Ask a crowd of people, “Who wants to be content?” Even if they don’t understand what contentment is, likely everyone will, in some manner, say, “I do, I do!” For most, the desire for contentment is simply the self-serving wish to have everything their hearts desire; to be made happy by possessions. Some are simply seeking the emotion of feeling satisfied; that is, for the moment, not being worried or anxious.
Perhaps, some of the people will recall Paul’s words, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” Philippians 4:11. Paul, while thanking the Philippians for their concern, assures them that God’s provision for him is sufficient. Paul is content in the sufficiency of God’s supply. The contentment is not the result of material wealth. Rather, the contentment derives from Paul’s share of God’s grace, which is the source of his supply.
Man does not handle contentment quite as well as Paul did. For when man is content, he tends to forget the source of the supply, becoming not only sufficiently satisfied, but arrogant in the assumption of self-sufficiency. The problem is, man’s presumed self-sufficiency results in self-centeredness, being content only because his selfish needs were met. However, Paul’s awareness of sufficiency being a gift of God’s grace resulted in service to others.
Paul twice speaks of contentment in 2nd Corinthians; once concerning the giving of the Corinthian brethren, the other in finding contentment in his own suffering. From these, we learn that there ought to be an outward intention resulting from the sufficiency of God’s supply, which proves God’s gracious provision is sufficient for all. There is, in the original language, the implication that sufficiency is more than what is needed for one’s self, but is enough to meet the needs of others.
To those whom God’s grace has supplied the financial means to give, Paul wrote, “God is able to make all grace abound to you so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed” II Corinthians 9:8. The sufficiency being more than for Paul alone is evident through the emphatic language. God is able to make all, always, all, everything and all grace sufficient for good deeds.
God’s ultimate intention for His sufficiency to the Corinthians was not for their contentment, but for them to pursue every good work to others. “For he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will multiply your seed for sowing and increase your harvest of righteousness… [through] the liberality of your contribution to them and to all” II Corinthians 9: 10,13.
Concerning Paul’s persistent thorn in the flesh, God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you [to be content,] for power is perfected in weakness. Therefore [Paul was] well content with weaknesses” II Corinthians 12: 9f. By Paul’s contentment the power of God would dwell within him, enabling him to proclaim the gospel. Thus, Paul’s contentment in weakness resulted in strength to serve others.
Paul understood the purpose for and the results of contentment. If we desire real contentment, we must also understand its purpose and intended result. God did not intend contentment for selfish ends, but for selfless service. The fruit of contentment is not self-satisfaction, but is service in every good deed, causing others to find contentment in the sufficiency of God’s grace. Thus, the realization of one’s contentment is not the cause for ease, but ought to be the cause for action.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Is "Truly, Truly, True of Me?
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Did you ever wonder about Jesus’ repeated use of the phrase, “I tell you the truth?” Why would Jesus, who in Himself is the very embodiment of Truth, have validated His words with, “I tell you the truth?” Similarly, yet still more intriguing, is Jesus’ often repeated use of the phrase, “Truly, truly, I say to you.” Superficially, the similar phrases would appear to be inter-changeable. Various translations use the phrases interchangeably, but in doing so they dilute and obscure the message.
The words for truth, true or also truly, when used to describe words spoken, derive from alatheia. It means that the words spoken are facts. But, when Jesus speaks the words, truly, truly, it is a different word, aman. Aman means the words which Jesus spoke are not only true words from Him or about Him, but that the message is incarnate and verified within His physical being.
Aman is also the word by which we close our prayers, Amen. We understand Amen as an affirmation of the words prayed and to express the desire for the prayer to be affirmed by God. Thus, Amen has come to mean so be it.
Aman, aman, when spoken by Jesus is also translated as “Verily, verily, I say to you.” Such could be stated as, I who Myself am the Amen, tell you the truth which is verified in Me. It is true because the words are inseparable from Him, and Jesus is speaking the so be it of Himself.
When The Old Covenant was renewed, prior to the people of Israel entering the Promised Land, Aman was the word spoken as the peoples’ response to the Laws. For example, The Levites recited to the all the people, “’Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.’ Then shall the people say, ‘Aman’” Deuteronomy 27:26. By the peoples’ aman they are vowing that the law will be the so be it of their lives. Similarly, any vow or covenant we make with God is made with the will to so be it. The vow must not be left unfulfilled, but must be accomplished and proven so through the evidence of our lives.
