Guard against intolerance
Tolerance is not just about agreeing to embrace our differences. It’s about accepting the other person’s right to believe as they wish and to behave according to those beliefs. One of the great tests of spiritual maturity is our willingness to love and pray for those whose beliefs and behaviours are unacceptable to us. Instead of condemning people who err, we should see them the same way we see a blind man walking toward a cliff’s edge. Our reaction should not be to condemn him but to have compassion and try to show him a safer route. Now let’s be clear—compassion is not compromise, any more than we could accuse God, who loves sinners and hates sin, of compromise. Why don’t we just emulate our heavenly Father? In Bible days, Jews looked down on Gentiles and referred to them as “dogs” (see Matthew 15:26-28). But Jesus came and redeemed those “dogs” and turned them into disciples. When Cornelius the Gentile summoned Peter the Jew to his home, Peter was reluctant to go. He explained, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean” (Acts 10:28 NKJV). God was uprooting embedded traditions and opening up new opportunities for the gospel. Peter continued, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (vv. 34-35 NKJV). Could it be that God wants to expand the borders of your mind for His glory? If you’re open to it, He will bless you.
Guard Against Intolerance
“God shows no partiality.” Acts 10:34 NKJV
April 24, 2017 • Bob Gass
Pets Are a Gift From God
April 30, 2017 • Bob Gass
A man wrote to a hotel where he wanted to go for vacation and asked, “Could I bring my dog? He’s very well behaved.” The hotel owner replied, “I’ve been operating this hotel for thirty years and in all that time I’ve never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware, or pictures off the walls. I’ve never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly, and I’ve never had one run out without paying the bill. Yes, your dog is welcome. And furthermore, if your dog will vouch for you, you’re welcome too.” Solomon writes, “The godly care for their animals.” Ever consider godliness from that perspective? Maybe you’re thinking, “This doesn’t sound too spiritual.” Think again! “Every good gift…is from above, and cometh down from the Father” (James 1:17). Many a grieving heart is comforted by a pet whose love and loyalty makes their loss more bearable and helps them to go on. Did you know people with pets live longer, stay healthier, recover faster, and experience less depression? Who will ever forget the dogs on 9/11 as they searched through the carnage of the World Trade Center, howling in distress because they couldn’t rescue those who perished? And how about the skilled dogs that give sight to the blind and visually impaired? That sounds pretty spiritual, right? When God created our pets, He said, “It [was] good.” Why did He say that? Because they have the virtues of mankind without its vices. So let’s recognize them as a gift from God, be grateful for them, and take good care of them!
Confront Them!
April 29, 2017 • Bob Gass
Can you imagine the courage and integrity it took for Nathan the prophet to challenge King David about his affair with Bathsheba? Most of us tend to avoid confrontation because we fear being disliked and rejected. But when you avoid confrontation it often makes things worse. By hiding his sin, David was robbing himself of the blessing of the Lord. Looking back, he wrote, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my…prayer” (Psalm 66:18-19 NIV). The tiny growth you don’t want to deal with now can end up becoming a cancer that consumes you in the future. That’s too high a price to pay. If you love someone, you’ll take your courage in your hand and confront them in love. Confrontation is an opportunity to help develop that person—provided you do it respectfully and with their best interest at heart. Here are ten guidelines to help you confront someone in a positive way: (1) Do it ASAP. (2) Address the wrong action, not the person. (3) Address only what the person can change. (4) Give them the benefit of the doubt. (5) Be specific. (6) Avoid sarcasm. (7) Avoid saying “you always” and “you never” because they are not true. (8) When it’s appropriate, tell them how you feel about what was done wrong. (9) Give them a plan to fix the problem. (10) Affirm them as a person and as a friend. The Bible says, “The Lord corrects those he loves” (Proverbs 3:12 NCV). So if you love someone, you’ll confront them in the right way.
Christ Is In You (2)
April 28, 2017 • Bob Gass
Paul writes, “Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV). No other religion makes such a claim. No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers. No wonder Paul refers to it as “the mystery.” We comprehend the idea of Christ for me or with me or ahead of me. But Paul said it’s better than that—Christ in me! In his writings, Paul refers to this union with Christ 216 times. John mentions it 26 times. They describe a Christ who not only woos us to Himself but actually “ones” us with Himself. John writes, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:15 NKJV). Just as you own the home you live in, so the Christ who lives in you owns you. And when you own a home, you rearrange it the way you want it. Likewise, Jesus moves in and commandeers your hands and feet, requisitions your mind and your tongue. Do you sense things being rearranged in your life today? That’s “Christ in you”! Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s words this way: “He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son” (Romans 8:29 TM). Ever hear the old saying, “Making a silk purse out of a pig’s ear”? That’s what Jesus does when He takes up residence in your heart. He has a plan for your life, and He also provides the power to fulfill it. And what’s your part? To surrender and cooperate fully with Him.