Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "valuables"
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 1
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
I’m taking a stroll down Nostalgia Avenue right now. Way back in the day, oh, sometime not long after the Civil War, I used to save Tootsie Roll Pops. I had this humongous collection of them—well, it was humongous back then. I was only around first grade age.
Anyway, I really was proud of this fantastic collection of such a fine source of sugar. It made me proud. I couldn’t be separated from a single one of my Tootsie Roll Pops, no, not even to pay for protection against bullies.
Well, maybe I spoke a little too assertively there. I could too be separated from one, no, scratch that, from practically all of my precious Tootsie Roll Pops. All it took was one of my older brothers to pilfer them when I wasn’t looking.
He was clever at it too. He didn’t slither in behind my back and snatch the entire box of TRPs. He simply “borrowed” one at a time and ate it. When he wanted another, he put on a repeat performance, an encore from his standpoint. When I noticed my collection was a bit undersized, he simply played dumb and suggested I must have eaten it myself.
This didn’t fool me one bit! But I didn’t have any proof, so all I could do was whine about it. Before long, though, there weren’t many TRPs left to filch, so big bro couldn’t conceal his crime any longer. The jig was up. The cat was out of the bag. His dirty deed was exposed and proclaimed aloud from the rooftops. If only we could’ve constructed a pillory…
Yes, I know. Loss of Tootsie Roll Pops isn’t life-threatening. Prisons aren’t built to house TRP thieves. Gallows aren’t employed for their use. The gas chamber and electric chair have no connection with them either. But when you’re very young…
Tell me you can’t relate to my predicament. Betcha can’t! You know full well what I went through, don’t you? You have your very own suchlike experiences and rue the day of each one. If only we hadn’t been born on those days!
But we were, and they served a useful purpose. Methinks they afforded us valuable education in maturity. We learned to prioritize what is really important and what isn’t, what deserves a “Yikes!” and what deserves a “Ho hum.”
This part of maturing, of growing up, has its counterpart in the spiritual realm too. The Apostle Paul had a thing or two to say about the subject, as we can ascertain from the Bible verses quoted to kickoff this study.
But we must needs pause awhile. We will continue the study on the morrow. Enjoy time with the Lord Jesus now. I’ll see you later.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’m taking a stroll down Nostalgia Avenue right now. Way back in the day, oh, sometime not long after the Civil War, I used to save Tootsie Roll Pops. I had this humongous collection of them—well, it was humongous back then. I was only around first grade age.
Anyway, I really was proud of this fantastic collection of such a fine source of sugar. It made me proud. I couldn’t be separated from a single one of my Tootsie Roll Pops, no, not even to pay for protection against bullies.
Well, maybe I spoke a little too assertively there. I could too be separated from one, no, scratch that, from practically all of my precious Tootsie Roll Pops. All it took was one of my older brothers to pilfer them when I wasn’t looking.
He was clever at it too. He didn’t slither in behind my back and snatch the entire box of TRPs. He simply “borrowed” one at a time and ate it. When he wanted another, he put on a repeat performance, an encore from his standpoint. When I noticed my collection was a bit undersized, he simply played dumb and suggested I must have eaten it myself.
This didn’t fool me one bit! But I didn’t have any proof, so all I could do was whine about it. Before long, though, there weren’t many TRPs left to filch, so big bro couldn’t conceal his crime any longer. The jig was up. The cat was out of the bag. His dirty deed was exposed and proclaimed aloud from the rooftops. If only we could’ve constructed a pillory…
Yes, I know. Loss of Tootsie Roll Pops isn’t life-threatening. Prisons aren’t built to house TRP thieves. Gallows aren’t employed for their use. The gas chamber and electric chair have no connection with them either. But when you’re very young…
Tell me you can’t relate to my predicament. Betcha can’t! You know full well what I went through, don’t you? You have your very own suchlike experiences and rue the day of each one. If only we hadn’t been born on those days!
But we were, and they served a useful purpose. Methinks they afforded us valuable education in maturity. We learned to prioritize what is really important and what isn’t, what deserves a “Yikes!” and what deserves a “Ho hum.”
This part of maturing, of growing up, has its counterpart in the spiritual realm too. The Apostle Paul had a thing or two to say about the subject, as we can ascertain from the Bible verses quoted to kickoff this study.
But we must needs pause awhile. We will continue the study on the morrow. Enjoy time with the Lord Jesus now. I’ll see you later.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 2
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
No one is born a Christian. Doesn’t matter who our parents are or if we are in church seventy-three times a week. No one is born a Christian. Every person must be born again to become a Christian.
In the natural realm after a person is born, he must then grow up. He must mature into an adult who can contribute to society. He must study and learn and gain experience and put it all together by practicing what he learns.
The spiritual realm has its counterpart to this. Every person who is born again must then grow up. We do so by eating hearty spiritual meals from the Word of God—from the whole counsel of God rather than picking and choosing what we like. We also grow strong spiritual muscles through prayer and Bible meditation while alone with the Lord Jesus. Then we put into practice what He teaches us, as the Holy Spirit gifts us and directs and empowers us.
One thing each and every Christian must do as a part of maturing spiritually is to prioritize what is important and what is not. In the natural realm my Tootsie Roll Pops were not important, as least not to anyone who matured a bit. There are also many spiritual TRPs which exist. The Christian must prioritize between what is a spiritual TRP and what is a spiritual principle.
Sometimes this is phrased in today’s parlance “major on the majors and not on the minors”. Alas, but the spiritual immaturity in many churches is prominently on display, when minor, insignificant points serve as a soapbox, while the weighty matters are left by the wayside. Such conditions usually are a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum! Beware the spiritual bedlamites!
