Yes, God Loves Us

 

“But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

—Psalm 103:17-18

A recent email I received began with these words:

“In this blog of yours, you constantly talk about God’s love. But, to whom does God’s love belong?”

As I pondered how to best answer this sincere question, I quickly recognized that none of us deserve God’s love. There is absolutely nothing within us that would enable us to lay claim to God’s love. We are all sinful, disobedient human creations of the Most High God. We have inherited the sin nature and sin curse of first-man Adam. Based on our own merit and record of our own sins, we have nothing to offer God that has any value, or that would commend us to worthily receive God’s love.

Next, I recognized that despite the truth of the above statement, God does love us with His everlasting love. In fact, He loves us so much that He was willing to send His one and only Son, Jesus, to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. King David does a good job of summarizing the reality of God’s love for us in these words found in Psalm 103:17-18:

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

The biblical use of the word “fear” means “intense and unwavering respect.” God does not want us to be afraid of Him, as we might be afraid of a giant grizzly bear stalking us in our tiny canvas pup tent. No, God wants us to recognize Who He is and that He is the powerful Creator of the universe. He wants us to acknowledge that He alone is God. He wants us to praise Him for the loving way He uses His mighty power for the good of those He loves. So, while we do not deserve God’s love, the miracle of His mercy and grace is that He loves us with an intensity that we simply cannot comprehend.

If you think about someone you truly love, that dear one only knows what you have chosen to reveal about yourself. But, God knows everything about us. Nothing concerning us is hidden from Him. In spite of this intimate knowledge of who we are, God still loves us with a love that passes all understanding.

Let us rejoice this new day that God does, indeed, love us. And, let us allow His love to flow through us and touch the world around us in a life-transforming way.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, August 31, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

A Response of Empathy

 

“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

—Romans 12:15

As we walk the road of life, people will cross our pathway with a wide variety of needs. Because we serve as Ambassadors of the Great King Jesus, we have a responsibility to share His love with these needy ones. But, how do we do that? The Apostle Paul gives a very simple suggestion in Romans 12:15:

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Sometimes, people do not need a sermon or someone to solve their problems. In fact, most times, people do not need a sermon or problem-solver. What they need is an empathetic response to their need. It may seem all too simple. Nevertheless, the advice Paul gives is sound.

When we encounter people who are filled with joy because of something wonderful that has happened in their lives, we should rejoice with them. When we encounter people who are filled with sorrow because of something terrible that has happened in their lives, we should mourn with them.

Let’s determine today to put this simple watchword into practice. What better way to serve our King than to show the kind of empathy He would show.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, August 30, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The End of the Race

 

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

—Acts 20:24

One of the most humiliating experiences I ever had in my hated Physical Education class in high school was cross country. I abhorred cross country!

We would start out from the high school and run up a hill into a nearby neighborhood. Once there we would wind around the streets of that neighborhood and eventually run back to the school, around the running track three times, and cross the finish line. I remember always coming in last—usually twenty or twenty-five minutes behind the previous person to cross the finish line.

“Well, at least you finished the race,” the teacher would say. “Although I don’t really know why you bothered.”

I bothered because somehow I had to finish the race. Interestingly, that’s the underlying sentiment the Apostle Paul shares in Acts 20:24:

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

In my mind, the spiritual race that Paul is talking about in this Scripture verse is far, far more important than any cross country race. Nevertheless, finishing the race is important. Let’s purpose in our hearts today to finish the race God has given us and to finish as strong as He will enable us to do so. That’s a worthy goal.

And, as we have just finished watching the Olympic Games, may that experience remind us of this verse. Imagine that we are runners, serving as ambassadors of Christ striving to complete the task He has given us. Let’s finish this race as strong as we can.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

In Our Place

 

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

—John 3:17

“If God is truly a God of Love, why in the world would He send His one and only Son, Jesus, to die on a cruel Roman cross? That seems like the ultimate child abuse, to me!”

It’s not really as silly a question as it may seem. We have become rightly hypersensitive to the issue of potential child abuse. Young parents today, a part of the Millennial or Gen Z Generations, can’t imagine the way things were when I was a young boy growing up in the 1950s. They would never permit their children to participate in the free-wheeling activities that marked nearly every day of my life. Parents of that day came into this world during the Great Depression and suffered through the deprivation of World War II. They lived under the threat of the atomic bomb. Their whole perspective on child rearing was vastly different than today. They permitted their children to roam freely and to participate in activities that would terrify today’s parents.

On the other hand, genuine, cruel, heart-rending child abuse is certainly a horrible thing. If we humans were to start sacrificing our children to save the lives of other people, we would most certainly be labeled as monsters and that labeling would be correct. But, we also do not understand things from God’s perspective. He created humans for a distinct purpose, as the Westminster Shorter Catechism states:

WSC Q. 1: What is the chief end of humans?

A: Humans’ chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

In order to have the kind of fellowship with God that He intended us to have, we need to be obedient and sin-free. Yet, hardly had God created Adam and Eve than they disobeyed the one rule He had given them. Knowing that sinful humans could never provide their own means of salvation, God made the choice to provide a sinless atoning sacrifice through His Son, Jesus.

In considering this amazing act of love toward us humans, we must always remember that God is One God who exists in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And, while this concept is beyond our ability to fully understand, we must recognize that, in a very real sense, when God sent Jesus to die in our place, He was sending Himself.

