Hard Conversations

Sunday February 8, 2015

I remember when someone on our church ministry team responded with disbelief upon discovering that my husband and I have disagreements. But I didn´t back away from sharing that we - like any family - had to work through conflict to relate better. Being spiritually mature doesn´t mean we´re exempt from challenges or failure. And it also means being honest, not trying to hide behind a squeaky clean façade.

The seduction of image is a temptation we all face. With the opinions of others as a tangible and ready means of feedback, we can easily lose sight of the real call to discipleship (Luke 9:23-24) and choose to focus on how others see us. In Matthew 10:28, Jesus instructed us, "Don´t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell." We might craft our reputation under any number of guises, but this truth remains : a desire to protect our reputation is nothing more than a fear of other people (John 12:42-43).

Disappointed with Peter´s response to the Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-16), Paul was unafraid to engage a brother in a hard conversation. Earlier in his life, Paul had focused on credentials in an attempt to prove himself worthy (Philippians 3:3-7). But now, refusing to curry favour with others, he reminded Peter and all who read his letter that caving in to people´s desires was not the answer (Galatians 2:20-21).

Being authentic in the church means holding Christ´s reputation above our own. Only then will we be the city set on a hill - the hope of Jesus shining in a world shrouded in the deception of appearances and man-made measures (Matthew 5:14-16). - Regina Franklin

Read
Galatians 2:1-21
Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
As for those who seemed to be important - whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance - those men added nothing to my message. On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so taht by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?"
"We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified."
"If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

1 Timothy 1:12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance : Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worse. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen

Question to Ponder
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much do the people in your local church body know about you?
What are some of the hindrances you face in being real with other believers?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015

Better than Myself

Sunday December 7, 2014

Charles complained to his friend about some lower back pain. He was seeking a sympathetic ear, but his friend gave him an honest assessment. "Your back isn´t your problem," he pointed out. "It´s your stomach. Your stomach is so big it´s pulling on your back."

Would you have been offended if someone said that to you?

Charles shared that he resisted the temptation to be offended. He lost the weight and his "back" problem went away. Charles recognised that "an open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy" (Proverbs 27:3-6).

The trouble with most of us is that we´d rather be ruined by praise than helped by criticism. Truth hurts. It bruises our ego. It calls for change. It makes us uncomfortable.

We need to recognise that true friends don´t find pleasure in hurting us. Rather, they love us too much to deceive us. They´re people who show loving courage by pointing out what we probably already know well - things we´ve found hard to accept and truly address. They tell us what we need to hear and not only what we want to hear.

Author Vaughn Roberts wrote, "There is a certain 'niceness' to a friendship where I can be, as they say, myself. But what I really need are relationships in which I will be encouraged to become better than myself. Myself needs to grow a little each day. I don´t want to be the myself I was yseterday. I want to be the myself that is developing each day to be more of a Christ-like person."

Do you have friends who are helping you grow in Christ? Make an effort to maintain those friendships. They´ll help you become better than today´s version of yourself.  - Poh Fang Chia

Read
Proverbs 27:5-10
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one´s friend springs from his earnest counsel.
Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother´s house when disaster strikes you - better a neighbour nearby than a brother far away.

Proverbs 27:27
You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.

Ephesians 4:15
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 

Question to Ponder
How well do you take criticism? 
Why is it vital that you accept hard words spoken in love and speak the truth in love to others?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue.