No Matter How You Look At It – It’s Grace!

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

– Henry Neufeld

4-5But God, rich in mercy, took action because he loved us so very much. Even though we were dead through the things we had done wrong, he brought us to life in Christ (you were saved by grace!) 6He then raised us up with him and made us sit in heavenly places with [in] Christ Jesus. 7This all took place so that in the ages to come he could show just how rich his grace is by his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith. Even that is not of yourselves—it’s God’s gift! 9It is not the result of works, so nobody can boast. 10For it is his workmanship that we are, created in Christ Jesus for good works. God prepared those works ahead of time so that we could walk in them [live that way]. — Ephesians 2:4-10 (HN) [My paraphrase to break up a long Greek sentence!]

There’s a famous story about an old lady who, after hearing a lecture on how the heavenly bodies move, challenged the lecturer and told him he was wrong, that the earth was a flat disk that rode on the back of a tortoise. Cleverly the scientist asked her what the tortoise was standing on.

“You’re very clever, young man, very clever,” said the old lady. “But it’s turtles all the way down!” [Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time, via Wikipedia].

As humans, we don’t really like that kind of infinite regression, which is the point of the story. We want to find something solid on which to base whatever we’re doing. When it comes to our salvation there is no exception. We want to be able to look at our lives, our birth, our church membership, our good deeds, or just generally how cute we are, and find there a good solid reason why God would accept us. We’d really feel so much safer if we were truly (and of course successfully!) depending on ourselves.

This was called to my attention one night during Bible study at our church (taught by Dr. Wesley Wachob). The text was Romans 1:1, and the phrase was “the gospel of God.” First let’s break out gospel. It’s “good news.” Now you can play with that word “of” quite a bit. God’s good news. The good news that leads to God. The good news that comes from God. The good news that is God.

All of those have some validity. But there is a key point that’s easy to miss. The gospel is not a new invention. God didn’t come up with it at the last moment as a stopgap measure. He wasn’t caught off guard by the plunge of the sin market (or perhaps explosion?) so that he had to bail out the universe with a hastily patched together and compromised infusion of 700 billion units of grace! The gospel is as old as God!

There wasn’t a time when people were saved by works. There is no time coming when people will be saved by works. When Paul searches for support for the gospel he goes back to Abraham. Joshua 24 tells us that Israel’s forefathers worshiped other gods, but then God came and called Abraham. Why? Grace. Period. Abraham obeyed, yes, but that call came by sheer grace. He hadn’t obeyed yet! What’s more, the grace wasn’t just for Abram, as he was called at the time. It was for everyone.

What about the Jewish law, the Torah? I’m glad you asked. That is also God’s gracious gift. That’s how God chose to educate the Israelites and teach them how to live. One of the most profoundly spiritual experiences of my life was studying through Leviticus with Jacob Milgrom’s commentary in the Anchor Bible series. Milgrom is a conservative Rabbi, not a Christian. He finds God’s gracious action in the way that God leads the Israelites through the laws. It’s not the laws and the sacrifices that “do” things—God does them. Our sacrifice doesn’t cause forgiveness. The Israelite worshiper sacrificed in obedience, but it was God who did the forgiving. You’d be amazed at how grace is woven into Leviticus!

God shows us grace in various ways. God graciously leads us in various ways, but no matter how far back, how far forward, how far down, or how far up we go, we never get to a point where it isn’t grace. God created us all. He’s the answer to that ultimate question—why is there something rather than nothing? Quite literally you and I are absolutely, utterly, inconceivably nothing whatsoever without God.

It is not as though we can go most of the way and then God helps us. We can’t start, we can’t continue, we can’t come within sight of our goal without God. We can’t even conceive of the need for the journey without God.

We were dead, kaput, finished, completely and utterly lost and completely and utterly unable to do anything about it, and completely unaware that we needed to do anything. God steps in. “But God . . .”

God won’t leave us a single platform, a single ledge, not even a tiny hook on which to hang our pride. It’s grace all the way down. When we think we’ve finished looking at what grace can do, we’re just going to find more grace below. All the way!

