A heart for God: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-24

A heart for God: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:19-24

6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body…” 

What do we see when we look at what we have?  Is it something we’ve earned and therefore have the right to do with what we want?  Or, do we see it as a gift from God who has granted us graces by which to live and give, blessings received to be used to bless others?

6:24 “No one can serve two masters… you cannot serve both God and money” 

To what is my heart most devoted? On what is my heart most reliant?  In what have I placed my hope and security?

In another place Jesus challenges us to look at life, my body, my treasures, my pursuits, in what or who I place my affections on and my security in… Luke 12:22-34

6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body…” 

So, how do I see what I see?   

Luke 12:22-23 

How do we see life? Jesus says “...I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat… For life is more than food”

How do we see my body?  “...your body, what you will wear… the body more than clothes.”  

Luke 12:29-30

How do I see, my treasures  “...do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.”

Those things the pagan world runs after, but I am to forsake my pursuit of them and trust my Father’s love and goodness to provide for me?

How do I see my heavenly Father?  Luke 12:32-34 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

How do I see the Ohe One who gives my life at all, let alone eternal life in Christ, who provides for me every good thing, and gives me the privilege to be His representative, even His hands and feet, a “middle man” in His giving?

The three general areas he cultivated to be able to love as he did

List of all the things the good Samaritan must’ve been doing to be ready, able, and willing - he held loosely to what he has been given, because he held tightly to God’s principle of goodness and giving 

Love IS: Where patience is the fruit of mercy, so kindness is the fruit of grace - so, as love is patient, so love is kind - it acts according to the need of the person in front of us

Love IS: Where patience is the fruit of mercy, so kindness is the fruit of grace - so, as love is patient, so love is kind - it acts according to the need of the person in front of us.

If love (noun) is patient (verb), love, loves, with patience…  by definition, it must be slow to anger.  Why?  Because a patient love refuses to retaliate in anger or out of anger (man’s) but instead looks to be divinely directed to administer kindness - that is usefulness. 

So, love, which IS patient:

·  Endures misfortunes and trouble 

·  Is long tempered

·  Suffers long 

·  Bears up another’s weakness

·  Perseveres 

This love, which IS patient, defers anger and refuses to retaliate on the basis of human anger - here’s where James 1:20 fits

 James 1:19-21 Mirroring Jesus, showing patience, responding righteously 

1:19a It is quick to listen

· To the person and situation 

· To God

· God’s leading 

Ask questions to gain perspective 

Proverbs 19:11 A man's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Pray for guidance - insight, discernment, understanding

1:19b Slow to anger, slow to react.

Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

1:19c. It is slow to speak.

Proverbs 17:27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

1:20 It acts - it responds righteously - whether through action or action that appears to be inaction and always with the best of the recipient in mind as directed by god that one’s on ideas or feelings - John 8 – caring for the one you love.

Proverbs 19:18 

Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. NIV

Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.  AMP

Instead, it extends a long way and only expresses anger as the Lord directs (as opposed to being “quick-tempered”) 

·  This love then is patient in bearing the offenses and injuries inflicted by others

·  It is mind and slow in avenging (Ro 12)

·  Slow to punish (Prov 19:11)

What is it to be kind?  Love that is kind, meets the actual need or needs of others. What must we do to discern and meet the ACTUAL needs of others?  Seek God’s leading: being directed and prompted by God IS what enables us to express Love’s kindness.  This kindness IS kind as it acts or gives.  And this is grace. 

Why? Because Love IS kind: that is full of service to others - and a wise love that is kind does all that it can do to be ready to render kindness 

 Love is Kind: performing useful service for the one loved – now and eternal.  What must I do to be able to be kind?  To say, do, or give what is useful (now and for or toward eternity)?

Let’s go all the way back and look at our Good Samaritan: let’s name as many things this person had to have… to be willing and able to express kindness - what had he cultivated and stewarded well?

Do we trust the Holy Spirit and the righteousness of Jesus to rise above both ourselves and the sin in the person we are loving to do what God promises it/they will do?  To convict the world of sin and righteousness. 

This would have been a brutal challenge to the thinking and believing of Jesus’ Jewish audience - having each area put under the microscope and examined - that is their heart - in reference to A SAMARITAN!!  A reprobate!  A cheat! A bum… and the list goes on!

So it should be for us!   We are to be challenged in every area of our belief system, our values, our heart’s condition, how we view God and what He has done of us, provided, His sovereignty, His teaching, and commands, Jesus' life and teaching, our trust in Him, whether our character resembles Jesus’, and that we are making progress toward it - and if we are not, challenged to consider what we need to do to take my next step toward Christlikeness - because that is where we actually live by faith, that our faith is tested, that our faith is seen (in our good works, with a good attitude, for the right reasons…) and we bring glory to our father - a good opinion of Him, through us, to others~

We should be just as challenged by this story as Jesus’ audience was, that we would look at each aspect of the Samaritan’s behavior and consider whether I could, or would, be willing and able to do the same for the persons I encounter along the way who I find in peril. 

Am I ready?  In every way?  Where might I be?  Where am I not?  Why am I not?  Am I willing to change to be ready?  Where do I start?  And remember, God is not looking for perfection, He is looking for devotion.  Neither do we need to be READY in every one of these areas to begin, we can begin with where we are while we work toward where we need to be - this is a lifetime endeavor that we live out every day. 

Let’s go all the way back and look at our Good Samaritan: let’s name as many things this person had to have… to be willing and able to express kindness - what had he cultivated and stewarded well?

· Love of fellow man - cultivated and governed by love (agape)

· Compassion for mankind - sensitive to the needs or plight of others

· Mercy toward mankind - non-judgmental towards others and their circumstances - whether person or reason 

· Sense of responsibility for others - He does not choose who will be His neighbor, recognizes that whoever we encounter IS our neighbor 

· Attitude and spirit of generosity

· Able to keep any biases or prejudice in check - if they were there at all

· Alert and aware - could not have been so preoccupied with own stuff that they could or would not see (see priest and Levite) 

· Time/Calendar 

· Preparedness 

o  Resources - he was prepared and had apparent Medicinal 

o  Skills to apply

o  $$ to give 

· Reputation (with margins to be able to give and even, if necessary, give more

o  outsiders) that he would have the trust of the innkeeper 

§  Character 

§  Integrity

· Business relationships - that if he was late to his destination there would be grace afforded him - OR - he was willing to risk his relationship with for a higher good - the life and welfare of another person - EVEN a Jew. 

· Even his physical self

· Other:

Do we trust the Holy Spirit and the righteousness of Jesus to rise above both ourselves and the sin in the person we are loving to do what God promises it/they will do?  To convict the world of sin and righteousness. 

This would have been a brutal challenge to the thinking and believing of Jesus’ Jewish audience - having each area put under the microscope and examined - that is their heart - in reference to A SAMARITAN!!  A reprobate!  A cheat! A bum… and the list goes on!

So it should be for us!   We are to be challenged in every area of our belief system, our values, our heart’s condition, how we view God and what He has done of us, provided, His sovereignty, His teaching, and commands, Jesus' life and teaching, our trust in Him, whether our character resembles Jesus’, and that we are making progress toward it - and if we are not, challenged to consider what we need to do to take my next step toward Christlikeness - because that is where we actually live by faith, that our faith is tested, that our faith is seen (in our good works, with a good attitude, for the right reasons…) and we bring glory to our father - a good opinion of Him, through us, to others~

We should be just as challenged by this story as Jesus’ audience was, that we would look at each aspect of the Samaritan’s behavior and consider whether I could, or would, be willing and able to do the same for the persons I encounter along the way who I find in peril. 

Am I ready?  In every way?  Where might I be?  Where am I not?  Why am I not?  Am I willing to change to be ready?  Where do I start?  And remember, God is not looking for perfection, He is looking for devotion.  Neither do we need to be READY in every one of these areas to begin, we can begin with where we are while we work toward where we need to be - this is a lifetime endeavor that we live out every day. 

A little personal inventory, an assessment? 