The Apostle John records Jesus’ own words in John 3:17. You may be more familiar with the preceding verse. Here, Jesus is talking with the Pharisee, Nicodemus. He has just explained that, to escape the penalty for their sins, humans must be born again in the Spirit. Jesus punctuates this discussion with these words:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Christianity is not a religion of condemnation. Rather, it is a faith walk of love, God-breathed love. As we begin a new day, let’s choose to remember that we are living expressions of God’s love for humankind. We are His ambassadors with the greatest news any human has ever heard. Let’s not shrink back from sharing this wonderful news, whenever the Holy Spirit prompts us to share it.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, August 28, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Quick ... Slow ... Slow ...

 

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”

—James 1:19

Have you ever played the game “Traffic Court” with your friends? It’s actually quite a simple game. One participant is designated as the “Judge” in Traffic Court. He or she very rapidly calls out directions to the other players, such as: “Five steps forward … Turn right … Four steps backwards … Turn left …”

Another participant is designated as the Traffic Cop. He or she watches how the others respond to the Judge’s instructions. If someone falters or doesn’t perform exactly as the Judge instructs, the Traffic Cop takes them out of the game for one minute. Three offenses and you’re out of the game entirely. The game is a lot of fun. It helps us understand how following directions can sometimes be difficult, especially if we don’t have enough time to process what we’re being told to do. In the matter of doing what we’re told, the Apostle James gave some very specific instructions in James 1:19. Here’s what he wrote:

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…

I’ve summarized these worthy commands in the three words that title this blog post: “Quick … Slow … Slow.”

We must always listen very carefully to each other. We must also always be very restrained whenever we speak. Instead of jumping into the conversation, we should consider carefully what we’re going to say and even whether we should speak at all. Then, and this is really important, we should be very, very slow to anger. Said another way: “Please! No thin skins among brothers and sisters in Christ!”

As we begin another day, it would be to our benefit to keep the Apostle James’ words in mind: quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. If we choose to live this way today, we will be so much better for having made that choice.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, August 27, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

As I Dreamed It

 

“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

—Romans 12:10

I wish to begin today’s blog post, by sharing with you an experience I had recently. This late-into-the-night experience in my dreams no doubt came about because over recent months I have become deeply concerned about the unfolding fate of the Evangelical churches in the United States of America and the effect these churches, as a whole, are having on the Christian Spiritual Formation of those who attend worship services. My concern is in the broadest possible sense and not necessarily confined to the dear fellowship at the church I currently attend. Please let me share with you what I experienced:

Recently, in the wee hours just before dawn, I fell into a deep sleep and began to dream. In my dream, I found myself conducting an interview with a devoted saint of God, whom I shall not name. For those of you not familiar with my use of that term “dear saint of God,” I’m referring to a senior individual who has spent his entire life serving Christ and His Kingdom. This dear man began his devotion to Christ in his early teen years. To write a biography of the places he has served and the lives he has touched—all to the glory of God—would take pages and pages and pages.

I was particularly interested, during my interview, to ask him a certain question about his view of the Evangelical Christian churches found across the United States of America today. Now in his late 90’s and twenty years older than I am, this man has seen many changes flood through the Evangelical churches over the years of his life. I wondered, as I carefully considered what I would ask him, how he might respond to this issue I felt was worth exploring:

I asked him, “What do you see as the major issue or major problem facing Evangelical churches in the United States today?” He looked at me quizzically for a moment, but did not hesitate to voice his answer.

“I wish the Evangelical churches would keep their promises without exception,” he replied in the raspy voice of an elderly man.

“What do you mean when you say: ‘keep their promises’?” I asked.

“Very many Evangelical churches today,” he began his answer, “have created a very forthright, even strong, narrative of what they offer to the world. They make significant promises about many aspects of life. Based on their reading of Scripture, and particularly on the words of Jesus and the Apostles, they promise fellowship, freedom from a host of things that might trouble people. They promise peace, joy, a sense of belonging, a strong sense of warmth that comes from shared values, and an opportunity to grow in grace. They also promise rewards for service to the Kingdom, including efforts to help the poor, minister to the needy, and efforts to help raise those who have fallen.

“But then,” he continued, “when a person comes into the church, and begins to look for those promised qualities within the church, he or she often finds almost the exact opposite in play. Instead of a sense of oneness, a person finds the church divided over issues and broken into distinct cliques.

“Socialization may often take place, but rarely true biblical fellowship. Instead of delivering an atmosphere that fosters deeper Christian Spiritual Formation, many Evangelical churches depend on a spiritual high created by an emotional rollercoaster not unlike the feelings one receives at some major public event.

“Instead of consistently creating a safe place where wounded people can find solace, the Evangelical church would rather hold occasional forays out into the secular world where they can make a targeted evangelistic “attack” through some “service project,” but without the kind of long-term commitment that it takes to really meet people’s needs.”

He continued: “It becomes almost a ‘bait and switch.’ The Evangelical church makes lots of promises, in some cases even well-meaning promises. But, in the end, it all boils down to a slick advertising campaign with very little substance to back up the claims.

“I wish Evangelicals treated each other better,” he said. “I wish they loved more deeply. I wish the major disciplines that directed their lives were Bible reading and prayer.

“I wish they would think deeply about spiritual things and show the same enthusiasm for what God is doing in the world that they show for their favorite sports team or televisions program.

“I wish Christian parents would be more interested in the spiritual lives of their children than they are in creating what the secular world describes as ‘well-rounded children who grow into well-rounded adults.’

“I wish parents would purpose to create such strong church youth groups that those groups would easily outshine any programs offered by secular organizations. I wish the church activities would take precedent over school activities and sports activities.”

