The writer of the book of Hebrews, inspired of the Holy Spirit, wrote, “All chastening seemeth for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yieldeth peaceable fruit unto them that have been exercised thereby, even the fruit of righteousness.” No one likes to go through difficult times. This passage makes it plain that suffering is not joyful but full of grief.
The church has final authority regarding these offenses. By the time the issue is presented, it should be clear what the offending party has done and what he needs to do to correct the situation. If the church's decision is not obeyed in this regard, then the one who committed the offence is to be as a heathen or publican. We must practice the instruction that Jesus gave about personal relationships regardless of our own personal discomforts.
Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:8, "And above all things have fervent love among yourselves: for love shall cover the multitude of sins." When we go to a brother privately and discuss things and resolve them, we have helped to prevent spreading things beyond what should be known publicly. The Holy Spirit calls this love. We should not desire to broadcast every person’s private sin to the world.
Christians may succumb to the same bad attitudes. When we do, we become objects of Jesus’ rebuke. It is easy for us to listen to gossip about others, but we cannot know another person’s heart unless we talk to them and listen to their side of the story. The Bible gives us several principles to ensure that our Christian relationships remain healthy. These are love, patience, long suffering, and brotherly kindness.
In the end, they cause strife and division within the church, all because someone judged another based upon a perception. Many today have been infected with this notion. Is this concept correct? The Bible clearly teaches that it is not. We read in John 7:24: "Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
Heavenly wisdom creates peace and builds relationships, while earthly wisdom tears them down. Where envy and self-seeking exist, there is confusion (James 3:16).
Man's wisdom is earthly, sensual, and demonic. Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and without hypocrisy, reflecting the very character of God.
Competing boys fighting over the front seat show where wars come from. Heavenly wisdom is first of all heavenly, springing from God's unchanging nature (James 3:17-18).
Sometimes, we must go where these people are to get the message to them. I’ve visited prisons to preach to murderers. I’ve also talked personally with adulterers and homosexuals about the gospel. These are difficult conversations to have, but if we oppose all association no matter what, we are saying that certain people are not worthy of the gospel. God is no respecter of persons (Rom.2:11; Acts 10:34). We should not be either.
A Father's Day acrostic on F-A-T-H-E-R describing a godly father as faithful, a Christian example, tough yet tender, listening, encouraging, and real.
Why did Jesus associate with publicans and sinners? First, Jesus did not associate with sinful people to engage in their sinful practices. Jesus was the sinless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19). He never once committed a sin nor even spoke an inappropriate word (1 Peter 2:22).
One of the criticisms that Jesus enemies often employed was that He ate with the publicans and sinners. We find this criticism recorded for us in the following passages: Matthew 9:10, 11; 11:19; Mark 2:15, 16; Luke 5:30, 7:34, 15:1. Jesus associated with these people to teach them the gospel.
Does working out our salvation (Philippians 2:12-13) mean earning it? No. Obedience never merits salvation (Luke 17:10). God works in believers through His word.
In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul calls Christians to work out their own salvation. Christ died for Christian unity, and keeping that unity takes our effort (Ephesians 4:3).
A Mother's Day acrostic on M-O-T-H-E-R describing a godly mother's hard work, correction, love, and reward, with verses from Proverbs 31 and other scriptures.
In contrast to our burgeoning physical waistlines, we are spiritually wasting away. Spiritually, we need to have a balanced diet as well; we need less spiritual sugar and fat; we need more spiritually healthy choices. It isn't easy to give up a diet of sugar and fat, after all, they taste so good! Similarly, it isn't easy to divorce ourselves from spiritual sugar and fat (i.e. the "feel good" approach to spirituality). So, how can we improve our spiritual diet?
In contrast to our burgeoning physical waistlines, we are spiritually wasting away. Spiritually, we need to have a balanced diet as well; we need less spiritual sugar and fat; we need more spiritually healthy choices. It isn't easy to give up a diet of sugar and fat, after all, they taste so good! Similarly, it isn't easy to divorce ourselves from spiritual sugar and fat (i.e. the "feel good" approach to spirituality). So, how can we improve our spiritual diet?
In contrast to our burgeoning physical waistlines, we are spiritually wasting away. Spiritually, we need to have a balanced diet as well; we need less spiritual sugar and fat; we need more spiritually healthy choices. It isn't easy to give up a diet of sugar and fat, after all, they taste so good! Similarly, it isn't easy to divorce ourselves from spiritual sugar and fat (i.e. the "feel good" approach to spirituality). So, how can we improve our spiritual diet?
James does not say HOW God gives wisdom. He just states the fact of it. Perhaps some expect God to just miraculously insert wisdom into their psyche like King Solomon. (Where are these geniuses?) That’s not going to happen. Even Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). It’s a process, like our prayers for patience. Wisdom comes from thoughts; thoughts come from words; words come from experience; experience comes from practice.
Putting confidence in God is also wise. It is a shift away from confidence in self. The tension between God and self is the ultimate test of faith because each person is always there with himself to challenge whether he will trust in God.