Post by Les Brewer on Jun 19, 2012 8:04:44 GMT
"Dressing for Discipleship"
Colossians 3:12
When I was a child I had several opportunities to go to Wrigley Field with my friends. And after the ballgame we would wait outside the leftfield corner for the players to come out to their cars. This was the best opportunity to get autographs. The problem was that several people came out that same exit: vendors, front office executives and more. Whenever someone would walk out the door, we kids would crowd around them. And inevitably someone would ask, "hey, are you somebody?" You see, it was very difficult to recognize some of the players without their uniforms on.
We recognize lots of people because of their attire. We recognize those in the military because of their uniforms. Those who wear lab coats in a hospital we recognize as medical personnel. In our neighborhood you could recognize the children who went to Catholic schools because of their uniforms. In our text today, the Apostle Paul contends that Christians should be recognized by their appearance. Paul of course is not talking about clothes . . . he is talking about character.
The five character traits we see in verse 12 are all similar and that's why I have combined them. But before we look at these traits we need to look at what Paul says first. He begins with these words, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved . . ". Again, each of these phrases could be a study in themselves. But, for our purposes we need to see why Paul says these things now. Paul wants us to understand that what God is prescribing for us is not due to His desire to make our lives difficult. God wants these things for us because He loves us.
God chose us! He did it before we were even born. He set us aside to used for His special purposes. He did all this because He loves us. So, understand, that as difficult as some of these things we will read in the next weeks are, they come from a heart of love. Let's dig in.
COMPASSION
The first piece of clothing the Apostle Paul tells us to put on is compassion. The word for compassion is a word that relates to the bowels. In fact, in the King James Version this trait is called the "bowels of mercy". This is because the Greeks thought of emotions as coming from deep within us . . .from the bowels. So, Paul is calling us to feel for others in a deep way.
Compassion involves feeling another's pain
To show compassion you must feel with another. . . and not just for a few seconds. It means entering into the pain of another person and truly sharing that pain.
Despite his busy schedule during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln often visited the hospitals to cheer the wounded. On one occasion he saw a young fellow who was near death. "Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the compassionate President. "Please write a letter to my mother," came the reply. Unrecognized by the soldier, the Chief Executive sat down and wrote as the youth told him what to say. The letter read, "My Dearest Mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty, and I won't recover. Don't sorrow too much for me. May God bless you and Father. Kiss Mary and John for me." The young man was too weak to go on, so Lincoln signed the letter for him and then added this postscript: "Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln." Asking to see the note, the soldier was astonished to discover who had shown him such kindness. "Are you really our President?" he asked. "Yes," was the quiet answer. "Now, is there anything else I can do?" The lad feebly replied, "Will you please hold my hand? I think it would help to see me through to the end." The tall, gaunt man granted his request, offering warm words of encouragement until death stole in with the dawn.
Lincoln showed compassion. He entered into the pain of that soldier. It involves seeing things through the eyes of another. It means taking time.
Compassion involves extending mercy to the one who has fallen
In the life and ministry of Jesus there is a stark contrast in the way He dealt with people and the way others dealt with people. For example, Jesus reached out to the Woman at the well who was treated as an outcast by society. He had dinner with Zacchaeus the despised tax-collector. He extended mercy to the woman caught in adultery. He embraced the children that others thought a nuisance. He forgave Peter, the friend who betrayed Him. He expressed love to the crowd that crucified Him. In other words, when the crowd was pointing fingers Jesus extended friendship.
Do you realize how difficult this is? We love to engage in "neighbor bashing". The people around us relish another's failure and we tend to jump on the bandwagon. Maybe it's because we are relieved that those same people aren't talking about us. We tend to believe the rumors. We are more likely to point fingers than embrace; condemn rather than support. We are prone to assume the worst about another rather than looking for the pain in their lives.
We need to intentionally go "against the flow". It means drawing close when others pull away. It means standing up for someone who cannot defend themselves. It means loving the one everyone else hates.
KINDNESS
The Greek word for kindness is also used to describe a lovely quality of wine that has grown mellow with age. In other words, it has lost its harshness. That's what kindness is, treating another without harshness. Kindness is treating another person with respect and honor. It is attributing value and dignity to another.
We live in a harried world. A word or act of kindness can make all the difference.
A Christian worker went into a restaurant to buy an inexpensive meal. A waitress approached him and in a rather brusque voice demanded, "Can I help you?" "Yes, ma'am." "You want our special for the day?" "Yes, ma'am." "Coffee with your order?" "Yes, ma'am," he replied absent-mindedly, for his thoughts were occupied with some important spiritual matters. Suddenly the uncongenial waitress flared up, exclaiming sarcastically, "Is that all you can say?" Before he could catch himself, he once again replied, "Yes, ma'am!" With a curse she stamped away in disgust and anger. When the food was ready, she almost threw it on the table and showed contempt with every action. Although he did not have much money, he sacrificially laid a five-dollar bill on the table as he left. As he was paying the cashier, the discourteous waitress called, "Sir, you left this money on the table!" "Isn't that the usual place to leave a tip?" he replied, smiling at her warmly. The girl blushed and then began to make apologies for her hateful actions. The missionary said cordially, "I figured you must have some heavy burdens on your heart or you wouldn't have been so easily upset. I thought a good tip might encourage you." By this time the girl was brokenhearted, and she told him of the many problems facing her. Before he left the restaurant, he was able to lead that waitress to the Lord!
Kindness can transform a human life. Everywhere we go a person will benefit from a smile, a compliment, a kind word. People aren't used to people holding a door, helping with packages, doing some other act of kindness. There is no age barrier for kindness. Esther M. Walker underscores ways to be kind to the elderly.
Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and my palsied hand.
Blessed are they who know today
My ears must strain to catch what they say,
Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story three times today."
Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday.
Blessed are they with cheery smile
Who've stopped on their way to chat a while.
Blessed are they who ease the days
On my journey Home with loving ways.
Look for ways to extend a kindness to someone else,
Make it a point to smile at people you don't even know
Look someone in the eye when you say "how are you?"
Hold a door for someone
Look for things to affirm in another
Let somebody out ahead of you in the parking lot (they're called expressways in Chicago)
Bring out something cold to the kids playing in your yard
Share your garden with someone
It may not seem like much at the time . . .but when you do these things, you reflect Jesus.
HUMILITY
The third article of clothing is humility. Humility is the opposite of pride. Winston Churchill once said of Sir Stafford Cripps, "There but for the grace of God, goes God."
Perhaps you have known someone like that. Perhaps you ARE someone like that.
A young woman went to her pastor and said, "Pastor, I have a besetting sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and can't help thinking I'm the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I ought not think that, but I can't help it. I want you to help me with it."
The pastor replied, "Mary, don't worry about it. In your case it's not a sin. It's just a horrible mistake." [Haddon Robinson, "Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Us Guys," Preaching Today, Tape No. 80.]
Everyone of us can recognize pride in another. We aren't so good at spotting it in ourselves. Consequently, humility is easier to talk about than to practice. Humility is anchored in an accurate understanding of our own significance. It stems from understanding that we have received everything from Christ. It is recognizing that anything we accomplish has been through His work in us. Humility comes when we understand our own sinfulness in light of His magnificent mercy. Humility is not belittling things we do well . . . it is remembering that we do them well because Christ works in us.
We have no basis for pride. We have every reason for humble gratitude. In Philippians 2:3 Paul tells us to "in humility consider others better than yourselves." This is not the way we naturally work. You don't believe me? We see our arrogance and pride when we,
feel people should drive at the speed we want to travel at, not that which is posted
become annoyed that people in front of us in line are taking too long (after all OUR time is valuable)
resent when others receive an honor we are sure we deserved more
are upset that people don't seem to care about the things we feel strongly about
when we feel something is wrong because it is not done the way we would have done it
In each of these cases you see that the point from which everything else is measured is US. That's the attitude the Bible combats. God wants us to see others not in terms of their relation to US but He wants us to see them as people He loves and cares about.
GENTLENESS
Gentleness in our society is seen as a weakness. We are taught by everyone that if you want something you have to insist on it. You need to get louder, not softer. We are proud of the times we flexed our muscles and won. We want to be confident and self-assured. Unfortunately the result is often an attitude that is rude, abrasive and obnoxious.
Gentleness is a trait alson known as "tact". It is the character trait that leads you to relate to others with tenderness and softness. If you want to know what it means to be gentle, look at Jesus.
Here's some practical hints on becoming more gentle,
prayer that God would make you softer
in time of conflict lower your voice rather than raise it
no matter what the circumstance speak calmly
make eye contact
remember that most people you encounter are not trying to annoy you . . .they are "just trying to do their jobs"
PATIENCE
In talking about this trait, William Barclay wrote,
"This is the spirit which never loses patience with its fellow-man. Their foolishness and their unteachability never drive it to cynicism or despair; their insults and their ill-treatment never drive it to bitterness or wrath."
When I worked at a bank in Chicago as a drive-in teller I found myself frequently stressed out by the large amounts of money and the long lines of cars. Frequently I would find myself exasperated by the requests of the customer. At times my Christian character was somewhat tarnished. Then I put up a sign that was a quote of a Bill Gothard statement, "Please be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet!" And do you know what happened? I became more patient. That sign reminded me that the people I met were people in transition. I could not expect them to be perfect, all-knowing or even nice all the time. I became more patient with them when I realized they were a lot like me.
Patience then is
Giving another room AND time to grow and mature. My growth takes time . . .so does theirs.
It's giving others the same "benefit of the doubt" you want for yourself
Remembering that growing comes through making mistakes . . and most mistakes are not as tragic as they first appear.
Remembering that things that are easy for us may be difficult for others. Computers make sense to me, Electricity doesn't. Patience understands that sometimes we have to explain something many times.
CONCLUSIONS
The words of this verse (which became a song) are very appropriate
Let me be a little kinder,
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more.
Let me be when I am weary
Just a little bit more cheery,
Let me serve a little better
Those that I am striving for.
Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder
To be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker
With the brother who is weaker,
Let me think more of my neighbor
And a little less of me.
Let me be a little sweeter,
Make my life a bit completer;
Keep me faithful to my duty
Every minute of the day.
Don't you want to be this kind of person? These are the people you love having in a room. These are the people you feel comfortable sharing your struggles with. These are the people that leave you feeling better after you talk to them. You want these kind of people as friends . . .we should desire to BE this kind of person for others.
It is certainly worth repeating that these traits are not natural. They are brought about by God's Spirit working in the life of His children. So, if we want to become more like this we need to let God have His way in our lives. Every time we follow Him rather than our own desires we make progress in our spiritual life. Every time we act toward another as He has told us rather than by our instinct we reflect Him a little better. Every time we choose His way over our own, joy deepens.
When we choose to deal with others with the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience that come from God . . . .people meet Jesus. And it is Christ, and Christ alone, who can transform, strengthen, and enrich any human life. Where do you start? Start here with each other. And there is no better time to begin than now.
Rev. Bruce Goettsche "Finding God's Will For Your Life"
Genesis 24
Alice in Wonderland came to an icy fork in the road. Panic stung her as she stood frozen by indecision. She lifted her eyes toward heaven, looking for guidance. Her eyes did not find God, only the Cheshire cat leering at her from his perch in the tree above. "Which way should I go?" blurted Alice.
'That depends, . . . ."said the cat, fixing a strange smile on the confused girl.
"On what?" Alice managed to reply.
"On your destination. Where are you going?" queried the Cat.
"I don't know, . . . " stammered Alice.
"Then," said the cat, with a grin spreading wider, "it doesn't matter."
Many of us feel like Alice in Wonderland, we stand at some crossroads in our life and don't know which road to take. The difference between us and Alice however is that we DO know where we are going. We are children of the King and we are headed to eternal life in His presence. But, do you see, that is part of the problem. It would be easier to look at the decisions of life and conclude that it didn't matter which way we choose. But because we belong to Him . . . it does matter. We know that when we live according to His will, we will know His blessing and experience His joy. Jesus says, "he who does the will of God is my brother and sister."(Matthew 12:50); Jesus also tells us to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
Some decisions in our life are major: where should we go to school? What job should we take? What home should we buy? Which person should we marry? What commitments should we accept and which should we decline? How does one discern God's will for our lives in these times?
In our text today, we see a long story of the arranged marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham sends his trusted servant (perhaps Eliezar) back to the homeland of his family in Haran to get a wife for Isaac. It is in this story that we find some principles for finding God's will for our lives.
CHECK GOD'S WORD
Abraham based his request on God's promise to Him. He knew that God intended to give this land to his children. He knew that it was God's intention to judge the Canannites. Certainly there were many beautiful woman in that area. But Abraham knew that God had called the Jews as His special people. Isaac could not marry a Canannite woman because it would lead to a compromise of faith. So, right at the beginning this servant had certain parameters to work with. He knew that he was looking for a woman that was from Abraham's family and one that would return to the Canann with him. God's promise had given the servant a good start.
The Bible is where we get our good start when it comes to finding God's will for our lives. In the Bible we find commands and principles. If you were driving on a road and a sign said "Speed Limit 55" that would be a command. If it said "Use Caution" that would be a principle. The Bible has both kinds of directions in the Bible. God gives us certain commands,
1 Thessalonians 4:3 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified and that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control his own body."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 2:15 "It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, live as servants of God."
He tells us we shouldn't lie, we should respect our rulers, we should honor our parents, we should worship regularly, we should put God first. These commands and clear and are meant to be obeyed.
There are also principles such as: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." We are told to be "kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, just as God in Christ has forgiven us." We are told that we are to honor the Lord with our lives.
The commands and principles of Scripture will point us toward God's will.
We find someone we are interested in but they are not believers and we fret over whether this could be the right person for us. But the Bible tells us that we should only get involved with believers. (1 Corinthians 7:39-40)
We wonder whether we should declare all our income on our tax forms. The Bible is clear, "give to Caesar what is Caesar's"
We question whether we should do what God says or whether we should obey our employer when we are asked to do something illegal or immoral. The Apostles answered that in the Book of Acts, "We must obey God rather than men."
Our marriage is struggling and we meet someone that "seems to care for us" and we feel drawn to that person and don't know whether it is right. It's not! The Bible says "do not commit adultery".
But even here I must be careful. There are lots of people who have justified ever manner of crazy behavior because of the way they twist scripture. Chuck Swindoll tells the following story,
A Pastor had served as a deacon in a former church prior to being called into the ministry. He toyed with the idea of buying a Doctor of Divinity degree from a degree mill. He really wanted that degree, but he struggled with whether or not it was God's will. Late one afternoon, he stumbled across the answer he'd been looking for. Because it was in the Bible, all doubt was removed. The Lord had confirmed the minister's desire through 1 Timothy 3:13. The King James Version reads, "for they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree. . . . " [STRESS FRACTURES p. 233]
I love the story about the Pastor who was preoccupied with preparations for his vacation and really did not spend much time in preparation for his message. The Pastor decided he would claim God's promise that when you are brought before the courts you should not worry because the Spirit will give us the words to say.
Well this man went into the pulpit feeling quite spiritual. He told the congregation, "this morning I want the Holy Spirit to guide me as to what to say to you." He listened and then He heard God's Spirit unmistakably say, "Tell the Congregation that I have not adequately prepared this week."
It is essential that we read the Bible in it's proper context and not make it say what it does not say. When God's Word speaks, we must follow that guidance. But . . .what if the guidance we get is still not enough?
ASK FOR GUIDANCE
Sometimes the simple principles are the most profound. Look at the servant praying: in verse
Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” [12-14]
If we want God's guidance we have to seek God's guidance. James tells us if "anyone lacks wisdom he should ask of God who gives to all men liberally". But we must be asking sincerely.
Can I be brutally honest? Most of the time when we ask God to show us what to do, we are really saying "let me know that what I want to do is O.K." If we truly want to find God's will we have to keep all options open. Before we can find God's will we have to trust that God's will is the best. We must understand that what God chooses (even if it is not the choice we would have made) is always the right choice. We must be willing for God to change our direction, or to say "no", or "not yet". We must trust that a closed door is not designed to defeat us or discourage us, it is meant to move us in a better direction. God will answer if we ask sincerely. It is certainly true that we will never be open to God's direction until we can pray with Jesus, "not my will, but yours be done."
WEIGH YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
The servant watched what was happening. One of the best things that the servant did is found in verse 21, "Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful." Consider the circumstances that the servant watched
would she offer to bring water for the camels
would she be a relative of Abraham
would she go with the servant
If any of these circumstances had gone a different direction, the servant would have concluded that he had not found the right woman.
Sometimes God directs us by a closed door. I remember when we were looking at several different churches I asked God to close all the doors except the one that He wanted us to pursue. If none of the churches were His choice then He should close all the doors. Guess which door remained open?
Sometimes God directs by giving us a great opportunity (but we must always check it by the Word and prayer); Sometimes there is a sense of peace (again, check this out it is possible to have peace because your conscience has become deadened). .
One of the best aides God gives to us is our Christian brothers and sisters. Sometimes what seems cloudy to us is crystal clear to the one we are talking to. But again there is a caution: you should check things out with someone you feel has the spirit of God in them. We want someone who is committed to Christ as we are, AND is objective. It is too easy to find people who agree with us. We're not looking for agreement but guidance.
This servant asked God for a specific sign. Is it appropriate to ask God for a sign? Throughout the Bible we see Biblical characters discerning God's way in many different fashions.
Some had God speak directly to them in a dream or vision
Others cast lots (even the disciples in Acts 1)
Some asked for other signs (Gideon Judges 6:37-40 and the fleece; Moses was given a miracle (Ex. 4); Hezekiah and his shadow 2 Kings 20:9; )
But before we start demanding that God give us a sign we need to keep a couple of things straight, First, these Biblical Characters did not have the advantage of God's Word or God's Spirit to guide them. Today we can check God's Word for guidance and we have God's Spirit living within us to guide us into all truth. Asking for a sign when God has spoken clearly is an act of sin . . . not faith.
Second, we must beware of signs that are set up to get what we want. For example, we know that we should visit a person but we don't want to. So, we pray, "Lord, if you want me to talk to this person make me run into them as I walk to the Post Office." Sometimes we will ask for an extreme sign before we are willing to do what we believe God is calling us to do. This too is sin.
Third, we must choose the sign carefully. Sometimes people will say, "Lord, if you want me to do this . . . have the light stay green until I get through the intersection" or something of that nature. That is superstition, not faith. Look at how carefully the servant chose his sign,
how could the servant determine quickly which of the girls that would soon be arriving would have the qualities necessary for Isaac? It would be necessary for him to make the first approach toward conversation, and the obvious thing would be for him to ask her for a drink of water from her pitcher. However, almost any girl, out of common courtesy, would agree to such a request as that, so that act alone would not be sufficient. If, however, she would then, on her own initiative, offer to help in some further way, going a second mile as it were, this would definitely be a good sign. Perhaps the most severe test would be whether she was willing not only to give him some water, and perhaps even his attendants, but also his ten camels. Surely, if she would do this, without grumbling, it would go far toward proving that she was the kind of wife Abraham was seeking for his son.
Drawing enough water to satisfy the thirst of ten large and tired camels would be a hard and wearisome task, to say the least. He couldn't really ask a girl to do such a thing. Nevertheless, if she would do it voluntarily, it would be a strong indication that she was the right one. [Boice, GENESIS Vol. 2 p. 719, 720]
There are other times when we "sense" God speaking to us. We have an "impression from God." When God gives an impression he almost always also gives some verification. All impressions must be evaluated carefully by the clear and authoritative teaching of Scripture. Like in the game rock, paper, scissors . . . paper wins over rock, scissors wins over paper, and rock wins over scissors. In this case . . . Scripture wins over feelings. If Scripture does not speak to the issue we should check with godly friends.
WALK IN FAITH
When all is said and done we must walk by faith. The servant of Abraham went to Haran trusting that God would lead the way. He asked God for direction and when it was given, he acted. When he got to Rebekah's home he didn't even pause to have dinner . . . he wanted to find out if Rebekah was the one first. He continued to walk by the light God provided.
God generally guides one step at a time. Before we can see the second step we must take the first one. Let's not forget that God has given us His Spirit to guide us. He has given us minds to think and to weigh options. Sometimes we have to trust our "sanctified common sense". Sometimes we have to trust the brains and the Spirit God has given us and make the best decision possible. We must walk by faith that God will send his angels ahead of us just as He did Abraham's servant.
CONCLUSIONS
As a result of this servant's faithfulness, Isaac married Rebekah. Two children were born to that union and they named them "Jacob" and "Esau". Jacob's name was later changed to "Israel". This faithful servant played a key role in God's plan of redemption.
Your decisions won't affect the plan of redemption but they are significant. Strive in your life to implement these simple steps
check God's Word
seek God's Help
pay attention to your circumstances
walk faithfully each step God reveals
Two final issues. I mentioned that God reveals things one step at a time. For some of you, the first step may be to take that initial step of faith. Maybe the reason you feel outside of God's will is because you are outside of His grace. God guarantees guidance to all those who are His children. You can be faithful in church attendance and still not be one of His children. You can be a leader in the church and community and still not be one of His children. You can be trying your very best in life, and still not be one of His children.
A person is a child of God when they have admitted that they have lived as enemies of God. They have disobeyed His commands, they have ignored His importance, they have only been concerned about themselves. In other words, you must first admit that you have sinned.
they acknowledge that there is nothing they can do to rectify this situation. All their good works, all their best actions are tainted with selfish motives. And even if we were able to do some things that are truly good . . . it would never be enough to "pay for" the sin.
they recognize that Jesus Christ is God become man who died as an innocent man, for our sin. He literally came back from the dead making it possible that anyone who really trusts Him to be forgiven and to live beyond the grave.
they make a commitment to trust what they have come to believe is true. Lot's of people see that Jesus is good. Lot's could tell you He died for sin. But it is only when we place our hope in Him . . . it is only when we are willing to bet our life on Him and orient our life from Him that we can truly be said to be a child of God.
If you have never taken this first step. Stop right now. Close you eyes. Talk to God. Tell Him that you are willing to trust Jesus Christ to save you from your sin and from yourself. Tell Him that you believe and receive His promise. Ask Him to take control of your life. And then thank Him, because He has promised that anyone who comes to Him will NOT be rejected. Once you have settled this ultimate issue the others will come easier.
One final thing about finding God's will for your life. God loves us so much, that even if we make a wrong choice . . . He can get us back on course. He may have to shut a door, or place obstacle in our path . . . but He will lead us in the way that we should go. He promises to lead us home and He will do so even if He has to go and get us after we make a wrong turn. So . . . live boldly and faithfully in the confidence that God will direct your paths . . . just as He promised.
