Spiritual Agreement1/12/2024 ![]() Philippians 4:2 ~ "I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord." Christians ought to be of one mind. And yet, the "ought's" of the Scriptures tend to clash with the desires of the individual and there begins the conflict. It is an interesting observation between two Christians who have labored to serve the Lord and desire to live for His glory to find themselves at odds with one another. It may seem that they should be delighted to find themselves in a state of joyful unanimity, walking metaphorically hand-in-hand for the cause of the Lord. Yet, for some reason, the two women mentioned in our text today were of differing mindsets. There is no place in Scripture where it is revealed the challenge between Euodia and Syntyche. The simple fact is, they were in disagreement--of such a disagreement that the Apostle Paul saw fit to mention them by name in his letter for all the church to read in order to bring them back to unifying fellowship with each other. It is not a stretch to consider that their disagreement was causing a disruption in the life of the church. But from where do these conflicts arise? Consider the words of James 4:1-3, "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." To boil it down, you don't get your way and so you go to war. And, yet, the Apostle Paul was rather tender in his words toward these two women. He didn't "command" he "entreated" them. It a word of closeness, one that conveys the same idea as the work of the Holy Spirit, coming alongside them as a counselor, to guide and direct them back into the way of Christ. What was Paul's entreaty? Simple: agree in the Lord. Can two Christians have differing views and opinions about matters unrelated to the fundamental truths in Christ? Of course they can, but those disagreements must not override their good sense to stand with each other in their common faith. It is important that such unity exist in the church--a unity that is built from our love for Christ and each other. Consider the church in Corinth who had taken their divisions to a whole other level--even going so far as to take each other to court! But take to heart the words of the Apostle in 1 Corinthians 6:7 when he confronted their hostility. "To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?" Did not our Lord Jesus teach us to "turn the other cheek" (see Matthew 5:39). The women mentioned in our text today were good, solid, hard-working Christians who labored for the gospel. Their disagreement needed to be resolved, their love restored and the work continued for the sake of Christ and His church. If you are in such a state with another believer, hear the words of Paul and determine to come in agreement in the Lord, even if you cannot come in agreement with the issue that has separated you. Love for each other in Christ must be the higher priority. In His Grace, Pastor Michael
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Sacrifice and Love1/6/2024 ![]() Corinthians 13:3 ~ "If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing." There are certain religious beliefs in our world that require martyrdom as the highest form of proof concerning the legitimacy of their faith. But the willingness to die for a cause does not prove the veracity of real love. In fact, many have gone through their lives, practicing sacrificial religion, with no true love for God. This was proved true most clearly in the lives of the Pharisees. Jesus declared it to them in John 8:42, "“If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here." So this begs the question: do you have love? Many go through their lives accomplishing great feats of sacrifice, even rendering heroic expressions with their lives, believing that with such grandiose services rendered they will gain some greater standing with the Lord God. And yet it comes back to the question--do you have love? Love, in this sense, is not some sentimentalism or emotional derivation of human sympathy that leaves us moon-eyed and heart-sick over the one to whom we have cast our affections. The love that this text refers to is described for us in its outward form through verses 4-7. This love is found in the transformed life of those who have received the salvation of Christ. 1 John 4:19 states, "We love because He first loved us." Having received the love of Christ who laid His life down--not for His own glory but for the Glory of the Father and the salvation of the Church--it is only then that we can say we have the love to which Paul refers. I have heard countless people who profess loyalty to Christ declare with absolute certainty that they would "die for Jesus." What a waste if they "have not love" for they will gain nothing. There is no advantage for the one who is willing to martyr themselves for the cause of Christ who does not have within them the love of Christ. This does not mean that love isn't sacrificial--it most certainly is. Jesus said in John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." Paul also understood the sacrifice of love displayed by Christ quite clearly, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). But the sacrifice must be the expression of love and not the means of trying to manipulate the Lord to receive you outside of Christ. To put it bluntly, you cannot buy your way to heaven and you cannot die your way to heaven. For Jesus, Himself, paid the price and died the death so that we could have our sins forgiven through His love and be redeemed through His atonement. It comes back to the warning, "but [if I] have not love, I gain nothing." You will never gain heaven, hope, life, eternity, or any of the promises of Christ if you remain outside of the love of Christ. But for those who love God, there is a great promise given--one that I want to leave with you: 1 Corinthians 8:3, "But if anyone loves God, he is known by God." From the Mountains to the SeaEvery step we take on this journey called life ought to be used for greater understanding. I've lived from the mountains to the sea, and this blog is my personal thoughts and observations with a desire for Biblical understanding. Welcome. Featured BookArchives
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