Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

1 Cotinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

In Mark 12, Jesus is asked by a scribe which is the first commandment of all. The Greek word used in the original text is πρῶτος. If you look up this word in Strong’s, it means first, foremost, as most important. Jesus’answer to this question, leaves no doubt that we should love God first and then all others as ourselves. This puts those around us in a much different light from how most people treat each other.

This week, I got to witness an out pouring of what some may call “Holiday Cheer”, or “Brotherly Love”, or even “Christian Charity”.

A person started a post on Facebook simply by asking what was the one thing that you needed, but couldn’t afford. What started off as a simple question, with a slow start, became a beautiful out pouring of people helping one another. Some people put out what they needed. Quickly people answered that they had the item. Some people simply commented that they would be following the post to see what happened. Some put a list of things they had out, so people could see if there was something they needed, but hadn’t asked. It grew into people even volunteering to take those things needed to the people that needed them, but couldn’t pick them up. I am sure that some of it had to do with the Holiday Season that we are in.

If this can happen simply because people are affected by the Holiday Season, and it makes them feel good to help others this tie of year, how much more should the church being doing it all the time? I am not speaking of any certain congregation, but “the Church”, Christians.

I know that there are a lot of churches, civic organizations, etc. that do give to people around them. But, we all need to examine our motivation for doing it.

1 Corinthians 13 is often called the “love chapter”. The word “charity” is used in the King James version, but if you go back to the original Greek word used here, ἀγάπη, Strong’s shows the meaning “love”. The first three verses of this chapter serve to show us that no matter what we do, if it is not done with love, it means nothing. A gift is just a possession passing from one person to another if it is not given with love. Great speeches and sermons are just words if they are not spoken with love.

If we took the time to really examine our motivation behind something before we did it, how much better would it be, if we first made sure we were doing it with and out of love?

Remember, God showed us the ultimate love: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. How much more should we be showing love to those around us?

Psalm 100 1) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. 2) Serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing, 3) Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5) For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

As everyone knows it is Thanksgiving time here. Most people know the history of the Thanksgiving that we celebrate, so I am not going to go through that again.

Most people take time on Thanksgiving to gather with friends and family, eat a lot of great food, maybe watch the parade or a football game. I believe most will take a few seconds to thank God for their blessings through the year.

Giving thanks to God for the blessings we have received through the year is a good thing. But, does those few seconds really cover how we should express our gratitude to God for ALL He has done for us? It’s easy to focus on the friends and family, and the food, and even the fun we have on Thanksgiving, and not really express our gratitude.

Psalms 100 really gives us a blueprint of how to come into God’s presence and express or gratitude for all He has done for us. This shouldn’t be just something we do on Thanksgiving day either. This is a blueprint for our worship in church, the way to start our daily prayer, each and every day of our life. It is so easy for all of us to bring our appeals to God in prayer, “God, do this for me. God, heal (whomever).” and all the other things we ask God for. It is so much harder, especially when we are struggling through something, to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord”, or “serve the Lord with gladness”. But if we really took the time to “come before his presence with singing”, or “enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise”, and “be thankful unto him, and bless his name”, it would first of all show God that he is above all our requests that we are about to make of Him. It would put Him before anything else going on in our lives. And, it would make all those cares and pressures of life seem a bit lighter by putting our focus on being grateful to Him for everything in our life including the struggles and hardships.

Take the time this Thanksgiving Day to not just thank God, but to be truly grateful to God. He is the reason for true Thanksgiving!

James 2:1-5 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2) For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3) And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4) Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

As many of you know, I have been in Sales for a little while now. When I was new in Sales, I needed to watch other Sales people to learn how to sell. There are many techniques used to convince someone to buy a product or service from you. But, one thing you never want to do, is to judge the person you are selling to by their outward appearance. I tried very hard to always treat every customer the same, no matter how poor or successful they looked. It will amaze you to take your time talking to a customer that looks like they couldn’t afford to buy their next meal, only to have them buy a vehicle that costs as much as the house you bought with no problem. In reverse, it shocks you when you take that same amount of time dealing with a customer that appears they could buy the most expensive vehicle on the lot, to leave without because they have been rejected in every attempt they make.

I was raised by parents that tried very hard to judge a person on their character, not by their appearance. We try very hard with our children to teach them the same way.

These words in James, are addressed to the church, but need to be applied to every area of our lives. Acts 10:34 says “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, “of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” God does not consider our rank in life, our achievements, or our money and possessions as making us better than another person. And we, whether in the church or out, should not either.

It would be a terrible shame and injustice for that person poor in appearance, poor in wealth, or low in spirit to miss out on a wonderful blessing because we chose to treat them as a lesser person because of their appearance. It would also be a real shame to miss out on our own blessing for having passed over someone like that in favor of someone that appears to be wealthier, or more well dressed.

Be humble, stay humble, remember those times when you were the one wearing the shabby clothes. Remember those times when you were the one with no friends around. Remember those times when you were the one struggling financially, had the broke down vehicle, ate noodles and cheap things, because that was all you could afford, or whatever circumstance had you down and low at the time. Keep those things to remind you that we have all been there at some time or another, and enjoy the time you spend with that person that appears to have nothing. Some people will only do things or deal with people that appear as though they may gain something from that person, whether it is the next sale, or a good reference, or whatever. But, you’ll be surprised at how much more rewarding it is to gain the respect of that “lesser” appearing person because you took the time to deal with them as well and equally as the “wealthier” appearing person.

