HUMAN STANDARDS

2 Corinthians 5:16 (New Living Translation)

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!”

When I was Arbitrator of labor disputes,  one major conflict between management, on the one hand, and employees, on the other hand ,involves performance evaluation of an employee, as it relates to the management prerogative  of promotion, demotion, termination, transfer or reassignment of an employee.  

The company standards would be the basis of evaluation.  Much objectivity in judging  employee performance would be ideal, but the reality is, personal bias and subjectivity likely go into the process .

The  Christian  way, implicit in the message of St. Paul, has a different way of looking at others.  The world’s standards usually judge from the human point of view, based on outward appearances. One’s status  in life, wealth, reputation, education,  family background, are persuasive in making value judgments.

The good Apostle, however,  said those who receive new life in Christ have a new way of judging or evaluating others. They cease to judge by  human standards. In Christ they are renewed and changed in their manner and way of thinking. They have become” Reconcilers”.  Just  as Christ reconciled them to Himself,   they no longer judge people to condemn them, but to be reconciled to Christ.

PIERCING WORDS

Proverbs 12:18 (King James Version)

“There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”

Some   are careless of what they say, speak or write. Speaking rashly and thoughtlessly they cut others down by their sharp tongue. Hateful, acerbic, slanderous remarks are like sharp words which cut and wound the feelings of the one spoken to. Harsh words can dampen or kill the spirit. A person whose mouth speaks of nothing good, but insults, curses, expletives, foul language, faults, defects, even high sounding nonsense, is hardly a pleasant fellow to be with.

This wisdom saying reminds us that it is unhealthy to listen to hurtful and pernicious words. They make you sick.

But the words spoken by the wise brings healing. Wise, encouraging, comforting, loving, cheerful and uplifting words are like good medicine which bring healing and hope to the wounded soul.

USER'S MANUAL

USER’S MANUAL

2 Timothy 3:16-17(English Standard Version)

“All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete and equipped for every good work.” 

St. Paul’s letter to his son in the faith Timothy, is both personal and pastoral. He told Timothy about everything which happened to him and the persecutions he endured. He affirmed that through difficult times, the Lord rescued him many times. 

The good and senior Apostle encouraged Timothy to continue in what he had learned and known of the Holy Scriptures which are able to make him wise for salvation. Here Paul made one of the most remarkable statements which proves  that the Bible is no ordinary book. It is God’s message to this fallen world. 

God speaks to us today through His Word. While the Bible is a human book, written over a span of 1,500 years, by men of different backgrounds and status in life, it is also a spiritual book. The Bible was authored by God through the instrumentality of inspired yet, ordinary men. All Scripture is God breathed. God has breathed life in His revealed Word that it is living, alive and active. 

For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The message of Scripture pulses with life. It is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. It is man’s manual of life, given by God the Creator and Designer. In order to live in the way God designed and intended us to be, it is imperative to know and follow God’s Instruction Manual. Most important of all, we have to know in personal way, the Author in order to understand His message.

My friend you may have read plenty of books, but have you considered reading God’s Word?   

INDWELLING MYSTERY

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his spirit in your inner being so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you being rooted and established in love may have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:16-18)

One of the mysteries of the Christian faith is the reality that Christ dwells in the heart of every believer in a personal way. Christ takes up residence in the life of the every believer, granting special graces. This happens only by faith. The unbelieving or rebellious heart will not experience and receive this wonderful grace. When Christ takes up residence in the heart of a person who professes faith in Him, a wonderful transformation begins to occur. The changes in the person’s life may not be instant but the qualities of Christ-likeness will be gradually seen. The person will grow in faith and as he grows the indwelling Christ becomes more visible and real in his life. The love of Chris will radiate in the heart of that person. The person indwelled by Christ is being rooted and grounded in love. God’s love like seed, sinks deeper roots and here is no other description which cold fathom how wide, how long, how high, and how deep, Christ’s love is.