Switching (at least temporarily) to Wordpress

I've been running into some functionality issues with Blogger. So, I'm going to try out Wordpress. That blog site seems to have many more cool options and the aesthetics are much better. You can follow me at: https://mattellis1997.wordpress.com/

What makes anger just like murder?

As we continue to learn more about Dylann Roof, we become even more disturbed. This young man was driven by a deeply-entrenched racial hatred. He was able to sit in a prayer meeting for almost an hour and look into the faces of those he would soon kill. He claims that he had a fleeting thought, while spending time with them in that prayer meeting, of not going through with his deed. Yet, as he stole their lives from them minutes later, the words he said made it clear that his heart was utterly wicked. The forgiveness offered by the family of his victims only makes his unrepentant hatred all the more wicked.

While we may console ourselves and say we would NEVER, EVER do such a heinous act as Dylann, Jesus tells us something very striking that nails each one of us in the heart. In Matthew 5, He essentially equates murder (what Dylann did) with anger and insults (what we do). 

Matthew 5:21-22

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire."


While we may feel justified in venting our anger at Dylann, Jesus would have us realize that when we are angry with others or feel compelled to throw insults (at least internally) at someone, we are demonstrating the same, exact heart attitude of Dylann. All we lack is follow-through on those heart attitudes.


So, you don't think you have an anger/insult problem?
Is there someone that you are so upset at that every time you see them your heart races and your blood pressure goes up? Or, you give them the silent treatment? Or you slander them in the presence of others? 


While we are justified in being repulsed at Dylann's actions and while we should pray that he will receive justice to the full extent of the law (and while Christians should also pray that Dylann cries out for God's forgiveness before it's too late), we should realize that we, too, have a heart problem. We should take our feelings of hatred/insults as seriously as Jesus did, fall at the foot of the cross and cry out for forgiveness and release from that heart attitude.

Who we are affects what we do

Some people think that the Bible is simply a list of "dos" and "don'ts." Well, the Bible certainly gives us a moral code and tells us what is right and wrong. We're also told that we had better chose wisely because our actions will be judged one day.

 

But, if we spend much time in God's Word, we will realize that it also tells us something even more important than what we are to do - it tells us who we are. Over and over, God's Word says, "You are..." just like a verse that showed up in my daily Bible reading this morning...

 

1 Peter 2:9

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

 

Notice that the Holy Spirit moved Peter to FIRST write who we are BEFORE telling us how to behave.

 

Did you know that most of our behaviors flow naturally out of who we think we are? If we think we are a failure, we will act that way. If we think we are always the most important person in the room, we'll act that way. On and on we could go - the point is clear: We naturally act like who we perceive ourselves to be.

 

That's why God spends so much time telling us that we need to change the way we see ourselves. That's why over and over in Scripture God tells us who He says we are (which is almost always very different than who we think we are).

 

Just go back over the first part of 1 Peter 2:9. Read the absolutely incredible things that God says of you if you are saved:

• Realize that you have been chosen by God ("a chosen race").
• Realize that you have royal blood (Jesus') flowing through your veins and have complete access to Almighty God ("a royal priesthood").
• Realize that you are set apart for God as a very special person ("a holy nation").
• Realize that you belong to God; you are one of His very one and He takes pleasure in you ("a people for His own possession").

 

Don't you think that believing these things would change the way you think and act today? I think so.

A Christian's basis for value

Many folks go through times when they struggle with their value. They feel unimportant to others and to God.

Well, there are MANY verses and principles in the Bible that state that every single person (those who follow Jesus and those who don't) have incredible value (Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that every human being [flawed as we are] bear the image of God).

But, for the follower of Christ, there is even more value piled on top! In this morning's Bible reading, I came across Colossians 2:9-10 where it tells us that every bit of God the Father was in Jesus ... and that those who are saved have every bit of Jesus inside of them.

Colossians 2:9-10 (ESV)

"For in him (Jesus) the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority." 

Christian, we can draw at least two helpful principles from these verses:

1) God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit fully abide in you. So, you are never, ever alone.

2) God fully abides in you because you are His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:19; 2 Corinthians 4:7). In your body, you carry around the God of all Creation. Because of who resides inside of you, you are of infinite worth my friend. Realize that your incredible worth comes from your intimate relationship with God, thank Him, and don't ever forget it.

A command to kill

While Christians are told not to murder (Exodus 20:13) or even harbor thoughts of anger (Matthew 5:21-22), there is a place in Scripture where we are commanded to kill. Death is the only desirable result. Yet, the object of our hatred will be hard to kill so we are to give every effort to put it in its coffin. What are we commanded to kill?


Colossians 3:5-6 (NLT)

"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming."