The fruit of the Spirit is fundamentally relational. Rather than originating with us, it flows to us from our union with Christ, and it flows beyond us to bring us into fellowship with others. The secret of this flow – and our unity with God and others – is humility.
– Jerry Bridges in The Fruitful Life
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves,
and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
– II Chronicles 7:14
For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down.
– Psalm 18:27
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
– Psalm 25:9
The Lord lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.
– Psalm 147:6
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
– Isaiah 57:15
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
– Isaiah 66:2b
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says,
“God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
– James 4:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God
so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
– I Peter 5:6
Father,
Thank you for good news of Jesus, thank you for your grace in our lives.
May your work in our lives spur us on to share the good news with others.
May the gracious welcome of Jesus lead us to graciously welcome each other.
May freedom from bondage to sin move us to press on in growing together.
May all that you have done for us draw us to sing and live for your glory.
Amen.
If we are to say no to covetousness, we must learn to say yes to contentment. This involves learning to be content with what we have (Hebrews 13:5). Much of our discontentment may be traced to expectations that are essentially selfish and more often than not completely unrealistic.
– Alistair Begg in Pathway to Freedom
Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
– Romans 15:7
How has Christ welcomed you? Was it based on your good works that he welcomed you? Was it based on your behavior? Was it based on your performance? No, he welcomed you apart from your works, apart from your behavior, apart from your performance. Indeed, he welcomed you in spite of your works, your behavior, your performance. He died for you while you were still a sinner. He loved you when you were unlovable. He welcomed you by grace, in light of his sacrifice on your behalf.
And we are to welcome each other as Christ welcomed us – apart from their works, their behavior, their performance. Even when they are unlovable, when they don’t measure up to our standards, when they are not perfect. We are to look past their sins that Jesus already paid for and see their righteous standing in Christ. We are to welcome each other as Christ welcomed us – by grace.
But again, how has Christ welcomed you? Was it based on your personality? Was it based on your personal convictions about all kinds of little things? Was it based on your standard of living? Was it based on your level of education? Was it based on your sense of humor? No, of course not – he welcomed you based on his finished work on the cross.
And we are to welcome each other as Christ welcomed us – regardless of our personalities, personal convictions, standards of living, levels of education, or senses of humor. We come together in Christ. The church is not a club for people that are all the same. The church is for very different people coming together in Christ, welcoming each other by grace.
Therefore, welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Here are some good posts for your weekend reading:
When Things Get Complicated, Remember The Basics – Trevin Wax
9 Things You Need To Know About Widows – Gaye Clark (TGC)
Why You May Be Tempted To Neglect Your Church – Tim Challies
10 Love Challenges – David Murray
Hope you have a great Lord’s Day living out a passion for God and compassion for people!
The tenth commandment forbids coveting. The Bible fleshes out that command by giving us several practical reasons to flee coveting:
1. Life does not consist in the abundance of our possessions – there is more to life than stuff (Luke 12:15).
2. There is great gain in godliness, so we should pursue being godly instead of having more (I Timothy 6:6).
3. Things are temporary – you can’t take them with you when you die (I Timothy 6:7).
4. Only a few things are needful – things like food and clothing. Anything else is extra and unnecessary (I Timothy 6:8).
5. Coveting leads to other temptations that can lead to ruin and destruction (I Timothy 6:9).
6. Coveting has led some to walk away from Christ – they have lost their soul seeking to gain the world (I Timothy 6:10, Matthew 16:26).
7. Riches are uncertain – we should look to God to provide instead of pursuing things (I Timothy 6:17, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 6:33).
8. Things rot, wear out, rust, break, become obsolete, and can be stolen – we ought to pursue treasures that have a more eternal value (Matthew 6:19-20).
9. Coveting reveals a heart that is caught up in the idolatry of wealth (Matthew 6:21, 24).
10. Everything else is rubbish compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus (Philippians 1:21, 3:8).
Here are some good posts on the family:
Marriage on the Edge of Eternity – Francis Chan
(It might be time to rethink our focus…)
10 Ways to Exercise Christlike Headship – Owen Strachan
(It may not be what you think…)
5 Reasons We Eat Together as a Family – Tim Challies
(Some good reasons for an important family practice…)
It is a good discipline to test our speech by asking of what we are about to say, especially when it concerns another person. Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?
– Alistair Begg in Pathway to Freedom
The ninth commandment forbids bearing false witness. The command alone should cause us to commit to speaking the truth. But God gives us at least four more good reasons to speak the truth:
1. God hates lying. Proverb 12:22 tells us that “lying lips are an abomination to the Lord.” God absolutely despises lying, and so we ought to speak the truth.
2. Habitual liars are lost. In Revelation 21:8, liars join murderers, sorcerers, and many other sinners in the lake of fire. A life characterized by lying denies a gospel transformation in one’s life. Liars need salvation.
3. Lying belongs to the old way of life. Colossians 3:9-10 reminds us that we have put off the old self with its sinful practices (including lying) and put on the new self. We have a new life in Christ, and we should act like it.
4. We follow the truth. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). The Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 4:16-17). The Word is the Word of Truth (John 17:17). As we follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God’s Word, we follow the truth. And if we follow the truth, our words should agree with the truth.
Brian J. Mikul 