Thus Saith the Lord - Part 2
In the previous Cross Point we painted a picture of how important it is to stay tuned-in to God’s Word, the teaching of God’s commandments, especially as communicated by Jesus and his apostles. Without the intentional effort to study and learn from scriptural teaching, we always drift away. The Apostle Peter will say, “For this reason (the need to escape the corruption of the world), make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ… for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall. In this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord” (2 Peter 1:5-11). We gain such knowledge as we find Thus Saith the Lord, as we find the commands and instructions of Jesus and his apostles.
We can only touch on it here, but as we think about the commands of Jesus as they instruct us, after becoming a Christian (through belief in Jesus, repentance of sin, baptism into Christ, and the commitment of faith – these also all defined by God’s Word), what are some of these words of instruction the Christian needs to pay attention to? Let’s look at a few.
The Christian is to develop the fruit of the Spirit of God. These are qualities that help show that God is working within us. Paul provides definition in Galatians 5. He starts off saying, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” What are the desires of the flesh? “Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (5:19-21). As we reject such, and as we seek the fruit of the Spirit, Paul continues, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:22, 23). Thus saith the Lord, seek such fruit.
From the Sermon on the Mount. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Inappropriate anger can lead to murder, so Jesus seeks to attack the root of the problem. “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you… if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Justice is needed from our governing authorities, but as an individual, we must be forgiving. “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees will reward you.” Helping those in need should not be for show, but done sincerely knowing God sees and rewards.
As Paul writes to the Ephesians he tells them, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
In all of these examples we learn lessons for the Christ follower, and this is a drop in the bucket of the New Testament (there is much to learn from the Old Testament also). There is no end to what it can offer to those honoring Jesus as Lord. As we take part in study activities of various types, the lessons keep coming, the reminders continue that we need. Be active in seeking the commands that define the Christian. We are subjects of King Jesus, and we must not neglect the virtues of his kingdom.
Cross Point: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
We can only touch on it here, but as we think about the commands of Jesus as they instruct us, after becoming a Christian (through belief in Jesus, repentance of sin, baptism into Christ, and the commitment of faith – these also all defined by God’s Word), what are some of these words of instruction the Christian needs to pay attention to? Let’s look at a few.
The Christian is to develop the fruit of the Spirit of God. These are qualities that help show that God is working within us. Paul provides definition in Galatians 5. He starts off saying, “Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” What are the desires of the flesh? “Sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (5:19-21). As we reject such, and as we seek the fruit of the Spirit, Paul continues, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:22, 23). Thus saith the Lord, seek such fruit.
From the Sermon on the Mount. “You have heard it said, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Inappropriate anger can lead to murder, so Jesus seeks to attack the root of the problem. “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you… if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Justice is needed from our governing authorities, but as an individual, we must be forgiving. “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand does, so that your giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees will reward you.” Helping those in need should not be for show, but done sincerely knowing God sees and rewards.
As Paul writes to the Ephesians he tells them, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
In all of these examples we learn lessons for the Christ follower, and this is a drop in the bucket of the New Testament (there is much to learn from the Old Testament also). There is no end to what it can offer to those honoring Jesus as Lord. As we take part in study activities of various types, the lessons keep coming, the reminders continue that we need. Be active in seeking the commands that define the Christian. We are subjects of King Jesus, and we must not neglect the virtues of his kingdom.
Cross Point: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).
Posted in Cross Points