Let’s list a few hills in the Body of Christ which are worth dying on:
• growing up in Christ
• discovering our spiritual gifts
• employing our spiritual gifts in the ministry assigned us by the Holy Spirit
• holding to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
• insisting on the Bible as the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice
• holding to the deity of Jesus Christ
• holding to the humanity of Jesus Christ
• holding to Jesus as being the only way of salvation
• holding to the necessity of being born again to get to heaven
• holding to the requirement that only born again folks can have church membership and hold church positions
This list is by no means exhaustive. It is given to open our eyes to the reality that there are some things on which we dare not compromise. Then again, on other things we should be prepared to compromise. Many of them are good. Others are quite helpful.
But in the end these other things don’t get anyone into heaven or keep them out of heaven. They are useful in helping us to understand the Lord and His Word better. Still, there is room for us to agree to disagree with regard to them, without compromising our salvation or witness for Christ.
Let us recognize this truth and demonstrate our spiritual maturity. Let us build up the Body of Christ, not tear it down by majoring on the minors. Paul abandoned all the things he once deemed essential and necessary, all for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus better and growing up in him. That is the essence of his words which we quoted at the start of this study.
We will do ourselves good to emulate this fine man of God on that point. After all, the Holy Spirit did inspire Paul to pen these words for our learning. That is reason enough for me to want to emulate the behavior. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
No one is born a Christian. Doesn’t matter who our parents are or if we are in church seventy-three times a week. No one is born a Christian. Every person must be born again to become a Christian.
In the natural realm after a person is born, he must then grow up. He must mature into an adult who can contribute to society. He must study and learn and gain experience and put it all together by practicing what he learns.
The spiritual realm has its counterpart to this. Every person who is born again must then grow up. We do so by eating hearty spiritual meals from the Word of God—from the whole counsel of God rather than picking and choosing what we like. We also grow strong spiritual muscles through prayer and Bible meditation while alone with the Lord Jesus. Then we put into practice what He teaches us, as the Holy Spirit gifts us and directs and empowers us.
One thing each and every Christian must do as a part of maturing spiritually is to prioritize what is important and what is not. In the natural realm my Tootsie Roll Pops were not important, as least not to anyone who matured a bit. There are also many spiritual TRPs which exist. The Christian must prioritize between what is a spiritual TRP and what is a spiritual principle.
Sometimes this is phrased in today’s parlance “major on the majors and not on the minors”. Alas, but the spiritual immaturity in many churches is prominently on display, when minor, insignificant points serve as a soapbox, while the weighty matters are left by the wayside. Such conditions usually are a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum! Beware the spiritual bedlamites!
Let’s list a few hills in the Body of Christ which are worth dying on:
• growing up in Christ
• discovering our spiritual gifts
• employing our spiritual gifts in the ministry assigned us by the Holy Spirit
• holding to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
• insisting on the Bible as the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice
• holding to the deity of Jesus Christ
• holding to the humanity of Jesus Christ
• holding to Jesus as being the only way of salvation
• holding to the necessity of being born again to get to heaven
• holding to the requirement that only born again folks can have church membership and hold church positions
This list is by no means exhaustive. It is given to open our eyes to the reality that there are some things on which we dare not compromise. Then again, on other things we should be prepared to compromise. Many of them are good. Others are quite helpful.
But in the end these other things don’t get anyone into heaven or keep them out of heaven. They are useful in helping us to understand the Lord and His Word better. Still, there is room for us to agree to disagree with regard to them, without compromising our salvation or witness for Christ.
Let us recognize this truth and demonstrate our spiritual maturity. Let us build up the Body of Christ, not tear it down by majoring on the minors. Paul abandoned all the things he once deemed essential and necessary, all for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus better and growing up in him. That is the essence of his words which we quoted at the start of this study.
We will do ourselves good to emulate this fine man of God on that point. After all, the Holy Spirit did inspire Paul to pen these words for our learning. That is reason enough for me to want to emulate the behavior. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 3
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
The Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are quite special, just as the Apostle himself is. If ever there was a man, our Lord Jesus excepted, who was worth emulating, it was Paul. It would be to our hurt to move on from verses 7-8 without further rumination.
Before he was born again, Paul was a young man with a most promising future in Judaism. His own words in the New Testament incline us to believe he was already a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of that day. He was taught by one of the foremost Jewish teachers of the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. To contemporize it, Paul was already a Harvard educated Senator from New York, on a fast track to the White House.
Such a one owned the world. He was the man! He boasted of his pedigree. All doors flew open when he approached. He excelled at his job of persecuting the Christians. He was the desire of the ladies and the envy of gentlemen. His future was bright indeed.
But a strange thing happened to Paul (aka Saul) on his way to the city of the Damascenes one day. The Jewish authorities entrusted him with official paperwork to the authorities there, authorizing Paul to seize Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy.
Can you guess what happened? As they drew near the city, suddenly a blinding light from heaven shone on Paul and his underlings. Paul heard a voice speak to him from heaven, but the underlings only heard indistinguishable noise. The voice queried Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?”
“Uh, who might you be, sir?” Paul responded.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting,” was the retort. “Now get up and go into Damascus. A man named Ananias will tell you what you must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul arose, but he couldn’t see the end of his nose! No way he was going to Damascus. Lucky for him his underlings could see, which is interesting since the light blinded Paul but not them. Not only could they not recognize a voice speaking from heaven, but they apparently were unable to see a blinding light from heaven too. I think it had something to do with faith or lack thereof. Paul had it, they didn’t. Ergo, they didn’t recognize the Lord’s presence or receive His impending blessing.