Rev. Bruce Goettsche
Colossians 3:12
When I was a child I had several opportunities to go to Wrigley Field with my friends. And after the ballgame we would wait outside the leftfield corner for the players to come out to their cars. This was the best opportunity to get autographs. The problem was that several people came out that same exit: vendors, front office executives and more. Whenever someone would walk out the door, we kids would crowd around them. And inevitably someone would ask, "hey, are you somebody?" You see, it was very difficult to recognize some of the players without their uniforms on.
We recognize lots of people because of their attire. We recognize those in the military because of their uniforms. Those who wear lab coats in a hospital we recognize as medical personnel. In our neighborhood you could recognize the children who went to Catholic schools because of their uniforms. In our text today, the Apostle Paul contends that Christians should be recognized by their appearance. Paul of course is not talking about clothes . . . he is talking about character.
The five character traits we see in verse 12 are all similar and that's why I have combined them. But before we look at these traits we need to look at what Paul says first. He begins with these words, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved . . ". Again, each of these phrases could be a study in themselves. But, for our purposes we need to see why Paul says these things now. Paul wants us to understand that what God is prescribing for us is not due to His desire to make our lives difficult. God wants these things for us because He loves us.
God chose us! He did it before we were even born. He set us aside to used for His special purposes. He did all this because He loves us. So, understand, that as difficult as some of these things we will read in the next weeks are, they come from a heart of love. Let's dig in.
COMPASSION
The first piece of clothing the Apostle Paul tells us to put on is compassion. The word for compassion is a word that relates to the bowels. In fact, in the King James Version this trait is called the "bowels of mercy". This is because the Greeks thought of emotions as coming from deep within us . . .from the bowels. So, Paul is calling us to feel for others in a deep way.
Compassion involves feeling another's pain
To show compassion you must feel with another. . . and not just for a few seconds. It means entering into the pain of another person and truly sharing that pain.
Despite his busy schedule during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln often visited the hospitals to cheer the wounded. On one occasion he saw a young fellow who was near death. "Is there anything I can do for you?" asked the compassionate President. "Please write a letter to my mother," came the reply. Unrecognized by the soldier, the Chief Executive sat down and wrote as the youth told him what to say. The letter read, "My Dearest Mother, I was badly hurt while doing my duty, and I won't recover. Don't sorrow too much for me. May God bless you and Father. Kiss Mary and John for me." The young man was too weak to go on, so Lincoln signed the letter for him and then added this postscript: "Written for your son by Abraham Lincoln." Asking to see the note, the soldier was astonished to discover who had shown him such kindness. "Are you really our President?" he asked. "Yes," was the quiet answer. "Now, is there anything else I can do?" The lad feebly replied, "Will you please hold my hand? I think it would help to see me through to the end." The tall, gaunt man granted his request, offering warm words of encouragement until death stole in with the dawn.
Lincoln showed compassion. He entered into the pain of that soldier. It involves seeing things through the eyes of another. It means taking time.
Compassion involves extending mercy to the one who has fallen
In the life and ministry of Jesus there is a stark contrast in the way He dealt with people and the way others dealt with people. For example, Jesus reached out to the Woman at the well who was treated as an outcast by society. He had dinner with Zacchaeus the despised tax-collector. He extended mercy to the woman caught in adultery. He embraced the children that others thought a nuisance. He forgave Peter, the friend who betrayed Him. He expressed love to the crowd that crucified Him. In other words, when the crowd was pointing fingers Jesus extended friendship.
Do you realize how difficult this is? We love to engage in "neighbor bashing". The people around us relish another's failure and we tend to jump on the bandwagon. Maybe it's because we are relieved that those same people aren't talking about us. We tend to believe the rumors. We are more likely to point fingers than embrace; condemn rather than support. We are prone to assume the worst about another rather than looking for the pain in their lives.
We need to intentionally go "against the flow". It means drawing close when others pull away. It means standing up for someone who cannot defend themselves. It means loving the one everyone else hates.
KINDNESS
The Greek word for kindness is also used to describe a lovely quality of wine that has grown mellow with age. In other words, it has lost its harshness. That's what kindness is, treating another without harshness. Kindness is treating another person with respect and honor. It is attributing value and dignity to another.
We live in a harried world. A word or act of kindness can make all the difference.
A Christian worker went into a restaurant to buy an inexpensive meal. A waitress approached him and in a rather brusque voice demanded, "Can I help you?" "Yes, ma'am." "You want our special for the day?" "Yes, ma'am." "Coffee with your order?" "Yes, ma'am," he replied absent-mindedly, for his thoughts were occupied with some important spiritual matters. Suddenly the uncongenial waitress flared up, exclaiming sarcastically, "Is that all you can say?" Before he could catch himself, he once again replied, "Yes, ma'am!" With a curse she stamped away in disgust and anger. When the food was ready, she almost threw it on the table and showed contempt with every action. Although he did not have much money, he sacrificially laid a five-dollar bill on the table as he left. As he was paying the cashier, the discourteous waitress called, "Sir, you left this money on the table!" "Isn't that the usual place to leave a tip?" he replied, smiling at her warmly. The girl blushed and then began to make apologies for her hateful actions. The missionary said cordially, "I figured you must have some heavy burdens on your heart or you wouldn't have been so easily upset. I thought a good tip might encourage you." By this time the girl was brokenhearted, and she told him of the many problems facing her. Before he left the restaurant, he was able to lead that waitress to the Lord!
Kindness can transform a human life. Everywhere we go a person will benefit from a smile, a compliment, a kind word. People aren't used to people holding a door, helping with packages, doing some other act of kindness. There is no age barrier for kindness. Esther M. Walker underscores ways to be kind to the elderly.
Blessed are they who understand
My faltering step and my palsied hand.
Blessed are they who know today
My ears must strain to catch what they say,
Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story three times today."
Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday.
Blessed are they with cheery smile
Who've stopped on their way to chat a while.
Blessed are they who ease the days
On my journey Home with loving ways.
