Barbara's Banter

From God comes…

From God comes the ability for Christians to be of one mind. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind…”     

A dictionary explanation of one mind means to have the same opinion or same desire. To find two Christians who think the same, feel the same, and view things the same way might not happen until Christ returns. After all, God created us to be diverse. Plus, we all have different life experiences and backgrounds. However, it may be possible to have the same desire. That desire should be to live a Christian life reflecting the attributes of God.

Those attributes are emphasized as this passage continues which says we should have compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous, not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling. (1 Peter 1:8-9) In other words, we want to have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)

No where is this concept of having one mind tested more than when two Christians discuss politics. Have you noticed we are in an election year? Emotions run high. We all have personal candidate favorites and can be very intolerant with those who do not share our preferences. It is difficult to respond in kindness and show love to those with whom we disagree. Especially when we know we are right and they are wrong.

What can we do? We can pray for the wisdom to reflect Christ when we engage in political discussions. Discussing is different that debating. It includes give and take responses. Debates try to convince others our view is right and their view is wrong. Many times, it results in angry words. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

Whether we agree with another’s politics or not, we want our interaction with them to result in peace, not conflict. (Ephesians 4:3) Therefore, we might want to guard against being baited or provoked into volatile conversations where neither party will be glorifying God. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17) Instead, we should ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Only God can change our inner thoughts and minds so we focus on what is important to Him.

We sometimes forget that presidents will come and go. Only God remains constant and is ultimately in control. (Hebrews 13:8) God is our only hope. Campaign promises often fade into the atmosphere after the election. I’m sure you’ve heard that not all fairy tales begin with “Once upon a time…” Some start with, “If elected, I promise…” We seek security in an elected official, but only God can deliver on promises He makes. 

It’s an election year. We are all entitled to vote and share our opinions—but in a godly way—with humility, courtesy, and kindness. Those who have the one mind of Christ know how to respectfully agree to disagree about politics.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes value. In other words, we are valuable in God’s sight.

In the eyes of the world, we aren’t worth much. Constant media messages convince us we don’t measure up. We aren’t good enough. We aren’t rich enough. We aren’t successful enough. We aren’t smart enough. We aren’t thin enough. Sometimes we feel like we have the word LOSER stamped on our forehead for all to see.

In addition, many feel unloved and worse than that— they feel unlovable. Perhaps they were constantly criticized or ignored as children. Perhaps they were rejected and told they would not amount to anything. Perhaps they were teased and ridiculed for things beyond their control. Perhaps they made some bad choices which only reinforced their belief that they truly were not worth anything and certainly not worthy of anyone’s love.

Yet, love has a lot to do with how we live our lives. Sigmund Freud once said, “Love is the first requirement for mental health.” Victor Hugo said, “The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved.”

Here’s some good news! God loves us! While it’s true we may not seem valuable to the world, we are valuable to God. God loves us more than we could ever imagine. He doesn’t love us because we have a great personality, are flawlessly beautiful, like to laugh, or extend kindness to others. God loves us unconditionally. He loves us when we are good. He loves us when we are bad. (Ephesians 2:4-5) We don’t need to earn His love. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die for us. (John 3:16) Jesus laid down His life for us and He did it while we were sinners. (1 John 3:16; Romans 5:8) God’s love is unwavering. It’s there if we want it. It’s there when we need it. It’s wide and deep and high. (Ephesians 17-19) Nothing can separate us from God’s love. (Romans 8:35-39)

Knowing we are loved can change our whole outlook on life. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the song, Love Changes Everything. Although it’s written from a physical perspective, the concept is true. Love can change how we live and how we die. Once we embrace God’s love and see ourselves as God sees us, our motives and attitudes change.  

Our self-worth should not come from those around us or a fickle society. It should come from God. Our value doesn’t decrease based on someone’s inability to see our worth. God calls us His children. (1 John 3:1) He sees us as a masterpiece. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) In God’s eyes, we are a valuable work of art. And why not? Jesus living in us gives our life great value. (Galatians 2:20)

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes transformation. Transformation means a thorough, dramatic change.

The Christian journey starts with repentance which means to change one’s mind and heart. We can’t serve two masters, so we turn away from our sinful nature towards God. (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17)

However, repentance is just the beginning. Transformation is the continuation of what starts with repentance.  

When we surrender to God we are born again. (John 3:1) When one is physically born, their life develops. They must learn to crawl, walk, run, and grow into physical maturity. When one is “born again” in a biblical sense, they must begin the same process from a spiritual perspective. This is when gradual, more dramatic changes take place transforming us into the image of God. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

This happens because God’s Spirit comes to live within us to help us reevaluate our objectives, goals, attitudes, and responses. (Romans 8:9) This is quite a miracle when you consider that we actually have this treasure (the Holy Spirit) in our earthen vessels (physical bodies) to guide and motivate us. (2 Corinthians 4:7) It helps us discern the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2) We learn to look at situations from God’s perspective, not our own.

Spiritual transformation is not a magic immediate metamorphosis. It does not happen all at once. It is a daily process.  In fact, we will spend the rest of our lives learning what it means to follow Christ and become more like Him. This transformational process continues even unto death when God transforms our lowly bodies to conform with His glorious body. (Philippians 3:21)

Our Christian journey will have many ups and downs, but we don’t need to worry if we yield to God. We are assured that God will be faithful to complete the work He starts in us. (Philippians 1:6) Until then, we must strive to be patient with ourselves and with others—because we are all a transformational work in progress.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God come the way—not “a” way, but “the” way. The way is Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus. In fact, there is no other name by which men can be saved except Jesus. (Acts 4:10-12)

Oddly enough, many evangelical Christians no longer believe Jesus is the only way. They make an analogy that all religions are like spokes of a wheel leading to God. However, I suggest that if those spokes don’t emphasize Jesus as our personal Savior, they aren’t going in the right direction. Jesus did not say, “I am one of many roads to God.” He said, “I am the way!”

Not only is Jesus the only way to God the Father, He is the only way to anything worthwhile in our lives. He is the way to joy and fulfillment. He is the way to freedom from doubt, fear, worry, and the penalty of sin. He is the way to salvation, love, peace, and grace.

He is also the one who makes a way when there seems to be no way. (Isaiah 43:16) The Israelites found this out when Pharoah and his armies were pursuing them. Suddenly, the Red Sea parted and there was a way out. (Exodus 14:21-22) The disciples found this out when Jesus rebuked the winds and calmed the sea. (Matthew 8:23-26) The wedding guests found this out when Jesus turned water into wine. (John 2:1-11) We find it out every day when we rely on God. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

In the early church, disciples of Jesus were called followers of the Way. (Acts 9:1) The Hebrew word “derekh” is often translated as “way” and can refer to a physical road or pathway. In history class, I remember learning about the Appian Way which was one of the earliest and most significant Roman roads of the ancient world. Metaphorically, “way” often refers to the journey, manner, and course of one’s life. Spiritually speaking, it refers to our Christian-walk with God’s guidance. “This is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

If we are followers of the Way, we never have to worry about getting lost. There’s an old story about a father who took his young son on a walk in the woods. As they strolled hand in hand, he asked the boy, “Do you know where you are? Are you lost?”

The boy looked up at him and said, “How can I be lost. I am with you.”

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. If we stay close to Him, we will always be on the right road!

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes your testimony which is your story of becoming a Christian or perhaps a specific time when God protected, delivered, or did something special that impacted your life greatly. Testimonies of encountering God are personal and meant to be shared with others.  

The Latin root for testimony is “testis” which means “witness.” A personal testimony is an “eye witness” account of what happened to you from your perspective. Jesus told the early church that they would be witnesses for Him throughout the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Witnesses in biblical times were very important. Most of the people were poor and many were illiterate. The average person couldn’t read or write, so many things weren’t written down or recorded. Therefore, sharing what you had seen, heard, or experienced was important. Therefore, the Bible is full of examples of those who witnessed for Christ in various ways. Here are a few examples.