We have no rights before God. He graciously gives them to us. We have no claim to make. No human being, no finite creature whatsoever has ever had any such claim, nor will they.

Why emphasize this so much? I could say that the Bible does, but to be more honest I find it horribly easy to doubt or forget completely.

When you get desperate, remember that it’s grace all the way. God isn’t surprised by your situation and he has always had a plan!

When you pray, remember that it’s grace all the way. You don’t have to get it right. Just talk to him.

When you fall, remember there is no hard landing when you’re in God’s grace. It’s grace all the way down.

Height, depth, length, width, (Ephesians 3:18) whether space or time, it’s grace all the way.

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God’s Requirements

Posted on July 14, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

The LORD God has told us what is right and what he demands: “See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God.”       Micah 6:8 (CEV)

Sometimes people surprise me in a good way. A 14-year-old boy has been accused of murdering his father. On the first day he appeared in court, the youth group that he was a part, stood outside the courthouse with posters that had messages like, “We are here for you, _____” and “We are praying”. The pastor was inside the courtroom sitting behind the mother. No judgment. Not their job. Just support.

The prophet Micah brings us a message from God about what God demands from us.  God requires very little from us.  He asks.  He desires.  He demands little.

God wants us to live our lives with integrity.  We are to treat others with fairness or justice.  I am responsible for how I treat others; how I conduct business.  This came to my mind when I pray about the elections and how a candidate’s integrity is a primary criteria when I decide to whom I will place a vote.  I may not agree with all of their decisions but I want to feel that I can trust what they say.

“let mercy be your first concern…”  Let forgiveness be the first thing that I love.  “Don’t hold back forgiveness, Jody.”  I went to bed last night asking God to examine me and tell me if I had withheld forgiveness and bring it to my mind if there was something.  You know what He said?  “Forgive yourself, Jody. I have.”  Ohhhh! That struck my heart!  I immediately saw something that had happened where I had just beat myself for not doing something.  I had failed!  It sounds …dumb…when I write it down but God is so right that I can extend forgiveness to others but hold myself in such a shackle of un-forgiveness!   How arrogant!

This leads right to humbly being obedient to God.  God is …God.  To look at the previous paragraph and see how I certainly wasn’t humble in my obedience but in fact arrogantly dis-obedient was enlightening.  And humbling.  It is one of those moments when all I can do is go to my knees and ask that God create in my a clean heart (Psalm 51) and how lovingly awesome God is to do just that!

God is so good to love us so much to tell us; teach us what He wants for us.  I don’t think it is so much being able to hear God.  I think it is more about having open ears and open heart to accept what He is saying.  Have you ever asked a question that you thought you already knew the answer and so that is the answer you heard?  It is not what the person actually said?!!  I think that is what happens many times when I am filtering God’s voice and not truly listening.  Yes, there are times that He is silent.  I need to be open for that also.  I need to be open to God.  And that is walking with Him.

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Are your Eyes on God or the Giant?

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” 1 Samuel 17:26 (WEB)

I hope you will take a few minutes today and read 1 Samuel 17.  It would be a great story to read before you go to bed…action-packed and the Good Guy wins!  There are a few details that I hope you notice.  David was not part of King Saul’s army.  His older, bigger brothers were.  David was seen as too young; too little.  He just ‘happens’ to show up to deliver a few supplies from home and overhears the loud-mouth giant doing his twice-a-day taunt.  Israel’s army cowers in the bushes as they are scared witless.  They see only the giant.

David has spent his time in the fields watching over the family sheep.  He also spent time building his relationship with God.  He talked to Him.  He sang to Him.  David listened to Him. So when David heard the giant taunting God’s people – he didn’t see a giant – he heard someone taunting GOD!

I know what a giant sounds like in my life.  He blocks in the sun in my life and I feel like I am in the dark …better known as doubt.  Israel sees only how tall Goliath is or how much armor he has but David sees only how powerful his God is and how much God has already done for him.  Israel doesn’t talk about God.  David speaks only of God.  David knows the giant is there but he sees God more.