Look for ways to extend a kindness to someone else,
Make it a point to smile at people you don't even know
Look someone in the eye when you say "how are you?"
Hold a door for someone
Look for things to affirm in another
Let somebody out ahead of you in the parking lot (they're called expressways in Chicago)
Bring out something cold to the kids playing in your yard
Share your garden with someone
It may not seem like much at the time . . .but when you do these things, you reflect Jesus.
HUMILITY
The third article of clothing is humility. Humility is the opposite of pride. Winston Churchill once said of Sir Stafford Cripps, "There but for the grace of God, goes God."
Perhaps you have known someone like that. Perhaps you ARE someone like that.
A young woman went to her pastor and said, "Pastor, I have a besetting sin, and I want your help. I come to church on Sunday and can't help thinking I'm the prettiest girl in the congregation. I know I ought not think that, but I can't help it. I want you to help me with it."
The pastor replied, "Mary, don't worry about it. In your case it's not a sin. It's just a horrible mistake." [Haddon Robinson, "Good Guys, Bad Guys, and Us Guys," Preaching Today, Tape No. 80.]
Everyone of us can recognize pride in another. We aren't so good at spotting it in ourselves. Consequently, humility is easier to talk about than to practice. Humility is anchored in an accurate understanding of our own significance. It stems from understanding that we have received everything from Christ. It is recognizing that anything we accomplish has been through His work in us. Humility comes when we understand our own sinfulness in light of His magnificent mercy. Humility is not belittling things we do well . . . it is remembering that we do them well because Christ works in us.
We have no basis for pride. We have every reason for humble gratitude. In Philippians 2:3 Paul tells us to "in humility consider others better than yourselves." This is not the way we naturally work. You don't believe me? We see our arrogance and pride when we,
feel people should drive at the speed we want to travel at, not that which is posted
become annoyed that people in front of us in line are taking too long (after all OUR time is valuable)
resent when others receive an honor we are sure we deserved more
are upset that people don't seem to care about the things we feel strongly about
when we feel something is wrong because it is not done the way we would have done it
In each of these cases you see that the point from which everything else is measured is US. That's the attitude the Bible combats. God wants us to see others not in terms of their relation to US but He wants us to see them as people He loves and cares about.
GENTLENESS
Gentleness in our society is seen as a weakness. We are taught by everyone that if you want something you have to insist on it. You need to get louder, not softer. We are proud of the times we flexed our muscles and won. We want to be confident and self-assured. Unfortunately the result is often an attitude that is rude, abrasive and obnoxious.
Gentleness is a trait alson known as "tact". It is the character trait that leads you to relate to others with tenderness and softness. If you want to know what it means to be gentle, look at Jesus.
Here's some practical hints on becoming more gentle,
prayer that God would make you softer
in time of conflict lower your voice rather than raise it
no matter what the circumstance speak calmly
make eye contact
remember that most people you encounter are not trying to annoy you . . .they are "just trying to do their jobs"
PATIENCE
In talking about this trait, William Barclay wrote,
"This is the spirit which never loses patience with its fellow-man. Their foolishness and their unteachability never drive it to cynicism or despair; their insults and their ill-treatment never drive it to bitterness or wrath."
When I worked at a bank in Chicago as a drive-in teller I found myself frequently stressed out by the large amounts of money and the long lines of cars. Frequently I would find myself exasperated by the requests of the customer. At times my Christian character was somewhat tarnished. Then I put up a sign that was a quote of a Bill Gothard statement, "Please be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet!" And do you know what happened? I became more patient. That sign reminded me that the people I met were people in transition. I could not expect them to be perfect, all-knowing or even nice all the time. I became more patient with them when I realized they were a lot like me.
Patience then is
Giving another room AND time to grow and mature. My growth takes time . . .so does theirs.
It's giving others the same "benefit of the doubt" you want for yourself
Remembering that growing comes through making mistakes . . and most mistakes are not as tragic as they first appear.
Remembering that things that are easy for us may be difficult for others. Computers make sense to me, Electricity doesn't. Patience understands that sometimes we have to explain something many times.
CONCLUSIONS
The words of this verse (which became a song) are very appropriate
Let me be a little kinder,
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more.
Let me be when I am weary
Just a little bit more cheery,
Let me serve a little better
Those that I am striving for.
Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder
To be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker
With the brother who is weaker,
Let me think more of my neighbor
And a little less of me.
Let me be a little sweeter,
Make my life a bit completer;
Keep me faithful to my duty
Every minute of the day.
Don't you want to be this kind of person? These are the people you love having in a room. These are the people you feel comfortable sharing your struggles with. These are the people that leave you feeling better after you talk to them. You want these kind of people as friends . . .we should desire to BE this kind of person for others.
It is certainly worth repeating that these traits are not natural. They are brought about by God's Spirit working in the life of His children. So, if we want to become more like this we need to let God have His way in our lives. Every time we follow Him rather than our own desires we make progress in our spiritual life. Every time we act toward another as He has told us rather than by our instinct we reflect Him a little better. Every time we choose His way over our own, joy deepens.
When we choose to deal with others with the compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience that come from God . . . .people meet Jesus. And it is Christ, and Christ alone, who can transform, strengthen, and enrich any human life. Where do you start? Start here with each other. And there is no better time to begin than now.
Rev. Bruce Goettsche "Finding God's Will For Your Life"
Genesis 24
Alice in Wonderland came to an icy fork in the road. Panic stung her as she stood frozen by indecision. She lifted her eyes toward heaven, looking for guidance. Her eyes did not find God, only the Cheshire cat leering at her from his perch in the tree above. "Which way should I go?" blurted Alice.
'That depends, . . . ."said the cat, fixing a strange smile on the confused girl.
"On what?" Alice managed to reply.
"On your destination. Where are you going?" queried the Cat.