How do I compare to the Good Samaritan?  Where do I begin?  Where am i now in each one of these areas?  Am i in a place where I can be generous with my… 

Mercy (patience and tolerance)?

Grace (kindnesses) 

My sense of responsibility? Am I able to examine my heart with regard to bias, prejudice, or shortsightedness with regard to whom I am responsible and take responsibility - “who is my neighbor?”  Can I, will I see beyond the person’s (fill in the blank) to the person God values and loves, is patient, tolerant, and kind toward - in the hopes of their repenting and coming to Him?  Get them to Jesus, then, deal with what might need to be dealt with. 

Spirit of generosity - God is generous, He gives lavishly (define) , do I recognize God’s generosity?  Am I then imitating our Father as a “dearly loved child, and living a life of love?  Meaning - am I then, with a grateful heart being generous to God (parable of the barns)?  Am I being generous to others?  What is my attitude about what is “mine” or what, what I have, is actually for

·  Am I stingy? Or 

·  Do I hold tight to what i have, or “what is mine”? Or 

·  Do I begrudgingly count the cost every time I give? Or   

·  Do i recognize where and from whom I have received what I have? Or 

·  Do I attribute to Him the good things, all things, I have? Or 

o  Am I aware? Or oblivious, or willfully ignorant?

o  Do I acknowledge? Or do I refuse and take credit for…

o  Am I grateful for it? Or do I have a sense of entitlement

How do my thoughts, attitude, speaking, and actions reflect these attributes? 

This is not a “guilt trip” moment!  But an opportunity to allow God’s truth to examine our hearts, minds, attitudes, and lives.  So, as much as we are called to grant mercy and grace, patience and kindness, to those we are responsible for - our neighbor, we must also apply to ourselves - this is a process, we are working in progress - begin where you are - at least living up to what we have attained (Phil 3), and begin the walk, the work, to where it is that God would have us be - one step at a time!   And do, then, stretch, strive, make every effort to add to your faith and faith walk… 

What is my first, or next, step? REMEMBER: God does not shed light on the whole path, but the next step of the path.

Patient Love: It is Slow to React and Works to Discern the Right Response

Patient love: It is slow to react and works to discern the right response - and then it speaks and acts according to God's prompting and the best of the one loved.

Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

John  2:13-17  Jesus in the Temple (Ps 69:9)

Mark 11:11, 15-18 Jesus in the Temple a second time (Isa 56:7; Jere 7:11; Mal 3:1)

James 1:19-21 Mirroring Jesus, showing patience, responding righteously 

1:19a It is quick to listen

• To the person and situation 

• To God

• God’s leading 

Ask questions to gain perspective 

Proverbs 19:11 A man's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

Pray for guidance - insight, discernment, understanding

1:19b Slow to anger, slow to react.

Proverbs 16:32 He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.

1:!9cIt is slow to speak.

Proverbs 17:27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

It acts - it responds righteously - whether through action or action that appears to be inaction and always with the best of the recipient in mind as directed by god that one’s on ideas or feelings - John 8

Proverbs 19:18 

Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death. NIV

Discipline and teach your son while there is hope, And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.  AMP

Correct your children before it's too late; if you don't punish them, trouble will come their way.  CEV

There’s no concrete answer for every situation. But the reason PATIENCE moves the way it does is to gain insight, discernment, and understanding - from God and His truth - so that PATIENT LOVE might act wisely – that is to apply skill skillfully to the situation.

If someone is trying our patience, it is not our patience that God is testing, but our love.

That God would be patient with me is a crazy thought – each moment of each day, God desires that we walk in step with Him in a way that makes my being like Him and treating others the same as He treats me – as natural as can be – that His Spirit in me and my taking time to be with Him would almost ensure my looking, sounding and acting like Jesus.

So, if God is patient, and love is patient, and God has loved me patiently, Am I patient?  Is my love, patient?  Well, if I am to love others, the way God loves me, then, I’d better be patient… but, why?  What does patience look like?  How does it act?  What does it do?

What does a patient love look like? How does this love react?  It doesn’t - it shows restraint.  

• Being patient, allows me to step back from my initial reaction to ponder prayerfully the right response - a patient love is careful, considerate, and deliberate - taking time to hear God’s prompting to accomplish will and purposes, not mine..  

• A patient love bites its tongue, at first. Being patient, and biting my tongue is not just to stop myself from saying something I shouldn’t in a way I shouldn’t.  But, to slow down and be deliberate in my response, considerate of the one in front of me.  

·    

What does a patient love look and sound like?   I am able to say and do the kind thing because I have been patient, watched, and listened carefully, making myself useful by being attentive to God's directing by not going my way (reactive), but seeking His way (responsive). 

How does a patient love act?   Like God’s patient love toward us - it acts.  Having shown restraint, hearing and consider, it acts according to the need of the one loved.  It acts “kindly”, even if it is hard and seemingly harsh - it is not, because it is exactly what is needed now and for eternity for the best of the loved. 

And learn to love better - as God has loved and loves me - and - I would want to be loved!

Love IS patient - able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious - it is slow to anger 

• It, I, suffer long, I am forbearing, persevering

• Love, therefore, IS long-tempered - refusing to retaliate with anger (because of human reasoning - as opposed to God’s will (Romans 12:3))  just as  “God is slow to anger”

• Slow: taking time to deliberate, to be deliberate; unhurried; taking consideration

• This love expresses anger as the Lord directs - meaning one must put their initial reaction off and be attentive to God, and quick to listen 

• To love patiently is to delay, long - one’s own passionate or enflamed reaction - to make room for God’s directed proper response

• By delaying long our reaction, and taking time to listen to the person before us and Spirit’s prompting and directing - we give ourselves the space to hear the Holy Spirit’s reminder of God’s way of loving (us), we are able:

• to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging

• to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish

• to do what is really needed - not what we thought or felt was needed - according to the need of the beloved (not my need to…)

How do we love this way?  

First: 

1. We spend time with Jesus in word,and prayer - we abide in and with Christ - learning from Him.  (reflect here – am I taking this time?  Why or why not?  What can I do differently or better?)

Then:

1. We pay close attention to the speed and intensity of our response. (reflect here – am I alert to and aware of how I treat others, especially if they are “in my way”?  why or why not?

1. We learn to recognize who we tend to indulge, “me” flesh (reactionary) and its manner and way, bearing the fruit of our flesh OR God’s Spirit and His manner and way - that we would bear the fruit of the Spirit (responsive)

Patience: More than a Virtue, but Love: Jesus' Love

Don’t underestimate the power of love’s kindness - we’ve got to be patient!  God’s way of loving is a superpower.  1 John 4:7-13; Psalm 103; 1Corinthians 13:1-4; Romans 2:1-4.   

First: Let’s look at God: God IS Love.  

1 John 4:7-13. God IS love (agape) and He loves (agapao)

Exodus 34:6-7 “…"The LORD, the LORD God, IS compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.

2Chronicles 30:9 “…the LORD your God IS gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.”

Psalm 86:5,15 “5You, Lord, ARE forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you… 15you, Lord, ARE a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Psalm 103:8 “The LORD IS compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.”

Next, let’s look at what God does: God loves, and God expresses His love by His patience and kindness.  Why? Because, first it is who He is, then what He does. 

Then, He knows who and what we are and what we need. Therefore, God, who is love, loves as love loves: and His love is patient and kind. Psalm 103

Ezra 9:13 After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this)

Lamentations 3:22 Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.

Psalm 130:3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

Nehemiah 9:30-31,33 30For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 31But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God… 33In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.

Romans 2:1-4   

1Corinthians 13:1-4

Now, what about me?  Being loved this way by God, do I love Him, and others, the same way?  Am I patient?  We, if I am to love others, the way Jesus loves, I better be… but, why?

Being patient, allows me to be careful, gentle, deliberate, and considerate.  Being patient, biting my tongue, not just to stop myself from saying something I shouldn’t, or the way that I shouldn’t.  But, to slow down and be deliberate in my response, considerate of the one in front of me.  

This is so that I might be of good service.  That my words and actions - my love and hood works - would be useful to this person, here now, in this moment, and for eternity.  I Am able to be kind, because I have been patient and made myself useful by being attentive to the directing hand of God - by not going my way (reactive), but seeking His way (responsive). 

