What is Missing?

“He felt that what missing was the day-to-day reality of dying to self, of following Christ with every ounce of one’s being in every moment, in every part of one’s life.  This dedication and fire existed among pietist groups like the Herrnhuter, but he thought they bordered on being “works” oriented and overly “religious” in the Barthian sense.  They had pushed away from the “world” too much, had pushed away the very best of culture and education in a way that he didn’t feel was right.  Christ must be brought into every square inch of the world and culture, but one’s faith must be shining and bright and pure and robust.  It must be free of cant and “phraseology” and mere religiosity, or the Christ whom one was bringing into the world and the culture was not Christ at all, but a tawdry man-made counterfeit.  Bonhoeffer advocated a Christianity that seemed too worldly for traditional Lutheran conservatives and too pietistic for theological liberals.  He was too much something for everyone, so both sides misunderstood and criticized him.”  

From Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. P. 248.

Metaxas, Eric. Bonhoeffer, Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2010.

Why Should We Be Thankful? Part 2

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Why be thankful?  It is the clear will of God.  Always.  In every situation of life, being thankful is absolutely what God would have you to do.  And it is a great thing to know that you are doing God’s will according to His Word.  Hebrews 13:15 tells us that our giving of thanks should be continual.  So, again, we see, always, for every thing, giving thanks.

Why be thankful?  Because God is good.  Always.  Because God is merciful.  Always. 1 Chronicles 16, 2 Chronicles 5, Ezra 3, and Psalms 106, 107, 118, and 136 all proclaim, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 100 states the same, but with a little variation in wording.  It seems that God’s goodness and His mercy are most often the biblical reason for thankfulness.

Why be thankful?  Because God has freed us from the bondage of sin.

“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”  Romans 6:17

Why be thankful?  Because God is causing us to triumph.

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Why be thankful?  On the practical side, having a grateful heart, remembering all of God’s goodness and mercy towards us, considering what great things He has done, helps conform us to His Word and drives away selfishness, strife, unforgiveness, and bitternesss.

Why Should We Be Thankful? Part 1

The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
-- Henry Ward Beecher

Infirmity's Purpose?

The “condition of being actually defenseless may perhaps reveal to these people certain actualities of our human existence, in which we are in fact basically defenseless, more clearly than can ever be possible for those of us who are healthy.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  2 Corinthians 12:9

The Sum of All?

Can it be true?  One sentence is the sum, the absolute total, of the whole of God’s expansive revelation to man?

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  Matthew 7:12

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  Romans 13:8-10

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Galatians 5:14

It must be true because God has said exactly that three times. And He has said it in other ways.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.  Matthew 22:37-40

And He expands upon it.

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35

The truth God gives concerning love for others is extensive.  And they are commands to be followed.  

May I ask a question?  What would life be like if we truly obeyed, with our whole beings, these principles?  I am sure I do not know the answer.  

May God mercifully help us to, by His grace and strengthening, to have the love of Christ for one another.