Anyway, they led Paul to Damascus and, sure enough, a man named Ananias paid Paul a visit. The long and the short of it is that Paul was born again, his eyesight returned, and his life of advancement in Judaism was replaced with a life of deprivation in Christianity.
Paul was persecuted relentlessly by his erstwhile associates, and it never ceased until his death. He suffered shipwreck, was whipped the maximum forty lashes minus one for his faith on more than one occasion, faced plots to assassinate him by the Jewish authorities—in fine, plunged from top of the food chain in Judaism to bottom of the rubbish heap in their eyes.
Not to fear. Paul couldn’t have been more content because he was walking in obedience to the Word of God and enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus daily. He gladly renounced all the perks he once had in Judaism, in favor of adoption into the family of God known as the Church.
Read Paul’s words one more time before closing this study. Understand them in the context of today’s review. Are you pumped or what? I want to experience the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, which Paul valued so highly. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are quite special, just as the Apostle himself is. If ever there was a man, our Lord Jesus excepted, who was worth emulating, it was Paul. It would be to our hurt to move on from verses 7-8 without further rumination.
Before he was born again, Paul was a young man with a most promising future in Judaism. His own words in the New Testament incline us to believe he was already a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of that day. He was taught by one of the foremost Jewish teachers of the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. To contemporize it, Paul was already a Harvard educated Senator from New York, on a fast track to the White House.
Such a one owned the world. He was the man! He boasted of his pedigree. All doors flew open when he approached. He excelled at his job of persecuting the Christians. He was the desire of the ladies and the envy of gentlemen. His future was bright indeed.
But a strange thing happened to Paul (aka Saul) on his way to the city of the Damascenes one day. The Jewish authorities entrusted him with official paperwork to the authorities there, authorizing Paul to seize Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy.
Can you guess what happened? As they drew near the city, suddenly a blinding light from heaven shone on Paul and his underlings. Paul heard a voice speak to him from heaven, but the underlings only heard indistinguishable noise. The voice queried Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?”
“Uh, who might you be, sir?” Paul responded.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting,” was the retort. “Now get up and go into Damascus. A man named Ananias will tell you what you must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul arose, but he couldn’t see the end of his nose! No way he was going to Damascus. Lucky for him his underlings could see, which is interesting since the light blinded Paul but not them. Not only could they not recognize a voice speaking from heaven, but they apparently were unable to see a blinding light from heaven too. I think it had something to do with faith or lack thereof. Paul had it, they didn’t. Ergo, they didn’t recognize the Lord’s presence or receive His impending blessing.
Anyway, they led Paul to Damascus and, sure enough, a man named Ananias paid Paul a visit. The long and the short of it is that Paul was born again, his eyesight returned, and his life of advancement in Judaism was replaced with a life of deprivation in Christianity.
Paul was persecuted relentlessly by his erstwhile associates, and it never ceased until his death. He suffered shipwreck, was whipped the maximum forty lashes minus one for his faith on more than one occasion, faced plots to assassinate him by the Jewish authorities—in fine, plunged from top of the food chain in Judaism to bottom of the rubbish heap in their eyes.
Not to fear. Paul couldn’t have been more content because he was walking in obedience to the Word of God and enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus daily. He gladly renounced all the perks he once had in Judaism, in favor of adoption into the family of God known as the Church.
Read Paul’s words one more time before closing this study. Understand them in the context of today’s review. Are you pumped or what? I want to experience the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, which Paul valued so highly. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 1
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
I’m taking a stroll down Nostalgia Avenue right now. Way back in the day, oh, sometime not long after the Civil War, I used to save Tootsie Roll Pops. I had this humongous collection of them—well, it was humongous back then. I was only around first grade age.
Anyway, I really was proud of this fantastic collection of such a fine source of sugar. It made me proud. I couldn’t be separated from a single one of my Tootsie Roll Pops, no, not even to pay for protection against bullies.
Well, maybe I spoke a little too assertively there. I could too be separated from one, no, scratch that, from practically all of my precious Tootsie Roll Pops. All it took was one of my older brothers to pilfer them when I wasn’t looking.
He was clever at it too. He didn’t slither in behind my back and snatch the entire box of TRPs. He simply “borrowed” one at a time and ate it. When he wanted another, he put on a repeat performance, an encore from his standpoint. When I noticed my collection was a bit undersized, he simply played dumb and suggested I must have eaten it myself.
This didn’t fool me one bit! But I didn’t have any proof, so all I could do was whine about it. Before long, though, there weren’t many TRPs left to filch, so big bro couldn’t conceal his crime any longer. The jig was up. The cat was out of the bag. His dirty deed was exposed and proclaimed aloud from the rooftops. If only we could’ve constructed a pillory…
Yes, I know. Loss of Tootsie Roll Pops isn’t life-threatening. Prisons aren’t built to house TRP thieves. Gallows aren’t employed for their use. The gas chamber and electric chair have no connection with them either. But when you’re very young…
Tell me you can’t relate to my predicament. Betcha can’t! You know full well what I went through, don’t you? You have your very own suchlike experiences and rue the day of each one. If only we hadn’t been born on those days!
But we were, and they served a useful purpose. Methinks they afforded us valuable education in maturity. We learned to prioritize what is really important and what isn’t, what deserves a “Yikes!” and what deserves a “Ho hum.”