We must see that we are able to love because God loves us first - 1John 4 - and that Love IS patient - it shows restraint.  And then Love which IS kind, is able to be kind – caring and careful, tenderhearted - gentle and useful - now and for eternity’s sake.

How do we love this way?  

First: 

1. We spend time with Jesus in word, prayer - we abide in and with Christ - learning from Him.  (reflect here – am I taking this time?  Why or why not?  What can I do differently or better?)

Then:

2. We pay close attention to the speed and intensity of our response. (reflect here – am I alert to and aware of how I treat others, especially if they are “in my way”?  why or why not?

3. We learn to recognize who we tend to indulge, “me” flesh (reactionary) and its manner and way, bearing the fruit of our flesh OR God’s Spirit and His manner and way - that we would bear the fruit of the Spirit (responsive)

Take some time to read and pray through Galatians 5:13-26 and then Philippians 2:1-11.  But, don’t just read it, let it examine your heart and mind – feeling and thinking; affections and attitudes; and your behavior - reactions and responses.  How often are we “indulging our flesh”, just reacting to our gut’s feelings, thinking, and attitude, and treating people in a way that may not very for good them or useful to them, but instead, reflect more our own feelings? 

How consistently does my love resemble the Holy Spirit’s life in me?  Jesus’ love and character? 

Reflecting further: Philippians 2:1-11 This passage is shows us what God’s grace does in our lives when we take the time to remember, reflect, ruminate (meditate on), and rejoice in all His is, did, and who we are, who I am, in Him and with one another.  This passage also describes for us the emerging and growing character of God’s children – the love and service that grows out of our relationship with Him in Jesus – as we are made more and more like Jesus (Ro 8:28-30; Eph 2:1-10). 

And learn to love better - as God has loved and loves me - and - I would want to be loved!

So, again, Love IS patient - able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious - it is slow to anger 

·  It, I, suffer long, I am forbearing, persevering

·  Love, therefore, IS long-tempered - refusing to retaliate with anger (because of human reasoning - as opposed to God’s will (Romans 12:3))

James 1:20 “...slow to anger because man’s anger does NOT produce the righteousness, the righteous life, that God desires and approves - the good things God wants to be done.”  as we see “God is slow to anger

·  Slow: taking time to deliberate, to be deliberate; unhurried; taking consideration

·  Therefore, it extends, it stretches out, a long way 

Matt 5:39 - turning the other cheek

Matt 5:41 - forces to walk one mile, walk two

Matt 18:21-22 - forgiving 70 times 7 times

Matt 7:12 - doing unto others what you would want done to you, and how

Luke 15:11-24 - Love waits long for the “son” to repent and come back, return 

·  …this love expresses anger as the Lord directs - meaning one must put their initial reaction off and be attentive to God, and quick to listen 

James 1:19 - which does not necessarily mean to, listen quickly, but in fact to be PATIENT and remain until God’s righteousness AND the fruits of the Spirit have time to work past our condition and into our minds to still and stay our hearts (this is the exercise of self-control (2Pee 1:5) - also a fruit of the Spirit - Gal 5:22)

·  So… to love patiently, is to delay, long - one’s own passionate or enflamed reaction - to make room for God’s directed proper response

·  In so doing, by delaying long our reaction, taking time to listen to the Spirit’s prompting and directing, His reminder of God’s way of loving (us), we are able to be "to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish" (and how do we tend to punish??) and able to do what is really needed - not what we thought or felt was needed - according to the need of the beloved (not my need to…)

Let Us Be Careful Not to Underestimate the Power of Love’s Kindness

Let us be careful not to underestimate the power of love’s kindness - it is a superpower. 1 John 4:7-13; Psalm 103; 1Corinthians 13:1-4; Romans 2:1-4.   Let’s first look at God’s love. 

1 John 4:7-13. God is love (agape) and He loves (agapao)

God expresses His love by His patience and kindness.  Why? Because, first it is who and what He is, and so it is what He does.  And second, He knows who and what we are and what we need. Therefore, God, who is love, loves as love loves: Love is patient, love is kind. 

Psalm 103

1Corinthians 13:1-4

Romans 2:1-4   

t https://biblehub.com/psalms/103-10.htm 

Ezra 9:13  After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this)

Lamentations 3:22 Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail.

Am I patient?  Am I kind?  How does my presence affect the environment I enter?  

Psalm 130:3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?

Nehemiah 9:30-31,33  30For many years you were patient with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. Yet they paid no attention, so you gave them into the hands of the neighboring peoples. 31But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God… 33In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.

Being gentle and tender, being patient, biting my tongue, not just to stop myself from saying something I shouldn’t, or the way that I shouldn’t.  But, to slow down and be deliberate in my response, considerate of the one in front of me.  

That I might be of good service, useful to this person, in this moment, because I have been patient and made myself useful by being attentive to the directing hand of God - by not going my way, but sought His way. 

Just let us see how God is love, and I love is kind, and hope that this patient. 

Then there is the implicit command given to us in 1Cor 13 - as we have been commanded to love, as we have been loved, weirdo told what love is, having a defined for us, as demonstrated by God, and imitated by us

We love because God loves us first - 1John 4 - Love IS patient - it shows restraint.  Love IS kind - it is tenderhearted - gentle and useful.

How do we exercise this aspect of love? While abiding in Christ, we indulge, not our flesh and its way, but God’s Spirit and His way - bearing the fruit of the Spirit: 

• Love IS patient - able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious - it is slow to anger 

• It, I, suffer long, I am forbearing, persevering

• Love, therefore, IS long-tempered - refusing to retaliate with anger (because of human reasoning - as opposed to God’s will (Romans 12:3))

• James 1:20 “...slow to anger because man’s anger does NOT produce the righteousness, the righteous life, that God desires and approves - the good things God wants to be done.”  as we see “God is slow to anger

• Slow: taking time to deliberate, to be deliberate; unhurried; taking consideration

• Therefore, it extends, it stretches out, a long way (turning the other cheek; walking two miles, when forced to walk one; forgiving 70 times 7 times; doing unto others what one wants to be done to them, and how; it waits long for the “son” to repent and return )

• …and expresses anger as the Lord directs - meaning one must be attentive to God, and quick to listen 

• James 1:19 - which does not necessarily mean to, listen quickly, but in fact to be PATIENT and remain until God’s righteousness AND the fruits of the Spirit have time to work past our condition and into our minds to still and stay our hearts (this is the exercise of self-control (2Pee 1:5) - also a fruit of the Spirit - Gal 5:22)

• So… it is to delay, long - one’s own passionate or enflamed reaction, to make room for God’s directed proper response

• In so doing, by delaying long our reaction, taking time to listen to the Spirit’s prompting and directing, His reminder of God’s way of loving (us), we are able to be "to be patient in bearing the offenses and injuries of others; to be mild and slow in avenging; to be long-suffering, slow to anger, slow to punish" (and how do we tend to punish??) and able to do what is really needed - not what we thought or felt was needed - according to the need of the beloved (not my need to…)

And love IS kind… gentle and full of service to others - that means keeping them AND their real needs at the forefront of one’s good intentions for them - and meeting them God’s way, useful to them; is the Spirit-produced goodness which meets the need and avoids human harshness (cruelty). 

Loving kindness does all of this with a tender, gentle spirit, or heart, with good and loving intentions, combined with agape and agapeo - it is that come to want God’s very best, for the beloved - and so we pray kindly for them - all of the time (when the heat is NOT on - tension and the NEED to be patient; so that when the heat IS turned up, we continue to pray in such a way as to slow our roll (our reaction) and listen for God’s Spirit and truth prompting and directing our responses.

Uprightness - the quality of being honorable or honest, morally correct in thinking and behavior toward others - decent, honest - trustworthy and truthful, conscientious, and of good character. 

