Author: Don Guthrie

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (day seven)

It is a clear and happy memory from my childhood. Christmas morning. Gifts under a tree. On each brightly wrapped package a tag indicating the recipient. “FOR Don” or “FOR someone else”.

Each day of salvation life should have a similar feel. In gratitude and hope, my time and choices and goals should be marked with a tag that says, “FOR Jesus”. ” He died for all that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but FOR Him!”, says Paul in v 15.

For Christ-followers, our morning-by-morning privilege is to embrace a new ruling passion. Not safety or success or personal significance. Our new purpose is His kingdom, His will, His people, His glory, His approval. “Our ambition. . .is to be pleasing to Him”–v 9. Here is a gift, Lord, I hope you like it!

He died for me. I will live FOR Him!

Re:Verse reading–2 Corinthians 5:11-21 (day one) 

“HAVING CONCLUDED this, that one died for all, therefore all died.”–v 14.

“But may it never be that I should boast (or place confidence) except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world was crucified to me, and I to the world.”–Galatians 6:14.

The Gospel was not presented in the first century in terms of “your best life, now”.  Without apology or hesitation the first preachers of our faith portrayed faith in terms of a death to one life and a resurrection to a new one.   The offer was a new life.  The cost was your old life.  All of it.

We came to a verdict/conclusion (Greek krino, decision or judgement), said Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:14.   The death of Christ means that all men were dead (already) and have lost the justification for continuing to be so.  Why stay on a sinking ship?

Time for a similar verdict from us all.

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day seven)

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”–v 7.

It is a Greek word that means “to shine out”.  The manifestation of the Spirit.  Given to each of us.  For the good of all of us.

One of my favorite FBCSA moments is Christmas Eve.  Candlelight service.  Darkened room.  Thousands of individual candles glowing brightly in that night of hope.  Sounds of “Silent Night” being sung out into a cruel and desperate world.  We are all together at that moment.  Small lights all.  Each of us contributing to the beauty and testimony.

I think Paul had something like this in mind as he described spiritual gifts.  The Holy Spirit in each of us shining out the message of God’s great, merciful, strong and trust-worthy Son.

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.”–Matthew 5:16

Re:Verse reading–1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 27-31 (day one)

“For even as the (human) body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the (human body), though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”–v 12

It was, for many years, the official motto of the United States.  (In 1956, Congress passed a resolution making, “In God We Trust” the official motto)  Even so, this powerful Latin phrase stands on our national seal and currency.  It means, “from many, one!”

It is wisdom learned from Christ and His church.  If the church is the body of Christ (v 27), we are the means by which He continues to act in a physical world.  He is the Head.  He makes the decisions and plans.  We carry them out.

We are a diverse group.  Race.  Ethnicity.  Age.  Background.  Gifts.  Social and Economic standing.  But, by the work Spirit of God we have become One!  One life.  One Lord.  One Destiny!

Re:Verse reading–Matthew 25:31-46 (day seven).

He is the prof who tells in advance what the final exam will be.  No mystery.  Only one question.  “Are you in right relationship to the Christ?”

Some people read this story and conclude that Jesus was teaching us to be charitable, and that charity, in and of itself, is a way to be saved.  I think they are mistaken.

“By grace through faith”, says the Scripture, declaring clearly the way of eternal life.  A careful reading of this story reveals that it is not so much the charity done (hungry fed, naked clothed etc.) as the relationship with Christ that these deeds indicated.  “I was hungry and you gave ME food” says the Lord.  Faith in Christ is the inward reality.  Charity is the outward expression.

Deeds, even charitable ones, can never substitute for faith.  They can, however, prove it is present with saving power.

Are you ready for your final exam?

Re:Verse reading–Matthew 25:31-46 (day one). 

It is a day that Jesus talked about often.  We, His followers, are well served to think about that day with similar frequency.  No official name.  Jesus just described it as the moment, “When the Son of Man comes in glory, and all the angels with Him.”–v 1.

At His first coming, He was clothed with humility.  At His next coming, He will shine with undeniable glory.  At His first coming, angels sang.  At His next coming, angels will stand with Him in military strength.

Is your life calibrated against this great coming event?  Does the promise of this coming day give urgency to your service?  Do you think of it when you pray, ‘For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the GLORY?”

“”Behold, He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.”–Revelation 1:7

Re:Verse Passage – John 15:9-17 (day seven)

It is a familiar idea.  Unique “Jesus-way-to-think”.  A revolutionary pattern for moral choice.  Humans are to do “just as” God does.

Like playing “follow the leader”.  Like dancing with a partner (letting Him lead).  An earlier generation called it being “godly”.  We are to imitate God in thought and action.  Intentionally.  Carefully.  We do what we see Him doing.

“Just as” the Father loved Christ, Christ loved the disciples.   v 9.  “Just as” Jesus kept the Father’s commands and thus lived in His love, so the disciples were to mimic this toward the commands of Christ.  v 10.  “Just as” Jesus loved us, we are to love each other. v 12.

Seeing a pattern?  Moral choice is not made in a vacuum. We are not lost in a elastic universe vainly searching for certainty, satisfaction or safety.  The pattern for life is already established.  God is the model.  We are to be “just as” He is.

Re:Verse reading–John 15:9-17 (day one)

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what the Master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”–v 15.

If you have one friend over the course of your years, you are blessed.  Jesus knew.  After three years, and before He died, He used a new description  for the disciples.  Slaves/servants?  OK, but not exactly.  Friends?  Much better!

The basis for friendship is shared life.  Lovers look at each other.  Friends look out on the world with each other.  Eros is face to face.  Philos (friendship) is shoulder to shoulder (C.S. Lewis).

So, Jesus called the disciples His friends because they (now) knew what the Father had told him.  No secrets.  Full disclosure.  They stood together in the same truth.  United. Loyal.

Isn’t this what we all want with the Lord?

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day seven)

I almost missed what John was telling us  about Jesus.  Something important.  Something encouraging.  Crisis doesn’t change Christ.

“Having loved His own (in the past), He (now) loved them (in the present)” says v 1.  Hmm. . . not sharks circling, or friends betraying, or death coming changed the Lord.  In stress He stayed constant.

I am not that way.  (Not without His help, at least.)  Left to my self and my flesh,  I can be fickle and self-loyal.  I break promises and change my mind.  Not Jesus!

I wonder what the world would be if He put that same rock-solid loyalty in me?  When people disappointed me, I would still love them.  When they were foolish and proud, when they weren’t fair, my response would rise from His loving heart rather than from selfishness and pride.

Having loved, He still does.  Unchanging.  Loyal.  John remembered this about Jesus.  I want to as well.

Re: Verse reading–John 13:1-17 (day one)  “For I have set for you an example”–v 15.

Do you remember your preschool years?  Learning to write?  To handle pencil and paper? Do you remember the teacher putting a translucent piece of paper down on a bolder, darker letter and asking you to TRACE IT?

In John 13, Jesus uses a similar word.  Usually translated “example” the Greek word is a combination of “to show” (deigma) and “under” (hupo).  It literally was to put an image down and ask the student to copy it.

Is this a realistic standard?  Will it work for us in 2017?  Can moderns actually imitate Christ, copy His choices and attitudes?  Jesus is confident that the answer is Yes!   “If you do this, you will be blessed” says v 17.

The secret to life is not to find myself but to mimic Christ.   The secret to being me is becoming like Him.  WWJD?  ITIWTI! (I think I will try it)