He continued: “I wish that, when parents consider the education of their graduating high schoolers, they would investigate the numerous academically excellent Christian colleges and universities where the young adults will receive a Christ-centered education, rather than purposely steering their children to Ivy League schools, or secular institutions, where their heads will be filled with Christ-less knowledge.

“In short,” he concluded, “I wish the Evangelical church would keep all the promises it makes without exception. If it would, if it did, if we did, we would build a United States filled with devoted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.

“The entire society would be better for it, if Christian people lived truly Christianly 100% of the time. If the claims of Christ were truly lived out by millions of people, Jesus would surely draw millions more to Himself. And, wouldn’t it be something, really something, to be a part of that?”

He continued to hold my gaze for a moment. He sighed and just the hint of a loving smile gently lifted the corners of his lips. Then, he stood, turned, and slowly shuffled away down the hallway from which he had first come.

As he walked away, I remember thinking that I will likely never actually have a real conversation with this man I admire so very much. But, after reading many of his books and listening to countless interviews, I’m not at all certain that my dream-state imagination falls short from what he might say in answer to my question.

Suddenly, I heard the honking of a loud horn. As I tried to see from where the honking was coming, I began to realize it was the sound of the alarm clock on the bedside table. As I woke, I thought about what I had experienced. But, then I realized it was only a dream.

Yes, it was just a dream. But, I can’t dismiss the thought that sometimes a great deal of truth is revealed in our dreams.

Now to today’s Scripture passage that prompted my desire to interview this beloved saint. You likely know that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome without ever having the privilege of visiting them until much later in his life. In this Book of Romans, as Paul’s letter is called, he outlines the theology of Christianity with amazing clarity. He conveys so many important lessons that hundreds of books have been written about what Paul wrote in these sixteen chapters.

Paul reminds the new believers of the foundation for their growing faith that came from the Jewish heritage. And, in chapters 9, 10, and 11, he writes directly to his fellow Jews. In those same chapters, he reminds the Christians that they have been grafted into the line of David and become joint inheritors with Israel of the promises that God first give to His chosen people.

I confess that the Book of Romans is probably my favorite epistle. Along with the motion picture we know as the Gospel of Luke and the X-ray vision given us by the Gospel of John, the Book of Romans connects Christianity to its Jewish roots in an extraordinarily important way. But, Paul also writes very practically in this book. Notice these simple sentences found in Romans 12:10:

Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

These sentences offer a message to the Church. Just imagine, if you can, what our Evangelical churches would be like if every person connected to a particular church was lovingly devoted to every other person connected to that church. Now, imagine if the people in every church in every branch of Christianity, from Roman Catholicism, to Greek Orthodox, to mainline Protestant, to Evangelical, to Pentecostal, to—well every particular flavor of Christianity in between—were lovingly devoted to each other and to all of the other Christians all over the world. Why, we simply cannot even begin to imagine what that would be like.

At the beginning of this new day, let’s remember that as far as we may have come, we have much further to go in our walk with God. He waits patiently for us to understand more and more about who He wants us to be. Let’s continue to encourage one another. Let’s love one another. Let’s look with His eyes of love on the needy world around us. And, let’s be devoted to one another in love. Then, the world that would become our world would truly exist—and not only in my dreams.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, August 24, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

One of My Biggest Mistakes

 

“Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

—Romans 15:2

I have always maintained a rather high-handed and very inappropriate attitude toward neighbors. I do my best to have absolutely nothing to do with them. This decision came about from the very first “house” we owned, after I was fortunate enough to marry my beautiful wife. Here’ what happened:

Our first home, purchased when we married in 1968, was a 46 feet long, 8 feet wide mobile home. located in a mobile home park behind the then firehouse in Houghton, New York. It was an ideal location for two newlyweds starting out. We paid $1,700 for this rather nicely appointed tin can. Our mortgage payment was $47 each month—an amount we could just afford on my wife’s second-year new teacher’s salary and my salary as a staff member in the Print Shop at Houghton College—now Houghton University—the college from which we had both graduated.

Our “neighbors” were a newlywed couple just six feet away. It was far too close. There was virtually little privacy. They expressed their love for each other with an intense passion. They also argued frequently and loudly. In a rage following one of their arguments, the husband even discharged a shotgun between our two mobile homes that messed up the side of their mobile home. In order to retain some sense of separation, I decided to have nothing to do with my neighbors.

After one year in the mobile home, we moved to the Buffalo, New York, area and four years later to Hartford, Connecticut. From then on for the next 24 years we lived in various apartments. In each case, it was far easier and much better—at least from my standpoint—to have nothing whatsoever to do with my neighbors. That policy seemed to suit them and it certainly suited me.

After 25 years of marriage, we bought our first real home. It was a free-standing house in a Planned Unit Development where we only owned the land immediately beneath the house. Once again, I determined to have nothing to do with my neighbors. In addition, we had two incidents early in our time in that community that branded us as “oddly intimidating.” The first occurred right after we moved into the new home. Please let me share these two incidents with you:

On the day we moved into our newly built home, I had dragged an enormous pile of broken down cardboard boxes to the foot of my driveway. The neighbor right across the street rushed out to tell me that the Town of Windsor trash collectors would not pick up the unruly pile of boxes. Yet, in the morning, the pile was completely gone. Apparently my friend, a former student of mine who happened to now be the Fire Marshal for the Town, had told his friends in the public works department that I was moving in and asked them to extend me every courtesy. The next week, apparently following my example, the neighbor who had spoken to me put out an unruly pile of her own, which the trash pickup conspicuously left at the end of her driveway. And, just like that we were marked.