Notice that David speaks of the armies of God.  What does he mean by that plural?  There is only one army of Israel so I don’t think he is talking about that.  Maybe David is remembering that God is not just a single…He is hail.  He is wind.  He has platoons of angels.  God can collapse walls, part seas, and produce a thunder storm that can cause the biggest to cower.  I think David knew very well who was standing in front of Goliath!

David ran toward his giant.  When was the last time I ran toward the challenge in my life?  How often I duck my head and pull the blanket over my head!  David shows me that I can go on the offensive with my giant because I have the Spirit of God in me!  Load up my sling with the power of Jesus and let loose on that giant of depression or alcohol, or abuse or insecurity!!!

David spoke of the armies as belonging to the living God.  David did not worship a dead statue.  He knew that God was alive and there!  He knew God was close and not just an observer up on a distant throne.

David’s story is not one of big miracles like the parting seas that Moses saw or rising from the dead like Lazarus did.  David’s miracle was that God saw a heart that was for Him in a fallible man and used David to be a mighty king for His chosen people.  He will do that for me and you.  I can look at the giants in my life and stumble or I can look at God and walk in victory.

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God Gives Choices

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

[Jesus said,]“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27 (WEB)

In his book, Cast of Characters, Max Lucado related a story about Abraham Lincoln that I did not know.  Edwin Thomas, an actor, saved the life of President Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, when he fell between a station platform and a moving train.  Edwin’s actor brother, John, assassinated Robert’s father, two years before.  Two brothers.  Same father, mother, profession — Two choices. How does that happen?  I don’t know but it isn’t unusual.

Adam had two sons, Cain and Abel.  Abel chose to give God the best of what he had.  Cain chose to give in to envy and kill.   God allowed them to choose.

Abraham and Lot were both nomads in Canaan.  Abraham chose to take whatever Lot didn’t want.  Lot chose Sodom.  God allowed them to choose.

David and Saul were both kings of Israel.  David chose God.  Saul chose power.  God allowed them to choose.

Peter and Judas both denied the Messiah.  Peter repented and asked for mercy.  Judas was also sorry but chose death.  God allowed them to choose.

Jesus even on the cross had two thieves who were making choices.  Both were convicted by the Roman justice system. Both were given the same punishment.  Both found themselves on the same hill, next to the same man.  One died angry and insulting.  The other in his weakness, recognized his need for mercy, and simply said, “Remember me when you enter your kingdom.”  God allowed them to choose.

There are more stories that could be added to the list.  Throughout history, both in Scripture and in the world, God will allow us to make our own choices.  I don’t always understand.  Doesn’t the shepherd leave the 99 and search for the one?  Yes.  The father of prodigal son did…nothing.   The sheep innocently wandered away.  The prodigal intentionally left.  The father gave him a choice.  Jesus gave the criminals the same choice.

The repented thief had made some poor choices.  Maybe he chose to hang with the wrong crowd and decided the wrong things to do.  Is he going to spend eternity reaping the fruit of all the bad choices?  No, he is going to enjoy the fruit of the one good choice.

God may send a storm to shake us up.  He may send His love to encourage us to come to His arms.  And sometimes God says nothing.  God is silent and honors our right to choose.  I do not begin to understand an infinite God. All I know is that God desires that all should come to know Him and so live with Him forever. (1 Timothy 2)

Let us build on the solid foundation of our good choice: God!  Let us rejoice that we can build on Rock, not sand! I will have choices to make today.  Will I choose compassion or revenge?  Will I choose kindness or anger?  Will I choose self-control or destruction?

Oh, Holy Spirit, help me in my weakness to choose well.  Show me Your way, every day.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

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God With Me

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 (NLT)

Our spiritual life is a fourfold life. 1) I listen to God speak. 2) I tell God about my life and ask Him for ‘stuff’. 3) I look at my life and, with the Holy Spirit’s help, turn from sin and keep to God’s plan and path. 4) Praise and thanksgiving every day for all things.

Too often I would prefer to ‘forget’ that #3 point. Even when point #3 shows itself in point #1 and #2, I want to ignore God’s leading.

How many times have I listened to strong, toe-stepping sermon and knew it was meant for someone else?! Or if I felt a bit of pain in my toes, I pulled my feet back and did not look at the truth too closely! Do I sit quietly and listen to what God has to say? Do I allow Him to bring His principles, laws, precepts, commands, statutes, and ordinances to my mind? And then do I meditate on them or do I quickly dismiss them as old and not part of the grace theology that I prefer to meditate?

How much of my prayer life is about my wants and needs? Have I reduced God to a vending machine or spiritual Sugar Daddy? While God is my Father and wants me to come to Him for everything, He wants to have a relationship first and that is about conversation which means there is talking and listening! My prayers would go so much better if I remembered that I have two ears and one mouth!

I have shared here that every night I go to the Lord to review the day. That is when I get quiet and allow God to shine His light on the day and allow His Spirit to convict (not condemn) me. It is the time each day to repent; to ask forgiveness; and turn to God in all things. It is time for reconciliation. I do not want to fail the test! Jesus is about second chances and I do not want to miss that or refuse the opportunity. Praise and thanksgiving flows freely when it does not have to go around obstacles or becomes a trickle because of the wall of sin that I have built.

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (NLT)

Jesus lives in me. Am I offering Him a clean house in which to dwell? Do I daily have the Holy Spirit sweep out everything that is not pleasing to Him? Look at the list that Paul gives:

Be joyful. Do not let life’s circumstances dictate how I live. The joy comes from knowing my Hope.

Grow up! I am a disciple in the Army of God. I have passed boot camp – on to Servant School!

Encourage others. Live in harmony and peace. Jesus was a servant of all. He washed Peter’s feet and Judas’. He stood before Pilate and said nothing. He is my example.

And the promise: God will be with me with His love and His peace. All that I need.

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An Alien in this World

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV)

The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (The Message)

I think this is the first time that I have noted a Scripture with two different versions. Now the NKJV is a translation where The Message is a paraphrase but as I was looking and studying this passage I was interested in the words that were offered.

Jesus said that I would be in the world but not of this world (John 17). And here Paul says that while we are human, when the troubles of this world come that Jesus spoke (John 16), fighting like the world does is not the way to win.

The world says that when someone offends you – get a lawyer! When life isn’t fair – well it should be! So pass a new law to make it fair for everyone – and get a lawyer! Laws really aren’t to be defended – they are to be manipulated to my advantage! Standards in education and discipline should be lowered – not raised – so that no feels ‘less than’ and has to work harder!

I am not cynical. I am done trying to find or expecting to receive what is ‘fair’ from the world. I have accepted the truth – with joy – that I am an alien in this world. I am a citizen of God’s Kingdom and no longer ‘fit’ here.

The God-tools that I have are:

My relationship with Jesus. I am the child of the King. I wear the breastplate of righteousness because of Jesus (Ephesians 6). Every knee bows at the name of Jesus. When I call on His name, when I praise Him, all the demons run. I have been blessed when I begin my day with committing my words and my actions under the power of God. He is faithful.

The Armor of God. This isn’t some ‘good luck mantra’ but a visual reminder of what it means to be a child of the King of kings. I have a helmet of salvation that assures me that I am His child. The breastplate of righteousness that allows me to come into the throne room of God with my prayers. The belt of His truth that tears down the lies of the enemy when he attempts to tear me down. The shoes of peace that I walk in because of the Good News Jesus has given me. The shield of faith that I raise and wrap around myself every day. Some days it may seem as tiny as a mustard seed but Jesus is strong when I feel weak. So I am covered! And the sword of the Holy Spirit that, just as Jesus said, reminds me of all His promises.

Each day, in obedience I bow my head, take up my God-tools, and step out into this alien world, to walk in victory no matter what comes my way.

