Grace. Have you received it?

This past Wednesday night at the Prayer service I took time to share a few reflections on Grace in the Bible.  I am reading new book by Leonard Sweet The well-played life, and I resonate with concepts he is introducing.

Even though Christian reformation theologians emphasized grace and salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) yet the work ethic, the importance on work seems to continue be main emphasis.

A couple of weeks ago I asked a question during the Sabbath School discussion: “what is the difference between mercy and grace?”  Many know the answer – mercy is not getting what we deserved, and grace is getting what we don’t deserve.  Mercy is not being punished for that is the only thing we deserve, as wages of sin is death.  We all, righteous and rebels, are under mercy of God.  Even devil is still under mercy.  Grace is much more!  Reading Romans 5:17 I got struck with a thought that “Grace is God’s Gift of Righteousness.”  Or, to paraphrase, Grace is God’s given gift to us to live right, to do what is right, to function according to God’s design.  Grace empowers people who receive it to live right with God.  When we accept by faith God’s grace we invite the Holy Spirit power and God’s presence into our lives, to change us, to enable us to live in love!

So then, God’s Grace produces in us the work, the will and to do, as Apostle Paul writes to Philippians 2:13 “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

The classic verse on Grace comes from letter to Titus 2:11-14 “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  Notice, the Grace of God teaches us how to live.  The Grace of God in us makes us zealous for good works.

Grace is not a license to do as we please.  Grace is God’s power producing in us the fruit of repentance and righteous living.  To be under God Grace is to be governed by God’s Law of Love, law of liberty, law of life.  Put first thing first – Grace, works will result.  Most Christians occupy their mind with thoughts about keeping ourselves “in line” instead of being “in love”.  Grace comes as a free gift when we enter by faith into loving relationship with God.  One who is “in love” with God is kept “in line” by His Grace!

Have you received God’s Amazing Grace?

Singles and the Family of God

As we continue with the focus on the family this year new facets are emerging in discussions among our people.  One of themes we do not talk much about is singles.  Often when we talk family we focus so much on the ideal traditional family, where father, mother and children are in one accord, that we mistreat other families, different families, single parent families, singles.

Singles are treated as a problem to be solved, a disease to be cured.  Often comments are made like “Don’t worry, your time will come,” “soon you’ll meet someone,” “it’s just around the corner for you.”  And if someone remains single the attitude of people often is “What’s wrong with you?”

Such is a wrong mind set, biblically speaking.  While traditional family has a significant role to play in developing society, populating the earth and transmitting values to the next generation, the marriage is often in competition with ministry for the Kingdom of God. Today I am planning to unpack more Jesus teaching on marriage in recorded in the Gospel of Matthew 19^th chapter, and also teachings of the Apostle Paul in the 1^st letter to Corinthians, 7^th chapter.  Christ and his apostle lifted high singleness, as an idea of total commitment to the kingdom service.

Instead of “good vs. bad” dichotomy between marriage and singleness, the picture is presented as “good and better.”  The family language as referring to the Kingdom of God is significant.  New believers are considered spiritual children, and spiritual parenting is not connected necessarily to physical parenting.  Christian disciples are spiritual children.  Spiritual parenting permits singles to influence and invest in developing children for God’s family. 

In the context of the Christian church, all are to be involved in doing family together, being a family for each other.  This world puts pressure on “sexy” and “sexless” to enter into relationships for sake of physical satisfaction and accomplishment.  Biblical paradigm invites one to consider God’s calling and giftedness as determining factor of identity.

Often family duties, where the spouse is not supportive or committed to God’s Kingdom, or where children are not spiritually mature, take the best and the most energy and efforts, leaving nothing left for the kingdom sake.  Some may say “family is my full time ministry.”   Which is true, we are responsible for our offspring, and relatives, and they must be our first disciples. Yet, if we are truly ministering to our family, then our family members will become our partners in the ministry for the Kingdom of God, and not be consumers of material benefits only.

I am not downplaying the role of the family in our church.  I am inviting to upgrade the role of singles in our congregation to the Biblical status of worth, respect, trust, and recognition as God’s calling too.

The Covenant between Church and its Elders

This week I had to address some matters of church order, and the passage from the Desire of Ages, p.550 was guiding my mind: “In matters of conscience the soul must be left untrammeled [unlimited, unconfined]. No one is to control another's mind, to judge for another, or to prescribe his duty. God gives to every soul freedom to think, and to follow his own convictions. "Every one of us shall give account of himself to God." No one has a right to merge his own individuality in that of another. In all matters where principle is involved, "let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Romans 14:12, 5. In Christ's kingdom there is no lordly oppression, no compulsion of manner. The angels of heaven do not come to the earth to rule, and to exact homage, but as messengers of mercy, to co-operate with men in uplifting humanity.”  This is the guiding principle toward informing, but not dictating, persuading, but not forcing as we relate to others.

It is expected from elders of the church to govern, nurture, supervise the life and ministry of the church.  The manner in which it is accomplished matters.  It is “how” we do lead that makes most difference. 

As I prepare for the ordination service of our new elder Kirmane Allen I reflect on the words for affirmation from the Scripture, I invite you to recommit yourself together reading Romans 12: 1-13

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  

⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and each part, all the members, have their own unique function ⁵ so we, all of us, are one body in Christ, and individually we all belong to each other, members of one another,  ⁶ We have different gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them:

if you preach, prophesy God’s Message in accordance to our faith, nothing else

if you help, just help, don’t take over;  if you teach – do the teaching;

if you give encouragement and guidance, don’t get bossy, simply exhort

if you are called to give aid to people in need, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond, liberally; if you are put in charge, do not manipulate, but lead diligently and with care; if you are called to show mercy to disadvantaged, do it cheerfully, do not let yourself get irritated or depressed, keep a smile on your face.  Let our love be sincere, without hypocrisy, don’t fake it. Turn away and avoid what is evil. Cling to what is good.

 ¹⁰ Let us be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;  ¹¹ not lagging in diligence and enthusiasm, be fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;  ¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in suffering, constant in prayer;  ¹³ distributing to the needs of the saints, supporting one another, be inventive in hospitality, welcoming all.

Toughest Job in the world - Our mothers do it free!

On April 14 someone posted a video on YouTube “World’s Toughest Job.”  They created a fake hob and posted an ad in newspapers, then conducted real interviews.  The title for the job was “Director of operations.”  The list of qualifications was exhaustive; and sounded exhausting. “If you had a life, we’d ask you to sort of give that life up,” the interviewer told applicants. “No vacations. In fact, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years – on holidays, the workload is going to go up and we demand that.”

Furthermore, the interviewer demanded that all this be accomplished “with a happy disposition.”

The job offered no breaks, and little time for sleeping or eating. Unlimited hours.  Oh, and no pay.  All without compensation beyond “the meaningful connections that you make, and the feeling you get from really helping your associate.” Candidates described the job as “twisted,” “all-encompassing,” and “inhumane.”  Some wondered if it was even legal J.

This prank highlighted the fact that women are asked to sacrifice their needs, desires – and occasional shreds of their sanity – while juggling household finances, the physical strains of child-rearing 24 hours a day, and other demands of managing a family life.  It collected over 18 million likes in a month!

Today I want to invite you to read Chapters 40 and 42 in the Adventist Home, on the misconceptions of the mother’s work and about mother’s health.  It would do a lot of good to be reminded on the care that we must provide for our mothers.

Here I just provide a few lines: “The strength of the mother should be tenderly cherished. Instead of spending her precious strength in exhausting labor, her care and burdens should be lessened…It is for her own interest, and that of her family, to save herself all unnecessary taxation and to use every means at her command to preserve life, health, and the energies which God has given her; for she will need the vigor of all her faculties for her great work” (p.251).

Think of opportunities to bless our women, mothers of all ages this weekend, and relieve them of the toughest job of managing all operations, and give them a day of repose, rest, renewal and recreation.  You will be doing God’s service.

Our Urgent need today

Today as you read this blog, on May 3 – our church will reflect on the role serving community plays in our Christian Experience.

I am away with the family for the Graduation ceremony at Andrews University.  My degree was conferred yet in December 2013.  The family needs closure for the 7 years academic journey, and the official ceremony is just the right opportunity.  My kids will be taking a picture in front of the Pioneer Memorial Church with John Nevins Andrews and his two kids, the bronze statue, of course J  It was our favorite picture taking place in our early Seminary days.  This sculpture of our church’s first scholar and missionary is shaped with his arm extended, pointing to a world beyond.  J.N.Andrews’ words: “I know of but one way; find a field of labor, ask God to help, take off your coat, and pitch into the work.”

As a person Andrews has been an example of self-sacrifice for the cause of God’s kingdom.  Are we as committed to serve?

As we hear about escalation of military conflicts, economic tensions, health hazards, we may be concerned about even immediate future.  Last week I penned a few reflections about leaving a legacy, doing something that would impact the future, bless those who are yet to come.  Listen to hear God’s call, watch to see where God is at work, and join in.  God is never idle.  John 5:17 records the words of Jesus “My Father is always at his work to this very day.”  Are you a co-labourer with God?

The legacy worth eternity is the one worked by God, and if you want to have significance, make sure you are not doing something on your own, but are co-working with God.  How can one know where God is at work? Glad you asked!

Sin is selfishness, love and care for oneself alone.  And the solution, the cure for this disease that separates us from God is simple – our unselfish service for humanity!  When we are with God we leave worldly “get/get” mindset, and live to “give & give”

As our leaders for Community Service are sharing today, remember the opportunities of service are countless around you, every word or deed of unselfish kindness is an expression of the love of Christ for lost humanity.   The pen of inspiration says that when people “surrender themselves to God in unselfish service for humanity’ then they are “in cooperation with the Lord of glory. This thought sweetens all toil, it braces the will, it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall.”

So, whatever the opportunity to serve, pull up your sleeves, pitch in to help, serve others without a thought of what you get out of it, and you will see God’s transforming Love changing you in the process.