This part of maturing, of growing up, has its counterpart in the spiritual realm too. The Apostle Paul had a thing or two to say about the subject, as we can ascertain from the Bible verses quoted to kick off this study.
But we must needs pause awhile. We will continue the study on the morrow. Enjoy time with the Lord Jesus now. I’ll see you later.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’m taking a stroll down Nostalgia Avenue right now. Way back in the day, oh, sometime not long after the Civil War, I used to save Tootsie Roll Pops. I had this humongous collection of them—well, it was humongous back then. I was only around first grade age.
Anyway, I really was proud of this fantastic collection of such a fine source of sugar. It made me proud. I couldn’t be separated from a single one of my Tootsie Roll Pops, no, not even to pay for protection against bullies.
Well, maybe I spoke a little too assertively there. I could too be separated from one, no, scratch that, from practically all of my precious Tootsie Roll Pops. All it took was one of my older brothers to pilfer them when I wasn’t looking.
He was clever at it too. He didn’t slither in behind my back and snatch the entire box of TRPs. He simply “borrowed” one at a time and ate it. When he wanted another, he put on a repeat performance, an encore from his standpoint. When I noticed my collection was a bit undersized, he simply played dumb and suggested I must have eaten it myself.
This didn’t fool me one bit! But I didn’t have any proof, so all I could do was whine about it. Before long, though, there weren’t many TRPs left to filch, so big bro couldn’t conceal his crime any longer. The jig was up. The cat was out of the bag. His dirty deed was exposed and proclaimed aloud from the rooftops. If only we could’ve constructed a pillory…
Yes, I know. Loss of Tootsie Roll Pops isn’t life-threatening. Prisons aren’t built to house TRP thieves. Gallows aren’t employed for their use. The gas chamber and electric chair have no connection with them either. But when you’re very young…
Tell me you can’t relate to my predicament. Betcha can’t! You know full well what I went through, don’t you? You have your very own suchlike experiences and rue the day of each one. If only we hadn’t been born on those days!
But we were, and they served a useful purpose. Methinks they afforded us valuable education in maturity. We learned to prioritize what is really important and what isn’t, what deserves a “Yikes!” and what deserves a “Ho hum.”
This part of maturing, of growing up, has its counterpart in the spiritual realm too. The Apostle Paul had a thing or two to say about the subject, as we can ascertain from the Bible verses quoted to kick off this study.
But we must needs pause awhile. We will continue the study on the morrow. Enjoy time with the Lord Jesus now. I’ll see you later.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 2
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
No one is born a Christian. Doesn’t matter who our parents are or if we are in church seventy-three times a week. No one is born a Christian. Every person must be born again to become a Christian.
In the natural realm after a person is born, he must then grow up. He must mature into an adult who can contribute to society. He must study and learn and gain experience and put it all together by practicing what he learns.
The spiritual realm has its counterpart to this. Every person who is born again must then grow up. We do so by eating hearty spiritual meals from the Word of God—from the whole counsel of God rather than picking and choosing what we like. We also grow strong spiritual muscles through prayer and Bible meditation while alone with the Lord Jesus. Then we put into practice what He teaches us, as the Holy Spirit gifts us and directs and empowers us.
One thing each and every Christian must do as a part of maturing spiritually is to prioritize what is important and what is not. In the natural realm my Tootsie Roll Pops were not important, at least not to anyone who matured a bit. There are also many spiritual TRPs which exist. The Christian must prioritize between what is a spiritual TRP and what is a spiritual principle.
Sometimes this is phrased in today’s parlance “major on the majors and not on the minors”. Alas, but the spiritual immaturity in many churches is prominently on display, when minor, insignificant points serve as a soapbox, while the weighty matters are left by the wayside. Such conditions usually are a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum! Beware the spiritual bedlamites!
Let’s list a few hills in the Body of Christ which are worth dying on:
• growing up in Christ
• discovering our spiritual gifts
• employing our spiritual gifts in the ministry assigned us by the Holy Spirit
• holding to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
• insisting on the Bible as the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice
• holding to the deity of Jesus Christ
• holding to the humanity of Jesus Christ
• holding to Jesus as being the only way of salvation
• holding to the necessity of being born again to get to heaven
• holding to the requirement that only born again folks can have church membership and hold church positions
This list is by no means exhaustive. It is given to open our eyes to the reality that there are some things on which we dare not compromise. Then again, on other things we should be prepared to compromise. Many of them are good. Others are quite helpful.
But in the end these other things don’t get anyone into heaven or keep them out of heaven. They are useful in helping us to understand the Lord and His Word better. Still, there is room for us to agree to disagree with regard to them, without compromising our salvation or witness for Christ.
Let us recognize this truth and demonstrate our spiritual maturity. Let us build up the Body of Christ, not tear it down by majoring on the minors. Paul abandoned all the things he once deemed essential and necessary, all for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus better and growing up in him. That is the essence of his words which we quoted at the start of this study.
We will do ourselves good to emulate this fine man of God on that point. After all, the Holy Spirit did inspire Paul to pen those words for our learning. That is reason enough for me to want to emulate the behavior. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
No one is born a Christian. Doesn’t matter who our parents are or if we are in church seventy-three times a week. No one is born a Christian. Every person must be born again to become a Christian.
In the natural realm after a person is born, he must then grow up. He must mature into an adult who can contribute to society. He must study and learn and gain experience and put it all together by practicing what he learns.
The spiritual realm has its counterpart to this. Every person who is born again must then grow up. We do so by eating hearty spiritual meals from the Word of God—from the whole counsel of God rather than picking and choosing what we like. We also grow strong spiritual muscles through prayer and Bible meditation while alone with the Lord Jesus. Then we put into practice what He teaches us, as the Holy Spirit gifts us and directs and empowers us.
