Touching Lives with James Merritt DAILY DEVOTIONAL EMAIL Subscribe to receive the daily devotional from Dr. James Merritt right into your inbox SUBSCRIBE Your Best Friend June 12, 2020 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (1 Samuel 18:1-4) There are two things that are true for everyone: we all need to have the right kinds of friends, and we all need to be the right kinds of friends to others. In this life, we will make acquaintances, but we won’t make many true friends. That is why choosing your friends and being a good friend is so important. True, lasting friendship is valuable because it’s so rare. When you select your friends and when you strive to be a good friend, keep these things in mind: Best friends give selfless love. True friendship involves sacrifice and selflessness. It means having an “after you” attitude instead of a “me first” attitude. Jesus modeled selflessness for us perfectly, so we would be wise to follow His example when it comes to the context of our friendships. Best friends give steadfast loyalty. We all want friends we can count on. We want friends to be there for us when we’re down, to comfort us when we’re hurting, and to support us when we’re weak. The last thing we want is to have a bunch of friends who are always there when times are good but then somehow go missing when the trials of life sink in. Best friends give spiritual leadership. Friendship is one of the greatest tools God gave us to help us grow in our faith. It’s so important that you find friends who will encourage you in your walk with the Lord, challenge you when you’re struggling with sin, and give you wisdom and discernment when you have a big decision to make. If you can find these qualities in a friend, and if you can portray these qualities to others, you are going to set yourself up well to have wonderful, high-quality, God-honoring friendships. Dear Lord, thank you for the blessings that true friends are. I ask that you would give me wisdom and discernment to choose friends that are selfless, loyal, and spiritually strong. And I also pray that you would help me to foster these same characteristics so I can be a good friend to others. Amen. Topics: Relationships Bible Reference 1 Samuel 18:1-4 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. About Contact Us Jobs Pastor Resources Prayer Request Privacy Policy Copyright © 2019 Touching Lives, Inc. | 1800 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30097 | United States | 800-413-1131 Touching Lives is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization
What Does The Bible says about Racism
Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! What Does the Bible Say about Racism? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / What Does the Bible Say about Racism? Share Tweet Save Pamela Palmer Saturday, June 13, 2020 Scripture teaches that God created all human beings in his image. There is no exception to that, and being made in God’s image makes each person valuable and precious. There is no hierarchy of human beings demonstrated throughout Scripture. Jesus came so that all may be saved. The Bible makes it clear that racism is wrong and entirely contradictory to God’s command to love our neighbors, His unconditional love, and the teachings of Jesus. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Rawpixel What Is Racism? Racism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. Racism results in hatred, fear, and inhumane treatment toward someone because of the nation they’re from or the color of their skin. But there are also other forms of prejudice that must be examined, for example colorism and xenophobia. Colorism is a form of racism. It is defined as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group. An example of this, explains an article by Time magazine quoting a 2006 study, is that employers are more likely to hire a lighter tone black man over a dark tone black man. Xenophobia is defined as dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries. This, too, is a form of racism. Dislike or stereotyping of a whole nation is a grotesque form of racism that has caused wars and heinous acts against human beings. Racism in all forms goes against clear biblical principles of love, compassion, and servanthood. Does the Bible Mention Race or Racism? “From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands” (Acts 17:26). Scripture clarifies that there is one human race. God created humanity in His image. Yet we learn from the Bible that there are many different nations and ethnicities. These are some of the most mentioned nations in the Bible: Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Tero Vesalainen National and Ethnic Groups in the Bible Arabs – In the Bible this term refers to peoples who were nomads in the Arabian deserts. “It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; Arabs