"I don't know, . . . " stammered Alice.
"Then," said the cat, with a grin spreading wider, "it doesn't matter."
Many of us feel like Alice in Wonderland, we stand at some crossroads in our life and don't know which road to take. The difference between us and Alice however is that we DO know where we are going. We are children of the King and we are headed to eternal life in His presence. But, do you see, that is part of the problem. It would be easier to look at the decisions of life and conclude that it didn't matter which way we choose. But because we belong to Him . . . it does matter. We know that when we live according to His will, we will know His blessing and experience His joy. Jesus says, "he who does the will of God is my brother and sister."(Matthew 12:50); Jesus also tells us to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
Some decisions in our life are major: where should we go to school? What job should we take? What home should we buy? Which person should we marry? What commitments should we accept and which should we decline? How does one discern God's will for our lives in these times?
In our text today, we see a long story of the arranged marriage of Isaac and Rebekah. Abraham sends his trusted servant (perhaps Eliezar) back to the homeland of his family in Haran to get a wife for Isaac. It is in this story that we find some principles for finding God's will for our lives.
CHECK GOD'S WORD
Abraham based his request on God's promise to Him. He knew that God intended to give this land to his children. He knew that it was God's intention to judge the Canannites. Certainly there were many beautiful woman in that area. But Abraham knew that God had called the Jews as His special people. Isaac could not marry a Canannite woman because it would lead to a compromise of faith. So, right at the beginning this servant had certain parameters to work with. He knew that he was looking for a woman that was from Abraham's family and one that would return to the Canann with him. God's promise had given the servant a good start.
The Bible is where we get our good start when it comes to finding God's will for our lives. In the Bible we find commands and principles. If you were driving on a road and a sign said "Speed Limit 55" that would be a command. If it said "Use Caution" that would be a principle. The Bible has both kinds of directions in the Bible. God gives us certain commands,
1 Thessalonians 4:3 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified and that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control his own body."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Peter 2:15 "It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, live as servants of God."
He tells us we shouldn't lie, we should respect our rulers, we should honor our parents, we should worship regularly, we should put God first. These commands and clear and are meant to be obeyed.
There are also principles such as: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." We are told to be "kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, just as God in Christ has forgiven us." We are told that we are to honor the Lord with our lives.
The commands and principles of Scripture will point us toward God's will.
We find someone we are interested in but they are not believers and we fret over whether this could be the right person for us. But the Bible tells us that we should only get involved with believers. (1 Corinthians 7:39-40)
We wonder whether we should declare all our income on our tax forms. The Bible is clear, "give to Caesar what is Caesar's"
We question whether we should do what God says or whether we should obey our employer when we are asked to do something illegal or immoral. The Apostles answered that in the Book of Acts, "We must obey God rather than men."
Our marriage is struggling and we meet someone that "seems to care for us" and we feel drawn to that person and don't know whether it is right. It's not! The Bible says "do not commit adultery".
But even here I must be careful. There are lots of people who have justified ever manner of crazy behavior because of the way they twist scripture. Chuck Swindoll tells the following story,
A Pastor had served as a deacon in a former church prior to being called into the ministry. He toyed with the idea of buying a Doctor of Divinity degree from a degree mill. He really wanted that degree, but he struggled with whether or not it was God's will. Late one afternoon, he stumbled across the answer he'd been looking for. Because it was in the Bible, all doubt was removed. The Lord had confirmed the minister's desire through 1 Timothy 3:13. The King James Version reads, "for they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree. . . . " [STRESS FRACTURES p. 233]
I love the story about the Pastor who was preoccupied with preparations for his vacation and really did not spend much time in preparation for his message. The Pastor decided he would claim God's promise that when you are brought before the courts you should not worry because the Spirit will give us the words to say.
Well this man went into the pulpit feeling quite spiritual. He told the congregation, "this morning I want the Holy Spirit to guide me as to what to say to you." He listened and then He heard God's Spirit unmistakably say, "Tell the Congregation that I have not adequately prepared this week."
It is essential that we read the Bible in it's proper context and not make it say what it does not say. When God's Word speaks, we must follow that guidance. But . . .what if the guidance we get is still not enough?
ASK FOR GUIDANCE
Sometimes the simple principles are the most profound. Look at the servant praying: in verse
Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’—let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” [12-14]
If we want God's guidance we have to seek God's guidance. James tells us if "anyone lacks wisdom he should ask of God who gives to all men liberally". But we must be asking sincerely.
Can I be brutally honest? Most of the time when we ask God to show us what to do, we are really saying "let me know that what I want to do is O.K." If we truly want to find God's will we have to keep all options open. Before we can find God's will we have to trust that God's will is the best. We must understand that what God chooses (even if it is not the choice we would have made) is always the right choice. We must be willing for God to change our direction, or to say "no", or "not yet". We must trust that a closed door is not designed to defeat us or discourage us, it is meant to move us in a better direction. God will answer if we ask sincerely. It is certainly true that we will never be open to God's direction until we can pray with Jesus, "not my will, but yours be done."
WEIGH YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
The servant watched what was happening. One of the best things that the servant did is found in verse 21, "Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful." Consider the circumstances that the servant watched
would she offer to bring water for the camels
would she be a relative of Abraham
would she go with the servant
If any of these circumstances had gone a different direction, the servant would have concluded that he had not found the right woman.
Sometimes God directs us by a closed door. I remember when we were looking at several different churches I asked God to close all the doors except the one that He wanted us to pursue. If none of the churches were His choice then He should close all the doors. Guess which door remained open?
Sometimes God directs by giving us a great opportunity (but we must always check it by the Word and prayer); Sometimes there is a sense of peace (again, check this out it is possible to have peace because your conscience has become deadened). .
