Word of Beard

'...we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.' Colossians 1:9

So in the life of a Christian not only are we called to seek His wisdom and dwell in the Scriptures but it's God who inevitably grants and fills us up with His truth.

His Spirit guides us with spiritual wisdom, as opposed to the worlds version of it, into a deeper understanding of His will here and now and eternally.

And all this through prayer.

I best get busy.

Grass, Concrete & You

At this major intersection I'm able to watch the wind blow through the grass on the street corner. I'm inside and so I only know it's windy from the way the grass moves and bends together in waves.
Beyond the grass is a mass of concrete and asphalt. It shows no sign of the wind. No movement. Not even when multi-thousand pound cars roll over it.

Some people are like the concrete. They're strong, immovable, solidified in their ways and confident that they'll be around a while doing just what they do.

The grass on the otherhand flexes and bends. It too is firmly planted and confident yet it moves. Some people are like this. They too are confident but not in their stability or ability. They're confident in the foundation. They're willing to follow the wind without losing their way. Others see the wind move with them and it's quite a beautiful sight. It will be cut and stepped on and yet grow all the more and moved by the wind.

Those likened to concrete never display the effects of wind. Concrete isn't all that beautiful of a sight.

The Spirit moves. Do you move with Him, firmly rooted? Or is your heart concrete - steadfast but not willing to flex and breathe and sway.

Quality Control

Quality. Every decent company, manufacturer, organization attempts to standardize the quality of it's product. They have the stickers to prove it. What role does it play in the Church. I mean, we're all imperfect and will be until sanctification is complete on the other side. So how do we gauge the 'fineness' or 'grade' of believer...and should we?

There are so many areas to track quality in as well right: faith, belief, knowledge, action, word, heart, compassion, love, fruit etc...

We've all met (and I've been) those men and women who call themselves followers of Christ but couldn't possibly be. Or those who are sold on social justice and clearly love people but never mention Christ or salvation or redemption. Or those who seem to have a real grasp on an authentic gospel lifestyle. How do we gauge quality?

John notes that others will know a true believer by their love (13:35). Jesus notes faith and obedience (8:31). A life lost and a cross carried according to Mark (8:34-38) - unfathomable ideas to those without the life of the Spirit in them. James notes faith and deeds (2:17)...and so on.

Love. It seems to be the common thread in the believers life. According to John God is love and according to Jesus if we really are disciples then He is in us and we are in Him...Love is in us and we are in Love. Love is the gauge or standard by which we define 'quality' of Christian.

This isn't to say we're able to rightly qualify a believers position in Christ. Only Christ knows the genuine state of His disciples. Though as fellow believers we're called to carry burdens, discipline, challenge, rebuke, correct, teach, train, account and judge (not eternally) the state of the body and in particular members when necessary.

This isn't a license to condemn I should mention.

I suppose overall we're all unworthy of the grace God offers. That said, we're not called to abuse His grace, quality of Christlikeness matters to Him most of all.

As Paul said...our attitude should be like Christs. Jesus is our standard and the Spirit is the quality control working through our hearts, the Word, and the Church.

Read Matthew 6:1-18 for a heart check on your actions and beliefs. Read Philippians 2:1-11 to check your attitude. Read the Gospel of John to breath in some fresh air.

Word of beard

'Beware not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from you father in heaven.' Matthew 6:1

This is a simple but profound teaching.

Regardless of what the reward is that He's speaking of it's obvious that living a life for the admiration and praise of our neighbors, co-workers, church members, friends, family etc. is of no value in the larger scope of Kingdom life.

Our 'acts of righteousness' or practical godliness or functional Christ-likeness - these spiritual disciplines are acted upon solely for His glory. It's impossible to be hypocritically righteous (continue reading the passage), or insincerely authentic.

To clarify, the goal isn't to keep our Christ-like actions hidden, unseen from others. But that their seeing isn't our intention.

Whom are you seeking honor from? Be-aware of your hearts intention.

Read Matthew 6:1-18 for the greater context.

Word of Beard

'No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.' John 15:4

Branch = man / Vine = Jesus / Fruit = character traits of the Spirit - those who hear and accept Jesus

The Christian is called to not simply claim to be connected to Christ, but to actually be connected daily for refreshment, encouragement, nourishment, obedience. You don't have to be a horticulturalist to know that a branch not connected to it's vine will grow no fruit...it'll grow nothing and eventually die. Not surprising.

Grapes grow in bunches, where one sprouts so sprout many. Not only this but many branches grow as well, producing enough grapes to profit the gardener. A picture of healthy, productive, sourced, fruit-bearing, multiplying, profitable community.

No, a branch can't bear fruit alone, it needs the Vine - and it seems that the Vine is seeking to grow many healthy branches to produce lots of fruit - to honor the Gardner.

'...I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.'

Word of Beard

'But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.' 1 Corinthians 15:10

Popeye catch-phrase aside, Paul is telling us something about the power of the character of the living God here.

Paul was not one of the original 12 Apostles. He did not walk alongside Jesus. In his own words he was 'abnormally born' into the kingdom and in particular, apostleship. Paul became the ultimate proponent for the universal Church, that is, to the Jews & Gentiles...thanks to the grace of God alone.

We know what Paul was thanks to his writings and legacy. Has the grace of God effected you so dramatically?

This Land is My Land, This Land is...

The land of the Scriptures required a very tangible, very gritty faith. Just follow the Israelites in their wanderings in the desert and you'll see hunger and thirst, suffering and doubt, need and longing beyond much of our personal experiences.

The land was dry, wilderness, desert as if God had forgotten to bring life to this portion of the earth. Then He calls His chosen people to inhabit this land as a gift. A gift! What a cruel gift, right.

The real gift though wasn't the land. It was the calling to personally connect with God. Faithfully trusting Him out to fulfill every need, every desire, every ounce of protection and supplication. To walk through life with Him (Deut 6:4-9).

This land demanded a faith I simply don't tap into regularly. I'm sitting on my IKEA couch as I type this on my Gateway laptop wearing Nautica glasses to see the screen while covered in a ridiculously soft blanket to keep me warm in an already heated apartment...are we relying on the Spirit to guide and care for us so tangibly, so holistically, so unmistakably...or is that a moot point here an now?

'Trust in God, trust also in Me' John 14:1 - This never goes out of style. This is never not relevant.

For those of us not living in the wilderness we must contextualize our faithfulness:
1) Examine your attitude - are you growing in Christlikeness - Phil 2:1-18
2) Examine your lifestyle - are you really a part of the Body - 1 Corinthians 12
3) Examine your worship - are you giving to God all of what's His - Matthew 22:21

Faith never ceases to be a part of the Christian journey - whether it's for literal or spiritual bread it's necessary.