will not pitch their tents there, shepherds will not make their flocks lie down there” (Isaiah 13:20). “Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power” (Acts 2:11). Egyptians – This ethnic group inhabited the nation of Egypt and is mentioned often in Genesis and Exodus, but also appears in other parts of the Bible. It was the Egyptians who enslaved the Israelites for over 400 years. “I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 14:4). “Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them” (Isaiah 19:1). Greeks – Often mentioned in Paul’s writings, the Greeks were those who were from the nation of Greece. Many Greeks became followers of Jesus due to Paul’s ministry. “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women” (Acts 17:4). “For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:22). Israelites – Also known as Jews, the Israelites were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament. Jesus was Jewish, interacted often with Jewish leaders, and was the Messiah Jewish people had long-awaited. “All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed them, everyone with the blessing appropriate to him” (Genesis 49:28). “I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1). Romans – The apostle Paul penned a letter to the Romans, those who were citizens of Rome, a place Paul longed to go in person to preach the Gospel and strengthen the church. Paul was also a Roman citizen. “Meanwhile Jesus stood before the Roman governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied” (Matthew 27:11). “So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome” (Romans 1:15). Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Rawpixel Does the Bible Prioritize Some Groups Over Others? In the Old Testament, the Israelites were God’s chosen people. Through Abraham’s lineage, God established a new nation. A nation that God protected and guided. The Jewish people were given laws and commands that, as God’s people, they were instructed to obey for their own good. They were invited to follow God not only in action, but also in heart by having faith in a God that loved them and took care of them as a father. The Israelites were God’s chosen people, but God’s love and care was extended to every nation. God doesn’t prefer one ethnicity or nation over another. For instance, God instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance so that the people there would be saved from destruction. There are also instances of converts in the Old Testament, those who were not Jewish who chose to follow God, such as Ruth or Zipporah. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). God has always had open arms to the whole world. In Paul’s writing to the church of Galatia, we are challenged to consider how Jesus unites all of us as brothers and sisters, regardless of ethnicity or nation. God breathes life into every human being and everyone is fearfully and wonderfully made. In the life and death of Jesus, we learn of God’s love, compassion, and mercy shown to all people. God sent Jesus to die for the entire world and instructed the disciples to go into all nations and share the Gospel so that every nation and generation could have the opportunity for eternal life. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/ktsimage How Did Jesus Respond to “Others”? Jesus came to save the whole world, he confronted racism, and he commanded his disciples to preach to every nation. Jewish people believed that Samaritans were second class people who they weren’t supposed to talk to, touch, or even be in their presence. Jesus would have grown up knowing the hatred and division between Jews and Samaritans. Yet in two powerful accounts recorded in the Gospels, Jesus challenged the racism and prejudice that existed between Jews and Samaritans. Jesus did the unimaginable when he approached the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4). Jesus, a Jewish man, took time to speak with a Samaritan woman. He treated her honestly and showed her mercy, he told her that he was indeed the Messiah, and invited her into eternal life. Jesus also shared a radical parable in which the hero of the story was a Samaritan (see Luke 10). Once again, Jesus spoke against the racism that existed between Jewish people and Samaritans through a powerful story. Jesus did not judge by appearances, or rank one person higher than another. Jesus spoke to, interacted with, and ate with everyone because He loved everyone the same despite what they looked like or where they were from. How Does God Feel about Racism? “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-17). There is no passage that specifically answers the question of how God feels about racism, but Scripture gives us plenty of guidance about God’s love for all people, God’s hand in creation, and what