One of the best aides God gives to us is our Christian brothers and sisters. Sometimes what seems cloudy to us is crystal clear to the one we are talking to. But again there is a caution: you should check things out with someone you feel has the spirit of God in them. We want someone who is committed to Christ as we are, AND is objective. It is too easy to find people who agree with us. We're not looking for agreement but guidance.
This servant asked God for a specific sign. Is it appropriate to ask God for a sign? Throughout the Bible we see Biblical characters discerning God's way in many different fashions.
Some had God speak directly to them in a dream or vision
Others cast lots (even the disciples in Acts 1)
Some asked for other signs (Gideon Judges 6:37-40 and the fleece; Moses was given a miracle (Ex. 4); Hezekiah and his shadow 2 Kings 20:9; )
But before we start demanding that God give us a sign we need to keep a couple of things straight, First, these Biblical Characters did not have the advantage of God's Word or God's Spirit to guide them. Today we can check God's Word for guidance and we have God's Spirit living within us to guide us into all truth. Asking for a sign when God has spoken clearly is an act of sin . . . not faith.
Second, we must beware of signs that are set up to get what we want. For example, we know that we should visit a person but we don't want to. So, we pray, "Lord, if you want me to talk to this person make me run into them as I walk to the Post Office." Sometimes we will ask for an extreme sign before we are willing to do what we believe God is calling us to do. This too is sin.
Third, we must choose the sign carefully. Sometimes people will say, "Lord, if you want me to do this . . . have the light stay green until I get through the intersection" or something of that nature. That is superstition, not faith. Look at how carefully the servant chose his sign,
how could the servant determine quickly which of the girls that would soon be arriving would have the qualities necessary for Isaac? It would be necessary for him to make the first approach toward conversation, and the obvious thing would be for him to ask her for a drink of water from her pitcher. However, almost any girl, out of common courtesy, would agree to such a request as that, so that act alone would not be sufficient. If, however, she would then, on her own initiative, offer to help in some further way, going a second mile as it were, this would definitely be a good sign. Perhaps the most severe test would be whether she was willing not only to give him some water, and perhaps even his attendants, but also his ten camels. Surely, if she would do this, without grumbling, it would go far toward proving that she was the kind of wife Abraham was seeking for his son.
Drawing enough water to satisfy the thirst of ten large and tired camels would be a hard and wearisome task, to say the least. He couldn't really ask a girl to do such a thing. Nevertheless, if she would do it voluntarily, it would be a strong indication that she was the right one. [Boice, GENESIS Vol. 2 p. 719, 720]
There are other times when we "sense" God speaking to us. We have an "impression from God." When God gives an impression he almost always also gives some verification. All impressions must be evaluated carefully by the clear and authoritative teaching of Scripture. Like in the game rock, paper, scissors . . . paper wins over rock, scissors wins over paper, and rock wins over scissors. In this case . . . Scripture wins over feelings. If Scripture does not speak to the issue we should check with godly friends.
WALK IN FAITH
When all is said and done we must walk by faith. The servant of Abraham went to Haran trusting that God would lead the way. He asked God for direction and when it was given, he acted. When he got to Rebekah's home he didn't even pause to have dinner . . . he wanted to find out if Rebekah was the one first. He continued to walk by the light God provided.
God generally guides one step at a time. Before we can see the second step we must take the first one. Let's not forget that God has given us His Spirit to guide us. He has given us minds to think and to weigh options. Sometimes we have to trust our "sanctified common sense". Sometimes we have to trust the brains and the Spirit God has given us and make the best decision possible. We must walk by faith that God will send his angels ahead of us just as He did Abraham's servant.
CONCLUSIONS
As a result of this servant's faithfulness, Isaac married Rebekah. Two children were born to that union and they named them "Jacob" and "Esau". Jacob's name was later changed to "Israel". This faithful servant played a key role in God's plan of redemption.
Your decisions won't affect the plan of redemption but they are significant. Strive in your life to implement these simple steps
check God's Word
seek God's Help
pay attention to your circumstances
walk faithfully each step God reveals
Two final issues. I mentioned that God reveals things one step at a time. For some of you, the first step may be to take that initial step of faith. Maybe the reason you feel outside of God's will is because you are outside of His grace. God guarantees guidance to all those who are His children. You can be faithful in church attendance and still not be one of His children. You can be a leader in the church and community and still not be one of His children. You can be trying your very best in life, and still not be one of His children.
A person is a child of God when they have admitted that they have lived as enemies of God. They have disobeyed His commands, they have ignored His importance, they have only been concerned about themselves. In other words, you must first admit that you have sinned.
they acknowledge that there is nothing they can do to rectify this situation. All their good works, all their best actions are tainted with selfish motives. And even if we were able to do some things that are truly good . . . it would never be enough to "pay for" the sin.
they recognize that Jesus Christ is God become man who died as an innocent man, for our sin. He literally came back from the dead making it possible that anyone who really trusts Him to be forgiven and to live beyond the grave.
they make a commitment to trust what they have come to believe is true. Lot's of people see that Jesus is good. Lot's could tell you He died for sin. But it is only when we place our hope in Him . . . it is only when we are willing to bet our life on Him and orient our life from Him that we can truly be said to be a child of God.
If you have never taken this first step. Stop right now. Close you eyes. Talk to God. Tell Him that you are willing to trust Jesus Christ to save you from your sin and from yourself. Tell Him that you believe and receive His promise. Ask Him to take control of your life. And then thank Him, because He has promised that anyone who comes to Him will NOT be rejected. Once you have settled this ultimate issue the others will come easier.
One final thing about finding God's will for your life. God loves us so much, that even if we make a wrong choice . . . He can get us back on course. He may have to shut a door, or place obstacle in our path . . . but He will lead us in the way that we should go. He promises to lead us home and He will do so even if He has to go and get us after we make a wrong turn. So . . . live boldly and faithfully in the confidence that God will direct your paths . . . just as He promised.
Rev. Bruce Goettsche