A man who had been blind from birth was healed by Jesus on the Sabbath. As a result, the Pharisees declared that Jesus could not be from God. The blind man responded by stating that he didn’t know who Jesus was, but he did know one thing. “I was blind and now I see.” (John 9:25)

The apostle Peter was a tent maker. He was a bit impetuous and made mistakes, yet his love for Christ and enthusiasm for the gospel was almost contagious. When Peter gave the sermon on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, he could attest to the miracles, wonders, and signs Jesus performed. He said, “God has raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of that fact.” (Acts 2:32)

Paul was an intellectual. He knew the arts, philosophy, and law. He used his logic and reasoning to become all things to all people. (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) He once persecuted Christians but then became one. His changed life was part of his testimony, but he was also a persuasive orator. He spoke comfortably in Athens, the center of philosophy, and defended himself in court so adeptly that he almost persuaded King Agrippa to become a Christian. (Acts 17, Acts 26:28)

The Samaritan woman had three strikes against her. First, she was a Samaritan. Jews did not speak to Samaritans because they were considered religiously impure. Second, she was a woman. In those days, women were to be seen and not heard. Her third strike was living in adultery. Yet Jesus chose to share the gospel with her. (John 4) She was so happy about this that she told all her neighbors, family, and friends. As a result of her testimony, many believed. (John 4:39-43)

Testimonies are important today, as well. (Revelation 12:11) I don’t think God wants us to pounce on unsuspecting people and shove Christ down their throats. However, He doesn’t want us to shy away from sharing what God has done for us. God has given each of us a personal testimony, so we can readily share it with those who ask—for the hope that lies within us! (1 Peter 3:16) That hope is Jesus.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes seasons. Spring, summer, winter, and fall show God’s diversity. Many life lessons can be drawn from watching God’s seasonal creation unfold for it is God who changes the times and the seasons. (Daniel 2:21)

If our biological lives were divided into stages, they might parallel the four seasons. Spring brings new birth and early growth, so it could represent our childhood and teen years. Summer is a time of productivity, so it could be like becoming adults and taking on more responsibility. Fall is when things slow down a bit and could be likened to experiencing empty nest syndrome and a few gray hairs showing. We think of winter as old age. Of course, only we can determine when that starts. It is said that old age is always ten years older than what we are.

The Bible actually shows a certain amount of respect for the aging process. Jesus encouraged us to become like little children. (Matthew 18:3) Paul told Timothy not to let anyone despise his youth. (I Timothy 4:12) Titus 2:3-5 tells the mature women to encourage the younger women. Wisdom should come with old age. (Job 12:12)

These life stages were designed by God, and should be embraced, not feared. Each part of our life cycle has pros and cons. Only we can choose to dwell with a positive or negative outlook of where we are in life. God wants us to make the most of every season. That’s why we are told to number our days so we can may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 91:12-14)

Another analogy of seasons can be found in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. It starts by saying, “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” It goes on to explain that events will happen in our lives which may leave us happy and joyous, or perhaps sad and depressed. There are seasons we wish could last forever and others we want to go away as quickly as possible. God doesn’t require us to be upbeat all the time. He gives us time to mourn and reflect when needed.

God meets us where we are. James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing Psalms.” Our lives will always be a mixture of sunshine and rain, but Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is our constant in our everchanging lives.  

From God comes seasons in the weather, in our aging process, and in our daily lives. God designed it this way. However, He wants us to know that whatever the season, we can always rely on Him. He’ll walk with us or even carry us if that’s what we need. Seasons change, but God doesn’t!

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes a call to action. Christians cannot afford to sit on the sidelines and become stagnant. Followers of Christ are constantly moving toward loving others and growing spiritually.

The Bible is full of exhortations illustrated through action verbs. Words like do, grow, run, walk, seek, serve, pray, worship, encourage, produce, share, and many more should all be read with a spiritual perspective. As we study the scriptures, we can be cognizant of such words and meditate on how they apply in our lives.  

1 John 3:18 (NIV) says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” In other words, we can’t just talk the talk. We must walk the walk. (Colossians 1:10) We must run the race. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) We must be doers of the word, not hearers only. (James 1:22) When Christ says, “Well done thy good and faithful servant,” it indicates the servant was doing something. (Matthew 25:23)

We were actually created to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10) These good works do not earn us salvation. (Ephesians 2:8) We do them because we are saved. We do them because God loves us and we want to show our love to others. These good works glorify God. (Matthew 5:16)

Of course, Christians cannot afford to just fill their lives with busy-work, thinking it will please God. As Peter neared the end of his ministry, he left the churches with an exhortation to be steadfast and to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:17-18) If we neglect the spiritual for the physical, we miss the mark.

Even the action of being still is a time to reflect. We can’t afford to get so caught up in what we are doing that we lose sight of God’s greatness. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know I am God.” The Hebrew word here for still is “raphe” which means to be weak, let go, or release. It actually means to surrender our will to God’s. 