One thing each and every Christian must do as a part of maturing spiritually is to prioritize what is important and what is not. In the natural realm my Tootsie Roll Pops were not important, at least not to anyone who matured a bit. There are also many spiritual TRPs which exist. The Christian must prioritize between what is a spiritual TRP and what is a spiritual principle.
Sometimes this is phrased in today’s parlance “major on the majors and not on the minors”. Alas, but the spiritual immaturity in many churches is prominently on display, when minor, insignificant points serve as a soapbox, while the weighty matters are left by the wayside. Such conditions usually are a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum! Beware the spiritual bedlamites!
Let’s list a few hills in the Body of Christ which are worth dying on:
• growing up in Christ
• discovering our spiritual gifts
• employing our spiritual gifts in the ministry assigned us by the Holy Spirit
• holding to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
• insisting on the Bible as the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice
• holding to the deity of Jesus Christ
• holding to the humanity of Jesus Christ
• holding to Jesus as being the only way of salvation
• holding to the necessity of being born again to get to heaven
• holding to the requirement that only born again folks can have church membership and hold church positions
This list is by no means exhaustive. It is given to open our eyes to the reality that there are some things on which we dare not compromise. Then again, on other things we should be prepared to compromise. Many of them are good. Others are quite helpful.
But in the end these other things don’t get anyone into heaven or keep them out of heaven. They are useful in helping us to understand the Lord and His Word better. Still, there is room for us to agree to disagree with regard to them, without compromising our salvation or witness for Christ.
Let us recognize this truth and demonstrate our spiritual maturity. Let us build up the Body of Christ, not tear it down by majoring on the minors. Paul abandoned all the things he once deemed essential and necessary, all for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus better and growing up in him. That is the essence of his words which we quoted at the start of this study.
We will do ourselves good to emulate this fine man of God on that point. After all, the Holy Spirit did inspire Paul to pen those words for our learning. That is reason enough for me to want to emulate the behavior. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 3
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
The Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are quite special, just as the Apostle himself is. If ever there was a man, our Lord Jesus excepted, who was worth emulating, it was Paul. It would be to our hurt to move on from verses 7-8 without further rumination.
Before he was born again, Paul was a young man with a most promising future in Judaism. His own words in the New Testament incline us to believe he was already a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of that day. He was taught by one of the foremost Jewish teachers of the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. To contemporize it, Paul was already a Harvard educated Senator from New York, on a fast track to the White House.
Such a one owned the world. He was the man! He boasted of his pedigree. All doors flew open when he approached. He excelled at his job of persecuting the Christians. He was the desire of the ladies and the envy of gentlemen. His future was bright indeed.
But a strange thing happened to Paul (aka Saul) on his way to the city of the Damascenes one day. The Jewish authorities entrusted him with official paperwork to the authorities there, authorizing Paul to seize Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy.
Can you guess what happened? As they drew near the city, suddenly a blinding light from heaven shone on Paul and his underlings. Paul heard a voice speak to him from heaven, but the underlings only heard indistinguishable noise. The voice queried Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?”
“Uh, who might you be, sir?” Paul responded.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting,” was the retort. “Now get up and go into Damascus. A man named Ananias will tell you what you must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul arose, but he couldn’t see the end of his nose! No way he was going to Damascus. Lucky for him his underlings could see, which is interesting since the light blinded Paul but not them. Not only could they not recognize a voice speaking from heaven, but they apparently were unable to see a blinding light from heaven too. I think it had something to do with faith or lack thereof. Paul had it, they didn’t. Ergo, they didn’t recognize the Lord’s presence or receive His impending blessing.
Anyway, they led Paul to Damascus and, sure enough, a man named Ananias paid Paul a visit. The long and the short of it is that Paul was born again, his eyesight returned, and his life of advancement in Judaism was replaced with a life of deprivation in Christianity.
Paul was persecuted relentlessly by his erstwhile associates, and it never ceased until his death. He suffered shipwreck, was whipped the maximum forty lashes minus one for his faith on more than one occasion, faced plots to assassinate him by the Jewish authorities—in fine, he plunged from the top of the food chain in Judaism the to bottom of the rubbish heap in their eyes.
Not to fear. Paul couldn’t have been more content because he was walking in obedience to the Word of God and enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus daily. He gladly renounced all the perks he once had in Judaism, in favor of adoption into the family of God known as the Church.
Read Paul’s words one more time before closing this study. Understand them in the context of today’s review. Are you pumped or what? I want to experience the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, which Paul valued so highly. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are quite special, just as the Apostle himself is. If ever there was a man, our Lord Jesus excepted, who was worth emulating, it was Paul. It would be to our hurt to move on from verses 7-8 without further rumination.
Before he was born again, Paul was a young man with a most promising future in Judaism. His own words in the New Testament incline us to believe he was already a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of that day. He was taught by one of the foremost Jewish teachers of the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. To contemporize it, Paul was already a Harvard educated Senator from New York, on a fast track to the White House.
Such a one owned the world. He was the man! He boasted of his pedigree. All doors flew open when he approached. He excelled at his job of persecuting the Christians. He was the desire of the ladies and the envy of gentlemen. His future was bright indeed.
But a strange thing happened to Paul (aka Saul) on his way to the city of the Damascenes one day. The Jewish authorities entrusted him with official paperwork to the authorities there, authorizing Paul to seize Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy.