When we proclaim that the words of Jesus are true, it is a statement of theology. When Jesus verifies Truth within His own body and actions, it is a statement of autobiography. The words are True because they are verified in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Truly, truly (aman) is the truth (alatheia) in Jesus Himself.
Truly, truly is true of Jesus. Because we are called to be imitators of Christ, truly, truly should be true of us. Therefore, each Christian ought to ask:
“Is the vow I have made to follow Christ a theological claim, or my biographical reality?
Is my obedience a response to a theological mandate, or is it the fruit of my submissive will?
When I repented, was it a required theological step, or has my life verified my death to sin?
Have the commitments I have made to God been verified as the so be it of my life?
When I in the Last Day, say, “Lord, Lord…,” will the Lord find proof of it in my life’s story?
Is my life truly, truly the biography of a Christian? Is ‘Truly, Truly,’ True of Me?”
Did you ever wonder about Jesus’ repeated use of the phrase, “I tell you the truth?” Why would Jesus, who in Himself is the very embodiment of Truth, have validated His words with, “I tell you the truth?” Similarly, yet still more intriguing, is Jesus’ often repeated use of the phrase, “Truly, truly, I say to you.” Superficially, the similar phrases would appear to be inter-changeable. Various translations use the phrases interchangeably, but in doing so they dilute and obscure the message.
The words for truth, true or also truly, when used to describe words spoken, derive from alatheia. It means that the words spoken are facts. But, when Jesus speaks the words, truly, truly, it is a different word, aman. Aman means the words which Jesus spoke are not only true words from Him or about Him, but that the message is incarnate and verified within His physical being.
Aman is also the word by which we close our prayers, Amen. We understand Amen as an affirmation of the words prayed and to express the desire for the prayer to be affirmed by God. Thus, Amen has come to mean so be it.
Aman, aman, when spoken by Jesus is also translated as “Verily, verily, I say to you.” Such could be stated as, I who Myself am the Amen, tell you the truth which is verified in Me. It is true because the words are inseparable from Him, and Jesus is speaking the so be it of Himself.
When The Old Covenant was renewed, prior to the people of Israel entering the Promised Land, Aman was the word spoken as the peoples’ response to the Laws. For example, The Levites recited to the all the people, “’Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out.’ Then shall the people say, ‘Aman’” Deuteronomy 27:26. By the peoples’ aman they are vowing that the law will be the so be it of their lives. Similarly, any vow or covenant we make with God is made with the will to so be it. The vow must not be left unfulfilled, but must be accomplished and proven so through the evidence of our lives.
When we proclaim that the words of Jesus are true, it is a statement of theology. When Jesus verifies Truth within His own body and actions, it is a statement of autobiography. The words are True because they are verified in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Truly, truly (aman) is the truth (alatheia) in Jesus Himself.
Truly, truly is true of Jesus. Because we are called to be imitators of Christ, truly, truly should be true of us. Therefore, each Christian ought to ask:
“Is the vow I have made to follow Christ a theological claim, or my biographical reality?
Is my obedience a response to a theological mandate, or is it the fruit of my submissive will?
When I repented, was it a required theological step, or has my life verified my death to sin?
Have the commitments I have made to God been verified as the so be it of my life?
When I in the Last Day, say, “Lord, Lord…,” will the Lord find proof of it in my life’s story?
Is my life truly, truly the biography of a Christian? Is ‘Truly, Truly,’ True of Me?”
"No, Not One"
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“There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one! There’s not an hour that He is not near us, No, not one! No, not one!” When we sing the words, do we truly remember what a unique friend He is? From the writings of John, we know there is truly no friend like Him – not one!
No other friend - "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man” John 3:13.
No other friend – no one can, or so generously will, give “living water” to the outcast sinner who only says, “Give me a drink” John 4:13.
No other friend – no one will continue “to accomplish His work,” even when “no one brought Him anything to eat” John 4:33-34.
No other friend – no one endures, when “not even His own brothers believed in Him;” while mocking Him by saying, “No one does anything in secret when He seeks himself to known…to the world” John 7:4-5.
No other friend – no one stands by you when there is “much complaining…concerning Him” and when “no one [is] speaking openly for Him” John 7:12-13.