This is the same word used to describe God’s kindness toward us - Romans 2 and what are the intentions of that kindness.  So, God IS love, love IS kind, and God’s kindness - expressed in His patience - IS intended to lead us to repentance (as a gentle word turns back…)

These two concepts are necessarily intertwined, as one leads to and promotes the other, in fact, we cannot be kind if we are not patient - to be patient, is to be kind and leads to, allows, and promotes kindness - and kindness, this gentle spirit, is God’s super-power - the counterintuitive nature of the kingdom of heaven.

We might be asking the question “what does this mean in evangelism, or apologetics, or the correction of another.?

Certainly, this would include the admonition to “prepared to give a reason for your help when you’re asked“, but even more profoundly, it is that we are slow to speak, after being quick to listen, and then, to add patience and kindness, to be considerate, and deliver it as to be guided by God, spirit, and wisdom, and truth. And even in our preparation, or having studied it prepared for whatever question you might be ask, I’ve been patient, and kind, 10% response, or better, yet a reaction, and guides us into the truth that needs to be spoken in this context, not necessarily what we thought needed to be said, but God really Determines and wills

Patience and kindness will allow you to know what to say, and how. It is what enables us to hear the Holy Spirit, and be directed by his prompting. To hear the words come up in our hearts and minds, to know how to respond with wisdom and grace, honesty and truth. It is gods way of dealing with each of us, of loving us, and he calls us to love as we have been loved.

These two are intertwined 

Fruit of the Spirit - patience, kindness

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Ephesians 4:32  Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:12  Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Kindness in the life of the church: is that we are useful in the lives of one another - acts of service and good works that really meet, real needs in the life of another - beloved - always done with gentleness and benevolence - compassionate, thoughtful, considerate, charitable acts of goodwill. 

Even when a brother or sister is in sin, we are to kindly go to them, and be merciful to them (remembering that they, and we, are made out of dust, we do not treat them as their sin deserves - one we can’t (judge and condemn not) and two, we remember that we are but dust - frail and fragile and God has shown me mercy and not treated me as my sin deserves!)  in love, speak the truth to them, with them - not at them. (Matt 7:3 18:15-17; Gal 6:1-2; Col 3:13-15; 1Peter 1:22; 4:8; Pr 10:12; Ja 5:20; Lu 6:27-42) 

Even the discipline of having to separate oneself from the one in sin, done kindly, gently, graciously, is an act of mercy -  done in a way so that when they do come to their senses, they might remember our kindness and turn back in remorse and sorrow with a goal to be forgiven and restored - reconciled. (2Cor )

And toward the one who is not (yet) in Christ, that we do not condemn, but keeping in mind God’s mercy toward me, I kindly share space with them in a way that examples the love and wisdom of God and look for opportunities to share God’s grace with them - right up to our being prepared to give a reason for my hope when they ask and to be gentle and respectful in my responses - trusting that the Holy Spirit will prompt, direct, and guide, and being a willing participant in His responding through us - honoring each person and each encounter for who and what they are - because kindness is attentive, deliberate, and considerate. 

And how much more true and necessary is kindness when these things happen in the crucible of our families and homes - with those who are closest to us?

And how much more in our own homes?  The environment we create and keep - is it loving? That is, is it patient and kind?  

“I desire mercy, not sacrifice” What DOES this mean? Matthew 9:13

Matthew 9:13 “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”  What DOES this mean? Hosea 6:6; Pr 21:3; Mt 12:7

Jesus and the Samaritans:  not just social statements, neither - merely - the truth of the diversity of those who would be “loved” and offered eternal life - though that is true; but also, Jesus is also aiming this right at His disciples as an example to the disciples, a demonstration of God’s heart, and as a teaching to those who would become apostles - representatives of Jesus and His kingdom, and with authority.  That THIS is how you are to be, how you are to share the truth of the gospel with mercy and love, care for the sheep, and teach the sheep how to love and care for one another. 

These would be men (and the women accompanying them) whose minds - attitudes and affections - would need to be tested, shown as sinful, that they would see that they too are in desperate need of God’s mercy (despite their “lofty” calling and position).  It was vital that they would see, that they themselves, also, needed to be transformed.  As, this would be the essence of the gospel (and that - to the nations) and the establishment of and care for the Church in which the peoples would be placed, arranged, and care for. 

The parable of the Good Samaritan was not just a challenge to the scribe, though, he had asked for it.  It was to all would hear it.  And maybe, in particular, this challenge was to his disciples, who would certainly have had the same attitude buried deep within their own hearts.  

And now, just as the disciples then, here today, we, too, would need to have our own hearts examined by God’s merciful truth to see who it is, that we, in our sinfulness, would consider to be unworthy of our mercy, grace, and (desire for) their wellbeing - that is - God’s best. 

Why us, today?  Well, one, we’re human.  And the context of (sinful and broken) humanity, “there is nothing new under the sun”.

We, too, want swift retribution, to see the “truth” vindicated, morals judged, ethics tried, and punishment handed out - now!  And we are living in a time and space, with resounding voices around us, where we know what is true, make “right” judgments, and want it dealt with - now.  We are the court of public opinion, and our opinion is, “We have seen the evidence, it was obvious from the beginning, guilty, as charged!”  

Is that how the “Rule of Law” protects its citizens?  Is this how we live out the edict that a person is “innocent until proven guilty”?

But, that is not God’s way.  His own word says this about Himself, that He is “…gracious and righteous…merciful - full of compassion”  Ps 106:5 (86:5,15; 103:8; 112:4) 

But, we might say “Enough of this mercy, what about truth?!”

Do we not understand, that mercy is grounded in truth, and speaks truth, because in truth, is life and freedom?  Therefore,  loving one mercifully, is a matter of helping them see and know, the Truth, that sets them free?

We must learn that it is not “truth”, then “mercy”. Then “love”, in any particular order, or one, without the others.  The fact is, we cannot express any one of these without the others. 

Luke 9

Livin’ binary in a world of grays: Mercy or truth or love? Which one is it? Well, just be nice! Ummm, nope. But, we should be kind (restraining our own anger (James 1), we bring forward what is essential, good and necessary, for the wellbeing of the person before us that our kindness toward them (in Jesus’ name, with Jesus righteousness and character) would be intended to lead them to repentance (Rom 2; 12) - our preference not being “they get what they deserve, but, that they experience God’s merciful love and grace and turn and follow Him to life, for life.) 

Preference?? Why preference? God’s goodness is of His good 

Love: 1John 4:16-19 “God is Love and loves”;  1Cor 13: “Love is patient, love is kind…”   agape - love that centers on moral preference (and, it seems, God’s moral preference is that all would repent and be saved)

Love is… patient and kind: The love of God, and of our neighbor for God’s sake, is patient toward all men. It suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; and all the malice and wickedness of the children of the world; and all this not only for a time, but to the end; and in every step toward overcoming evil with good, it is kind — Mild, gentle, benign; inspiring the sufferer at once with the most amiable sweetness, and the most fervent and tender affection.

And is kind - The word used here denotes to be good-natured, gentle, tender, affectionate. Love is benignant. It wishes well. It is not harsh, sour, morose, ill-natured. Tyndale renders it, "is courteous." The idea is, that under all provocations and ill-usage it is gentle and mild. "Hatred" prompts to harshness, severity, unkindness of expression, anger, and a desire of revenge. But love is the reverse of all these. A man who truly loves another will be kind to him, desirous of doing him good; will be "gentle," not severe and harsh; will be "courteous" because he desires his happiness, and would not pain his feelings. And as religion is love, and prompts to love, so it follows that it requires courtesy or true politeness, and will secure it; see 1 Peter 3:8. If all people were under the influence of true religion, they would always be truly polite and courteous; for true politeness is nothing more than an expression of benignity, or a desire to promote the happiness of all around us.

1Tim 2:1-7 “1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.”