The second incident occurred a few weeks later when another neighbor had driven home under the influence of alcohol and had left his car running in the garage. Several hours later, enough carbon monoxide seeped into the house to set off the carbon monoxide detector. Upon hearing the alarm, the neighbor’s wife called the fire department. When the dispatcher announced the address, not only did the fire department apparatus respond, but the Fire Marshal—who had not yet memorized my specific address—also arrived on the scene with two Town police officers. The Fire Marshal later told me that he had requested extra help in case it was my house where the incident had occurred. Again, we were marked because another neighbor heard the Fire Marshal tell the police officers, “Oh! Good! It’s not my friend Dean Wilson’s house!”

After seven and a half years, we moved again. For the next nearly 15 years, we lived in a home in a suburb of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was located on a cul-de-sac in a truly lovely neighborhood filled with really nice people. We didn’t have a bad person in the whole lot of them. Soon after moving in, one of the neighbors did a great kindness for us while we were away. We realized that having at least a somewhat friendly relationship with one’s neighbors is not a bad thing. So, we learned our neighbors names, spoke to them when we saw them, stopped and talked with them on occasion, exchanged Christmas cards, and felt appropriate gratitude that they were such nice people.

Eight years ago, we moved to a Senior Living Community where we reside in a duplex Garden Home. Once again, most likely to my own peril, I have adopted the attitude of having nothing to do with my neighbors. My next move will very likely be to heaven. There, I sincerly hope I will have much in common with my eternal neighbors and will enjoy the true meaning of fellowship. In the present, at least for now, I recognize that my position of having nothing to do with my neighbors is not without its silliness and even its selfishness.

To completely put some biblical icing on my silly, separatist cake, I find the Apostle Paul offering these words of instruction, as found in Romans 15:2:

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

I realize that, if I choose to have nothing to do with my neighbors, I can hardly have the opportunity to build them up. So, this is one blog post—perhaps one of many—where you, dear reader, must learn from my lifetime-long mistake. As we begin a new day, let’s continue to learn from each other and walk the road God has laid out before us to the glory and praise of His Great Name.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, August 23, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Right Use of Our Freedom

 

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

—Galatians 5:13

As ones who believes in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, do we realize that we are marked as “Free”? Yes, we are, in fact, called to freedom. When we think of freedom, we usually imagine the opportunity to do whatever we might want to do. But, freedom in Christ is not at all that kind of freedom. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote, as recorded in Galatians 5:13:

You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh rather, serve one another humbly in love.

In response to this verse, if I was writing a sermon on this Scriptural text, my Key Biblical Truth statement would read:

“When given freedom, believers choose to serve one another humbly in love.”

I would then share some “How-Tos” to help those listening to my sermon come to understand how to put that key statement into actual practice. For example: how would we respond, if I were to ask us to name some ways that we could serve our brothers and sisters humbly in love? What would we suggest?

As we begin another day, why not take a couple of moments to consider how we might answer. Then, why not write some of those items on a piece of paper and go out into this day prepared to do exactly what we’ve suggested.

I have a Facebook friend, someone I respect greatly, who lately has been using his expertise to consult with a number of Christian Broadcasters. He has helped them make some very strategic moves during a rather critical time in their history. While he has been paid for his work, the very fact that he has entertained helping these Christian Broadcasters has a significance even beyond what he may fully understand. Perhaps without completely realizing it, he has modeled the kind of Christian spirit we believers should have toward one another. And, that, dear ones, is exactly what true freedom is all about.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Leaders and Members, Take Heed

 

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

—1 Corinthians 1:10

The Church at Corinth was in trouble, serious trouble. In fact, the Church at Corinth was in so much trouble that the Apostle Paul was moved to write one of his most direct and declarative letters. Why? The people at Corinth could not seem to get along with one another. They had divided into factions. Instead of coalescing around a common purpose, they had divided and set off in a dozen different directions.

They identified with different leaders, even leaders who weren’t present. And, they began arguing with each other about which leader’s direction was best—even when the leader’s in question had not issued any Corinth-specific instructions. They also allowed serious sin to come into the core of the church and chose to pretend that nothing was wrong. By tolerating this sin in their midst, they opened themselves up to even more sin.

Through his first letter to the Church at Corinth, the Apostle Paul was determined to begin a process of setting things right. He certainly had the spiritual authority to do so, backed fully by the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul began with Lesson No. 1 for the church leaders and church members in Corinth. It’s important to note that this also happens to be Lesson No. 1 for church leaders and church members today. Notice what Paul wrote, as recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:10:

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Paul’s message is a simple one: no divisions allowed. Furthermore, brothers and sisters in Christ should be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Now, no group of humans can do this alone. It takes full submission to the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about such a faithful commitment, and such unity. Nevertheless, this is a goal that absolutely must be achieved. As we begin a new day, let’s remember that we believers are one in Christ. We must learn how to bring that oneness into fruition in all the aspects of our daily lives. Nothing must divide us. Unity must prevail.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Praising God with One Mind and with One Voice

 

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

—Romans 15:5-6

Have you ever sung in a really good choir? I am grateful that Myra Parkhurst, the choir director at my home church, allowed me to join the adult choir when I was still only in eighth grade. I learned so much from those rehearsals and from singing in worship on Sunday morning and Sunday evening. And yes, in those days we had worship services both in the morning and evening on Sundays.

