“An Expression of God that will Radiate His Light”- Purity
900
Purity 900 11/28/2022 Purity 900 Podcast
Purity 900 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of an epic November sunrise comes to
us from a friend who captured this early morning scene yesterday near their
home in the Clifton Park area of upstate New York. Our friend wasn’t the only one to witness
this stark evidence of God’s glory as many in the capital district shared
similar photos with the local news outlets, who shared them on social media. I
suppose I could have “borrowed” one of these other photos, but I prefer to
share my friend’s even though it has been quite some time since I have seen
them or have spoken to them. This
particular friend had some life experiences that are similar to mine and even
though I honestly don’t know how they are doing currently, I’m rooting for them,
and because of our crossed paths, I suppose I always will be. Just knowing that
they witnessed this scene gives me joy.
Well it is the Monday after Thanksgiving, and
although I am filled with joy for my friend, my heart is somewhat heavy this
morning as my wife, her children, and many others will be mourning the loss of
a friend who was more like family later this afternoon.
Our shared experiences and history can really form
strong bonds in a short period of time, but those bonds can be especially
strong when we walk through life with someone for an extended period of time,
where the time of our relationships together can witness the aging of our
children to adulthood.
I only met Linda Lee Henle on a couple of occasions for
brief periods and she seemed like a friendly lady but I know that she was much more
than that to my wife, as she was introduced and described as a “grandmother” of
sorts to my wife’s kids. I only met her
a few times so I won’t be taking off from work to attend the memorial service
this afternoon, but I did lift “Ms. Linda’s” grieving “family” up in prayer
this morning because I know she was greatly loved and will be dearly
missed.
Out of curiosity, I checked out her obituary this morning
to learn a little more about this “nice
lady” who meant so much to so many to see what it would say and to see if
there was anything I could learn from
her life. It says:
“Linda was an
extraordinary mother, wife, and caregiver. She dedicated herself to helping
those in the world who needed it most through her work with special education,
elderly care, the Girl Scouts, Sunday school, and other various youth
organizations. She travelled just about every road in this country,
welcomed foreign exchange students into her home, and loved bringing her family
together around the dinner table. One of her many creative talents was playing
the accordion. Linda was intelligent, had a strong moral compass, and her
compassion extended not just to humans but to all creatures of the Earth. Linda
exemplified selfless and unconditional love. She was an expression of God that
will radiate his light even in the darkest shadows.”
She passed away on Tuesday, somewhat
suddenly. I had seen her at my stepdaughter’s birthday party back in September
and now she’s gone, but obviously not forgotten, and because she knew the Lord
we know she lives today although we can’t see her, yet.
While serving the community and our
fellow man is admirable, I think the best thing anyone can say about us is what
was said about Linda: that she “was an expression of God that will radiate his
light even in the darkest shadows.” What a testimony!
As much as we try to make our way
in the world and leave a legacy behind, Linda’s life shows us that the love we
have to give is the most valuable thing we possess and that our life is best
spent giving it away.
So pray for the family and friends
of our departed sister, and let’s thank the Lord for being able to know His
love and to know people like, “Ms. Linda” Henle whose life was a living expression
of His light.
So as we get back to business as usual
this Monday morning, let’s remember our friends and family that show us the
love of the Lord and let’s remember to not be so busy and to try to reflect the
light of the Lord in our lives, as we keep on walking and talking with God.
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Today’s Bible verses comes to us from “The NLT Bible
Promise Book for Men”.
This morning’s meditation verse are:
Romans
8:5-6 (NLT2)
5 Those who are dominated by
the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by
the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.
6 So letting your sinful
nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your
mind leads to life and peace.
Today’s verses encourage us to be controlled
by the Holy Spirit and to guide us to repent of our sinful nature and to think upon
things that please the Spirit and that will give us a life of peace.
Hey what’s wrong, according to the
word of God, is wrong, and a life lived following the “moral compass” of the
Holy Spirit is a life that may not always be easy but will have an enduring
peace.
Like I have admitted, I didn’t know “Ms.
Linda” Henle very well but she was known for being an expression of God’s
light, not just His love. I wouldn’t really
know this to be true myself, except for my wife’s testimony of her words of
encouragement to TammyLyn’s daughters.
As we talked about her passing this
past weekend, TammyLyn told me about how Ms. Linda recently told her daughters “to
do what was right” with the way they lived their lives, stating that “Ms. Linda”
would remind them that they are “Christian girls” after all.
In this age of moral relativism and
situational ethics, I just love that testimony of Ms. Linda’s moral compass,
that although she expressed God’s love to all within her “oikos” ( her surroundings
– or dwelling place – her household, who she made everyone feel welcomed in)
she also reflected the light of God in the darkness, that meant more than just
hope.
Her encouragements to live as “Christian
girls” was literally the advice that is most desperately needed in these dark
times of loose sexuality and rampant substance abuse that plagues our society. Ms.
Linda’s words were telling TammyLyn’s daughters the pathway they should follow
that would lead to peace.