1John 4:19 “We agapeo (love out of and with a moral preference) because God loved us (out of and with a moral preference)” 

This IS loving, or agapeo-ing, our enemy, this IS what Jesus is, did, does, and desires for us to do - the Samaritan represents the greatest of our enemies - impure, untrue, dirty, sinful, and unmerciful - and best represents (in the mind of the Jew, at the time) what would be the worst of us.  As the priest and the Levite walked by, there could be no greater indictment, that a Samaritan, would stop and do the “right thing”, to fulfill God’s truth - with mercy by agapeo (ing) - rendering aid without question, cost, or reciprocation or repayment (Matthew 5), and to do so, lavishly (Ephesians 2)

Mercy: Ps 106:5 (86:5,15; 103:8; 112:4) “God is gracious and righteous; our God is merciful - full of compassion”; Luke 6:36 “Be merciful as your heavenly is merciful” - compassionate - of tender mercy; experiencing deep pity - expressing visceral compassion - as God has for people who look to Him for help in their difficult situations. 

Truth: “The truth will set you free…”; “I am the way the truth and the life - no one comes to the Father except through me” (Hebrews 2; 10) - truth, but not merely truth as spoken; truth as an idea, reality, sincerity, truth in the moral sphere, divine truth revealed to man - straightforwardness - true to fact, reality, as the opposite of illusion - all truth personified and exampled in and by Jesus Person, life, teaching, and ministries - He did not merely speak the truth but was the truth in His very being. 

Illusionary: "the truth, as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man," opposed alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and to the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians”.

So that if one is believing an illusion, mercy has pity and moves us toward them, love compels us to bring aid in the form of truth - what is true about God and man, or, in this case, self. 

It is not enough “to love”, to “be merciful”, then/or “speak the truth”.  No.  It is ours to do just what Jesus does: to love, by being merciful and lovingly speak the truth.

The Good Samaritan: The Kingdom of Heaven's First Responder - Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 25:31-46

What if, on 911, first responders had just walked on by… did they choose who they would help?  Did they even ask? At what point did a first responder decide, “Ah, nah!”  and walk on by?

God’s heart for mercy: our own hearts being transformed by God’s merciful kindness, we are created (in Jesus) for obedience to Him - to do the good works that are the fruit of that transformed heart, having been transformed, is intended then to express mercy - being a recipient and beneficiary of God’s mercy. 

Luke 10:25-37 the Good Samaritan: the kingdom of heaven’s first responder

Do I ask the same question? Who is my neighbor? To whom and for whom am I responsible?  To whom can or should I render aid?  To whom should I not?  And, if the scribe as asking this in an attempt to justify himself, what must the people have been thinking and waiting to here?  And are there times and circumstances, and people in those circumstances, where I might try to justify my response?

Jesus’ Jewish audience would have been spellbound, on the edge of their seat, waiting to see how this story would unfold and end.  Each detail would have peeked their imagination - proking emotions, thoughts, and judgments as the circumstances unfolded and each character is introduced. 

The scribe - one learned in the Law, an expert in the Tora, the “Five Books of Moses”.  Probably a Pharisee - as the Pharisee (and not a Saducee) would have believed in the resurrection of the dead and eternal life, and, they were scrupulous with regard to being “clean”, undefiled by anything “impure” - including other people.  So, they were committed to knowing who their “neighbor” was and would keep separate, and even judge, anyone who wasn’t clean - thus, not their neighbor - refusing to associate with anyone who was not as “rightesous” as they were.  It was among themselves, Pharisees and their associates, that they would consider “neighors”.  This scribe was attempting to exalt his own sense of (self) righteousness and justify his practive.

The place and the journey - this journey, and road in particular, was notoriously difficult and dangerous - even in modern times, people are warned of its inherent perilous ways. Anyone seen traveling alone on this road, especially with goods or anything of value would have been considered a fool who got was coming to them. 

The traveler - the foolish man who had little sense who would now be seen with scorn and ridicule… Jesus is setting us up.

What might the listening Jew (and maybe even the hidden Samaritan) have been thinking as each character is revealed?  How would who act? Would they first think “Ah, a priest, he’ll render aid!”, but alas, he walks by, and that, on the other side… “Well, that makes sense, he cannot defile himself, he has to remain “clean” (Numbers 19:11), and besides, does this man not deserve what he got?!”

The Priest - The priests of Israel were a group of qualified men from within the tribe of the Levites who had responsibility over aspects of tabernacle or temple worship.

The Levite - but not a Priest - often a lay leader or servant of the local body, one who would exemplify all things “Christian”.  

A little more study: https://www.gotquestions.org/difference-priests-Levites.html )

If we were to write this story today, who might we pick as the… 

• Traveler - fool-hearty, unwise, deserving of the beating he took

• Priest, who was Levite - a qualitified vocational and professional religious teacher and representative between God and man - what of mercy, grace, and charity?

• Levite, Samaritan - the despised, and in many ways, a historical, sworn enemy, one with a lineage of antagonism and mutual dislike or even hatred. 

Samaritan: Jesus mercy in using this parable to convict the Jews of their sin. 

Who were the Samaritans?

The growing divide between the Samaritans and the Jews is not explicitly chronicled in a single narrative in the Scriptures. However, there are several passages that provide insights into the historical and cultural context, as well as the strained relationship between these two groups:

1. 2 Kings 17:24-41: This passage describes the origins of the Samaritans after the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel. The Samaritans were brought into the region and introduced their own religious practices, resulting in a mixture of Israelite and pagan beliefs. This sets the stage for the later tensions and divisions between Samaritans and Jews.

2. Ezra 4:1-5: This passage mentions opposition and conflict faced by the Jews in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem during the time of Cyrus the Great. It includes references to Samaritans who offered assistance but were rejected due to their perceived impure lineage. This rejection further deepened the divide between the two groups.

3. Nehemiah 4:1-3: In this section, when Nehemiah and the Jews were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, they faced opposition from Samaritans who ridiculed and mocked their efforts. This highlights the hostilities and conflicts between the two communities.

4. John 4:1-42: This narrative recounts Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. It reflects the social, ethnic, and religious tensions between Jews and Samaritans. Jesus' interaction with the woman and his message of inclusivity challenge the prevailing animosity between the two groups.

While these passages shed light on the historical background and strained relationship between Jews and Samaritans, it's important to remember that they provide glimpses rather than a comprehensive account. The ongoing division and animosity between the two groups were the result of a complex historical process, religious differences, and cultural tensions.

Do we think the Samaritan didn’t know what the Jews thought of him? Or, even, what he might of thought of or felt the Jews? 

Did the animosity between the Jew and the Samaritan just go one way?

The animosity and contempt between the Samaritans and Jews during Jesus' time were not one-sided but reciprocal. Both groups held negative attitudes towards each other, reflecting a deep-seated mutual disdain. While it is challenging to quantify or generalize the attitudes of every individual Samaritan or Jew, historical and biblical records suggest a reciprocal hostility between the two groups. Here are some factors that contributed to the mutual contempt:

1. Historical Conflicts: The historical conflicts between the Samaritans and Jews, including the defilement of the Jerusalem Temple by Samaritans during the time of Nehemiah, created a lasting bitterness between the two groups. These historical events fueled animosity and contributed to the mutual contempt.

2. Religious Rivalry: The religious differences between Samaritans and Jews intensified their mutual disdain. The Samaritans had their own distinct religious practices centered around Mount Gerizim, while the Jews emphasized worship at the Jerusalem Temple. Each group considered the other's religious practices to be impure or false, contributing to a deep-seated contempt.

3. Cultural and Ethnic Divisions: The Samaritans were considered a mixed population, resulting from intermarriage between the remnants of the northern kingdom of Israel and non-Israelite groups. The Jews viewed themselves as the true descendants of Abraham and held a sense of ethnic pride and superiority. These cultural and ethnic divisions reinforced mutual contempt and prejudice.

4. Social Stigma and Discrimination: Both Samaritans and Jews experienced social stigma and discrimination from each other. The Samaritans were seen as impure and held in low regard by the Jews, while the Samaritans likely held negative views of Jews due to their exclusionary attitudes.

While it is important to acknowledge that not all Samaritans or Jews harbored contemptuous attitudes, the prevailing sentiment among many individuals in both groups reflected mutual animosity and contempt. Jesus' choice to present a Samaritan as the hero of the Parable of the Good Samaritan was a deliberate attempt to challenge and overcome these deeply entrenched biases and promote reconciliation and love between the two groups.

