Thought of the Week

A New Competition

Posted on by Shannon

We live in a very competitive world. We try to outdo one another, get ahead of each other, and try to carve out attention for ourselves and our opinions. People are often put down or ignored in the quest to come out on top. Competition can be a healthy thing, but not in relationships.

Paul said, “…and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Eph.5:21). After living a life of getting his own way, this apostle bowed to the Lord on the Damascus road (Acts 9) and subjected himself to his fellow apostles (Galatians 2). It saved his soul and ushered him into the encouraging fellowship of the church.

Jacob subjected himself to his brother, Esau, after two decades of estrangement and grudges; it restored a difficult family. Joshua subjected himself to Moses and eventually took his place. David subjected himself to the prophet Nathan, repenting of disturbing sins and getting his life back on track. Subjection is not a sign of weakness, it’s humility solving problems.

It has a lot to do with honouring each other. “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honour” (Rom.12:10). A footnote says, “outdo one another in showing honour.” This speaks of the care and regard we are to have towards each other. We extend it to each other in the fear of Christ. If Jesus honoured us by giving His life, we ought to honour each other.

Jesus turns competition up-side-down. Instead of competing for prominence, we outdo one another in showing honour.

Who have you honoured today?

– Tim Johnson

The Greatness of the Simple

Posted on by Shannon

Amos, the transplanted prophet who spoke against Samaria in its last decades, gave a memorable reply to the chief priest who suggested he needed to stop preaching, leave them alone and go back home. Amos said, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.”’ Amos was acknowledging he was a nobody, but God had given him divine directions to preach – and he was determined to do it.

God in his divine wisdom uses simple, ordinary things and people to do his work and fulfill his plans. Like Amos, God may place us in the lives of people for a season so that we can influence them to come back to Him. He may call us from unknown places to do his work. There were many known women in Bethlehem, but God chose a simple unknown woman named Mary to be the mother of Jesus. There were many known and popular men in Israel, but Jesus chose twelve unknown men to represent him in the world – fishermen who learned to fish for men. He gave them a simple message of his death, burial and resurrection to preach all over the world. God has a purpose for His simple message and for using simple people to share it. Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29? “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

Do you feel too plain and unsophisticated to do great things? Remember Amos and think again.

– Roy Graneau (of Edmonton), with revisions from Tim Johnson – by permission.

The Greatest Show on Earth

Posted on by Shannon

Some say Jesus was tried and executed on the cross about this time of year, and there is some evidence this may be true. Tradition also implies that roughly three years before, Jesus began His ministry in Galilee about this time of year. No one really knows for sure.

Mark records the stunning way Jesus burst upon the scene in Galilee. The first three chapters of his book do not describe a gradual increase of His influence. Once His miracles started, great crowds of people from all over the area rushed to see what He was doing and to hear His remarkable teachings. They crammed the streets and lanes of Capernaum around the house where He was staying. “And the whole city had gathered at the door” (1:33). When He left for a few hours of prayer, people tried to find Him. “Everyone is looking for you” (1:37). The crowds became so large, the cities couldn’t contain them. “…Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere” (1:45).

Skeptics point out that popular figures throughout history have also created similar crowds, which does not prove they were reliable or truthful. Who’s to say Jesus was not just fooling gullible fans? Consider the following:

  • His miracles came in great varieties.
  • No one was beyond His help.
  • Everyone was welcome to watch what He did, over and over.
  • Most were done in broad daylight, and many at night.
  • Critics were unable to derail Him.
  • Everything He did was free.

Jesus wasn’t just performing a show to entertain the crowds. He was a principled teacher; all was based on truth. “All the multitude were coming to Him, and He was teaching them” (2:13). His main concern was the salvation of people everywhere. “Let us go somewhere else…in order that I man preach there also; for that is what I came out for” (1:38). He was “moved with compassion” (1:41).

Jesus was not a popular showman and fraud. He was the divine Son of God, the truth itself. His miracles proved it. Let Mark convince you. “We have never seen anything like this” (2:12).

Listen to Him, and follow.

– Tim Johnson

The Marvel of Grace

Posted on by Shannon

Often, before a meal-time prayer, we hear someone announce, “Let us say grace.” I’m not sure when such prayers began to be called grace, but it is a commonly-accepted practice today. In prayer we ask for God to give us His grace, so the prayer itself likely adopted the name. But there’s more to grace than human prayers.

God’s nature is that of grace. He is a gracious God. He is a grace-giving God. God is love. His grace brings salvation to all men and women of the world, hoping they will consider it.

Grace is a wonderful word. It means the free, unmerited favor of God. Grace is free but not cheap. It is the costliest gift ever offered.

Grace cost the Son of God his life. He, the friend of sinners, came into the world to make an infinite sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Potentially, His grace extends from the first human being to the last one that will ever live.

Jesus is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. He was born to be crucified. He suffered our death that we might receive His life. He bore our sins that we might become righteous. He became poor that we might have His riches.

D.L. Moody said about the grace of God, “Grace isn’t a little prayer that you chant before receiving a meal. It is a way to live. The law tells me how crooked I am. Grace comes along and straightens me out.”

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

– Tim and David Johnson

Faithful Friends

Posted on by Shannon

Life would be dire without a few good friends. I’ve known several people who chose to live alone and isolated, and it produced an oppressive atmosphere around them, magnified worries, and propped up narrow-minded views. But when people have friends, everything improves.

The woman of Luke 15:8-10, who lost an expensive coin, called her friends together to rejoice with her when it was found. Friendship keeps life a little lighter and easier to bear when troubles overshadow us.

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one that this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Of course, Jesus was speaking about his upcoming death on the cross, but we can also learn that friends care about you, watch your back, and extend loyalty and sacrifice. Life is a lot easier when friends watch out for you.

The apostle John sent a message to a threatened church and said, “Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name” (3 John 15). Christians are friends who bring emotional health to others.

The writer of Proverbs said, “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Prov.27:17). The author, W.J. Deane said of this verse, “Men’s thoughts are stimulated and sharpened by conversation. Friendship broadens a man’s views. He is able to see how other men think and feel. Thus, he is lifted out of the narrowness of his own single vision. Such breadth gives strength when it is accompanied by an earnest love of truth and right. One good, true friend is more helpful than a score of mere acquaintances. Hence the supreme importance of cultivating friendship with the wise and good.”

The helpful effect of good associates, and the influence we have on each other is evident in all of these verses from the Bible.

Christians work hard to make friends with all kinds of people. We’re open to it. It’s part of our mission. Will you accept our friendship?

– Tim Johnson