No other friend – no one will hold His own as tightly as cherished gifts, promising that “no one will snatch them out of My hand” John 10:28.
No other friend – no one can truly say, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” John 14:6.
No other friend – no one will love you more, for "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13.
No other friend – no one can truly say, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and then assure that you will see the Father because He “will raise [you] up on the last day” John 6:44.
No other friend – no one is always near when you need Him, preserving your place in Heaven by promising, “I am coming quickly… so that no one will take your crown” Revelation 3:11.
Now, when we sing the song No, Not One, we may remember why Jesus is truly a friend like no other. He is the only friend who heals all our soul’s diseases; the only friend whose love, even in the darkest hours, can always cheer us. Indeed, “Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide till the day is done. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No, not one! No, not one!”
- Paul Myers
“There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one! There’s not an hour that He is not near us, No, not one! No, not one!” When we sing the words, do we truly remember what a unique friend He is? From the writings of John, we know there is truly no friend like Him – not one!
No other friend - "No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man” John 3:13.
No other friend – no one can, or so generously will, give “living water” to the outcast sinner who only says, “Give me a drink” John 4:13.
No other friend – no one will continue “to accomplish His work,” even when “no one brought Him anything to eat” John 4:33-34.
No other friend – no one endures, when “not even His own brothers believed in Him;” while mocking Him by saying, “No one does anything in secret when He seeks himself to known…to the world” John 7:4-5.
No other friend – no one stands by you when there is “much complaining…concerning Him” and when “no one [is] speaking openly for Him” John 7:12-13.
No other friend – no one will hold His own as tightly as cherished gifts, promising that “no one will snatch them out of My hand” John 10:28.
No other friend – no one can truly say, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” John 14:6.
No other friend – no one will love you more, for "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” John 15:13.
No other friend – no one can truly say, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and then assure that you will see the Father because He “will raise [you] up on the last day” John 6:44.
No other friend – no one is always near when you need Him, preserving your place in Heaven by promising, “I am coming quickly… so that no one will take your crown” Revelation 3:11.
Now, when we sing the song No, Not One, we may remember why Jesus is truly a friend like no other. He is the only friend who heals all our soul’s diseases; the only friend whose love, even in the darkest hours, can always cheer us. Indeed, “Jesus knows all about our struggles; He will guide till the day is done. There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus. No, not one! No, not one!”
- Paul Myers
Why Did Christ Die?
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Why did Christ die? To those who belong to Christ, the answers seem obvious? Christ died to redeem sinners, reconciling them to God. Christ died that we may have life more abundantly. Christ died so we may have the hope of an eternal home in Heaven. Surely, Christ died for these reasons, but what is the overarching reason for Christ to die?
Prior to leaving the splendor of Heaven, Christ said to His Father, “I delight to do Your will, O my God; yea, Your law is within my heart” (Ps.40:8; Heb.10:7). The cord woven through every work of Christ is His commitment to fulfill His Father’s will. The food which sustained Christ was His Father’s will. “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).
It was Christ’s commitment to His Father’s will which led Him to die. “I seek not mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 5:30). Jesus reiterated this conviction, saying, “I come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).
Every deed, every word, every intent of Jesus’ heart was to do the will of the Father. Likewise, we should be compelled to pattern our deeds, our words, and our wills after Christ, for just as we sing, “He the great example is and pattern for me.”
Sweet are the promises, kind is the word;
Dearer far than any message man ever heard;
Pure was the mind of Christ, sinless I see’
He the great example is and pattern for me.
As we strive to be imitators of Christ, we ought to imitate His mindset of having His Father’s will as His highest priority. May we follow the pattern of Christ, purposing our lives as Christ purposed His own.
Certainly, it was an incomprehensible burden when Christ completed the will of His Father by bearing our sins at Calvary. Recall the night before when Christ prayed in the garden, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will, but as You will” (Mt 26:39).
Do we see the pattern? No matter the trial, no matter the sacrifice, Jesus sought only to do His Father’s will. In so doing we, indeed, can have redemption; we can be reconciled to God. We have, through Christ’s selfless submission to the Father’s will, the hope of Heaven. May we, in similar selfless submission, pattern our lives after Christ. And, may we also say like Christ, “I delight to do Thy will.”