To the holders of “righteousness” this story would have been utterly offensive and contrary - Jesus would be calling them out for a myriad of sins that were contrary to:

• God’s intended purpose for Israel as a light to the nations and an example of His grace and love. 

• Misrepresenting God’s heart for the nations - and this by “God’s people”. 

The origins and maturing of the attitudes toward non-Jews in the Bible can be traced through various passages that reflect the evolving perspectives and experiences of the Israelites. Some key sections that shed light on this development include:

1. Old Testament Origins:

   - Genesis 12:1-3: God's covenant with Abraham marks the beginning of God's plan to bless all nations through the descendants of Abraham.

   - Exodus 19:5-6: God calls the Israelites a "treasured possession" and a "kingdom of priests," suggesting their role as intermediaries between God and the nations.

2. Mosaic Law and Israel's Identity:

   - Leviticus 19:34: The command to love the stranger or foreigner as oneself reflects an early recognition of the need for kindness and inclusion of non-Israelites within their community.

   - Deuteronomy 7:1-6: In these passages, the Israelites are instructed to utterly destroy the Canaanite nations as they enter the Promised Land. This reflects a period of distinct separation and exclusion as part of the conquest of the land.

3. Prophetic Voices and Expanding Perspectives:

   - Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 49:6: These passages depict the servant of the Lord (often associated with the Messiah) being a light to the nations, pointing to a broader redemptive purpose for Israel beyond their own borders.

   - Jonah: The book of Jonah highlights God's concern for all nations, as Jonah is sent to proclaim God's message of repentance to the people of Nineveh, who were not Israelites.

4. New Testament Fulfillment:

   - Matthew 28:18-20: The Great Commission commands the disciples to make disciples of all nations, emphasizing the universal scope of the gospel.

   - Acts 10:9-48: The conversion of Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, and Peter's realization that God shows no partiality, marks a significant shift in perspective towards non-Jews in early Christianity.

These passages, among others, demonstrate the progression of attitudes and perspectives towards non-Jews in the Bible. While there were periods of separation and exclusivity, there were also glimpses of God's broader redemptive plan for all nations. Jesus Christ and the early Christian movement ultimately expanded the understanding of God's love and salvation to include all people, transcending ethnic boundaries and providing a foundation for a more inclusive approach.

And a call to repentance to live a life of true righteousness as expressed by a heart itself transformed by God’s mercy upon it - a concept having been long lost on them. (I have not come to the healthy and the righteous, but to the sick and simmer; not the “wise and the learned, but “little children” - thus we are called to be in view of God’s mercy, and be merciful just as He is merciful… having ourselves have been comforted by God’s love, we now bring comfort)

Mercy rendered, is the gospel of truth   To whom am I to be kind, and again, to what end?  What are my intentions? What are the intentions of God’s kindness toward us? Do we believe God at His word? 

Each one of us, having people in our own lives, to whom God has sent us, will see them through our own lens - our thinking, feeling, experiences, and perspectives., and these thoughts and feelings will usually be relative to our own person, what appeals to us and what doesn’t, what is this we are or are not - we will see it we see it - not always like someone else might, or feel  how it is we might feel about it versus have someone else meeting abou 

To whom am I to render mercy?  And to what end? 

Believers: 

• Encouragement 

• Admonition (reminders of the truth of the gospel of grace for salvation and acceptance)

• Loving and gentle correction, discipline, and restoration 

• Mercy - extended with insight and love - a deep desire for thier well-being, God’s best

• Who are the brothers and sisters in my life am I called to be merciful?

Unbelievers: 

• We are to be examples of God’s grace - as (ourselves being) recipients of unmerited favor 

• Looking past their being a “sinner” or an enemy, to their being one of God’s valued making and image bearer, for whom Christ came, also 

• Render aid when and where possible regardless of my feelings about them and maybe have my feelings change - because they valued by God (as in grief for their condition, deeper compassion, hope for their wellbeing AND God’s best for them - which would be what?), 

• Being prepared to give a reason for our hope when asked because they see and experience something different with me - a righteousness that is the reflection of Jesus - who came to me and treated me, in spite of me, as a, His, neighbor.

First responders are committed to rendering aid regardless of the object or subject, do we see ourselves is the first responders looking about having the last of the dying? My brothers and sister, struggling in sin?

Can we, will we see Thor plight and respond I. Kind? 

For the next few weeks we will looking into  what we need to be to be the first responders Fox had made us to be 

Loving Like God Does - Eph 5

John 17:20-26 “Father may they be one as we are one” God’s intention was never “I, me”, but “us, and we. one another, together.” His likeness is born from “Us and our, not Me and Mine” 

This is reflected in Jesus' prayer for us, which goes back to God’s original intent and design - that “it is not good for us to be alone” because we were never meant to be alone, isolated, or separate.  We were meant to be like God, in a perpetual and mutual relationship - of love and edification.

Genesis 1:26-28 “26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,…” with dominion over Our Creation 27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and said to them…”

Romans 1:19-20 “20...since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...”

God’s likeness, that is His invisible qualities, is seen in what He has made - us - and seen most clearly, not merely in me, (though they are) but most clearly when I live AND love - that is, how I/we participate in the Body, the One-ness of the community, or fellowship (Phil 2) – God’s invisible qualities are best and most clearly seen in how we love one another, together in righteousness and goodness, just like the mutuality of God’s Divine community – the Divine “US and OUR”.

Why is sin in the life of the believer so destructive?  Because. it is keeping us from being all that WE were meant to be – what we were meant to reflect.  As relationships are perverted, so is the expression of His likeness, as we then, live and love like Jesus, and in particular as part of His body, God’s invisible qualities begin to shine again, as was intended from the beginning, and realized in Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit (His sanctifying power), and people, seeing God in us and among us “...will know WE are His discipleS by how we love one another”, just as God, invisibly, loves One Another.  In Jesus, with one another, not alone, but together, we are the visible expression of God’s invisible qualities seen by the world - that is by His grace. 

First, sin separates us from God, distorting and perverting God’s image and likeness in us (as sinful humans), it brings division not only (tho most profoundly) between God and man, but also, between man and man or person and person – thus making our being visible expressions of God’s invisible qualities less than representative.  It life in Christ, by the Spirit, with one another as the Body of Christ, that the restorations process begins, and we begin, more and more, to better and more rightly reflect God’s image and likeness.  That in loving one another, we are truly becoming imitators of God – as – dearly loved children. Thus, being more accurate visible expressions of God’s invisible qualities.  Yes, made in the image and likeness of God, now redeemed, we are now born again, new creatures in Christ, Created in Christ Jesus, dearly loved children of God!

Ephesians 1:3-12 “…4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he  predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ… 6to the praise of his glorious grace that He lavished on us… 12in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.”

Ephesians 2:4-8. “…6God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”.Image and likeness, Us and them - key indicator, plural as us, like us, Me and Him - Jesus 

We, too often, divorce the term “let us make them in our image, in our likeness” from our OWN making, AND salvation - falling into the trap of believing this life (in Christ) being “about me”.

As Americans, in particular, we can often see ourselves as individualistic, independent, self-determining, and self-preserving - but that is not so in the Kingdom, and was never meant to be.   

“My”, being one, as in alone, was never God’s intention, as we see from the beginning, at the inception of mankind n- God did not say “I will make a man in my image, and in my image, I will make him”. 

No, what He said was “Let us make them…, …in our image and likeness…”.  What God was doing was laying out His most fundamental intentions for mankind, for us, His making - not that each of us isn’t made in his likeness and image, we are image bearers - but it is that we, together, represent the Godhead’s own loving and mutual relationship – it’s not good for us, me, to be alone, just as God’s not alone, and never has been alone - it is in His triune community, in which God has forever existed in an eternally loving & mutual relationship, it is in this, that He, They, have made us, to be like Him – to live and love like God does, the one we have been made by, reflect, and are to imitate.

So, it is in being loved and loving that we find our purpose, our significance, our identity, and our value - it is here we find and express our very meaning and find ours, and God’s, delight - as we fulfill what it is that God has made US for - His glory and honor in expressing His invisible qualities - finding our joy in Him and our making - and this ALWAYS - in the context of relationships - right and good relationships. 

