Matthew 22:37Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.The Great Commandment37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
A prism is a glass or transparent object which reflects light. A prism can be used to break light into spectacular colors … the colors of the rainbow.
Over the past couple weeks, I have shared thoughts with you on Christian values. Central to our core values is the great commandment … love God with your heart, soul and mind. This is the value of values. It is the prism through which all other values must shine … the filter through which all life’s choices are made and solutions are drawn.
Is your life a beautiful rainbow?
Lamentations 3:19-26Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable TrustHope in the Lord’s Faithfulness 19 The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. 20 I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. 21 Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:
22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. 26 So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.
The Prophet Jeremiah faced opposition throughout his days, yet he never lost faith. His hope remained in the LORD.
In these days of though economics, terror threats, moral decay and compromising values, remember as Jeremiah did … when facing hopelessness hold on to God’s faithfulness!
Jonah 4:5Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Jonah’s Anger at the Lord’s Mercy 5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city.
For the full context, read Jonah 4:1-11.
I’ve seen it happen on the playground. The young boy who brought the ball that the kids are playing with doesn’t get picked when the teams are chosen. He gets angry and says, “If I can’t play, I’ll take my ball and go home.
Jonah got mad at God when He wouldn’t destroy the city of Nineveh. He was so angry, he walked away from his mission. He left Nineveh, went out the east side, sat down and pouted.
When something doesn’t go your way at church, do you take your ball and go home? Drop out of the choir … look for a new Sunday School class … withhold your tithe … start visiting, looking for a new church home. Do you even try to convince others to go with you? With all the division we see in the Body of Christ (denominations), it would indicate some spiritual pouting … some responses like Jonah’s … has impacted the mission.
The mission is God’s plan, not ours. We choose whether we stay and play or take our ball and go home.
Isaiah 1:10-13Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. A Message for Rebellious Judah 10 Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.” 11 “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?”says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 12 When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? 13 Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings.
God has a response for right actions with the wrong motivation … rejection. Right behavior performed for the wrong reason is detestable to the LORD.
Ask a child, “Why wouldn’t you steal?” They answer, “Because I would get punished if I got caught.” Most parents would be dissatisfied with the answer because the answer indicates that the child values ‘not being punished’ over ‘being honest’.
God tells us that if our religious practices are motivated by gaining a more pleasant or profitable life, that falls short. That is not worship and He wants none of it. God desires that we be motivated by love for Him and love for each other when we come to worship.
Psalm 119:9-16Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.Values Based on the Word 9 How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10 I have tried hard to find you— don’t let me wander from your commands. 11 I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. 13 I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. 14 I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. 15 I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. 16 I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word.What you take to heart is who you are. The heart is your center … your core … your source of life. It is in your heart that you hold the things which are most precious to you. Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 that our heart is always where our treasure will be.
What better place to hide God’s word (Ps 119:11)!
Philippians 1:21-24
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
From reading these verses we can see that Paul had struggled between two strong desires but settled in on his core value … living for Christ.
What are your lifelong goals? Freedom, self-respect, mature love, family security, true friendship, wisdom, equality, salvation …
What behavior do you pursue to achieve those goals? Being loving, independent, capable, broad-minded, honest, responsible, ambitious, forgiving, self-controlled, courageous …
Add your personal values to these lists. Once you have a list that you are comfortable with, start the struggle (like Paul). Rank each list … find if similar values rise to the top of each … write a short statement like Paul did which clearly expresses your core value.
You will be more effective in all areas of your life when you hold to a clearly understood core value.
Matthew 6:1-4Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.Teaching about Giving to the Needy “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Re-read Matthew 6:1. For whom do you do the things you do?
Others (the public) will see the things you do but it is not their observation … their admiration … which counts for eternity. It is your heavenly Father’s assessment and ultimate reward which really matters. Your motivation for doing the things you do should be to be pleasing in His eyes … not to please the eyes of men.
Exodus 20:1-17Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.Ten Commandments for the Covenant Community
1 Then God gave the people all these instructions:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. 3 “You must not have any other god but me. 4 “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. 6 But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. 7 “You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. 12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You must not murder. 14 “You must not commit adultery. 15 “You must not steal. 16 “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. 17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
We look to the scriptures for moral values. The moral standards of scripture reflect God’s absolute and unchanging character.