While we all have free will….
and believe me as someone who abused
it for most of his life before deciding to follow Christ, I know the depths of depravity
that “freedom” can lead to, personally,
the word of God and faithful saints,
like Ms. Linda, tell us, quite clearly, the way we should go.
So walk in the Spirit, repent of your
sinful nature, and think on, and do, the things that pleases the Spirit of God
and leads to a life of peace.
___________________________________________
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I
always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to
assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s
“Discipleship”, also known as “The Cost of Discipleship”
As always, I share this information for educational
purposes and encourage all to purchase Bonhoeffer’s books for your own
private study and to support his work. This resource is available on
many websites for less than $20.00.
The Messengers
(An Interpretation of Matthew 10)
The Work
“These
twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Go nowhere among the
Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel’ ” (Matt. 10:5–6).
As Jesus’ helpers,
the effectiveness of the disciples is grounded in the clear commandment of
their Lord. It is not left up to them to decide how to undertake and understand
their work. The work of Christ they are to do forces the messengers completely
into the will of Jesus. Blessed are they who have such an authority given them
for their office [Amt] and who are freed from their own discretion and
calculations!
The very first word
limits the messengers’ work in a way which must have seemed strange and
difficult to them. They were not allowed to choose where they were to work.
What was decisive was not where their hearts led them, but where they were
sent. This makes quite clear that they are not to do their own work, but God’s
work. Would it not have seemed obvious to go to the Gentiles and the
Samaritans, because they had special need of the good news? That may be, but
they were given no such commission. God’s works cannot be done without God’s
commission; otherwise, they would be done without God’s promise. But does this
promise and commission to preach the gospel not apply everywhere? Both apply
only where God has given the commission. But is it not precisely the love of
Christ which urges us to proclaim the gospel without limits? The love of Christ
differs from the enthusiasm and zeal of our own hearts in that it holds to the
commission. We do not bring the salvation of the gospel to our sisters and
brothers who belong to our own people or to the Gentiles in foreign countries,
for the sake of our own love for them, no matter how great that love is.
Instead, we do it at the Lord’s command, which he gave in the Great Commission.[18]
Only the commission shows us the place on which God’s promise rests. If Christ
does not want me to preach the gospel here or there, then I should let
everything go and obey Christ’s will and word. So the apostles are bound to the
word and to the commission. The apostles should be found only where the word of
Christ, where the commission may be found. “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and
enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house
of Israel.”
We, who came from the
Gentiles, were once excluded from the good news. First, Israel had to hear and
reject the message of Christ, so that it could be brought to the Gentiles, and
so that a congregation of Gentile Christians could be built according to the
commission of Jesus Christ. It is only after he is resurrected that Jesus gives
the Great Commission. In this way the limitation of the commission, which the
disciples surely could not understand, became an instrument of grace for the
Gentiles, who received the good news of the crucified and risen one. That is
God’s way and wisdom. For us, only the commission remains.
“As you go, proclaim
the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, cleanse
the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. You received without payment; give
without payment” (Matt. 10:7–8). The message and the effectiveness of the
messengers are exactly the same as Jesus Christ’s own message and work. They
participate in his power. Jesus commands that they proclaim the coming of the
kingdom of heaven, and he commands the signs which authenticate the message.
Jesus commands them to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and
cast out demons! Proclamation becomes an event, and the event gives witness to
the proclamation. The kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, forgiveness of sins,
justification of the sinner by faith: all this is nothing other than the
destruction of demonic power, healing, and raising the dead. As the word of the
almighty God, it is deed, event, miracle. The one Jesus Christ goes out through the country in his twelve
messengers and does his work. The royal grace with which the disciples are
equipped is the creative and redemptive word of God.
“Take no gold, or
silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or
sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food” (Matt. 10:9–10). Because
the command and the power of the messengers are given by the word of Jesus
alone, nothing should be seen on Jesus’ messengers which would make their royal
mission unclear or incredible. In royal poverty the messengers are to witness to
the riches of their Lord. What they have received from Jesus is no property of
their own, with which they could bargain for other goods. “You received without
payment!” Being a messenger of Jesus does not grant any personal rights; it
does not entitle one to respect or power. That does not change even when the
free messenger of Jesus has turned into an official pastor. The rights of a man
with a university education and the privileges of social standing are no longer
valid for anyone who has become a messenger of Jesus. “You received without
payment!” Or was there something else which attracted us besides the call of
Jesus which took us, who did not deserve it, into his service? “Give without
payment.” Let it become clear that with all the riches you have to give, you
covet nothing for yourselves: no property, but also no respect or
acknowledgment, not even gratitude! From where would you get such expectations?