Can you guess what happened? As they drew near the city, suddenly a blinding light from heaven shone on Paul and his underlings. Paul heard a voice speak to him from heaven, but the underlings only heard indistinguishable noise. The voice queried Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?”
“Uh, who might you be, sir?” Paul responded.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting,” was the retort. “Now get up and go into Damascus. A man named Ananias will tell you what you must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul arose, but he couldn’t see the end of his nose! No way he was going to Damascus. Lucky for him his underlings could see, which is interesting since the light blinded Paul but not them. Not only could they not recognize a voice speaking from heaven, but they apparently were unable to see a blinding light from heaven too. I think it had something to do with faith or lack thereof. Paul had it, they didn’t. Ergo, they didn’t recognize the Lord’s presence or receive His impending blessing.
Anyway, they led Paul to Damascus and, sure enough, a man named Ananias paid Paul a visit. The long and the short of it is that Paul was born again, his eyesight returned, and his life of advancement in Judaism was replaced with a life of deprivation in Christianity.
Paul was persecuted relentlessly by his erstwhile associates, and it never ceased until his death. He suffered shipwreck, was whipped the maximum forty lashes minus one for his faith on more than one occasion, faced plots to assassinate him by the Jewish authorities—in fine, he plunged from the top of the food chain in Judaism the to bottom of the rubbish heap in their eyes.
Not to fear. Paul couldn’t have been more content because he was walking in obedience to the Word of God and enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus daily. He gladly renounced all the perks he once had in Judaism, in favor of adoption into the family of God known as the Church.
Read Paul’s words one more time before closing this study. Understand them in the context of today’s review. Are you pumped or what? I want to experience the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, which Paul valued so highly. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 1
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
I’m taking a stroll down Nostalgia Avenue right now. Way back in the day, oh, sometime not long after the Civil War, I used to save Tootsie Roll Pops. I had this humongous collection of them—well, it was humongous back then. I was only around first grade age.
Anyway, I really was proud of this fantastic collection of such a fine source of sugar. It made me proud. I couldn’t be separated from a single one of my Tootsie Roll Pops, no, not even to pay for protection against bullies.
Well, maybe I spoke a little too assertively there. I could too be separated from one, no, scratch that, from practically all of my precious Tootsie Roll Pops. All it took was one of my older brothers to pilfer them when I wasn’t looking.
He was clever at it too. He didn’t slither in behind my back and snatch the entire box of TRPs. He simply “borrowed” one at a time and ate it. When he wanted another, he put on a repeat performance, an encore from his standpoint. When I noticed my collection was a bit undersized, he simply played dumb and suggested I must have eaten it myself.
This didn’t fool me one bit! But I didn’t have any proof, so all I could do was whine about it. Before long, though, there weren’t many TRPs left to filch, so big bro couldn’t conceal his crime any longer. The jig was up. The cat was out of the bag. His dirty deed was exposed and proclaimed aloud from the rooftops. If only we could’ve constructed a pillory…
Yes, I know. Loss of Tootsie Roll Pops isn’t life-threatening. Prisons aren’t built to house TRP thieves. Gallows aren’t employed for their use. The gas chamber and electric chair have no connection with them either. But when you’re very young…
Tell me you can’t relate to my predicament. Betcha can’t! You know full well what I went through, don’t you? You have your very own suchlike experiences and rue the day of each one. If only we hadn’t been born on those days!
But we were, and they served a useful purpose. Methinks they afforded us valuable education in maturity. We learned to prioritize what is really important and what isn’t, what deserves a “Yikes!” and what deserves a “Ho hum.”
This part of maturing, of growing up, has its counterpart in the spiritual realm too. The Apostle Paul had a thing or two to say about the subject, as we can ascertain from the Bible verses quoted to kick off this study.
But we must needs pause awhile. We will continue the study on the morrow. Enjoy time with the Lord Jesus now. I’ll see you later.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I’m taking a stroll down Nostalgia Avenue right now. Way back in the day, oh, sometime not long after the Civil War, I used to save Tootsie Roll Pops. I had this humongous collection of them—well, it was humongous back then. I was only around first grade age.
Anyway, I really was proud of this fantastic collection of such a fine source of sugar. It made me proud. I couldn’t be separated from a single one of my Tootsie Roll Pops, no, not even to pay for protection against bullies.
Well, maybe I spoke a little too assertively there. I could too be separated from one, no, scratch that, from practically all of my precious Tootsie Roll Pops. All it took was one of my older brothers to pilfer them when I wasn’t looking.
He was clever at it too. He didn’t slither in behind my back and snatch the entire box of TRPs. He simply “borrowed” one at a time and ate it. When he wanted another, he put on a repeat performance, an encore from his standpoint. When I noticed my collection was a bit undersized, he simply played dumb and suggested I must have eaten it myself.
This didn’t fool me one bit! But I didn’t have any proof, so all I could do was whine about it. Before long, though, there weren’t many TRPs left to filch, so big bro couldn’t conceal his crime any longer. The jig was up. The cat was out of the bag. His dirty deed was exposed and proclaimed aloud from the rooftops. If only we could’ve constructed a pillory…
Yes, I know. Loss of Tootsie Roll Pops isn’t life-threatening. Prisons aren’t built to house TRP thieves. Gallows aren’t employed for their use. The gas chamber and electric chair have no connection with them either. But when you’re very young…
Tell me you can’t relate to my predicament. Betcha can’t! You know full well what I went through, don’t you? You have your very own suchlike experiences and rue the day of each one. If only we hadn’t been born on those days!
