by Les | Apr 24, 2023 | Click Date to Respond
2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV – Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Having read this passage many times I had always accepted the verse to mean that, if partnered with a non Chrisitan in my life, the non Christian would be a burden to my faith journey. I accepted the verse as a warning to be headed. A while ago an Amish friend put the verse into a new perspective through an insight that Levi, who still works with yoked horses, was able to share. Levi pointed out that in any pairing one horse will be stronger than the other. It is the responsibility of the stronger animal to hold back enough to allow the weaker to work alongside while they are yoked together. The stronger horse also has the responsibility of pushing the weaker animal just enough to help the weaker grow stronger.
Levi’s comments have not changed Paul’s warning to the Corinthians, or us, but they do add a new consideration. Do not connect ourselves with unbelievers in ways that they become a negative influence in our spiritual growth. Instead, touch lightly as you work with them, encouraging them to recognize the power and glory of Christ Jesus. Lift the non-believer up and exhibit the new creature that you have become in Christ.
by Les | Apr 21, 2023 | Click Date to Respond
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.
A few days ago Cassie was talking about her young grandson, Preston. On the evening before Easter, Preston’s parents helped him plant jelly beans in a pot of soil. On Easter morning Preston was delighted to discover that his jelly bean pot had miraculously sprouted into lollipops. This is such a cute story that it needed to be shared.
The story that Cassie shared is one of transformation, jelly beans becoming lollipops. While jelly beans do not really transform there are transformations that are real. One of the greatest transformations is the change within a person when they accept Christ as their personal savior. Second Corinthians 5:17 reminds us that, in Christ, we become new creations.
As a new creation in Christ we become a member of the brotherhood of fellow Christians. As new creations we begin to enjoy living in the freedom of the Holy Spirit rather than remaining in the entrapment of legalism. By accepting Christ, and becoming a new creation, we begin to be transformed into the image of Christ.
As a new creation in Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, are given Spiritual gifts and receive salvation. Let us rejoice in being a new creation through the power of the Holy Spirit.
by Les | Apr 11, 2023 | Click Date to Respond
Romans 6:4 ESV – We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Yesterday was the remembrance of the wondrous resurrection of our Lord and Savior and his victory over death. Through this astonishing miracle our great hope is founded. We, who believe in Him, will be with him for all eternity. Around the world Christians commemorated the most important day of the year; and many gathered with family and friends. Sadly, many will not think about the resurrection of Christ for another year as if it is an annual event to be celebrated and then forgotten; like Memorial Day and Labor Day. Many take too casually their own new life given by the power of the Holy Spirit.
A life forever impacted by the events of Easter (a resurrected life) will have unique qualities about it.
It will be a life marked by love. Jesus went to the cross because of his love for us. Love is the defining mark of a resurrected life. Remember Jesus’s words found in John 13:35, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It will be a life marked by joy. Joy is another defining mark of a resurrected life. In John 15:11 we read, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” It will be a life marked by service. Serving others is an expression of love and very often the act of serving brings joy to the server. Serving others was exemplified by Christ. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus said, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” We, as followers of Christ, need to recall the resurrection of Jesus daily and to express the changes in our lives (our resurrected spiritual lives) as Jesus would through love, joy and service.
by Les | Apr 3, 2023 | Click Date to Respond
John 13:34-35 – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Holy week is the week which begins with Palm Sunday and continues through the Saturday preceding Easter. It is a week celebrated by Christians around the world and in some countries the entire week is a national holiday.
On Holy Monday Jesus cursed the fig tree, chased the merchants out of the temple and responded to Jewish leaders who questioned His authority.
On Holy Tuesday Jesus foretold of his own death.
On Holy Wednesday Judas Iscariot arranged for the betrayal of Jesus with the chief priest.
Holy Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday, Jesus shared the Last Supper with his disciples. Maundy is a shortened form of the Latin word ‘mandatum’ which means ‘command’. During the Last Supper Jesus commanded his disciples to love one another (John 13:34-35).
Also on Maundy Thursday, Jesus washed his disciple’s feet, was betrayed by Judas Iscariot and was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Holy Friday, known as Good Friday, was the day that Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate, was sentenced to death, tortured, crucified, died and was placed in the tomb. Jesus redeemed mankind through his self-sacrifice and saved those who believe in him from eternal separation from God.
by Les | Mar 28, 2023 | Click Date to Respond
Isaiah 52:14b esv – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind.
Have we ever considered what it cost God, Jesus’ father, to bear through the sufferings of Jesus? Certainly, we cannot comprehend what God experienced at that time; we are merely human. Still, if our nature as human parents having watched our own children hurt are any indication of how God must have suffered, how much more wonderful the gift of mercy and grace upon us is.
God, the father, watched as Jesus was struck for answering the high priest’s questions. An unjust striking for Jesus spoke the truth that was misunderstood.
God, the father, witnessed as Pilate found no wrongdoing on Jesus’ behalf yet turned over to be crucified under pressure by the Hebrew priest.
God, the father, looked on as the Roman guards twisted long thorny vines into a ring and pushed them into Jesus’ scalp; viciously flogged him and hit him repeatedly.
God, the father, restrained himself as he watched his Son being forced to carry the heavy cross-beam of the cross to the hill of Golgotha where he was nailed to the beam and hung upon the cross.
God, the father, witnessed Jesus’ earthly death upon the cross; an unjust ending to a life of serving his father here on earth.
God, the father, endured all this as his Son rescued mankind.
by Les | Mar 20, 2023 | Click Date to Respond
Matthew 28:18:20 – “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Last year, Meridian Avenue Baptist Church adopted new bylaws that were structured to guide our church to Make Disciples by helping people to (1) Experience God, to (2) Grow in Faith and to (3) Serve Others. Recently I learned that our American Baptist Churches – International Ministries has resolved that there are three Focused Impact Areas for their outreach. The areas that they are focusing on are (1) inviting people to be disciples of Jesus Christ, (2) proclaiming God’s reign of justice, peace, and abundant life, and (3) equipping the body of Christ to engage in God’s mission.
I am encouraged that both Meridian Avenue and ABC-IM place bringing people to Christ as their primary responsibility. All Christians share the responsibility of speaking about Christ and providing an opportunity for all to hear the Gospel message. I am further encouraged that Meridian Avenue and ABC-IM place emphasis on sending new Christians forth and to serve others; engaging in God’s mission.