I also am grateful to F. Hamer Campbell, Sr., who taught public school music in seventh and eighth grade. He introduced his classes to opera. In fact, we studied Bizet’s Carmen. I still greatly enjoy the storytelling of the great operas. And, that introduction also led me to study the plays of Shakespeare—another experience for which I remain very grateful.

I owe yet another debt of gratitude to William Brocklebank, who directed the high school chorus at Bradford Area High School. I only was able to fit chorus into my schedule during my senior year. But, again, I learned so much from Mr. Brocklebank. He graciously selected me to attend the District Chorus and later the Pennsylvania Regional Chorus. It was there that I experienced the great joy of singing with a large number of musicians, far more musically talented than I am.

In my three twelve-month years as a student at Houghton College—now Houghton University—I only had the opportunity to sing in an ensemble, The Oratorio Society, for one year. I did have the distinct privilege of sitting next to applied music major, C Thomas Brooks, Jr., who became a very dear life-long friend, best man at my wedding, and later served for many years as the chair of the Music Department at Gordon College in Massachusetts. Again, I was far out-classed as a musician, but greatly enjoyed being a part of an ensemble with well over 100 members.

As an adult, I have sung in many church choirs, including one directed by my wife, Shirley, another directed by Tom Brooks, and yet another one directed by Steven Skinner.

My point in recalling this walk through my vocal musical history is that the sound of blended voices, singing as if they had but one voice, is a very powerful force. The Apostle Paul obviously knew this fact, even though we don’t know very much about his own musical ability. Notice what he wrote, as a very hopeful and prayerful Benediction recorded in Romans 15:5-6:

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God intends His children to have one mind and one voice in praising Him. We need to remember that, as we start another day. We must put aside our petty differences and lay our grudges against each other at the feet of our Lord. Only when we can allow the Holy Spirit to make us of one mind and one voice will we be able to secure our destiny as ambassadors of the Great King, Jesus.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, August 20, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Wisdom Defined

 

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

—James 3:17-18

One day, when I was about thirteen years old, I went with my dad to the hardware store. I had been there many times, always in the company of my dad. I had noticed that the store clerk was a very dedicated and helpful person. With all of the thousands of items in that store, he knew exactly where every item was located. As he approached us, asking to help, he had overheard a conversation my dad and I were having about some electrical equipment. I must have been waxing in high spirits about some aspect of the equipment, to which my dad was simply nodding in response.

“Don’t you wish you knew as much as he thinks he knows?” the clerk asked my dad.

My dad smiled and replied, “Yes. But, he is a pretty smart kid.”

I did not completely miss the point the store clerk was making. I only wish that I had learned a much more ingrained lesson from what the clerk said. Far too often, I have spoken out when it would have been much wiser to remain silent.

On another occasion, when my dad and I went to the hardware store:

This same clerk was dealing with a very loud and sarcastic customer. Apparently, the customer had bought some bolts and then proceeded to cross thread them when he went to use them. He had brought them back to the store and insisted they were defective. The conversation was very one-sided. The customer would make some loud assertion, punctuated with profanity. The clerk would then make a very soft and gentle response. Finally the loud mouth left the store.

At this point the clerk turned to us and said, “It is far better to be a wise man than a wise guy!”

My dad chuckled at the remark and then made one of his own. “I suspect,” my dad said, “that man has never been popped in the mouth.”

I was a bit startled by such words coming from my Sunday-School-teacher dad. Then, I remembered a conversation we had had many years before when he recounted an event that occurred during his time in the U. S. Marine Corps during World War II. His remark that day made sense in the context of the story he had told me about brash young men coming into the Corps:

At his lofty old age of 35, my dad had far more worldly wisdom than the brash young men had. And, they soon learned that mouthing off was not going to be tolerated in the Marine Corps. If they mouthed off to the Drill Sergeant, he might just take them around the corner and “pop” them in the mouth—a technique that usually ended their bad verbal behavior. Sometimes, wisdom comes from the stark reality of experience.

The Apostle James talks about true wisdom—God-given wisdom—with these words found in James 3:17-18:

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

In our quest to serve God with devoted hearts, let’s begin this day by asking God to give us this kind of wisdom. As we walk the road of life that He has laid out before us, if we rely on the kind of wisdom our loving Father God will give us, we will avoid a whole lot of problems.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, August 17, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Loving God Back

 

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”

—Hebrews 6:10

We, who believe in the life-transforming power of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, recognize that God loves us with an everlasting love. Before the foundation of the earth, God chose us to belong to Himself. We do not know, nor do we understand, why God chose us. We have nothing whatsoever to commend us to God. Yet, we accept the reality of His love and the magnificence of the forgiveness He has given us through the birth, life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of His precious Son, Jesus.

So, how do we show our love for God? We can certainly do so by obediently following the pathway that God has His Holy Spirit open up before us. We can also show our love for God by lovingly and obediently helping others to come to know of His enormous love and overwhelming mercy and grace. Note these words of the writer to the Hebrew Christians scattered across the then known world, as recorded in Hebrews 6:10:

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

God remembers everything we have done for Him in His Name. What a glorious fact that is. Please allow me to illustrate:

I recently watched a video of a dear friend, as he interviewed his mother on Mother’s Day. It was the kind of fun video that you would expect from this broadcaster. It had a simplicity marked by creative excellence. The love between mother and son was so very evident throughout this video.

There was her charm and grace revealed in the way she answered some of his most impish questions. He asked her about some of her accomplishments in life, her response to some of the behaviors of himself and his siblings, and what she was up to in her sunset years. There was such a warmth and tenderness to this interview that I sensed tears forming in my eyes, as I thought of my own mother and what she meant to me, even though she has been at home in heaven nearly forty years.

If we were to sit down and interview God and ask Him how He feels about us and what He both admires in us and would like to see different in our lives, I think we would feel a sense of deep and abiding love. His patient answers to our questions would validate the reality of the Scripture verse above. He delights in what we do for others in His Name. He is proud of our walk of faith. He encourages us in our Christian Spiritual Formation. He longs to see ever-greater obedience become a part of our lives.

On this new day, let’s remember, all through the day, that God does not forget the love we have shown Him, as we have helped His people and continue to help them. Yes, let’s remember God’s love and love Him back.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, August 16, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Responding with Praise

 

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”

—Romans 11:33

Do you remember how you felt the first time you saw a fireworks display? You heard the whoosh, as the shell left the mortar. You heard the high whistling sound, as the shell climbed into the sky. Suddenly, with a loud bang, a burst of color streamed in all directions across the sky. The people in the crowd, including you, voiced sounds of wonder and amazement.

Each successive shell was sent aloft with anticipation building in the crowd. What colors would this one produce? Would there be a loud bang, or a softer whistle? Would there be just one explosion? Or, would two, three, or even more explosions release one after the other?

Maybe you felt a surge of wonder and praise the first time you saw your new born child or grandchild. Those precious tiny features, the soft cooing sounds, the little bubbles around the corner of the lips, the blink of an eye—your heart beat a little faster. You found that you had been holding your breath, as you watched this beautiful gift from God. You fairly burst with joy.

One of the amazing things about the Apostle Paul is his moments of ecstasy recorded in his letters, when he begins to think about the greatness of God. Sometimes, right in the middle of a very serious passage of admonition, Paul will suddenly burst into an soliloquy of praise to God. Such is the case in Romans 11:33:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

These ecstatic passages of Paul’s often begin with the exclamatory word “Oh!” It’s as if in that moment the Holy Spirit just overwhelms Paul, as the Apostle thinks about the God who loves him with an everlasting love.

As we begin a new day, let’s not be afraid to express all the emotion we feel when we consider how marvelous it is to be loved by such a God. Let’s not hold back our words of praise. Let’s not fail to acknowledge the joy He brings us. Let’s willingly give testimony to the greatness of His mighty power at work in and through us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, August 15, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Delighting in His Song

 

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

—Zephaniah 3:17

Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly everyone present burst into a song giving praise to you because of who you are and what you have done? Maybe they sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” or “For She’s a Lovely Lady.” In any case, in the midst of your surprise, did you not feel a bit of warmth and pride sweep over you because people thought so much of you that they would literally sing your praises?

The Prophet Zephaniah was so concerned that the people in his charge would know how much God loved them, appreciated them, and longed to show how He felt about them, that Zephaniah penned these words, recorded in Zephaniah 3:17:

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Imagine the reality that the God who loves and cares for us also takes great delight in us and rejoices over us with singing. That is a pretty amazing thing to keep in mind.

If the circumstances of our day begin to weigh us down, let’s determine to remember that God is singing our praises, as He rejoices that, before the foundation of the earth, He has chosen us to belong to Himself. That’s a kind of affirmation that surpasses anything we can ever receive apart from Him.

Let’s not become discouraged this new day. Rather, let’s take great joy from knowing how much God loves us and how much He delights in us. Let’s hear His song of praise for us.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, August 14, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Beyond Our Comprehension

 

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

—Ecclesiastes 11:5

I overheard the remarks of a young woman while I was standing in line at a church supper:

“I don’t at all understand how a microwave oven works, but I sure do like the speed and convenience it brings to certain cooking tasks in the kitchen.”

Imago Dei

 

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

—Psalm 139:13-14

The miracle of creation is repeated countless thousands of times every day. God’s amazing plan for sustaining the human race echoes those first moments of the creation of humankind. I can only imagine what it must have been like to witness God taking the dust of the earth and fashioning the first-man, Adam. Then, God caused Adam to sleep deeply and God removed a rib from which He fashioned first-woman, Eve.

To me this is not some fanciful, made-up story. This is the reality of how God first created humans. The Bible says that after making mankind in His own image, God breathed into humans the breath of life.

Human beings bear the image of God, what theologians call the Imago Dei. This is God’s unique and special stamp on humans. It separates humankind from all of the other creatures that God created. We humans bear the image of God and this marks us in a way that is like no other creature. The Psalmist praises God and acknowledges the uniqueness of humankind when he writes these words found in Psalm 139:13-14:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

We do well to remember that our very special relationship with God began when He chose to stamp us with His image. Down through the ages, we have inherited the Imago Dei from our parents. We remain to this very day the “Image Carriers”—the ones who hold within us the image of God.

As we begin another day, let us celebrate this unique place God has given us in the order of creation. Let us take seriously the responsibility we have as stewards of God’s creation. Let us also recognize that no other creature has the unique blessing and responsibility of bearing the image of God.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, August 10, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Quality That Attracts

 

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

—Proverbs 31:30

In yesterday’s blog post, I discussed the differences between biological women and biological men, pointing out some of the distinct value that biological women bring to every one of their interpersonal interactions with biological men. I wrote about how the differences between biological men and biological women complement each other. Today, as a follow up, it seems appropriate to examine the qualities that supercharge biological women’s God-given abilities.

If you ask the vast majority of biological men—remembering of course my assertion in the previous blog post that “all men are jerks”—you will likely find a long and uninspired list of qualities that make biological women attractive to biological men. On occasion, in the right circumstances, some biological women might find this list somewhat beguiling. Of course that depends on the biological man who is voicing the list. If it’s a biological man for whom the biological woman already feels some warm feelings, she may find some of the items on his list of her attractive qualities engaging, or beguiling, or even humorous. But woe to the biological man who, out of honesty, includes certain qualities that he would much better keep to himself, or to the biological man for whom the biological woman feels little or no warmth.

So, what qualities do resonate and, at the same time, validate those amazing gifts that God has given biological women, about which I devoted yesterday’s blog post? We can again turn to King Solomon for his wisdom and his expertise. He states the following in Proverbs 31:30:

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

A God-fearing biological woman possesses a behavior that truly supercharges all the other gifts God may have given her. She is the one worthy of honor, respect, admiration, and appreciation. She is the one who can focus her interpersonal skills in a way that pleases God and brings glory to His Name. She is also the biological woman whom King Solomon finds most attractive.

Maybe, just maybe, we other “jerky” men should follow the “King of the Jerks”—Solomon’s—example and recognize that certain quality that gives great value to godly biological women. Yes! I think that’s a very good idea.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, August 9, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

We Complete Each Other

 

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…”

—Proverbs 31:10, 27-28

In teaching about interpersonal relationships and personality development, I have often begun the lesson on the interactions between biological men and biological women by rather boldly stating, “All men are jerks!” As you might imagine, this statement brings laughter and sometimes applause, at least from the ladies present.

The bold, hard truth is that biological men and biological women are shaped by a variety of qualities they have inherited from their bloodline and also by the experiences they have had during the course of their lives. Yet, there are certain observable behaviors that seem almost a given, depending on a person’s biological gender.

Oh, I know that such a statement raises the ire of individuals in our culture who are determined to try to erase any differences between biological men and biological women, and who continually strive to achieve a gender fluid milieu. But, while they might not realize it yet, such an endeavor is truly a losing battle. Biological men and biological women are, in fact, vastly different human creatures:

• Biological women have very strong, natural interpersonal skills that biological men often lack. Biological women are naturally collegial, while biological men are naturally competitive.
  
  
• In many ways, biological women are fearless, while biological men hold within themselves deep seated, often unrecognized, fears—including a basic fear of biological women.
  
  
• On the one hand, biological men—driven by the predominant sin of lust—want to conquer and dominate biological women. On the other hand, biological men need the nurturing, support, and unconditional love that only a biological woman can provide.
  
  
• Biological women are driven by the predominant sin of covetousness. Their internal “radar” always looks to see what other biological women have. If they see something they view as desirable, they want that desirable thing—or person—too.
  
  
• Yes, like biological men, biological women are sinners. Biological women tend to fall victim to different sins than the ones that assail biological men. But, biological women are still sinners.
  
  
• Nevertheless, biological women possess so many admirable qualities that it is appropriate to acknowledge the very positive differences that biological women bring to interpersonal relationships. Certainly King Solomon understood this when he devoted much of Chapter 31 of the Book of Proverbs to celebrating the unique value of biological women. Note what Solomon wrote, as recorded in Proverbs 31:10, 27-28:
  

  A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her …

In this time when our culture is being torn apart by a wide range of foolish philosophies—a time when long-held norms are being attacked with the intent of fundamentally transforming our views of God’s creation in biological men and biological women—we need to study the Bible and take a stand against these evil directions.

We need to celebrate the differences that God gave to biological men and biological women when He created them. We need to recognize that these differences complement each other when biological men and biological women become one through marriage.

The biblical phrase regarding marriage—“two become one”–is not limited to a description of a physical oneness. The sense of this phrase in the original Hebrew language is that in marriage a biological man and a biological woman complete each other in all four modalities of human existence: heart, soul, mind, and strength—or, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and physically.

Within all of our interpersonal relationships involving members of the opposite biological gender within the Body of Christ, the Church, we need to understand the great value that each biological gender brings to the table of life.

We need to recognize and celebrate our God-given differences. We need to value each other. We need to relate to each other with God-breathed (agape) love. Then, and only then, will we be able to build the kind of fellowship that God intends for His dearly loved children.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Wednesday, August 8, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Compassionate Forgiveness

 

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.-”

—Ephesians 4:32

In my last blog post, I wrote about the importance of accountability relationships between brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to lovingly, tenderly, and very carefully help each other deal with the sin in our lives that will interfere with our Christian Spiritual Formation—spiritual growth.

Once we have held each other accountable, the next step is to extend forgiveness in the same loving, tender, and careful way that we engaged each other with accountability. Note what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians, as recorded in Ephesians 4:32:

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

As part of our on-going relationship with each other, we who belong to Christ need to quickly, compassionately, and lovingly forgive the sins that someone commits against us. Jesus has paid the penalty for our sins. In the eyes of God, we are forgiven. Thus, we need to release each other from any grudge we may want to hold. We need to show true Christ-like compassion by forgiving each other for the sins we commit against each other.

Now it is important to understand that we may have a forgiving heart—that is, we are willing in our hearts to forgive our brothers and sisters in Christ. But, forgiveness does not become fully effective until the one who has sinned confesses the sin, repents of the sin, and makes restitution for the sin. Only then can complete restoration take place. Nevertheless, in our hearts we must have a ready willingness to forgive. We dare not hold a grudge against a brother or sister in Christ.