But we were, and they served a useful purpose. Methinks they afforded us valuable education in maturity. We learned to prioritize what is really important and what isn’t, what deserves a “Yikes!” and what deserves a “Ho hum.”
This part of maturing, of growing up, has its counterpart in the spiritual realm too. The Apostle Paul had a thing or two to say about the subject, as we can ascertain from the Bible verses quoted to kick off this study.
But we must needs pause awhile. We will continue the study on the morrow. Enjoy time with the Lord Jesus now. I’ll see you later.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 2
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
No one is born a Christian. Doesn’t matter who our parents are or if we are in church seventy-three times a week. No one is born a Christian. Every person must be born again to become a Christian.
In the natural realm after a person is born, he must then grow up. He must mature into an adult who can contribute to society. He must study and learn and gain experience and put it all together by practicing what he learns.
The spiritual realm has its counterpart to this. Every person who is born again must then grow up. We do so by eating hearty spiritual meals from the Word of God—from the whole counsel of God rather than picking and choosing what we like. We also grow strong spiritual muscles through prayer and Bible meditation while alone with the Lord Jesus. Then we put into practice what He teaches us, as the Holy Spirit gifts us and directs and empowers us.
One thing each and every Christian must do as a part of maturing spiritually is to prioritize what is important and what is not. In the natural realm my Tootsie Roll Pops were not important, at least not to anyone who matured a bit. There are also many spiritual TRPs which exist. The Christian must prioritize between what is a spiritual TRP and what is a spiritual principle.
Sometimes this is phrased in today’s parlance “major on the majors and not on the minors”. Alas, but the spiritual immaturity in many churches is prominently on display, when minor, insignificant points serve as a soapbox, while the weighty matters are left by the wayside. Such conditions usually are a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum! Beware the spiritual bedlamites!
Let’s list a few hills in the Body of Christ which are worth dying on:
• growing up in Christ
• discovering our spiritual gifts
• employing our spiritual gifts in the ministry assigned us by the Holy Spirit
• holding to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
• insisting on the Bible as the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice
• holding to the deity of Jesus Christ
• holding to the humanity of Jesus Christ
• holding to Jesus as being the only way of salvation
• holding to the necessity of being born again to get to heaven
• holding to the requirement that only born again folks can have church membership and hold church positions
This list is by no means exhaustive. It is given to open our eyes to the reality that there are some things on which we dare not compromise. Then again, on other things we should be prepared to compromise. Many of them are good. Others are quite helpful.
But in the end these other things don’t get anyone into heaven or keep them out of heaven. They are useful in helping us to understand the Lord and His Word better. Still, there is room for us to agree to disagree with regard to them, without compromising our salvation or witness for Christ.
Let us recognize this truth and demonstrate our spiritual maturity. Let us build up the Body of Christ, not tear it down by majoring on the minors. Paul abandoned all the things he once deemed essential and necessary, all for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus better and growing up in him. That is the essence of his words which we quoted at the start of this study.
We will do ourselves good to emulate this fine man of God on that point. After all, the Holy Spirit did inspire Paul to pen those words for our learning. That is reason enough for me to want to emulate the behavior. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
No one is born a Christian. Doesn’t matter who our parents are or if we are in church seventy-three times a week. No one is born a Christian. Every person must be born again to become a Christian.
In the natural realm after a person is born, he must then grow up. He must mature into an adult who can contribute to society. He must study and learn and gain experience and put it all together by practicing what he learns.
The spiritual realm has its counterpart to this. Every person who is born again must then grow up. We do so by eating hearty spiritual meals from the Word of God—from the whole counsel of God rather than picking and choosing what we like. We also grow strong spiritual muscles through prayer and Bible meditation while alone with the Lord Jesus. Then we put into practice what He teaches us, as the Holy Spirit gifts us and directs and empowers us.
One thing each and every Christian must do as a part of maturing spiritually is to prioritize what is important and what is not. In the natural realm my Tootsie Roll Pops were not important, at least not to anyone who matured a bit. There are also many spiritual TRPs which exist. The Christian must prioritize between what is a spiritual TRP and what is a spiritual principle.
Sometimes this is phrased in today’s parlance “major on the majors and not on the minors”. Alas, but the spiritual immaturity in many churches is prominently on display, when minor, insignificant points serve as a soapbox, while the weighty matters are left by the wayside. Such conditions usually are a sign that the lunatics are running the asylum! Beware the spiritual bedlamites!
Let’s list a few hills in the Body of Christ which are worth dying on:
• growing up in Christ
• discovering our spiritual gifts
• employing our spiritual gifts in the ministry assigned us by the Holy Spirit
• holding to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible
• insisting on the Bible as the sole and final authority in all matters of faith and practice
• holding to the deity of Jesus Christ
• holding to the humanity of Jesus Christ
• holding to Jesus as being the only way of salvation
• holding to the necessity of being born again to get to heaven
• holding to the requirement that only born again folks can have church membership and hold church positions
This list is by no means exhaustive. It is given to open our eyes to the reality that there are some things on which we dare not compromise. Then again, on other things we should be prepared to compromise. Many of them are good. Others are quite helpful.
But in the end these other things don’t get anyone into heaven or keep them out of heaven. They are useful in helping us to understand the Lord and His Word better. Still, there is room for us to agree to disagree with regard to them, without compromising our salvation or witness for Christ.
Let us recognize this truth and demonstrate our spiritual maturity. Let us build up the Body of Christ, not tear it down by majoring on the minors. Paul abandoned all the things he once deemed essential and necessary, all for the sake of knowing Christ Jesus better and growing up in him. That is the essence of his words which we quoted at the start of this study.