From God comes a call to action. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:46, “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” Therefore, we should always be doing something to show our love for others as we grow in the grace and knowledge of God.

““Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes Communion.

Communion has a couple of definitions. One, of course, is the special Christian service, an act of worship where bread and wine are consecrated and shared. When Christians partake of this Holy Communion, they do so to remember the body and blood of Jesus that was broken and poured out at the cross

Another definition is the sharing or exchanging of intimate thought and feelings, especially on a spiritual level. This is the kind of communion we have access to all the time. It is our intimate relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. These three entities are always with us. We have access to them all the time.

Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV) says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

When the famous American astronaut Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon’s surface during the

historic moon landing in 1969, he said, “That’s one small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.”

However, there was another astronaut on that mission who did something quite memorable as well. Buzz Aldrin got special permission to take a tiny Communion kit with him. In private, he partook of the wine and ate the bread, then read, “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

We can be thankful God is with us everywhere we go. Whether we are on a mountain top, in a valley, or in outer space, we can commune with God. For without God, we can do nothing of value.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

One of the many names for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh Yireh or Jehovah Jireh which means “The Lord Will Provide.” First found in Genesis 22:13-14, the actual Hebrew word here means “provide” or “see” or “see to it.” God is our provider. He will see to it that all our needs are supplied. (Philippians 4:19) He will make sure we have enough.

Of course, God’s idea of enough and ours could differ. When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they appeared to have everything needed for a happy existence. However, Satan showed up and convinced them they needed more, so they ate the forbidden fruit. (Genesis 3) Guess what? Satan has been convincing people through the ages that what God provides is not enough. 

From Satan comes feelings of envy, lust, and greed. We want what the other guy has. (Psalm 72:2-3) We think, “Why do they have all the good things in life and I don’t?” These thoughts drain all the joy out of our lives and make it impossible to appreciate what God has provided for us.  

We live in a world bombarding us with subliminal messages telling us we aren’t rich enough, thin enough, smart enough, successful enough, or happy enough—all designed to fill us with discontent. We aren’t thankful for what God provides physically, so we miss what He provides spiritually. Charles Spurgeon once said, “It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes happiness.”

Missionary Hudson Taylor had a passion to reach the people of China. At one point, his financial secretary told him he had a balance of twenty-five cents in his account. Taylor enthusiastically replied, “Twenty-five cents? I’m rich! I have 25 cents, and all the promises of God!”

It wasn’t the quarter that made him rich; it was all the promises of God. Our God can supply all our needs! (Philippians 4:19) A quarter in God’s hands is more than enough than a million dollars in the hands of man. Jesus fed the 5000 with a few fish and a small amount of bread, proving that a little is a lot when God is involved. (Matthew 14:15-21)

God is able to supply all our physical and spiritual needs. Jesus is the bread of life. (John 6:35) He is the living water. (John 4:13-14) God is the strength of our hearts. (Psalm 73:25-26) God is love. (1 John 4:8) God is our provider. As we trust God, we begin to see that from Him comes all the provisions we need in every facet of our lives. 

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)

From God comes…

From God comes sufficiency. A definition of sufficiency is to have an adequate amount of something, especially something essential.

The world wants us to be self-sufficient. There is nothing wrong with working hard, taking care of ourselves, or learning to deal with problems. God expects us to put forth effort to succeed, sustain, and survive. However, our quality of life ultimately comes from being able to rely on God. When we face disappointment, discouragement, or dilemmas, our best course of action is to look to God and surrender to His will.

The apostle Paul had some sort of infirmity that he felt hindered him from serving God more effectively.  So, he asked God several times to remove it. God had other plans. He did not remove it, but instead said, “My grace is sufficient for you…” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Through God’s grace we have forgiveness, acceptance, and a relationship with a loving God. This relationship gives us everything we really need in life—and even in death.

God goes on to say that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. God wants us to rely totally on Him. Paul found that God’s grace was indeed sufficient for him, even in the midst of pain and discomfort. God can be glorified regardless of our circumstances.

Self-sufficient people have no room for God’s grace to shine through. God wants us to acknowledge our human deficiencies and rely on Him. Without God, we can’t really do anything of great value. (John 15:5) However, through Christ, we can do whatever God wants us to do. (Philippians 4:13) Our sufficiency comes from God. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”

~James 1:17 (NLT)