Monthly Archives: April 2024

Neither Wealthy Nor Poor

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Psalm 10:4-6 teaches us, “In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him, all his thoughts are. “There is no God.” 5 His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight, as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 6 he says in his heart, “I shall not be moved throughout all generations. I shall not meet adversity.” | ESV

Conversely, Proverbs 30:7-9 tells us; Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die. 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God. | ESV

It’s common to see individuals who seem to achieve success effortlessly, even boasting that no one, not even God, can impede their progress. We may question why God allows them to accumulate wealth while they hold contempt for Him. But why do we feel a sense of injustice when the wicked prosper? Are we truly upset about the harm they cause, or are we just envious of their success? To answer these questions, we need to gain a proper perspective on wickedness and wealth. The wicked will undoubtedly face punishment as God abhors their evil deeds. Remember, wealth is transient, a mere temporary state. It is not necessarily a sign of God’s approval of a person’s life, nor is the absence of wealth an indication of His disapproval. Let’s not allow wealth to become our obsession.

It’s crucial to recognize that an excess of wealth or a lack of it can jeopardize our physical and spiritual well-being. Being affluent is not the solution as it can pose challenges in attaining God’s Kingdom, as Jesus highlighted in Matthew 19:23-24. As Paul instructs, we can adapt to living with little or plenty as long as we maintain a balanced outlook on wealth. Striving for a state of ‘neither poverty nor riches’ can lead to a more meaningful and satisfying life.

Living a Jesus-centered life brings true happiness. It involves relying on God for needs and seeking less of what one desires and more of what He provides.

 

Leave Justice to God

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Scripture: Romans 12:17-19 (ESV)

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Reflection:

Paul’s words challenge us to respond to wrongs with grace. Instead of retaliating, we are called to do what is right, seek peace, and trust God’s justice.

Key Points:

  1. Do Not Repay Evil for Evil: Breaking the cycle of harm shows the strength of our faith.
  2. Do What is Right: Reflect God’s character by making righteous decisions.
  3. Live at Peace: Strive for harmony in your relationships, even when it’s difficult.
  4. Trust in God’s Justice: Leave vengeance to God and focus on healing and forgiveness.

Application:

– Practice forgiveness to free yourself from anger.

– Make decisions that reflect God’s love.

– Pursue reconciliation and peace.

– Trust that God will bring justice in His time.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help us to resist the urge to repay evil with evil. Grant us the strength to do what is right in the eyes of everyone and to live at peace with those around us. Teach us to trust in Your perfect justice and to leave room for Your wrath. May our lives reflect Your love and righteousness, even in the face of wrongdoing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Church Unity

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I’m sure many of you have experienced the pain of disunity within a church. Sometimes, it’s about something as simple as deciding how to decorate the church for a holiday, while other times, it can be much more profound and related to a disagreement about theology. Regardless of the reason, disunity can lead to the church’s demise if it isn’t addressed and resolved.

In an essay published on The Gospel Coalition website, Richards Lints defines church unity as “the union of the people of God, in all their various distinctions and expressions, bound to God and one another by the Gospel.” That sums it up right there.

Scripture describes unity as a beautiful and enjoyable experience, stating, “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalm 133:1 | ESV). Moreover, God commands all Christians to pursue unity to bring joy, saying, “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:2, ESV).

Following Jesus and resisting our sinful desires can be a daunting task. Similarly, achieving and maintaining harmony within our church can also present challenges. The Bible does not guarantee that the pursuit of unity will be effortless. The New Testament records numerous instances of Christians struggling and failing to achieve unity, which should serve as a warning that unity is far from easy.

Achieving unity, though not impossible, is quite challenging. This is mainly because spiritual attacks by the enemy are constantly present in the church (Ephesians 6:12). Additionally, some individuals pretend to be Christians but are wolves in sheep’s clothing (Acts 20:29). These people often create divisions and stir up trouble. Furthermore, some unbelievers try to tempt immature believers into quarrels (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). All these factors make establishing and maintaining unity in the church difficult. The list of obstacles to unity goes on and on.

What steps can we take to maintain unity at Vision Church as we experience God’s phenomenal growth?

1) It is important to remember that even though we have unity in our church, we must always remain vigilant for anything that may cause disunity in the future.

2) Mature individuals should mentor the younger generation and guide them with truthful teachings until they grow and mature spiritually.

3) Prevent Gossip. Don’t just try to control it; eliminate it.

4) It is essential always to remember the harmful effects of disunity and strive to avoid it. This high calling can help us grow as individuals and become more holy. Moreover, it is an opportunity to show the love of Jesus Christ to a world that desperately needs it. By demonstrating the love of Christ through our actions and words, we can make a positive impact and spread love to those who need it most.

Never forget these words. Like all things in life, Christian unity is impossible without the help of the Holy Spirit, for apart from him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Imitating Jesus

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Jesus Christ is the person whom God wants us to follow as an example. While we all know the difference between right and wrong, we often fail to do what is right. The simple answer to this is sin, but I believe there are more reasons beyond our sinful nature.

I’m just now starting to understand what Pastor Chris has been trying to pound into my thick skull over the years: Growing in faith is not about learning new facts. To move forward as Christians, we must return to the beginning and go deeper into it.

I once heard Pastor J.D. Greear explain spiritual growth using this analogy. He said that spiritual growth is like a well. The best water is not obtained by making the well wider but by going deeper into the well.

Developing a stronger faith requires effort and dedication; it does not come naturally. This is why many people struggle with it and ultimately fail. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:13, ‘Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide, and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. But the gate is narrow, and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.'”

There are many people who argue that accepting Christ as their Savior, turning from their sins, and believing in His death on the cross for their past, present, and future sins is enough. However, I believe that doing more is not about feeling obligated but rather willingly wanting to do more because of the high price that Christ paid for our salvation. It is true that we cannot earn our salvation by serving and obeying God. However, such actions demonstrate that our commitment to God is genuine. Acts of loving service are not a replacement for our faith in Christ but rather a confirmation of it.

Brothers, to become more like Christ, we need to live our lives the way He did. To do so, we must first comprehend His message. This understanding won’t come easily. But if we delve deeper into the gospel daily, we will enhance our understanding of who Jesus is and why God wants us to emulate Him.