We will do ourselves good to emulate this fine man of God on that point. After all, the Holy Spirit did inspire Paul to pen those words for our learning. That is reason enough for me to want to emulate the behavior. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
TRP Bandits Are the Worst! – Part 3
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ [Philippians 3:7-8].
The Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are quite special, just as the Apostle himself is. If ever there was a man, our Lord Jesus excepted, who was worth emulating, it was Paul. It would be to our hurt to move on from verses 7-8 without further rumination.
Before he was born again, Paul was a young man with a most promising future in Judaism. His own words in the New Testament incline us to believe he was already a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of that day. He was taught by one of the foremost Jewish teachers of the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. To contemporize it, Paul was already a Harvard educated Senator from New York, on a fast track to the White House.
Such a one owned the world. He was the man! He boasted of his pedigree. All doors flew open when he approached. He excelled at his job of persecuting the Christians. He was the desire of the ladies and the envy of gentlemen. His future was bright indeed.
But a strange thing happened to Paul (aka Saul) on his way to the city of the Damascenes one day. The Jewish authorities entrusted him with official paperwork to the authorities there, authorizing Paul to seize Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy.
Can you guess what happened? As they drew near the city, suddenly a blinding light from heaven shone on Paul and his underlings. Paul heard a voice speak to him from heaven, but the underlings only heard indistinguishable noise. The voice queried Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?”
“Uh, who might you be, sir?” Paul responded.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting,” was the retort. “Now get up and go into Damascus. A man named Ananias will tell you what you must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul arose, but he couldn’t see the end of his nose! No way he was going to Damascus. Lucky for him his underlings could see, which is interesting since the light blinded Paul but not them. Not only could they not recognize a voice speaking from heaven, but they apparently were unable to see a blinding light from heaven too. I think it had something to do with faith or lack thereof. Paul had it, they didn’t. Ergo, they didn’t recognize the Lord’s presence or receive His impending blessing.
Anyway, they led Paul to Damascus and, sure enough, a man named Ananias paid Paul a visit. The long and the short of it is that Paul was born again, his eyesight returned, and his life of advancement in Judaism was replaced with a life of deprivation in Christianity.
Paul was persecuted relentlessly by his erstwhile associates, and it never ceased until his death. He suffered shipwreck, was whipped the maximum forty lashes minus one for his faith on more than one occasion, faced plots to assassinate him by the Jewish authorities—in fine, he plunged from the top of the food chain in Judaism the to bottom of the rubbish heap in their eyes.
Not to fear. Paul couldn’t have been more content because he was walking in obedience to the Word of God and enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus daily. He gladly renounced all the perks he once had in Judaism, in favor of adoption into the family of God known as the Church.
Read Paul’s words one more time before closing this study. Understand them in the context of today’s review. Are you pumped or what? I want to experience the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, which Paul valued so highly. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are quite special, just as the Apostle himself is. If ever there was a man, our Lord Jesus excepted, who was worth emulating, it was Paul. It would be to our hurt to move on from verses 7-8 without further rumination.
Before he was born again, Paul was a young man with a most promising future in Judaism. His own words in the New Testament incline us to believe he was already a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council of that day. He was taught by one of the foremost Jewish teachers of the time, Rabbi Gamaliel. To contemporize it, Paul was already a Harvard educated Senator from New York, on a fast track to the White House.
Such a one owned the world. He was the man! He boasted of his pedigree. All doors flew open when he approached. He excelled at his job of persecuting the Christians. He was the desire of the ladies and the envy of gentlemen. His future was bright indeed.
But a strange thing happened to Paul (aka Saul) on his way to the city of the Damascenes one day. The Jewish authorities entrusted him with official paperwork to the authorities there, authorizing Paul to seize Christians and drag them back to Jerusalem to stand trial for heresy.
Can you guess what happened? As they drew near the city, suddenly a blinding light from heaven shone on Paul and his underlings. Paul heard a voice speak to him from heaven, but the underlings only heard indistinguishable noise. The voice queried Paul, “Why are you persecuting me?”
“Uh, who might you be, sir?” Paul responded.
“I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting,” was the retort. “Now get up and go into Damascus. A man named Ananias will tell you what you must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Paul arose, but he couldn’t see the end of his nose! No way he was going to Damascus. Lucky for him his underlings could see, which is interesting since the light blinded Paul but not them. Not only could they not recognize a voice speaking from heaven, but they apparently were unable to see a blinding light from heaven too. I think it had something to do with faith or lack thereof. Paul had it, they didn’t. Ergo, they didn’t recognize the Lord’s presence or receive His impending blessing.
Anyway, they led Paul to Damascus and, sure enough, a man named Ananias paid Paul a visit. The long and the short of it is that Paul was born again, his eyesight returned, and his life of advancement in Judaism was replaced with a life of deprivation in Christianity.
Paul was persecuted relentlessly by his erstwhile associates, and it never ceased until his death. He suffered shipwreck, was whipped the maximum forty lashes minus one for his faith on more than one occasion, faced plots to assassinate him by the Jewish authorities—in fine, he plunged from the top of the food chain in Judaism the to bottom of the rubbish heap in their eyes.
Not to fear. Paul couldn’t have been more content because he was walking in obedience to the Word of God and enjoying fellowship with the Lord Jesus daily. He gladly renounced all the perks he once had in Judaism, in favor of adoption into the family of God known as the Church.
Read Paul’s words one more time before closing this study. Understand them in the context of today’s review. Are you pumped or what? I want to experience the “surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord”, which Paul valued so highly. How about you?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
