himself, and spirituality is once again restored – and we thereby fulfil the law of Christ.

Let us seek to be those that are spiritual and to bear one another’s burdens in humility and gentleness. Let us die to self and live our life to the glory of God so that we may mature in the faith, grow in grace, live a spiritual, God-honouring life, and become a living testimony to the love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“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;”

Verse Toughts
God’s Word does, indeed, command us to love our neighbor as our self. However, it seems that the religious leaders were also teaching that it was permissible, possibly even mandatory, to hate one’s enemies. Jesus again declares that God’s intent for the righteousness of His people goes beyond selfishness and legalism. It implies something much more difficult and more like God Himself.

Instead of only acting in love towards neighbors, Jesus tells His disciples to love their enemies and even to pray for those who persecute them. Though few people live this out, in a meaningful way, the idea is deeply ingrained in western culture. Many modern people have heard this teaching, or variations on it, all our lives. That makes it easy to forget how radical the claim was, especially for those who live with daily threats from dire enemies, as did the first-century Israelites.

On one hand, becoming part of the Roman empire brought benefits. Rome typically did not destroy those they conquered, rather they allowed relative freedom with a set of conditions. Israel continued to function as Israel in many ways, and they experienced a form of peace under Roman rule. That said, Rome ruled over conquered nations absolutely and severely. Dissent beyond the established limits was savagely punished. Crucifixions were common and brutal. Roman soldiers enjoyed privileges and took liberties with Jewish citizens under their thumb. The Roman tax burden left many people in near poverty. The Jewish people understandably viewed Rome as their enemy.

And yet, a man thought by many to be the Messiah, the Savior who was supposed to free Israel from her enemies, has just commanded His disciples to love and pray for their enemies. Worse, He equated this with the righteous living needed to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is hard enough to grasp today, but at the time the words were first spoken they would have been shocking.

Christ does nothing to take the edge off this command, either. This is not described as emotional love, or affection. This kind of love is meant to be expressed in action. Offering prayers to God for people who are actively hurting you, especially for being associated with Christ, requires looking at the world in a completely different way. 

The Sermon on the Mount contains some of Jesus’ most challenging teaching. It begins with the unlikely blessings of the Beatitudes. Jesus’ disciples must do good works in order to be a powerful influence: as the salt of the earth and light of the world. The superficial righteousness of the Pharisees is not good enough to earn heaven. Sins of the heart, such as angry insults and intentional lust, are worthy of hell just as much as adultery and murder. Easy divorce and deceptive oaths are forbidden. Believers should not seek revenge. Instead, God intends us to love our enemies and pray for our persecutors. In short, we should strive to be perfect, as God is perfect.