I spent some time one day with an older gentleman that was looking at some vehicles. He was driving an old car, that didn’t seem to run well, was pretty rough overall. His clothes were quite worn. I showed him several cars that day. I took the time to give as much detail as I could on each one, showing him the features of each one, answering his questions. A couple of other customers came to the lot while I was helping him that other sales people helped. They may have even bought vehicles that day. This man did not appear to be able to afford a cup of coffee, let a lone a several thousand dollar vehicle. When we were finished, he didn’t buy a car, but he looked at me and asked why I had spent so much time helping him when he didn’t look like someone that could even afford to look. I told him that was how I was raised, to treat people equally. He thanked me for my time and seemed to leave a happy man. Maybe that time I spent with him that day was more valuable to him than any vehicle on the lot.

Genesis 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.

Genesis 19:4-7 4) But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5) And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. 6) And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7) And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

Genesis 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

Revelation 3:13-19 13) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. 14) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

I would encourage everyone to read through the whole 19th of chapter of Genesis. The words written here speak of the city of Sodom, but as you read through, really look at this city in comparison with the world that we live in today.

The world that we inhabit here on Earth, is full of the sins of man. A land that embraces homosexuality, abortion, and religions that do not teach Jesus Christ as the only true Savior. Can you see the similarities?

The United States of America was founded as a Christian nation. A place that not only believed in God, but was founded to be a place of freedom to worship the one true God. It was not free of sin, but for a long time, God’s principles were taught as the foundation for people’s lives. So, what happened? How did we get from a nation founded for the freedom to worship God, to a nation that flaunts sin in the face of God daily? Who is to blame?

People nowadays are very good at playing the blame game. There are countless excuses for our actions. There is always someone else at fault. People have lost teaching the next generation that their actions have consequences.

Many people will not agree with me, but I say much of the blame for how our world is today, is the fault of the church. If you have a nation with out laws and rules, and someone to speak out what those rules are, and enforce those rules, the end result is anarchy. Who is responsible for speaking out the laws of God? Who is responsible to call sin sin? Who is responsible for the souls around them? The Church!

The above passages of revelation speak of the church of the Laodicians. The Word says that this church has become lukewarm – they are neither hot nor cold, sort of riding the middle ground. To me, this describes so many churches today. Pastors do not speak out against sin, they do not talk about repentance of sin, some do not even teach that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to repentance. They have watered down the Word of God so as not to offend anyone. They won’t teach that sin has eternal punishment in a place called Hell, because that would turn people away. The people that support the church, that provide the income to the Pastor. The people that support the building projects, and programs that make the church look good to the world around them.

But Pastors are not the only ones that need to bear the guilt of a decaying world around them. Every single person that sits in a pew, that listens to a Pastor speak a message, and does not seek the Lord themselves through His Word to make sure that what their ears are being filled with matches the Word they read, are responsible.

There was a time when Pastors would preach about the wages of sin. There was a time when the members of a church would speak up to correct someone getting off track. There was a time that the church was the guardian of its brethren, and the watchdog of society to cry out against sin. Too many have let that go by the wayside. Too many have allowed Satan to wash down their beliefs and convictions to the point that they no longer stand for God and His ways.

I beseech every person that claims to be a Christian, to truly examine themselves and ask God to reveal in each of us that which is not righteous, and once revealed, to repent. Whether you hold a title ( Pastor, Minister, Elder, Deacon ) or are just a “Christian”, we need to be more Christ-like and less world-like. We need to be crying out to the lost around us the love of God and the sinfulness of the world. We need to be pointing the pathway to repentance for others to find. We need to be the hands, feet, and mouths of our God here on Earth.

 

 

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

Why do this?

• Because it gives new readers context. What are you about? Why should they read your blog?
• Because it will help you focus you own ideas about your blog and what you’d like to do with it.

The post can be short or long, a personal intro to your life or a bloggy mission statement, a manifesto for the future or a simple outline of your the types of things you hope to publish.

To help you get started, here are a few questions:

• Why are you blogging publicly, rather than keeping a personal journal?
• What topics do you think you’ll write about?
• Who would you love to connect with via your blog?
• If you blog successfully throughout the next year, what would you hope to have accomplished?

You’re not locked into any of this; one of the wonderful things about blogs is how they constantly evolve as we learn, grow, and interact with one another — but it’s good to know where and why you started, and articulating your goals may just give you a few other post ideas.

Can’t think how to get started? Just write the first thing that pops into your head. Anne Lamott, author of a book on writing we love, says that you need to give yourself permission to write a “crappy first draft”. Anne makes a great point — just start writing, and worry about editing it later.

When you’re ready to publish, give your post three to five tags that describe your blog’s focus — writing, photography, fiction, parenting, food, cars, movies, sports, whatever. These tags will help others who care about your topics find you in the Reader. Make sure one of the tags is “zerotohero,” so other new bloggers can find you, too.