Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Having a Kingdom Attitude 8

In Matthew 5:10-12 we read: "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad..." Now you may ask, "Bro. Troy, how in the world can I live a less stressed life if I am being persecuted?" Well, it is possible, if and only if you are walking close with Christ. The rejoicing we read is not from the pain but rather from the rewards and testimony that suffering will bring. Jesus is not saying that suffering will follow a believers all their life. Jesus' life, for the most part, was positive; yet one of the signs of being a child of God is persecution. When one walks in meekness, humility, and righteousness, the world will attack; but the stress is minimal when we hold on to God's promise that He would never leave us alone.

In these verses Jesus gives us three characteristics of a genuine Christian. First, they will experience various persecution. Jesus told His disciples that the world would war against them (John 15:18-ff) because of their obedience to follow Him. If your persecution is a result of a big mouth, than this is not godly persecution. The persecution Jesus is talking about comes when one stays firmly on the path of righteousness. Second, a genuine Christian carries an eternal promise. Heaven, is waiting for those who are faithful to the end. Remember, heaven is not the end game, it is only the beginning to life. Third, a genuine Christian will experience a new posture. When facing persecution, the world would say cry, but Jesus says, use this event as a time to rejoice. The word "rejoice" in the Greek is "chairo" which literal means "to leap for joy". Why? Because it is a sign of our authentic relationship with God, as well as it proves our loyalty to Jesus' standards of Kingdom living. So when the Father approves your walk, then your life will be less stressful. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Having A Kingdom Attitude 7

We find another pearl for those who seek to live a less stressful life on this earth in Matthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Approved by God are those who have received the ultimate peace of God (salvation, sons of God), and now live to share that peace with those around them. It is not natural to promote peace. The Bible states that sin has made us enemies with God (Rom. 5:10), and our natural tendency is to war and fight (James 4:1-ff). You see, Jesus is the author of peace, the Prince of Peace; and this blessing is only to those who have received His peace and now live to promote that peace (Is. 52:7). Being a peacemaker does not mean being a coward or giving in to everyone and everything. A peacemaker is one whose strength is under control. This may mean holding our tongue or defending truth over wickedness. Peacemaking is a divine work. God is the author, Christians are to be His promoters. Let's see what it looks like to be a peace promoter.

In the book of Acts, we meet a peacemaker, named Barnabas. Barnabas was a Jew, a Levite, a leader in the early church. In fact the apostle Paul was his apprentice. When you study this man you find that in every situation we read his name we learn something about peacemaking. First, he had made peace with God (Acts. 11:22-24). He was saved, full of the Holy Spirit, full of faith. Second, he led others to make peace with God (Acts 13:1-2). He is described as God's spokesman, a teacher of God's Word. Third, he helped others make peace with others (Acts. 9:25-ff; 1344-ff). Whether it was with Paul and the early church or a fight between the Jews and Gentiles, he was always seeking a peaceful unity. Fourth, Barnabas always endeavored to speak the truth in love. He would not compromise His mission (Acts. 13:46-37), his worship of God (Acts 14:11-ff), or God's Word (Acts 15:1-2). Lastly, as a peacemaker his actions promoted encouragement in the Body of Christ. His very name means "Encouragement" (Acts 4:36). So whether it was helping others, preaching, or giving a weaker brother a second chance, he was all about promoting God's Word as well as lifting up his fellow man. Barnabas' example teaches us what we ought to be doing daily as Christians. If we promote God's peace with our fellow man, don't you think you will have a less stressed life? Well, until next time keep walking close to Christ.