Why did Christ die? To those who belong to Christ, the answers seem obvious? Christ died to redeem sinners, reconciling them to God. Christ died that we may have life more abundantly. Christ died so we may have the hope of an eternal home in Heaven. Surely, Christ died for these reasons, but what is the overarching reason for Christ to die?
Prior to leaving the splendor of Heaven, Christ said to His Father, “I delight to do Your will, O my God; yea, Your law is within my heart” (Ps.40:8; Heb.10:7). The cord woven through every work of Christ is His commitment to fulfill His Father’s will. The food which sustained Christ was His Father’s will. “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).
It was Christ’s commitment to His Father’s will which led Him to die. “I seek not mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me” (John 5:30). Jesus reiterated this conviction, saying, “I come down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38).
Every deed, every word, every intent of Jesus’ heart was to do the will of the Father. Likewise, we should be compelled to pattern our deeds, our words, and our wills after Christ, for just as we sing, “He the great example is and pattern for me.”
Sweet are the promises, kind is the word;
Dearer far than any message man ever heard;
Pure was the mind of Christ, sinless I see’
He the great example is and pattern for me.
As we strive to be imitators of Christ, we ought to imitate His mindset of having His Father’s will as His highest priority. May we follow the pattern of Christ, purposing our lives as Christ purposed His own.
Certainly, it was an incomprehensible burden when Christ completed the will of His Father by bearing our sins at Calvary. Recall the night before when Christ prayed in the garden, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will, but as You will” (Mt 26:39).
Do we see the pattern? No matter the trial, no matter the sacrifice, Jesus sought only to do His Father’s will. In so doing we, indeed, can have redemption; we can be reconciled to God. We have, through Christ’s selfless submission to the Father’s will, the hope of Heaven. May we, in similar selfless submission, pattern our lives after Christ. And, may we also say like Christ, “I delight to do Thy will.”
God ALWAYS Makes a Way!
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“I know the Lord will find a way for me.
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
If I walk in Heaven’s light, shun the wrong and do the right,
I know the Lord will find a way for me.”
Essentially, the Bible message is that God made a way for man to ultimately return to the beautiful and blissful state of the Garden. God yearns to walk again, side by side, with His children. For, just as Adam and Eve could walk and talk with God, and see Him face to face, He yearns for the same close kinship with each one of us.
For Christians, the message of the Bible is rightly summarized by the first line and the last line of this song, “I know the Lord will find a way for me,” and, “Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done.” That, indeed, is the message of assurance in this song and throughout God’s word, “The Lord will find a way for us.” And, if we choose to walk in the way, we will hear Him say, “Well done!”
God has always made a way for those who choose to “shun the wrong and do the right.” From the beginning, Noah and his family shunned the wrong and did the right, and God made a way for them to escape the flood’s destruction.
Then God, by a series of terrible plagues, made a way for the people of Israel to be released from Egyptian bondage. And, God, by parting the Red Sea, made a way for his people to escape the Egyptian army.
Then God, by calling Moses to the top of the mountain, made a way to communicate His Law to His people. And, God, through that Law, made a way for His people to be forgiven of their sins.
So plainly throughout the Old Testament, we can see it. God ALWAYS makes a way! And, so plainly throughout the New Testament, we also can see it. God ALWAYS makes a way!
In the early chapters of the book of Acts, we see the proofs of God’s Power. We see that God overcame every challenge which rose up against His plan. We see that God always made a way for His apostles and disciples to accomplish His plan.
From the beginning, while the church was yet very young, oppositions arose and God overcame every challenge. In fact, even before the church had taken her first step, mockers were scoffing at the apostles’ Spirit-given ability to speak in tongues, saying in Acts 2:13, “They are full of sweet wine.” But, God, through the power of Peter’s preaching, made a way to overcome the mockers’ foolish scoffing. God made a way!
Then, when the church had barely taken her first steps, still full of amazement at all which they had seen and heard, opposition arose again. Peter and John were arrested, thrown in jail and threatened against speaking any more about this Jesus. Then God made a way for the apostles’ release “because [the people] were all glorifying God for what had happened” Acts 4:21. God made a way!
But, the challenges were not over, for then problems arose from within the church. The church had barely learned to walk and her own have conceived wickedness. Ananias and Sapphira, each with the full knowledge of the other, conspired to deceive in order to “keep back some of the price” of the land” which they had sold. The Lord struck both of them dead, and thereby, made a way for the church to continue to grow. Again, God always made a way!