The Ten Commandments begin with our relationship to God and end with our relationship to others. Righteousness is realized within the context of relationships and relates to our loving behavior toward God and others.
Only as we live by the power of the Spirit are we enabled to “put skin on” biblical values and make them real in our lives.
Proverbs 12:26; 18:24; 22:24
New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society 26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
God created humankind to be relational. By design, we are not made to live alone. We share this life with those who live around us and have the opportunity to choose those we call friends.
There is a neighbor I grew up with as a child. I haven’t seen him in years and we only communicate occasionally but I still count him among my friends. There are others whom I have met along life’s journey, brothers and sisters in Christ, who will forever hold a position on my friends list. And yet there are those who I once called friends but found them to be something less. Memories of them are painful. Yes, life holds memories of good friends and friends lost along the way.
The wisdom writer encourages care in the selection of friends. A wise selection … one based on godly values … will last.
Have you been careful in choosing your friends?
Psalm 15:1-5
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. A psalm of David.
1 Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? 2 Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. 3 Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends. 4 Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts. 5 Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent. Such people will stand firm forever.
The word values has become one of those political catch-words which carry some baggage. Let’s see what God has to say about values instead of the parties or the press.
King David wrote about value-driven behavior in Psalm 15. Notice that he said people who enjoy the presence of God and live blameless lives speak truth from their heart (vv. 1-2). Because these people value truth in their hearts, their words express truth. Because they value kindness, they do nothing to wrong their neighbors (v. 3). Because they value honesty, they keep their word, even when it is difficult (v. 4). Because they value justice, they do not accept bribes against those who are innocent (v. 5).
Let us make it our goal to more completely integrate godly values into our personal and professional lives!
Proverbs 31:15, 27-31Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. A Mother of Noble Character15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. 27 She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: 29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. 31 Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
As a tribute to all mothers, these verses from the 31st chapter of Proverbs are a subset of the subject ‘A Wife of Noble Character’ (Proverbs 31:10-31).
The key verse is verse 30 … “… a woman who fears the LORD…”. Enough said!
If I don’t get another opportunity, Happy Mother’s Day!
2 Timothy 1:3-8a
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.Encouragement to Be Faithful 3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. 6 This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.
To be selfish comes naturally. You don’t have to teach a child to cry out when their basic needs … hunger … a dirty diaper … are not met. One of the first words they learn to say, without being taught, is MINE.
Conversely, self control, self discipline is a spiritual gift from God. You can struggle with developing this important character trait on your own or you can turn to the Holy Spirit. Let Him do this good work in you!
Jeremiah 18:5-11Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.The Potter and the Clay 5 Then the Lord gave me this message: 6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. 7 If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, 8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 9 And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, 10 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.
11 “Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”
The God of grace and mercy shows great restraint in not instantly pouring out His wrath on evil. He patiently waits, giving us opportunity after opportunity to repent … turn from our evil ways. He desires to build us up … do good to us … pour out His blessings. All He requires is that we turn from evil and do what is right.
Heed His warning! Just because His wrath has not yet come … we have not been “…uprooted, torn down, and destroyed…”, does not mean that God will withhold His wrath forever. This fate has been the history of great nations without moral restraint. History does not have to repeat itself if we will just do what is right.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Striving for the Prize 24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
I am a fan of Tiger Woods. One thing I have learned about his golf game is the training routine he follows. What you see on TV on the weekend is just the tip of the iceberg. Tiger trains so that he can finish well. Tiger has recently been a little off his game and it seems to surround the finishing holes in a round. After his 9-month injury layoff, he has not yet returned to tip-top form.
The Apostle Paul uses an athletic example to show us the need for spiritual training. We must be as disciplined as the greatest athletes are, in our spiritual lives. Worship … study … prayer … praise … service. Do you have a disciplined routine in all these areas of your spiritual life? Are you training hard so you will gain the prize?
God’s training plan includes Sabbaths … not long layoffs. Long layoffs will leave you short of being at the top of your game.
Train hard and run the race with purpose … don’t be disqualified!
