Continuing in the spirit and message of this year and season of Order on this Valentine's Day, we turn to the book of Mark 12:28-34, wherein we see a dialogue taking place between Jesus and an unnamed scribe about the first/greatest commandment. The text reads as follows: "One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. Then the scribe said to him, 'You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'he is one, and besides him there is no other'; and 'to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,'---this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.' When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' After that no one dared to ask him any question." (NRSV).
We see in the preceding verses that the order of love is God first. When Jesus was posed with the question of which commandment was first, He quoted the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 ("Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might."- NRSV). In order for us to love properly, we must love God first. And we are to love Him with everything in us; in other words, we are to be totally consumed with interest, regard and devotion to Him.
However, notice that Jesus did not stop with just saying that we must love God, but He afterward included loving our neighbor as ourself. Jesus quoted this from Leviticus 19:18 ("You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD." - NRSV). Jesus connected the spiritual with the practicle. Our love for God will be expressed in our love for one another. As I John 4:20 says, "...for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen." And I John 5:1 says, "...and everyone who loves the parent loves the child." We are to love people, just like we already love ourselves. "The Order of Love."
Happy Valentine's Day!
February 14, 2010
February 07, 2010
Words To Remember - "The Kingdom Factor"
Continuing in the spirit of the last five titles shared, and in the overall word for this year and season, "Order In The House", we now look more closely at the kingdom of God, and how it acts as a factor in the quality of our lives. In this, we look again at Matthew 6:33, wherein the Lord Jesus says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV).
In speaking of "The Kingdom Factor", it behooves us to first define the word "factor." Whereas "factor" can be defined several ways, however, for our subject matter, we will utilize the definition that says the following: "Something that contributes to or has an influence on the outcome of something." Therefore, in light of the aforesaid definition of "factor", and uniting it with the term "the kingdom" (of God), we see that what we do or do not do with the kingdom of God contributes to and has an influence on the outcome of the quality of our lives.
So, if we strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then the outcome is, "and all these things will be given to you as well." However, if we choose not to strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then the outcome may not necessarily mean that we will not obtain "things" (for remember that Jesus says in Matthew 6:32, "For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things..."), it's just that with the obtaining of those "things", we may end up losing our soul. For Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (KJV).
So, let us allow the "The Kingdom Factor" to be a benefit in our lives, and not an adverse one. For it is what we do or do not do with the kingdom of God that will have an influence on the outcome of the quality of our lives.
In speaking of "The Kingdom Factor", it behooves us to first define the word "factor." Whereas "factor" can be defined several ways, however, for our subject matter, we will utilize the definition that says the following: "Something that contributes to or has an influence on the outcome of something." Therefore, in light of the aforesaid definition of "factor", and uniting it with the term "the kingdom" (of God), we see that what we do or do not do with the kingdom of God contributes to and has an influence on the outcome of the quality of our lives.
So, if we strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then the outcome is, "and all these things will be given to you as well." However, if we choose not to strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, then the outcome may not necessarily mean that we will not obtain "things" (for remember that Jesus says in Matthew 6:32, "For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things..."), it's just that with the obtaining of those "things", we may end up losing our soul. For Jesus says in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (KJV).
So, let us allow the "The Kingdom Factor" to be a benefit in our lives, and not an adverse one. For it is what we do or do not do with the kingdom of God that will have an influence on the outcome of the quality of our lives.
January 31, 2010
Words To Remember - "Order In The House" Part V
Continuing in our series, "Order In The House", we look again at Matthew 6:33 which says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV). This verse is the heart of order, for it speaks of placing God as first in our lives.
In our journey through Matthew 6:33, we looked at the words "strive", "first", and "kingdom of God (and his righteousness)." About "strive (seek)", we said that (according to the BDAG Greek Lexicon) this is to "devote serious effort to realize one's desire or objective." About "first", we said that in our "first" is also our "last", or in other words, in our "first" is our all or everything. And about "kingdom of God (and his righteousness)", we said that it speaks of the rule, reign, and will of the king. So, in putting these things together, we can say that, "In striving (seeking) first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we are totally consumed with wanting to see God's will done in our lives." There remains no more room for the self-agenda, but it is all about the God-agenda.
Now, this is not to say that we are perfect in all of this, but as the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." And in vs. 14 of the same chapter he says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." (NRSV). So we see that in the "press", is the total consumption with wanting to see God's will done in our lives.
Striving first (seeking) for the kingdom of God (and his righteousness), puts us in a place called "blessing"; for Jesus said as a result of doing this, "all these things will be given to you as well." "Order In The House."
In our journey through Matthew 6:33, we looked at the words "strive", "first", and "kingdom of God (and his righteousness)." About "strive (seek)", we said that (according to the BDAG Greek Lexicon) this is to "devote serious effort to realize one's desire or objective." About "first", we said that in our "first" is also our "last", or in other words, in our "first" is our all or everything. And about "kingdom of God (and his righteousness)", we said that it speaks of the rule, reign, and will of the king. So, in putting these things together, we can say that, "In striving (seeking) first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we are totally consumed with wanting to see God's will done in our lives." There remains no more room for the self-agenda, but it is all about the God-agenda.
Now, this is not to say that we are perfect in all of this, but as the Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." And in vs. 14 of the same chapter he says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus." (NRSV). So we see that in the "press", is the total consumption with wanting to see God's will done in our lives.
Striving first (seeking) for the kingdom of God (and his righteousness), puts us in a place called "blessing"; for Jesus said as a result of doing this, "all these things will be given to you as well." "Order In The House."
January 24, 2010
Words To Remember - "Order In The House" Part IV
We are still traveling in our current series, "Order In The House." And one of our main texts has been Matthew 6:33 wherein Jesus said, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV).
In striving first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, means that we will be totally consumed with wanting to see God's will done in our lives. Of course this takes walking by faith, because our natural mind would tell us that we need to be totally consumed and concerned about seeing our own needs met, and this at any cost. But God says that as we put Him and His kingdom first, "...all these things will be given to you as well." "Order In The House."
In striving first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, means that we will be totally consumed with wanting to see God's will done in our lives. Of course this takes walking by faith, because our natural mind would tell us that we need to be totally consumed and concerned about seeing our own needs met, and this at any cost. But God says that as we put Him and His kingdom first, "...all these things will be given to you as well." "Order In The House."
January 17, 2010
Words To Remember - "Order In The House" Part III
We are continuing in this series, "Order In The House", which has as one of its main texts, Matthew 6:33, which says, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV).
One of the things we pointed out in our last discussion of Matthew 6:33, was its usage of the word "first." And with that, we saw that in our "first" is also our "last"; in other words, in striving for the kingdom of God "first", there remains no more room for the "I", but rather the "I" is consumed by the devoted pursuit of the King and His kingdom. But as we said before, we can do this with the utmost trust and confidence because God knows what need and He will add all these things to us as well.
Now in addition to the above, it bears mentioning Romans 14:17, wherein the Apostle Paul says, "For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (NRSV). Herein, we see Paul defining both what the kingdom of God is not and what the kingdom of God is. In defining what kingdom of God is not he says, "food and drink"; these things speak about our personal agendas, desires, ambitions, etc... However, in defining what the kingdom of God is he says, "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"; these things speak about God's agenda and desire. Therefore, in Paul's definition of the kingdom of God, we see further that the "I" has no room, and that it is not about us, but rather it is about God and what He wants. But again, as was said before, we can relinquish our will and desire to Him with the utmost trust and confidence, knowing that He knows what we need and when we need it, and that as we put Him and His kingdom "first", all these things will be given to us as well. "Order In The House."
One of the things we pointed out in our last discussion of Matthew 6:33, was its usage of the word "first." And with that, we saw that in our "first" is also our "last"; in other words, in striving for the kingdom of God "first", there remains no more room for the "I", but rather the "I" is consumed by the devoted pursuit of the King and His kingdom. But as we said before, we can do this with the utmost trust and confidence because God knows what need and He will add all these things to us as well.