So very early in the life of the church, God has proven his power to overcome every challenge. So very early, those in the Jerusalem church, those who would shun the wrong and do the right, can see that God always makes a way!
God has made the way for the lost to come to salvation. God has purposed that it is through the teaching and example of His children that the lost will be shown The Way. We know that Jesus is The Only Way and we must each be willing to do our part to help the lost see Him.
Our willingness to help the lost see Jesus depends upon us acting upon the belief, that the God will ALWAYS make a way for us to reach the lost. Doing so is proof to the Lord that we believe He still has the power to overcome every opposition which rises up against His church. Doing so is proof that we want to again be with God in a beautiful and blissful new Garden. And, doing so is the reason that we can sing:
“Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done.”
Won’t it be grand to hear him say, “Well done.”
If I walk in Heaven’s Light; shun the wrong and do the right,
Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done.”
“I know the Lord will find a way for me.
I know the Lord will find a way for me.
If I walk in Heaven’s light, shun the wrong and do the right,
I know the Lord will find a way for me.”
Essentially, the Bible message is that God made a way for man to ultimately return to the beautiful and blissful state of the Garden. God yearns to walk again, side by side, with His children. For, just as Adam and Eve could walk and talk with God, and see Him face to face, He yearns for the same close kinship with each one of us.
For Christians, the message of the Bible is rightly summarized by the first line and the last line of this song, “I know the Lord will find a way for me,” and, “Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done.” That, indeed, is the message of assurance in this song and throughout God’s word, “The Lord will find a way for us.” And, if we choose to walk in the way, we will hear Him say, “Well done!”
God has always made a way for those who choose to “shun the wrong and do the right.” From the beginning, Noah and his family shunned the wrong and did the right, and God made a way for them to escape the flood’s destruction.
Then God, by a series of terrible plagues, made a way for the people of Israel to be released from Egyptian bondage. And, God, by parting the Red Sea, made a way for his people to escape the Egyptian army.
Then God, by calling Moses to the top of the mountain, made a way to communicate His Law to His people. And, God, through that Law, made a way for His people to be forgiven of their sins.
So plainly throughout the Old Testament, we can see it. God ALWAYS makes a way! And, so plainly throughout the New Testament, we also can see it. God ALWAYS makes a way!
In the early chapters of the book of Acts, we see the proofs of God’s Power. We see that God overcame every challenge which rose up against His plan. We see that God always made a way for His apostles and disciples to accomplish His plan.
From the beginning, while the church was yet very young, oppositions arose and God overcame every challenge. In fact, even before the church had taken her first step, mockers were scoffing at the apostles’ Spirit-given ability to speak in tongues, saying in Acts 2:13, “They are full of sweet wine.” But, God, through the power of Peter’s preaching, made a way to overcome the mockers’ foolish scoffing. God made a way!
Then, when the church had barely taken her first steps, still full of amazement at all which they had seen and heard, opposition arose again. Peter and John were arrested, thrown in jail and threatened against speaking any more about this Jesus. Then God made a way for the apostles’ release “because [the people] were all glorifying God for what had happened” Acts 4:21. God made a way!
But, the challenges were not over, for then problems arose from within the church. The church had barely learned to walk and her own have conceived wickedness. Ananias and Sapphira, each with the full knowledge of the other, conspired to deceive in order to “keep back some of the price” of the land” which they had sold. The Lord struck both of them dead, and thereby, made a way for the church to continue to grow. Again, God always made a way!
So very early in the life of the church, God has proven his power to overcome every challenge. So very early, those in the Jerusalem church, those who would shun the wrong and do the right, can see that God always makes a way!
God has made the way for the lost to come to salvation. God has purposed that it is through the teaching and example of His children that the lost will be shown The Way. We know that Jesus is The Only Way and we must each be willing to do our part to help the lost see Him.
Our willingness to help the lost see Jesus depends upon us acting upon the belief, that the God will ALWAYS make a way for us to reach the lost. Doing so is proof to the Lord that we believe He still has the power to overcome every opposition which rises up against His church. Doing so is proof that we want to again be with God in a beautiful and blissful new Garden. And, doing so is the reason that we can sing:
“Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done.”
Won’t it be grand to hear him say, “Well done.”
If I walk in Heaven’s Light; shun the wrong and do the right,
Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done.”
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