After finishing our discussion on the hypothetical impact of living in a Tim Simms-centered world, we got down to business with 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Ray Stedman has a study on those very same verses @ http://turret2.discipleshiplibrary.com/NET01591.mp3.
Mr. Stedman noted Courage (v. 1-5), Gentleness (v. 8) and Faithfulness (v. 9-12) as the key attributes Paul evokes. Each of us seemed to respond well to the balance Paul provides in this letter.
The element of courage was the theme from a "Fact of the Matter" e-mail I recently received from Jim Kennedy. I've attached it as a comment. Let me know if you'd be interested in getting on Mr. Kennedy's e-mail list. His notes are always thought-provoking (understatement).
The bottom line; if we're authentic in our faith and if/since we believe in the Jesus Paul describes in Colossians 1;
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
. . . how else can we respond other than with courage grounded in this omnipotence, gentleness from our association with this omniscience and a faithfulness that parallels the omnipresence of the holy spirit?
2 comments:
Facts of the Matter, August 16, 2006
Facts of the Matter © 2000 - 2006 R. Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
Sent by Jim Kennedy, jimdkennedy@gmail.com.
In the State in which I live, political minions created spending policies that ran us into the ground to the tune of 10’s of billions of dollars; a deficit greater than the other 49 States combined! Apparently no one had the courage (guts?) to stand up in the Legislature and say, “No! This kind of spending is irresponsible and we’re not standing for it!” And then to go to the wall in fighting for the principle of fiscal responsibility.
Cowardice, timidity, and fear seem to pervade our society. Many believers, for example, don’t seem to have the spiritual fiber to openly identify with Jesus Christ, or to speak out against the genocidal murder of the unborn, or take a stand against the filth in the media/internet, or expose common marketplace practices that bilk the gullible public out of their money. The holy grail in polite society today is “tolerance.” To get along is to go along. Thus cowardice has won the day over courage.
How timely is Robert McCraken’s observation that “the world is not perishing for the want of clever or talented or well-meaning men. It is perishing for the want of men of courage and resolution who, in devotion to the cause of right and truth, can rise above personal feeling and private ambition.”
Cowardice was on display when the 10 spies refused to believe the word of God, “The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky…." (Deut. 1:28b) Judas snuck around Jesus’ back at night to have him spiked to a tree. (John 13:27-30)
Well, what is courage? It is that quality of mind and heart that enables you to stand on principle in an unprincipled world, or to meet danger and opposition with calmness and firmness. Earnest Hemingway put it this way, “Courage is grace under pressure.” And C. S. Lewis reminds us that “courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.” Rambunctious Teddy “Rough Rider” Roosevelt stated, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, then to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.“
Youthful David courageously believed God when he told the Philistine behemoth, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45) And with that he felled the giant! Years later David wrote, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6) Obviously his courage molded his motley crew of discontents who became great warriors. Included among them was Abishai who “raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed…” and Benaiah who “…struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.” (2 Samuel 22:12, 23:18b, 21)
Certainly for the believer we know that courage is derived from uncompromising obedience to God’s word: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Josh. 1:8,9) When you drive a stake in the ground, so to speak, that obedience to God based on His word is the only option, and when you wash your mind and heart in His truth, you gain the courage to act on truth.
If you are tormented with fear, and struggle with the lack of courage, ponder George F. Tilton’s observation that, “Success is never final. Failure is seldom fatal. It’s courage that counts.” Then grab hold of Proverbs 1:33 where God reassures you that “…If you listen to me, you will be safe and secure without fear of disaster." (CEV Translation)
Facts of the Matter, August 16, 2006
Facts of the Matter © 2000 - 2006 R. Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy without altering text or profiteering is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
Sent by Jim Kennedy, jimdkennedy@gmail.com. To add a friend, click on the link below or email to fomadmin@gmail.com or phone 214-556-6287 Sent from The Navigators, 17950 Preston Rd Ste 750, Dallas, TX 75252
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Please pray for Mr. Kennedy. He's getting a pacemaker this month.
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