As we begin another new day, God has laid out a pathway before us that requires us to examine our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Do we hold any grudges? If so, we must release those grudges to God and ask Him to give us hearts that are willing to forgive.

If we have sinned against a brother or sister in Christ, we must go to that one, confess our sin, repent of our sin, make restitution for our sin—if at all possible—and seek the forgiveness of our fellow believer that will lead to restoration.

If we do this, we will build proper relationships within the Kingdom of God. We will become far more effective in our testimony about the love that God has given us in Jesus. We will experience renewed spiritual growth and see our Christian Spiritual Formation returned to a solid foundation.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Tuesday, August 7, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Accountability in Love

 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”

—Matthew 18:15

People often focus on the idea that we are not to judge others. But, this does not specifically exclude the kind of loving accountability that we are to have among our brothers and sisters in Christ. The Bible makes it very clear that there are some things we do that are sinful. In fact, the Apostle Paul often includes a significantly long list of the types of sins that can get in the way of forward Christian Spiritual Formation—spiritual growth—in the life of a believer.

While we need to always focus first on dealing with our own besetting sins, we also have a responsibility before the Lord to lovingly and tenderly help our brothers and sisters in Christ recognize and deal properly with sins that may have crept into their lives so stealthily that they have become unaware of how much of a grip those sins may have on them. This is exactly what Jesus was talking about when he gave this instruction to His disciples, as recorded in Matthew 18:15:

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.”

We must never talk about the sins of our brothers and sisters in Christ to others without first going directly to them and, in the most loving way possible, carefully point out the sin we have observed that is holding them back from growing in Christ. It is so very important that we do this in private. In fact, we need to take special care that no one overhears our conversation. Nor should we do this in a way that makes our brother or sister feel like we have blindsided them.

This is one of the most difficult things we do as believers. No one wants to run the risk of a broken relationship because he or she points out a genuine sin that is hindering someone’s spiritual growth. Yet, Jesus asked us to do this. He wants us to be accountable to each other. He knows that this all-important accountability will bond us together.

We are all struggling to grow in our walk with Jesus. We will do so much better, on this new day, if we help carry each other along. Let’s determine to build our relationships with our fellow believers, so that we can win their hearts and, in love, earn the right to have the kind of accountability relationships that Jesus has asked us to have.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Monday, August 6, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Learning How to Live with Freedom

 

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

—Romans 8:1-2

Stories are told about whole groups of African American slaves who gathered in bewilderment, not knowing what to do next, when they received the news that the man they called “Father Abraham”—Abraham Lincoln—had issued the Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery in the United States near the end of the Civil War. Could anyone blame them? Many of them were born on the very plantations where they had worked all their lives. They had only known slavery. Freedom was something they sang about in their work songs, or dreamed about during the hot, humid nights of the summer. But, freedom was something they could only imagine—not something that they ever expected to experience, nor would they know how to actually grab onto it.

Before the Holy Spirit revealed to us the great gift of His love that God has chosen to give us through His Son, Jesus, we, too, knew only slavery—slavery to sin and death. But then, God did indeed send His Holy Spirit to remove the scales from our spiritual eyes. We suddenly learned that, through His death on the cross, Jesus has issued our very own “Emancipation Proclamation.”

We were profoundly affected. We were at once filled with unspeakable joy and also left with a sense that our anchor point to sin and death had been severed. We were no longer trapped by our Enemy. We were free—truly and totally free. And, we didn’t know what to do with our new-found freedom.

The Apostle Paul wrote about this phenomenon, an experience he had lived through in his very own life. He gives marvelous good news, as recorded in Romans 8:1-2:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

In this passage of Scripture, we can clearly hear the Apostle Paul declare:

“Dear ones, you are no longer condemned. Now let me teach you how to live with your new freedom.”

This is exactly what Paul does, as he then spends the remainder of this wonderful Book of Romans sharing with these new Christians gathered in the capital of the then-known world—and with us, as well—how to realize the full potential of this new-found freedom.

As a new day begins, let us realize that the reason our Christian Spiritual Formation is a growing process is because we must learn how to live the new lives that Christ has given us. Let’s not become impatient. Instead, let’s relish each new day as an opportunity for spiritual growth. We face the challenges of life with the sure knowledge that God loves us. He has a pathway for us. He will reveal that pathway step-by-step each day. It’s all a part of the wonder of the new freedom God has given us in Jesus.

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Friday, August 3, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Three More Memorable Points

 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

—1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

A few days ago, in writing for this blog, I suggested that the Apostle Paul had given the church at Rome a three-pronged approach. I wrote about how motivational speakers often couch their advice in three points. They do this because people remember, retain, and act on three points much easier than they respond to almost any other educational structure. The only better structure for lectures or presentations is the single point.

In today’s Scripture passage, we again find the Apostle Paul urging his readers to follow a three-pronged approach. This time, Paul is writing to the Christians gathered at Thessalonica, as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

These three prongs obviously consist of the following:

1. rejoice always,
   
   
2. pray continually, and
   
   
3. give thanks in all circumstances.
   
   

This seems like very simple, yet very profound, advice. The Apostle Paul has given us three memorable points.

As we begin another day, let’s mark this day by doing these three things. Let’s allow our hearts to soar with rejoicing. Let’s follow our rejoicing by sincere and devoted prayers. And, no matter what circumstances may assail us, let’s give thanks. We know this worked for the Christians in long ago Thessalonica. Let’s see if it will work for us today. Okay?

 

Based on a blog originally posted on Thursday, August 2, 2018

_{Copyright © 2024 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}