"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all....Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (From 1 Thess. 5)
Yesterday we referred to the Scripture which says, "the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other." We said that love is not primarily a noun. It's a verb, and that love is best expressed not in the saying or feeling, but in the doing. Our text reminds us, however, that love must not be what Mumford once called, "Sloppy agape." The text speaks of warning, comforting, upholding, patience, testing, and abstaining. It reveals that doing loving things does not mean that we give everyone their own way. The baby boomers had that, and just look at America today. The children of the Spock books were given a free hand in life. Now America is dominated by an amorality in government, education, entertainment, and the news media.
Giving a child everything, "Well, I just want my kids to have what I didn't," may sound "loving," but can be very destructive. They grow up thinking the world owes them everything, whether you or the "world" can afford it. America finally elected a government which is doing just that. But the same principle is true in the Church. Some times it is necessary to tell people, "You can't do that." Now they indeed may leave your church, but "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins." The "sinner" referred to here is not the "unsaved." It is a Believer who thinks he knows everything, and any time someone corrects him, he considers it an affront to God. After all, "The Lord spoke to me!"
Jesus Christ came into the world to save you and me, not to us our way. If you do not receive everything you want from the Living Triune God, don't get angry. He just may be turning "a sinner from the error of his way."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I confess at times I think I know best-- wretched stupidity. I thank You that You just keep being my Father. Amen.
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* Some new, great stuff at: www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
* Please continue to pray for this fall's missions.
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