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Sowing and Reaping is No Fable!

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (WEB)

Reaping and sowing is a Christian principle that cannot be ignored. It is simple math.

It is about how I will sow my gifts in service to building God’s Kingdom. Will I use the gifts God has given me to amass treasure here on earth or will I sow it into ministry, even ministry around the world. Jesus spoke about ‘talents’ (Matthew 25). He was very clear that if I am given from God then I am to do in the Kingdom, not ‘bury’ a gift for my own pleasure.

It is about how I will sow in others. Will I sow good fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? Or will it be strife, bitterness, division, jealousy, rage, and revenge? Do I realize that what I sow – so shall I reap?

It is about my heart. I admit that the ‘cheerful giver’ part may take me a bit of time and effort to arrive at that place. But God is faithful to give whatever I need. There are times that I want justice. I want what is fair. My fellow Believers, that is God’s job. That is for God to determine the judgment. I must leave judgment in His hands or I will again sow in misery and reap the same.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing to many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God ha given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:12-14 (NIV)

And here is the bonus – pleasing God. By the choices I make in sowing, thanksgiving is given to God. It is reaped as people see Him instead of me. It is easy to allow others to pull me into stingy sowing and selfish reaping. When I step in faith allowing God’s Spirit to flow abundantly through me, blessing others even when they do not deserve it (do I?), the harvest becomes abundant and surpasses anything that I could have attempted to make for myself.

Sowing and Reaping: A true Christian Principle that cannot be ignored!

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In Faith

Posted on July 6, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.     2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NIV)

Most of us have heard sermons on tithing. It’s interesting to me that I do not remember this passage as a basis for tithing. It’s working for me today!

Tithing has almost become a ‘dirty’ word and whenever a pastor brings a message of tithing to the fellowship you can see the change in the reception of the Word of God. Arms cross, eyes roll, and ears click to ‘off’ or, at best, low volume. But as much as we may not want to hear it, are they any of us that can truthfully say that God doesn’t want us to give? So let’s go with Paul and talk about giving today.

Paul wants us to know that when we give – God gives more – His grace or love. We always want to receive more of God’s love! And He gives even in the trials. The question is will we trust God on that? Too often our giving is based on our assessment of whether we can or how much we can give. While God has given us brains to work mathematical equations, He has also given us a relationship with Him so that we are to ask Him what we are to give. Paul makes the point that it is important to ask God first and listen for His answer. Giving or giving more than God tells you is just as disobedient as not giving or not giving the amount God tells you. In my experience when Henry and I seek the Lord on what He wants us to give as a tithe or as a free offering, the answer brings a peaceful confirmation to us both. We may still be … well, we know we are walking in faith and we tell God that we are trusting Him. We may still feel shaky on this walk of faith but we do it! And God is faithful and His blessings return multiplied! We truly can not out-give God!

Jesus pointed to the widow and how she gave all. She did not give out of the ‘leftover’ but gave before she took care of her own needs.(Luke 21) Have you ever taken that step of faith? Yes, it can be more frightening than falling backward into someone’s arms and hoping they catch you. But the payoff – the blessing is bigger than I can describe in words. Look at Paul’s words. He said that though the Macedonian church was in need themselves, they pleaded for the blessing to give. And they did not give what would have been expected given their circumstances. They gave abundantly in faith.

It is important to support our fellowship of Believers that we are a part. In my church when we join we pledge our support through our prayers, our attendance, our service, and our giving. God also speaks about ‘offerings’. Like the Macedonian group who gave an offering to the ministry that Paul was doing, so we, too, have opportunities to support other ministries. My husband and I support some missions and ministries. We are blessed to be a part of those ministries that stretch around the world. There are several more that we would like to support so we pray and listen.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.     Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

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Create in Me a Clean Heart

Posted on July 5, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you; what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done.     2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NIV)

I first received this Scripture a few months after I learned about intercessory prayer. I was part of a group that met every week and we would pray for 2-4 hours. It was a powerful time of praying for our country, for elected officials, or for our children and their schools, or for specific people who had cancer, etc.