the Lord does hate. Pride, dishonesty, and conflict are found at the root of racism; all are evil that God hates. Racism leads to a plethora of injustices, discrimination, and outpouring of evil toward fellow human beings. When we judge the fruit of racism, we see that this only produces evil, pain, and strife. In the New Testament, Paul wrote a powerful insight to the church of Ephesus: “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). Jesus tore down the divisions of hate and prejudice between groups that hated one another. Some of Jesus’ ministry on earth was aimed at opposing racism. Racism is a grave consequence of the fall, and part of the redemptive work that Jesus did was to begin deconstructing racist ideologies and challenging the evil of racism in the world. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/rudall30 How Should We Respond? “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands” (Revelation 7:9). Revelation gives us a glimpse into how God will wrap up history and usher humankind into eternity. What a glorious picture painted in Revelation of people from every nation in heaven, worshiping God, standing together as brothers and sisters in Christ. God loves every nation, every person, and it is made abundantly clear in Scripture that racism is not compatible with Christianity. As Jesus spoke against racism, so should we. As God loves all peoples, so should we. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/fizkes Pamela Palmer is a writer, chaplain, and the founder of upheldlife.com, the platform on which she produces weekly devotionals and faith resource articles to inspire keeping faith at the center of it all. She lives and thrives on Jesus, coffee, and music. She is in pastoral ministry and gets to share in the emotional and spiritual lives of many people, being a small piece of each journey. Pamela married the perfect man for her and they have two beautiful kiddos. She has been published on herviewfromhome.com and you can follow her at upheldlife.com, or on Facebook.com/upheldlife. 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What Does it means to Fall from Grace
Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! What Does It Mean to Fall from Grace? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / What Does It Mean to Fall from Grace? Michael Jakes | Pastor, writer Friday, June 12, 2020 Share Tweet Save The phrase “fall from grace” has long been a part of English vernacular. It is quite probable that you, as well as I have used this phrase at one time or another. Traditionally, when we speak of someone falling from grace, we are referring to an individual who has lost respect, status, or support due to action on their part. Standing upon this definition, we have seen many in this age of technology and social media who fall into this category. With the temperament of this present world, it does not take much for this to happen. Many times, simply having a different or opposing opinion on issues is enough to turn the tide against the famous and popular among us. In other cases, some have been guilty of questionable or unacceptable behavior, and have caused themselves to be plunged from the celebrity status they once occupied. Such are said to have fallen from grace. What Does “Fall from Grace” Mean? Other interesting definitions of this phrase begin to shed light on where we need to go, but still fall well short of properly establishing the true nature and scope of this important truth. Of this phrase, the Free Dictionary says, “to sin and get on the wrong side of God.” Wikipedia expands upon this definition by saying, “…the transition of the first man and woman from a state of innocent obedience to God to a state of guilty disobedience.” To gain a full understanding of what it means to fall from grace, we must start in the book of Galatians. The apostle Paul said: “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4). The matter of falling from grace happens to be one the most important teachings in the entirety of the Bible. In spite of this, it remains somewhat obscure to many, and entirely misunderstood. As we unpack this powerful verse, it will be important to keep in mind just what precipitated Paul’s writing of this letter. We find his reason in these two Scriptures respectively: “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel” (Galatians 1:6). “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” (Galatians 3:1). The Galatians had been newly converted to Christ through Paul’s ministry, probably during Paul’s first missionary journey. False teachers known as Judaizers, who were Jews who had converted to Christianity were convincing these new converts that Old Testament customs were still binding, and that their new found faith would not be complete unless they kept these Jewish customs and laws. Paul wrote Galatians