Now in addition to the above, it bears mentioning Romans 14:17, wherein the Apostle Paul says, "For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (NRSV). Herein, we see Paul defining both what the kingdom of God is not and what the kingdom of God is. In defining what kingdom of God is not he says, "food and drink"; these things speak about our personal agendas, desires, ambitions, etc... However, in defining what the kingdom of God is he says, "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"; these things speak about God's agenda and desire. Therefore, in Paul's definition of the kingdom of God, we see further that the "I" has no room, and that it is not about us, but rather it is about God and what He wants. But again, as was said before, we can relinquish our will and desire to Him with the utmost trust and confidence, knowing that He knows what we need and when we need it, and that as we put Him and His kingdom "first", all these things will be given to us as well. "Order In The House."
January 10, 2010
Words To Remember - "Order In The House" Part II
In continuation of the message of this season, "Order In The House", we look again at Matthew 6:33, wherein Jesus says these words, "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV). These words of Jesus are words of Order. And why are they words of Order? Because among them is found this one word, "first"; which lets us know the order or priority that the kingdom of God should have in our lives.
Now in looking at this word "first", as it is spoken by the Lord Jesus in relation to how we should strive for the kingdom of God, we need to realize that Jesus is not somehow allowing space for us to begin striving or seeking "things" after we have sought the kingdom of God "first"; but rather we must realize that in our "first" is also our "last." In other words, when we strive "first" for the kingdom of God (the rule or reign of God in our lives), then there is no more room for us; our lives become consumed in Him when we put Him and His kingdom "first." But remember, we can do this with the utmost trust and confidence in God because Jesus said at the end of the aforesaid verse, "...and all these things will be given to you as well." God knows what we need, when we need it, and how to supply it, but we must give Him our all by putting Him "first." "Order In The House."
Now in looking at this word "first", as it is spoken by the Lord Jesus in relation to how we should strive for the kingdom of God, we need to realize that Jesus is not somehow allowing space for us to begin striving or seeking "things" after we have sought the kingdom of God "first"; but rather we must realize that in our "first" is also our "last." In other words, when we strive "first" for the kingdom of God (the rule or reign of God in our lives), then there is no more room for us; our lives become consumed in Him when we put Him and His kingdom "first." But remember, we can do this with the utmost trust and confidence in God because Jesus said at the end of the aforesaid verse, "...and all these things will be given to you as well." God knows what we need, when we need it, and how to supply it, but we must give Him our all by putting Him "first." "Order In The House."
January 03, 2010
Words To Remember - "Order In The House"
In October of 2009, I stated by the grace of God, that the year 2010 would be a year and a season of ORDER. And that this Order would begin with the house of God (I Peter 4:17), and that it would move into our homes and personal lives; for the house of God is comprised of homes and personal lives. I also mentioned that in this season of Order, Matthew 6:33 would be a verse of emphasis and meditation, for it speaks of order and priority.
Well, we are now in the year 2010, and it is time for there to be "Order In The House", that is, in God's house, and consequently in our houses. To be in order is have a proper arrangement, alignment and flow of things. However, true order begins with having God first; thus taking us to Matthew 6:33.
In Matthew 6:33, we see these words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ in His "Sermon on the Mount", "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV). In this verse, Jesus is teaching order, and this order involves "striving first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." In striving or seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we are going to devote or commit serious effort to realize or cause to come to pass our desire for the promotion of the kingdom of God or the will of God to be done in our lives; this should be done first. And as this is done, then all the things that we need in this life will be added to us by the one whom we are seeking, our Heavenly Father.
So let there be "Order In The House." Let things be set right and even restored in our lives in this year and in this season. "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (I Peter 4:17 - NRSV). Let there be "Order In The House."
Well, we are now in the year 2010, and it is time for there to be "Order In The House", that is, in God's house, and consequently in our houses. To be in order is have a proper arrangement, alignment and flow of things. However, true order begins with having God first; thus taking us to Matthew 6:33.
In Matthew 6:33, we see these words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ in His "Sermon on the Mount", "But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (NRSV). In this verse, Jesus is teaching order, and this order involves "striving first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness..." In striving or seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, we are going to devote or commit serious effort to realize or cause to come to pass our desire for the promotion of the kingdom of God or the will of God to be done in our lives; this should be done first. And as this is done, then all the things that we need in this life will be added to us by the one whom we are seeking, our Heavenly Father.
So let there be "Order In The House." Let things be set right and even restored in our lives in this year and in this season. "For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (I Peter 4:17 - NRSV). Let there be "Order In The House."
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