It is the mystery of that relationship, of those three being one, that repeats itself in the mystery of humanity. And in particular, the church. As the many become one. and we are the answer of Jesus' prayer “Let them be one as we are one”, and the consummation of God’s original intent of “Let us make them in our image, and then I’ll like this let us make them”

In other words, we were never meant to be alone. As people, persons, being made by God, but in particular, as Christians being created in Christ Jesus, not only saved into Him, the Person but saved into Him, that is, His body - as members belonging to Him and to one another (koinonia).

A study on mutuality!  Imitating God, as dearly loved children – together. 

1 Corinthians 12 – over the past couple of months we have talked about our value as ascribed to us by God.  First, in our having been made in His image and likeness, second, and even more profoundly, in the price He was willing to pay - that our value is inherent in our being God’s image bearers, and that value expressed in and with the body - with one another. 

How does the Body (of Christ), most and best express God’s invisible qualities, that likeness with which we have been made?  When we realize and express our own value to God and in and to the Body, and see and appreciate the value of the others I, we, have been placed with - and we do this being serving and being served, loving and edifying - one another, seeing and treating each other according to that value.

This is to the glory of God as we are all revealing his invisible qualities - that are good and glorious, and to our joy, the joy of mankind - witness, Adam‘s delight, when being re-connected and having his emptiness filled by the woman in Genesis.

How do we know God most profoundly and see Him most completely?  When the Body of Christ acts like it was intended - loving, edifying, mutually, just LIKE God, in loving and harmonious relationship.  As we have and find our value in Christ, we express value with one another

 The Divine Fellowship, in true and real, eternal, koinonia – loving, giving honor, and dignity - recognizing and respecting Each for who He is and what Each does, Each glorifying the Others - working together, humbly with one another in mutual submission one to another in perfect harmony and delight.

So, it is for us in Christ, that we would submit first to God, and then to one another. That our humility would be marked by an accurate and sober view of ourselves, and an accurate and right view of one another - each an image bearer of God, made to live as God lives, redeemed by Jesus’ life, work, death, and resurrection - as God ascribes out worth to us by Jesus, thus worthy of esteem and love.   God demonstrates for us, perfect mutuality and harmony, love and mutual admiration, perfect humility in one’s own other self-sufficiency in this willingness and ability without self-diminishing lifting the other.  God edifies us and now calls us to edify one another.

The Trinity

We believe that there is one living and true God, eternally existing in three unique and distinct persons, that these Persons are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute, with joyful cooperation, distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption in mutual and glorious cooperation. Matthew 28:19, John 1:1-4; 14:16-17, 26-27; 15:26, 1 John 5:7; Ephesians 5

The Father

We believe in God, the Father, an infinite personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of each person, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. 

John 3:16-17, John 4:24, John 17:5

The Son

We believe that Jesus Christ, the Word, was with God and was God in the beginning through Whom all things were made.  We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, God incarnate.   We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.  We believe that it is in Jesus that we are created and to whom we are conformed by the work of the Father.

Isaiah 7:14, John 1:1-4,9-14, Philippians 2:5-11, Hebrews 1:2-3, 1 John 1:7; 15:11, Ephesians 2:10; Romans 8:29

The Spirit

We believe in the Holy Spirit who came forth from the Father and the Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ, and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.  We believe it is ours to cooperate with the Spirit in obedience - to walk with and be influenced by Him to accomplish the perpetual realization of the working out of our salvation and sanctification.

John 14:26; 15:26-27;16:7-15, Romans 8:14-17, Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18, Galatians 5:16,26; Philippians 2:12-13

The Divine Fellowship, true and real eternal koinonia,  - giving honor, and dignity - recognizing and respecting Each for who He is and what Each does, Each glorifying the Others - working together, humbly with one another in mutual submission one to another in perfect harmony and delight.

So it is for us in Christ, that we would submit first to God, and then to one another. That our humility would be marked by an accurate and sober view of ourselves, and an accurate and right view of one another - each an image bearer of God, made to live as God lives, redeemed by Jesus’ life, work, death, and resurrection - as God ascribes out worth to us by Jesus, thus worthy of esteem and love.   God demonstrates for us, perfect mutuality and harmony, love and mutual admiration, perfect humility in one’s own other self-sufficiency in this willingness and ability without self-diminishing lifting the other.  God edifies us and now calls us to edify one another.

A study on mutuality!  Imitating God, as dearly loved children – together. 

1 Corinthians 12 – over the past couple of months we have talked about our value as ascribed to us by God.  First, in our having been made in His image and likeness, second, and even more profoundly, in the price He was willing to pay - that our value is inherent in our being God’s image bearers, and that value expressed in and with the body - with one another. 

How does the Body (of Christ), most and best express God’s invisible qualities, that likeness with which we have been made?  When we realize and express our own value to God and in and to the Body, and see and appreciate the value of the others I, we, have been placed with - and we do this being serving and being served, loving and edifying - one another, seeing and treating each other according to that value.

This is to the glory of God as we are all revealing his invisible qualities - that are good and glorious, and to our joy, the joy of mankind - witness, Adam‘s delight, when being re-connected and having his emptiness filled by the woman in Genesis.

How do we know God most profoundly and see Him most completely?  When the Body of Christ acts like it was intended - loving, edifying, mutually, just LIKE God, in loving and harmonious relationship.  As we have and find our value in Christ, we express value with one another

John 17:20-26 | “Father may they be one as we are one”, God’s intention was never “I, me”, but “us, and we. one another, together.” His likeness is born from “Us and our, not Me and Mine”

John 17:20-26 “Father may they be one as we are one”, God’s intention was never “I, me”, but “us, and we. one another, together.”  His likeness is born from “Us and our, not Me and Mine” 

Why is it so important for us to see God in ALL His wondrous glory?  Because it is how God loves that we see Him, know Him, and imitate Him as dearly loved children - made in His image AND likeness - to be loved and to love like Him/Them - that is how They love.

This is reflected in Jesus' prayer, which goes back to God’s original intent and design - that “it is not good for us to be alone” because we were never meant to be alone, isolated, or separate.  We were meant to be like God, in a perpetual and mutual relationship - of love and edification.

Genesis 1:26-28 “26Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  27So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them and said to them…”

Romans 1: God’s likeness, that is His invisible qualities, is seen in what He has made - us - and seen most clearly, not merely in me, though they are, most clearly I live and love - that is, how I participate in the Body, the One-ness of the community, or fellowship (Phil 2) - it is seen most clearly in how we live and love one another, together in righteousness and goodness, just like the mutuality of God’s Divine community.

As relationships are perverted, so is the expression of His likeness, as we then, live and love like Jesus, and in particular as part of His body, God’s invisible qualities begin to shine again, as was intended from the beginning, and realized in Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit (His sanctifying power), and people, seeing God in us and among us “...will know WE are His discipleS by how we love one another”, just as God, invisibly, loves One Another.  In Jesus, with one another, not alone, but together, we are the visible expression of God’s invisible qualities seen by the world - that is by His grace. 

Ephesians 1:3-12 “3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. ”

Ephesians 2:4-8 “...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved…”

We, too often, divorce the term “let us make them in our image, in our likeness” from our OWN making AND salvation - falling into the trap of this being “about me”. As Americans, in particular, we can often see ourselves as individualistic, independent, self-determining, and self-preserving - but that is not so in the Kingdom, and was never meant to be.   

“My”, being one, was never God’s intention, as we can see, right from the beginning, at the inception of mankind, He did not say “I will make a man in my image, and in my image, I will make him”.

No, what He said was “Let us make them…, …in our image and likeness…”.  What God was doing was laying out His most fundamental intentions for man - kind, for us, His making - not that each of us isn’t made in his likeness and image - in that we are image bearers, but it is that we, together, represent the God’s own loving and mutual relationship - not good to be alone, God’s not alone and never has been alone - it is in His trinitarian community of which God has been eternally in a loving and mutual relationship - that He, They, have made us, to be like Him. 