Intercessory prayer is simply prayer for other people and an intercessor is someone who is called to spend time in prayer for others. The Holy Spirit speaks the need and guides the prayer. As our group continued we noticed fatigue in each other. And this Scripture revealed the guidance to always pray through to the victory. By that I mean that whatever the burden of the prayer, God always has the need and always answers the prayer in His wisdom and time. It is not a burden for me to carry like a weight. It is God’s desire to carry our burdens.

This Scripture also speaks to me about how the Holy Spirit brings His conviction on me that produces sorrow and leads me to ask forgiveness and turn (repent) in a new direction, God direction. This conviction brings the Light that reveals my sin in my thoughts or my actions. It sees every dark corner where I might try to hide a secret sin that has literally plagued my life.

The Godly sorrow produces eagerness in my heart to change. When I spend time with Jesus every day, I learn how wonderful it is to be close to Him. The Holy Spirit’s conviction teaches me that distance from Jesus sets off an alarm that replaces the peace that characterizes my life close to Jesus. I have experienced that unrest and confusion when sin has come between me and God. The alone-ness of that is totally eclipsed by the joy that comes after repentance and restoration!

I leave you today with a longer Scripture than usual but read this like a prayer to our LORD who desires that we stay in a close relationship together.

Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.

According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me.

Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight; that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness, That the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Don’t throw me from your presence, and don’t take your holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways. Sinners shall be converted to you.

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation.

My tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. Lord, open my lips.

My mouth shall declare your praise.

For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it. You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.      Psalm 51:1-17 (WEB)

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Unequally Yoked

Posted on July 2, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (WEB)

I have heard this quoted most often in reference to Believers marrying non-Believers; essentially saying – don’t do it! After over 30 years of married life I can say without hesitation that Paul was right! A person’s faith is an essential characteristic. Whether you are Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Universalist, atheist, or the many ‘places’ in between, what and how you believe is at the core of who you are. Even in business, a partnership can not survive if the partners are trying to steer their business in different directions. Faith in a marriage is surely one of the rudders that directs the marriage. If two people are looking in different directions for their support and guidance, then they are not moving in the same direction. Paul’s analogy of a ‘yoke’ brings a picture of oxen or horses and it is easy to understand that the two must pull in the same direction, even anticipating the moves of the partner.

Now Paul makes the division clear as he speaks of light and darkness and Jesus and a demon. In his time and in the church to whom he was writing, Paul wanted the readers to understand that if you were a Believer, that meant you were a Believer in Jesus Christ. You had left the worship of idols (including the idol of religion) behind and in the climate of persecution from Rome as well as from the Jews at that time, Believers of Jesus Christ should not marry non-believers. Faith truly was a life and death issue.

What about today? Should a Methodist marry a Lutheran? Should a Catholic and a Baptist marry? I do not believe this Scripture was written to judge that. A member of a denomination does not signify a Believer or non-believer.

My husband, Henry, spent time in prayer, listening and discussing with God before he called me for our first lunch date. Before beginning anything in our relationship, Henry asked God if he was hearing God’s voice. As we got to know each other, Henry again went to the Lord, spending several days seeking God’s wisdom and approval before he offered his commitment to me. I spent several days, then, doing the same. In my case, I really sought the Holy Spirit to sift through all the emotions I was feeling and to give me a clear direction in how He wanted me to respond. On the day that I stood before God and our family and friends and entered the covenant with Henry and God, I had no doubts and complete peace. That hasn’t changed in almost 11 years.

As Believers we are temples of God. God is in us. We are His people. Great and extraordinary things will happen when Believers come together as a partnership or team. An unequal yoke, on the other hand, can bring division and destruction. God’s wisdom is in copious supply. All we have to do is ask.

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him. James 1:5 (WEB)

Posted in 2 Corinthians, James | Comments Off on Unequally Yoked