Any honors we claim for ourselves are stolen from him to whom they rightfully
belong, the Lord who sent us out. The freedom of Jesus’ messengers should show
in their poverty. We cannot draw conclusions from the fact that Mark and Luke
vary somewhat from Matthew in their lists of what the disciples are allowed or
forbidden to take along. Jesus prescribes poverty to those who set out in the
authority of his word. We should not overlook the fact that this is a commandment of Jesus. The disciples’
personal property is prescribed down to the smallest details. They should not
be conspicuous as beggars with torn clothing and become burdensome parasites to
other people. But they should go around in the working clothes of poverty. They
should carry with them no more than a hiker in the country who is certain that
at night he will find a house with friends who will shelter him and give him
the food he needs. They are not to invest that kind of trust in people, but in
him who sent them, and in their heavenly Father, who will take care of them. In
doing so they will give credibility to the message they proclaim, namely, the
coming reign of God on earth. In the same freedom in which they do their
ministry they should accept lodging and food, not as alms for beggars, but as
the food laborers deserve. Jesus calls his messengers “laborers.” Sloth, to be
sure, does not deserve food.[24] But what is work, if not this
struggle with the powers of Satan, this struggle for the hearts of the people,
this renunciation of their own reputation, possessions, and joys of the world,
for the sake of serving the poor, the mistreated, and the miserable? God was
burdened and wearied by work for human beings (Isa. 43:24). The soul of Jesus
worked until death on the cross for our salvation (Isa. 53:11). The messengers
participate in this work: in proclamation, in overcoming Satan, and in intercessory
prayer. Anyone who does not acknowledge this work has not yet understood what
the service of a faithful messenger of Jesus is like. They may receive their
daily wages without shame, and without shame they should remain poor for the
sake of their ministry.
“Whatever town or
village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you
leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace
come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone
will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet
as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable
for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town”
(Matt. 10:11–15). Work in the faith-community will start with the houses “which
are worthy” of lodging Jesus’ messengers. God still has communities praying and
waiting everywhere. The disciples will be received there in the name of their
Lord humbly and willingly. There their work will be assisted by prayer; there a
small group exists, which stands in for the whole community. To prevent
conflict in the community and false aspirations or concessions in the
disciples, Jesus commands the apostles to remain in the same house as long as
they are in the same town. The moment the messengers enter a house and a city,
they get down to business. Time is valuable and short. Many are still waiting
for the good news. Even the first word of greeting they speak, as their Lord
does, “Peace be with this house!” (Luke 10:5), is not an empty phrase. Instead,
it immediately brings the power of God’s peace to those “who are worthy.” The
messengers’ proclamation is brief and clear. They proclaim the dawning of the
reign of God; they call for repentance and for faith. They come in the
authority of Jesus of Nazareth. A command is being delivered and an offer is
being made under the highest authorization.[28] That took care of
everything. Because everything has the utmost simplicity and clarity, and
because the matter cannot be postponed, it needs no further preparation,
discussion, or advertising. A king is standing outside the door; he can come at
any minute: do you want to bow down and receive him humbly, or do you want him
to destroy and kill you in his wrath? Those who are willing to hear now have
heard all there is to say. They will not want to delay the messenger, who must
go on to the next city. But for those who do not want to hear, the grace period
is over. They have pronounced their own judgment. “Today, if you hear his
voice, do not harden your hearts!” (Heb. 4:7). That is gospel preaching. Is it
unmerciful haste? Nothing is more unmerciful than pretending to the people that
they still have a lot of time to repent. Nothing is more merciful; nothing is
better news than the message to hurry, because the kingdom is very near. The
messenger cannot wait until it is repeated over and over to everyone, and
repeated to everyone in his or her own language. God’s language is clear
enough. The messenger does not control who will hear and who will not. God
alone knows “who are worthy.” They will hear the word, just as it is spoken by
the disciples. Woe to the city and the house which does not receive the
messenger of Jesus! It will undergo a terrible judgment. Sodom and Gomorrah,
the cities of licentiousness and decadence, may expect a more merciful judgment
than the cities of Israel that reject the word of Jesus. Vices and sins can be
forgiven by the word of Jesus, but those who reject the word of salvation
itself cannot be saved. There is no worse sin than unbelief toward the gospel.
Then there is nothing left for the messengers to do but leave that place. They
go, because the word cannot remain there. In fear and astonishment they have to
recognize the simultaneous power and weakness of the word of God. The disciples
can only stay where the word of God stays,[31] because they cannot
and should not force anything against the word or beyond the word. Their
commission is not to wage a heroic struggle or fanatically enforce a great idea
or a “good thing.” If the word of God is rejected, then they are rejected with
it. But they should shake the dust from their feet as a sign of the curse which
will come to that place but will not harm them. The peace they brought to that
place, however, will revert to them. “This is a consolation to the servants of
the church, who think they are not accomplishing anything. You should not get
upset; what other people do not want will become an even greater blessing for
you yourselves. Thus says the Lord to them: They have despised it, so keep it
for yourselves” (Bengel).[1]
---------------------------more tomorrow------------------------
Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage
Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the
mt4christ247 podcast!
at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts
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These teachings are also available on the MT4Christ247
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Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and
to be encouraged.
My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian
encouragement via her Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on
Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)
Encouragement
for the Path of Christian Discipleship
[1]
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship,
ed. Martin Kuske et al., trans. Barbara Green and Reinhard Krauss, vol. 4,
Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003), 187–192.
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