to refute this doctrine, and referred to it and any other teaching that would pervert the true gospel as “another gospel.” He went so far as to make this staggering declaration: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). We can see Paul’s love and concern for the Galatians as he speaks the truth; he did not want to see them fall from grace. How Is a Person Justified? To fall from grace is to fall headlong into the error of the Judaizers; and that was and is to believe that our righteousness can be secured and maintained through a mixture of law and grace. To be sure there are modern-day Judaizers, who put a great emphasis on the things that they do. They have a works-based mindset, and hence rely heavily upon their works to justify or make themselves righteous in God’s sight. How is a person justified, or made righteous in the sight of God? Is it through the keeping of the law, or through faith in Christ? The Judaizers concluded that both were needed to maintain a walk with Christ. It was a good thing to be saved, they surmised, but in order to be “more saved,” or “better saved,” you need to add the Mosaic law to your Christian diet. Of course, we know that as Christians that the Mosaic law is no longer binding. The truth is, “Christ plus nothing.” We read: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:14). The “handwriting of ordinances” referred to here is the Mosaic law. For the Christian, how do we define “law?” It can be defined as, a set of rules, a routine, or pattern of works that man uses as a means of obtaining righteousness or sanctification. How Can We Fall from Grace? With this in mind we conclude that anything can become law to us — including the Christian disciplines, i.e., prayer, Bible reading, fasting, attending church, etc. Simply put, when we place our faith in the things that we do, rather than what Christ has done for us, we fall from grace. Scripture makes it clear that we are saved by grace: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesian 2:8-9). Since we have not been saved through or by our works, we must not suppose that we can live for Christ by them. While our works are necessary, and the Christian disciplines are mandatory, we must not conclude that these things justify us. Once again, Paul makes this abundantly clear when he wrote to the church in Rome, and of course to the Galatians: “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). How can the Christian avoid the peril of falling from grace? The key to doing this is to learn how to properly live the Christian life. I know how that may sound, because after all, we are God’s people, and of course we know how to live for Him, right? Where Is Your Faith? The question is, where is your faith? Is it in what you do, or in what Christ has done? The apostle Paul speaks again: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him” (Colossians 2:6). What is he saying here? Simply that in the very same way that we came into Christ, which was by grace through faith, this is to be the very same we are to proceed in living for Him: by grace through faith. He expounds upon this precept further in Galatians: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:20-21). The way to live for the Lord, and remain free from the “fall from grace,” is to live each day by faith in Christ. To do otherwise is to set aside the grace of God, which is the spiritual equivalent of falling from it. As the Scripture explains, if we could be justified through our works or the law, then Christ’s death on the Cross was meaningless; and we know this is not the case. So where do you stand? Are you living under law or under grace? To attempt to do both is to cancel out grace. Dear Lord, thank you for your sacrifice; help me to keep my faith in you. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/g-stockstudio Michael Jakes is an Associate Pastor, Bible teacher, and writer. He is co-founder of That’s The Word! Ministries, a distinctly Cross-centered outreach. He has also been active in youth ministry for over 30 years, and hosts two live weekly podcasts, “The Bible Speaks Live,” and “The Cutting It Right Bible Study.” Michael is the author of, The Lights In The Windows, a book concerned with the need for the Church to evangelize. Michael and his wife Eddye have been married for 40 years, and reside in New York. You can follow him on Youtube and listen to his podcasts on Spreaker. Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent Mom Discovers Little-Known Method To Purify The Air In Your Home (Do This Today) Airjoi Chiropractors Baffled: “30 Second” Stretch Relieves Years Of Back Pain (Watch) WeeklyPenny Signs of Lung Cancer (May Leave You Surprised) Cancer | Sponsored Links 2020: Simple Method Ends Toenail Fungus – Try It Now! 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What Does Mark 10:49 Mean ?
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What Does Revelation 5:12 Mean
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How Does the Bible says about equality and race
Toggle navigation Search Browse The Bible Toggle Dropdown Search The Bible Find it! How Does the Bible Address Racial and Gender Inequality? Bible / Bible Study / Topical Studies / How Does the Bible Address Racial and Gender Inequality? Share Tweet Save Bethany Verrett Thursday, June 11, 2020 After the fall of mankind, sin entered the world, and a great deal changed. Over time, the effects of sin began to create hierarchies between men and women. After the Flood, Noah’s sons took to the various corners of the world and began the separation of different peoples and cultures. After the Tower of Babel came new languages, furthering divisions. As these differences increased, people began to battle for control, and to be seen as superior. Inequality grew as a result. People wanted to create and enforce separations, and then treat one another differently based on those artificial separations. While the Bible acknowledges these separations as part of the systems of man, it does not approve of the unequal treatment of others within those systems. Instead of seeing gender and race through man’s perspective, believers are called to see humanity through God’s eyes, as equally loved by the Creator, and behave accordingly. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/ktsimage Does the Bible Address Equality? When examining the Bible, there are many stories where one can spot moments of inequity. Some of the most obvious are examples of conquest, when a stronger people group takes over another and brings its hierarchy with it. Much of this is the by-product of earthly divisions, and a human tendency to want to focus on and reinforce what divides people, rather than what they have in common. When discussing issues of racial and gender equality, it can be easy to carry on the conversation in those parameters. However, that is not how God sees people. The Apostle Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). God sees all the individuals in His creation as unique, but equal. No physical or financial trait changes the way God sees that person, treats that person, and loves that person. God did not create a different patriarch for the different races. All peoples come from Adam, and he is the Father of the human race. Nor did God create women to be subordinate to men. Instead, Eve was Adam’s helper. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18). The Lord sees people in the context of eternity, rather than temporary, earthly statuses. However, the Bible is not silent on the inequality that exists. Some verses that address this topic include: Proverbs 17:5 “Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” Leviticus 19:34 “You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.” Numbers 15:6 “One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.” Philemon 1:15-16 “For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.” Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Rawpixel Does the Bible Talk about Race? When the human authors of the Bible wrote their sections across hundreds of years, they did not have the same language for race, racism, and equity that exists today. They used different language, instead referring to people groups, cultural behaviors, and religion to indicate what ethnicity they were discussing. Several large sections of the Old Testament contain genealogical records which follow certain families, some of which would go on to be the foundations of ethnic identities. This first split occurred after Cain killed his brother Abel. The Bible records what happened to Cain: “Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. When he built a city, he called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch” (Genesis 3:17). A brief genealogy of several descendants of Cain follows, and then it mentions Adam and Eve’s new son, Seth; “To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord” (Genesis 3:26). Though Seth and Cain were brothers, the Bible treats their descendants differently, emphasizing how the descendants of Cain mastered livestock, instruments, as well as iron and bronze, contrasting how Seth and his people called on the Lord. They are treated as different people groups because of their emphasis on God and their culture, rather than race. On occasions where the Bible does discuss individuals of different races, their race is less important than their relationship to God. David had men of other nationalities in his court, including the loyal soldier Uriah the Hittite who David had killed to cover up his sin with Bathsheeba. The Hittites as a people did not have God’s favor, because they sinned against Him, and the Bible says God drove them out of the land (Exodus 34:11). Though Uriah was not an Israelite, God held David accountable for this death. Justice had to be dealt equally, regardless of ethnic identity. David’s sin against Uriah and Bathsheeba is considered the greatest blot on his character. He repented, and received forgiveness, but God expected justice. In the New Testament, one of the first Gentiles saved was an Ethiopian eunuch, “And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship…Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?’” (Acts 8:27, 35-36). The eunuch had come to worship the Lord, was studying Isaiah, and accepted Jesus as Lord. His race was not important, other than to identify him. What really mattered was his love for God. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Evgeniia Siiankovskaia Does the Bible Talk about Gender Equality? The role of women in society, as well as in the church, is addressed in the Bible both directly and indirectly. Two important examples of women being held as equal to men come from the accounts of the early church. In the Book of Acts, new Christians enthusiastically gave some or all of what they had to the burgeoning new church. One couple, Ananias and Sapphira, tried to lie about how much they gave to the church. Ananias lied, and God struck him down for the lie. Rather than holding Sapphira accountable for her husband’s sin, or assuming she was ignorant of it because she was a woman, the church gives her the opportunity to tell the truth on her own terms. Had she told the truth, she would have been forgiven. However, the Bible account says, “After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.’ And she said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ But Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?’’ (Acts 5:7-8a). Both the man and the woman were held equally accountable for their own decisions. To God, and to the church leaders, gender did not matter when it came to sin. Not only are men and women held equally accountable before God for their sin, their works in the church are held with equal esteem in the New Testament. A different married couple, Prisca and Aquila, committed their lives to the Gospel. They are mentioned three times in the Book of Acts, hosting new believers, correcting those who do not understand the truth, and ministering to others. Paul regarded them so highly that he wrote this about them: “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well” (Romans 16:3). Every time the couple are mentioned, it is together as equals. Paul gives them the same respect and the same credit. Both these examples of the two genders being treated as equals goes back to what God said about men and women in Genesis. Though He made them to be different, He made them to be equals; “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Though men and women look different, have different traits and behaviors, and often serve different roles, men and women were made equally in the image of God. They are equally responsible for their thoughts, actions, and attitudes. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages Are Any People Groups in the Bible Prioritized? The primary ethnic difference emphasized in the Bible is between the descendants of Abraham – the Hebrews – and everyone else. When the Lord made covenants with the Israelites, He marked them as separate, not because of their race, but because He asked them to live by His laws, in relationship with Him. In fact, God set Israel apart, not to be separated racially, but culturally as an example for the rest of the world to bring them to God. “For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:11). Because all people sin, the priests and the Israelites failed to live up to the law, so Jesus came and died in order to fulfill the law. Jesus’ death and resurrection reconciled all people to Him, though the Jewish people still hold a special place in His kingdom. They are the people group God used to be the human lineage of the Messiah. Jesus will reign forever from Jerusalem, both on earth and in heaven. When they are called God’s chosen people, it means they were chosen to play a special role in His divine plan, not that they have a special superiority over the rest of mankind. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/yoglimogli How Should Christians Respond to Inequality? The Lord calls His people to love Himself and to love others – to see the world as He sees it. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). When Christians see inequality in the world, the first step is to make sure they react accordingly. Reach out in love and bring attention to behavior that is not Christ-like, especially if the individual or group committing the act of inequality claims to be Christian. Another important response is to share the Gospel. The Lord Jesus can transform a heart in a way that people cannot. The Holy Spirit can convict the racist, the sexist, and any other form of hatred. Sharing the Gospel so the Holy Spirit can transform that person is important. It is sometimes appropriate to join movements for social change, as long as that movement’s goals and tactics are inline with Biblical principles. Ultimately, inequality will not be eliminated until Jesus Christ returns and reigns, and it will not exist in the new heaven and the new earth. One of the most beautiful pictures in the Book of Revelation is this: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9-10). In heaven, there will be countless multitudes of people, equal before God, united in love. There will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, or inequality. Sources Dunn, James D.G. and John William Rogerson. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003. Kreitzer, Mark. The Concept of Ethnicity in the Bible A Theological Analysis. New York: Edward Mellen Press, 2008. Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Old Testament and New Testament. United States of America: Victor Books, 1987. Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Worawee Meepian Bethany Verrett is a freelance writer and editor. She maintains a faith and lifestyle blog graceandgrowing.com, where she muses about the Lord, life, culture, and ministry. Promoted Stories Ads by Revcontent 30 Second “Miracle Stretch” Leaves Chiropractors Baffled! (Watch) WeeklyPenny Ohio Doctor “I Beg Americans To Throw Out This Vegetable Now” Wellnessguide2020 2020: Simple Method Ends Toenail Fungus – Try It Now! Clear Nail Plus Early Signs of Bipolar Disorder May Surprise You Bipolar | Sponsored Links You May Wish You Had Caught Lung Cancer Signs Before Lung Cancer | Sponsored Links Drink This Before Bed, Watch Your Body Fat Melt Like Crazy Healthier Living Club 32 Year Old Columbus Woman Hits Jackpot, You Won’t Believe What Happens Next PlayPlayGo Remember Him? 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What Does Luke 12:27 Mean
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What Does Ephesians 3:1Mean
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Spiritual Pandemic
LISTEN to Today’s Radio Broadcast from Tony Evans The Solution to a Spiritual Pandemic Dear friends, Right now, we are in the middle of multiple, simultaneous pandemics. In fact, we are facing dual pandemics: a medical pandemic and a cultural pandemic. Yet, deeper still and at the root of both of these, is a spiritual pandemic. We have wandered far from the value system established by God for how human beings are to live, act and relate to one another. Across racial and class lines, we have come up with our own standards for how we treat each other, and it has not done us any good. The solution starts in understanding how the world works. We gain one of our greatest insights into this through reading 2 Chronicles chapter fifteen. In this passage, we see that when the spiritual principles are placed aside, there is no peace in the culture. In fact, it clearly states in verse six, “Nation was crushed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every kind of distress” (emphasis added). The Israelites had so hardened their hearts toward God and rebelled against His righteous rule, that He initiated an ongoing state of distress. Now, if God is your problem, it doesn’t matter what programs you come up with, because only God is your solution. The root of the problems we face in our nation today are clearly spiritual. It’s only when we identify and understand the spiritual components that we are then able to translate them to the pragmatic realities of the cultural crisis at hand. Sometimes it takes a mess to make a miracle. God has been known to allow chaos for the purposes of creating a heartfelt calling by His people to Him for help. When we appeal to Him according to His kingdom rule, He is then able to re-introduce Himself into the scenario and usher in the healing we so desperately need. Everyone knows what it’s like to suffer for a long time from stomach pains only to later throw up and feel better relatively quickly. The throwing up is a messy situation, but the reason you feel better afterwards is because you have purged the toxins. There are a lot of toxins in our culture today. We have toxins of injustice, toxins of racism and toxins of hate. We have a multiplicity of toxins coagulating in the same space at the same time. But if we miss the reality that God has allowed this in order to bring about a correction and a cleaning, then we will just move from one symptom to another symptom. We will miss the opportunity to address the root that has produced the fruit which has led to the confusion of hopelessness on display. God has spoken on the issues at hand, and He has not stuttered. He has spoken about racism. He has spoken about systemic and individual injustices. He has spoken about classism. He has spoken about culturalism. He has spoken about politics. He has spoken about freedom. He has spoken about equity, elitism, indulgences, empathy and more. God has spoken about all of these subjects. But until we align our hearts, thoughts, words and actions underneath His overarching rule based on what He has said, we are living in rebellion. What many people do today, unfortunately, is pick and choose what they will obey. As a result, we are experiencing a dearth of kingdom disciples who observe all that He has commanded, not just the parts they like. From God’s throne come both righteousness and justice. These are not see-saw’s to go up and down on. Rather, these are twins who are joined at the hip. You don’t skip justice and call for righteousness. Likewise, you don’t skip righteousness in the name of justice. We are called to a higher calling, that of following the whole counsel of God. Why do we have all of these churches with all of these leaders and all of these believers but still have all of this mess? Because we have failed to bring God’s perspective to bear on the situation. If we are to ever fix this madness and solve this mess—on these issues of injustice, the pain of our shared history and the systems which perpetuate inequity generationally—it will only be due to a right response, collectively as His body, based on God’s Word. It is absolutely clear right now that there needs to be a reset. This is a defining moment