Act 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
I don't believe that the argument that these men were self righteous toward themselves and would not lower themselves to serve tables. I think they knew the calling that was upon themselves to pray and proclaim the message of Christ unto others. They didn't want to waiver in their calling toward God. If they thought the position of taking care of the dispute was unimportant they wouldn't have cared who would have been appointed over the matter. But they were very specific and called excellent men forward to take on this task.
These disciples understood that their time and resources where limited. They wanted to focus most if not all of their energy toward their calling.
I know I can get so distracted and even when a good cause comes along I want to be able to contribute or "do something". But is that the best thing that I can do? Or it seems from this passage that I should be adamant in holding on to the purpose for which I have been called.
Father help me to focus on your kingdom causes. I don't have to focus on all of them, only the ones you want me to address. Give me the wisdom to discern which ones those are. Amen.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
2008.01.28 Think how you would want to be treated. Ex 22.21
Exo 22:21 "You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.
So much of what is going on here in these verses can be summed up by:
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Even in the passage of Exodus, the Israelites are reminded to do to the foreigner how they wished they would have been treated when they were in Egypt. We always have the ability to turn inward and forget the thoughts or needs of others. But God asks us to remember how you were, or if you do something just think how it would feel if someone did it to you. There isn't as much distance between you and that person anymore. It is similar between the love that God has for us through Christ Jesus. Not only did He just try and think of what we are going through, but through Christ became one of us, so that He might know and even experience everything that we go through. That He might have compassion for our troubles, needs, desires, etc.
So not only do we have this great example for how we can have empathy for others, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this great task. For when we consider how we would treat someone when we act it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. For everything in us wants to seek our own gain and forget every consequence that might affect another person or image bearer of Christ.
Father help me to act according to the example of your son Jesus Christ. Help me to consider my actions, my thoughts, my words, my life that they would reflect how you would want me to treat myself and in return reflect that toward all those men and women you have created to experience you through me. You have given me a great gift to experience your compassionate love help me to live my life according to your example. Amen.
So much of what is going on here in these verses can be summed up by:
Mat 7:12 "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Even in the passage of Exodus, the Israelites are reminded to do to the foreigner how they wished they would have been treated when they were in Egypt. We always have the ability to turn inward and forget the thoughts or needs of others. But God asks us to remember how you were, or if you do something just think how it would feel if someone did it to you. There isn't as much distance between you and that person anymore. It is similar between the love that God has for us through Christ Jesus. Not only did He just try and think of what we are going through, but through Christ became one of us, so that He might know and even experience everything that we go through. That He might have compassion for our troubles, needs, desires, etc.
So not only do we have this great example for how we can have empathy for others, but we have the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this great task. For when we consider how we would treat someone when we act it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. For everything in us wants to seek our own gain and forget every consequence that might affect another person or image bearer of Christ.
Father help me to act according to the example of your son Jesus Christ. Help me to consider my actions, my thoughts, my words, my life that they would reflect how you would want me to treat myself and in return reflect that toward all those men and women you have created to experience you through me. You have given me a great gift to experience your compassionate love help me to live my life according to your example. Amen.
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