Transformer - 03/22/2015
Having God’s Confidence in Me
Sometimes we see ourselves as not being able to do the commandments of God. We see ourselves as not being able to live up to the expectations of God’s standards. Sometimes, we are too quick to admit that we have “fallen short of the glory of God.”
I am not trying to say that we do not sin. If I were to teach that then I would truly be in the wrong, for there are too many passages that would contradict such. But I want us to focus on the idea that God thinks that we can do His will and even expects us to do His commandments and we should have the same amount of confidence in ourselves as God has in us.
One of the most prominent examples of God having confidence in people is that of Job. When we read about God’s conversation with Satan concerning Job, we must conclude that God had a lot of confidence in Job. God would never have presented Job to Satan for his consideration if God lacked confidence in Job.
We read many statements where God says that He wants people to go to Heaven. Jesus said that one of the reasons why God sent Him into the world was so that people might “be saved through Him” (John 3:17). Paul reminds Timothy that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1Timothy 2:4) and that God “is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” (1 Timothy 4:10). To Titus (2:11) Paul says that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.” Peter tells his readers that the Lord is “not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). If God has this much confidence in humanity that they can be saved, why do we have doubts and fears that we are not going to be saved? Why do we think that we are not going to make it to Heaven? Why do we have so little confidence when God has so much?
From another perspective, Jesus said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Luke (1:4) told Theophilus that the reason he was writing to him was so that he “might know the exact truth about the things [he had] been taught.”
Jesus said, “He who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:21). The question needs to be raised, how can we “practice the truth” if we cannot know the truth? The answer is that we can know the truth! We can understand what God has said for us to do and we can put it into practice. We need to have as much confidence that we can do the truth as God has that we can do the truth.
If we are to worship God in “spirit and truth” (John 4:23), as commanded by Jesus, then we must be able to “know the truth.” Again, we cannot practice something if we do not know it or do not understand it.
So, why do some lack the confidence that God has said He has in all of mankind? The answer is hard to limit to one or two suggestions. There may be as many reasons as there are people. However, it seems that the most logical is one of two things. One, it is their own lack of self-confidence. The other is that they have placed their confidence in themselves in the past and have failed so many times that they have no reason to believe that they can understand what God wants them to do. They are afraid to do anything, afraid that it will be wrong once again.
To this second reason, may we give this suggestion in an effort to help overcome these fears. If God wants us to be saved then would it not stand to reason that He would help those who want to be saved to know the truth? The case of Cornelius (Acts 10) serves as a good example. Paul coming to the proper understanding of Jesus is also another example of God working with people who really want to know Him.
If God said that we can do it, then we need to believe Him! If He wants us to be imitators of Him (Ephesians 5:1), then let us have the confidence that we can imitate Him. We need to have as much confidence in ourselves as God has in us. - cgm
Thinking in the Word…
Settling Lawsuits Within the Church - 1 Corinthians 6:1-8
Differences between two people are going to occur. There are any ways in which to settle them. One is to file a lawsuit and take the other person to court. Apparently, the Corinthian brethren were doing just that. Paul tells them this is not the way to settle differences.
Paul has just finished talking to them about judging a brother who is living immorally. Paul has told them they need to “remove the wicked man from among” themselves. With these comments, Paul seems to be continuing his argument about their ability to judge between themselves and handle their own affairs “in house.”
In a subtle way, Paul tells the Corinthians that their fellow citizens, if they are not a member of the church, are different from them. They do not have the same standard of judging as the brethren have. Their behavior is different from that of Christians.
Paul’s point about the Corinthians, as well as all the saints, judging their neighbors is rather shocking. The manner in which “the saints will judge the world” is by their behavior contrast. These Christians have been able to make judgments about their own lives. They have been able to see what is the right thing to do.
Paul wants these brethren to use the same skills in judging one another. He wants them to use their talents in making decisions among themselves in determining what should be done between two brethren.
Paul raises the stakes a little bit when he asks the questions, “Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” Implied in these two questions is the idea that a Christian should be willing to be wronged or defrauded rather than take his brother before the unbeliever’s courts.
His point seems to be, “Is the difference so great that you will let an unbeliever make a decision between brethren?” According to Paul, this is not how Christians should act. They should love their brethren more than winning a difference. This is a hard lesson to learn but is one that Christians should learn and practice. May we be willing to be wronged rather than take our brethren to court over a difference. - cgm
Words of Wisdom
“A wicked messenger falls into adversity, but a faithful envoy brings healing.” - Proverbs 13:17
A messenger and an envoy are two words to describe a representative who is sent out by another. They are the ones who are going to deliver a message.
The proverb under consideration is addressing the character of the messenger and not the message he is delivering. Adversity is the results of a messenger who is not faithful in delivering his message.
This type of messenger may not be diligent in getting the message delivered on time. He may not deliver the message truthfully. There may be some mistakes or confusion in the message. It is not as plain as it could be.
A faithful envoy delivers the message with accuracy. His message is delivered in a timely fashion. It is plain and simple to understand. The recipient has confidence that the message can be trusted. With this type of messenger, people have a refreshing feeling that everything about the message is bona fide.
As we consider an application to this proverb, we must ask ourselves which type of messenger are we? What can the recipient know about our character based upon how we deliver the message that is being sent to him?
To apply this proverb in a spiritual way, what type of envoy are we when we are delivering God’s message to people? Are we being accurate? Are we speaking what God has said or are we delivering a message that is based upon the traditions or teachings of a man? How diligent are we to make sure that the word of God which we are delivering to people is what God has truly spoken?
If we are not delivering God’s message, calamity will surely come upon us. We will face adversity when this life is over. Also, those who have heard our message will likewise suffer adversity. May we not be guilty of being a “wicked messenger” but let us strive with great diligence to be a “faithful envoy.” - cgm