So, it is in being loved and loving that we find our purpose, our significance, our identity, and our value - it is here we find and express our very meaning and find ours, and God’s, delight - as we fulfill what it is that God has made US for - His glory and honor in expressing His invisible qualities - finding our joy in Him and our making - and this ALWAYS - in the context of relationships - right and good relationships. 

It is the mystery of that relationship, of those three being one, that repeats itself in the mystery of humanity. And in particular, the church. As the many become one. and we are the answer of Jesus' prayer “Let them be one as we are one”, and the consummation of God’s original intent of “Let us make them in our image, and then I’ll like this let us make them”

In other words, we were never meant to be alone. As people, persons, being made by God, but in particular, as Christians being created in Christ Jesus, not only saved into Him, the Person but saved into Him, that is, His body - as members belonging to Him and to one another (koinonia).

1 Corinthians 12 – over the past couple of months we have talked about our value as ascribed to us by God.  First, in our having been made in His image and likeness, second, and even more profoundly, in the price He was willing to pay - that our value is inherent in our being God’s image bearers, and that value expressed in and with the body - with one another. 

How does the Body (of Christ), most and best express God’s invisible qualities, that likeness with which we have been made?  When we realize and express our own value to God and in and to the Body, and see and appreciate  the value of the others I, we, have been placed with - and we do this being serving and being served, loving and edifying - one another, seeing and treating each other according to that value.

This is to the glory of God as we are all revealing his invisible qualities - that are good and glorious.

And to our joy, the joy of mankind - witness, Adam‘s delight, when being re-connected and having his emptiness filled by the woman in Genesis.

We have and find our value in Christ, we express value with one another

How do we know God most profoundly and see Him most completely?  When the Body of Christ acts like it was intended - loving, edifying, mutually, just LIKE God, in loving and harmonious relationship. 

Mary, the mother of Grace, needed grace.

Who says that women weren’t part of writing the scriptures?  John 2 a wedding disaster averted, graces given, no one is perfect, no mother is perfect, “dear woman…”, extending, granting, giving - graces.

Yes, brought, or led, along by the Holy Spirit (2Pe 2:19-21), let us understand that the Spirit used every faculty of person - personality trait, intellect, talent, gift, interest, experience, even acquaintance to write the scriptures - to work with and through the whole of the person writing, just like how He uses us, working in us and through us - our talents and gifts, our very persons - to accomplish the works laid out for us.  

God works in, with, and through us as redeemed versions of who has made us to be - as we are led by the Spirit, He interacts with us, desiring our glad cooperation - to do the good works prepared in advance for us to do, as He creates us in His Son, Jesus (Eph 2:8-10)

So, what about the writers of the scriptures and their sources?  

Luke 1:1-4 - well educated, a gentile, a doctor, and a historian, went back, around, and investigated

Matthew - ironically, this rejected and despised Jewish tax collector, would write his gospel to his fellow Jews as an apologetic of sorts “to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate.”  to reveal to them the Messiah, salvation through Jesus – as a Jew, He worked with the Holy Spirit deftly through the Old Testament to bring the truth of Jesus, as the Messiah, to bear.

Mark, the scribe, many believe, after being mentored by Barnabas, would join Peter (Acts 12:12-14; 1Pe 5:13) on his apostolic and missionary duties and transcribe Peter’s (and maybe even influenced by some of Paul’s and Barnabas's messages) in an attempt to tell the story of Jesus to Gentiles 

John, now, much later in life, is remembering, recollecting, reflecting, and reminiscing about his time with Jesus, his beloved friend, (seeing himself as) “the disciple Jesus loved”, writing in an attempt to convince anyone who would read this beautiful epistle, this tribute to Friend, Savior, Brother, and Lord, that Jesus was real and true, worthy of love and adoration, truly God incarnate, the Son of the Most-High God (Mk 5:7; Lk 1:32), who would come from heaven - the Creator and Maker of all things - God, from the beginning (Jn 1:1-5) - the Messiah (Jn 20:30-31) and we can be born again, children of God, in Him. (Jn 1:12-13; 3:3-8, 16-18)

What does this have to do with today, this message? 

Well, might it be that the writers of the gospel would have talked to Mary?  John, it would seem, would live with and take care of Mary for a foreseeable future.  Peter, if Mark did scribe Peter’s words, would have known Mary very well.  And we might assume that Luke would have at least met her, interviewed her, or at least those who knew her - perhaps James and Jude, (as some assert) her sons born after Jesus.  

What is the point?  Mary’s story, her remembrances, those things she treasured in her heart, made her anxious and pierced her through, are integral parts of the gospels, the scriptures, the telling of the life and ministry of Jesus… from the perspective of the one chosen to bear and bear, God’s only begotten Son. 

Today, we are reminded to, honor, the women chosen by God to bear us.  We are given the reminded to honor mothers.  To reflect on those through whom God would give us life, grant us at least part of our person - DNA, personality, strengths, gifts, and talents

So, where do we go?  Grace.  We all need grace.  Even the mother of our Lord, the mother of Grace, needed grace.

Mary’s story is written on the pages of the gospels, her reflections are woven through this Story, His Story (Lk 1:48).  It is Mary, a woman, that would be granted the privilege of bearing, and raising, or bearing up, laboring over, the Son of God… God chose this “dear woman” (as Jesus would later say - Jn 2:4) not just to bear the child, but to raise the child, to wonder about the child, to lead, guide, and train the child, to pray for and worry about the child… 

It is hard for us to imagine that…. But, Mary is just as much a daughter of the curse as any one of us, and therefore would have suffered much of what we still suffer today.  

Perspective, perception, nobody’s perfect, we all need grace, maybe, especially, moms

Genesis 3:16 “16To the woman he said,  “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;

with painful labor you will give birth to children.

Your desire will be for your husband,

and he will rule over you.”

 …for the woman: Difficulty conceiving, pain in childbirth, in labor - or toil, by the sweat of the brow, or even with sorrow or frustration - women will bear their children - as, much like the man, her husband, she would also be concerned, anxious, even fearful that the seeds of love and life she would sow into the lives of her children, in her own barren sin-soaked soil to work and labor over would, or might,  (themselves) bear fruit.  And so, it would be with Mary, even, the mother of God.

Very much like the soil, or dust, outside the perfect life-giving environment of the Garden, from which their rebellion would cause them to cast – cursed too - would cause frustration and sorrow for the man - Gen 3:17-19

Mary, though her Son would be perfect, would still suffer the pangs and pains of bearing her child… we, you, are not alone.

Her wonder… though initially frightened, was delighted, and sang a song of praise

Luke 1:29, 46-55 “29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God… “My soul glorifies the Lord 47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. 50His mercy extends to those who fear him,

She would be anxious and hurt

Luke 2:34-35 “34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”  

She would ponder what she would see, treasure it in her heart, keep it safe, reflect upon it, and, I’m sure, tell others about her treasured thoughts…

Luke 2:19, 51  “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

She was proud of her Son and what she believed He was becoming… even though she might not understand - she was hopeful

John 2:1-5  “1On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”  5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”   

She was worried and anxious, wanting the best for her Son, would look for Him, come to get Him, to take charge of Him…

Mark 3:21, 31 (Jn 7:5; 10:20) “21When his family b heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”…31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.” 

…and feared what every mother, every woman suffers from: the dread possibility of separation from or rejection by their child. 

Mark 3:33  33“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!33“Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.“

But, there would be redemption, healing, a tender exchange, where love and honor are granted, provision and protection provided, and given a son to replace her Son - as her heart truly was pierced… 

John 19:26-27 26When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, b here is your son,” 27and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” - 

If all of this is true of the mother of God, chosen by God, to bear, and bear, His Son, how much more true of those mothers we have, know, and love, those mothers “we” are…?  That if this is true even for the mother of grace needed grace… 

Maybe we ought to broaden our perspective and adjust our perception, and grant honor and respect, love and forgiveness - grace.  We all need grace, and especially, moms.  May we grant her, them, grace, redemption, love, and honor?   The counterintuitive nature, mind,