for us as citizens to decide whether we want to be one nation under God or a divided nation apart from God. If we don’t answer that question correctly and if we don’t answer it quickly, we won’t be much of a nation at all. Thank you for standing with us as a ministry especially in this season as we so desperately need your thoughts, encouragement, prayers and support. We are in this together. I am grateful for you, my brothers and sisters, in Christ. For His kingdom, TODAY’S HOPEWORD FROM TONY HELPFUL RESOURCES WE RECOMMEND These books, teaching series, interviews, Bible reading plans, videos and Bible studies from Dr. Tony Evans are available to help you work toward true racial unity. View Resources LISTEN Pastor Brian Brodersen talks with Dr. Evans on the subject of race and the current state of our nation. LISTEN NOW SERMON APP Listen to powerful, encouraging sermons from Tony Evans anytime and anywhere. The Urban Alternative, PO Box 4000, Dallas, TX 75208, United States Unsubscribe Manage preferences
What Does Hosea 10:12Mean
Verse of the Day ▼ Devotions ▼ Search Home Verse Of The Day Hosea 10:12 ◄ What Does Hosea 10:12 Mean? ► Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12(ESV) Verse Thoughts The Bible is filled with truths on reaping and sowing, indeed the apostle Paul reminds us that we reap what we sow, either to evil or to good. And like Paul, the prophet Hosea also recognised the deeper truth that is packed within these simple words – that the fruit of righteousness produced in man is only from God, and that it is due to His loving-kindness and tender-mercy that the trusting heart is able to partake of any righteousness. Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit that forms in the life of a believer, is only and always a manifestation of God’s mercy and grace, working in and through His child, for Jesus said, without Me you can do nothing. But a Christian who has become lukewarm and careless towards God or one that doubts the truth of God’s word needs to break up the fallow ground – to revisit God’s word of truth and to root-our weeds of bitterness, legalism, un-forgiveness, unbelief, disinterest or distrust, so that the seeds of righteousness sown in our hearts can take root, as we grow in grace – to the glory of our merciful God. It was to Israel to whom the prophet Hosea was writing these solemn words, for individually and as a nation they had rebelled against the Lord. They had followed after other gods, committed spiritual adultery, strayed far from the God of their fathers and become estranged from the One Who chose them to be His own special inheritance. And Hosea was calling the errant nation of Israel to repent of their sins; return to their first love and seek the Lord with all their heart if they were to avert the rapidly approaching judgement that had been prophesied by so many holy men of God. Sow to yourselves in righteousness and reap according to mercy, Hosea warned. Break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord. The people of God were to rend their heart in sincerity and truth and not to simply tear their clothes in an outward show of mock remorse and hypocritical actions, if the coming judgement was to be averted. But the call to break up the fallow ground and turn over the unploughed earth is an equally urgent call to the body of Christ in this apostate Church age, as it was at the time of Hosea. Today as then, many Christians have strayed far away from the glorious gospel of grace and are proclaiming another gospel and a different Jesus. Many are seeking after other gods as they pursue a different gospel – a cross-less gospel; a seeker-friendly gospel; a social gospel; a prosperity gospel – a gospel devoid of truth. Many are running after a Godless gospel that has strayed far away from the foundational doctrine that was once offered to the saints by the apostles and prophets of the New Testament. May we take to heart this serious warning of Hosea to sow to ourselves in righteousness, and to break up the fallow ground in our own lives – knowing that it is time to seek the Lord, but let us remember that now is the accepted time to do this – tomorrow may be too late. My Prayer Loving Father thank you for the reminder that I need to root out all bitterness, un-forgiveness, legalism, disinterest, distrust and unbelief in my heart, for I want to sow unto myself righteousness knowing that it is only through Your loving-mercy that such fruit will grow. I pray that I will not delay in breaking up the fallow ground in my own heart, knowing that today is the day I need to seek You with every fibre of my being – this I ask in Jesus name, AMEN. ◄ Previous: Hosea 6:6 Next: Hosea 11:1 ► Choose a Verse from Hosea 10 123456789101112131415 Psalm 37:4 Revelation 5:9 Romans 1:21 Obadiah 1:21 Follow us Hosea 10:12 Further Study Hosea 10:12 in the Parallel Bible Hosea 10:12 in the Thematic Bible Hosea 10:12 Cross References Hosea 10:12 Treasury of Scripture Knowing Hosea 10:12 Sermons Hosea 10:12 Prayers Hosea 10:12 Images Choose Chapter Subscribe to the Verse of the day Today’s Devotionals The Opened Heaven Luke 15:20 Revelation 21:5 Treasure Trove ” Getting There (1) Faith Is.. – Once Upon Eternity (4) The Way and Works of Cain Doctrinal Statement / Privacy Policy / Use of Pictures / Donate / Contact Us Copyright Knowing-Jesus.com – All Rights Reserved ×
