What Is Your

 

"Purpose" can be a noun (the reason for which something is done, or created, or for which something exists. Or, it can be a verb (have as one's intention or objective.) Which is it in your life? Basically, what is your purpose?

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8 KJV)

That's not the first use of "purposed" in the Bible, but it's one that has a very good lesson for those of us who thought we knew where we were going but ended up on a different path. As a babe, it was expected that Daniel would be educated as an elite member of Jewish leadership. His name was a combination of two Hebrew words that mean Judge of God. A war determined his education would be used elsewhere:

And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (Daniel 1:3-4 KJV)

I won't go into all that happened to Daniel - you really should read the full book to understand how he prospered as a result of his purpose. He had one goal at first, kept that one as well as one he made to worship only God. He had a talent, and he continued in prayer as well as worship with God in mind.

Another of the 55 times purpose or purposed appears in the Bible is another of my favorite verses, spoken during Paul's explanation to Agrippa as to why he was a Christian:

And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; (Acts 26:14-16 KJV)

That time Jesus provided Paul with a purpose. Jesus made Paul a minister, an Apostle called out of time, a witness to what he had seen and the things he would see in the future. Paul answered that call and fulfilled that purpose. To a certain extent, all of us are given a similar purpose:

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28 KJV)

This is an awesome chapter that all Christians should read and heed. It really doesn't matter what we are called to do - what matters is whether or not we do what we are called to do. It matters that we are working the purpose God has provided for us to serve and worship Him. Paul describes it as one body, as Christ is one body. 

When we aren't listening to God, we can easily end up where we do not belong. Paul purposed to go to Rome, but the Holy Spirit did not allow that journey at Paul's timing:

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. (Romans 1:13 KJV)

Paul said that oftentimes he desired to go to Rome to work among the Christians there, but he made other trips instead that benefited a number of growing churches. When he finally went to Rome, it was a prisoner, and eventually he was killed for his beliefs, his preaching, his worship of the God he served so well.

Are we willing to purpose in our heart to follow our God wherever we are led? Can we speak the truths found in His word, inspired by God though written down by men across century after century? We have seen proof in the Dead Sea Scrolls that the book of Isaiah serves as an example as to how that was done. Pick up that wonderful book and read it with a prayer that God will help you find purpose for now and definitely for eternity. Read of the men who did, and were blessed.

Compassion

 

It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV)

And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. (Exodus 2:6 KJV)

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. (Matthew 15:32 KJV)

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, (Luke 10:33 KJV)

The King James Version has "compassion" in verses 41 times. Seems as though that speaks to the importance of the word and it's application to people in our lives.

Strong's gives the Hebrew word as: חָמַל châmal (khaw-mal') A primitive root; to commiserate; by implication to spare: - have compassion, (have) pity, spare. The Greek in Matthew is: σπλαγχνίζομαι

splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee) - Middle voice from G4698; to have the bowels yearn, that is, (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity: - have (be moved with) compassion. Another Greek word used in the New Testament is: ἐλεέω eleeō (el-eh-eh'-o) From G1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace): - have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).

Oxford Dictionary defines the English: el·ee·mos·y·nar·y (eləˈmäsnərē) Adjective relalting to or dependent on charity; charitable.

Why look at the source words? It makes a difference when working with translations. At my home church so many decades ago, a teen friend took an interest in words and became a Bible translator. I remember his mentioning a language that had no single word for the emotion "fear not.' The closest they could come was the phrase "do not shiver in your livers." Think how many times we read the phrase, the concept, that we are not to fear in our Bibles. We do need to know what words mean and how they are applied.

We are told God has compassion. We are told Jesus has compassion. We are told to study in order to be like Jesus, to do as He did - therefore we much have compassion - and we must understand how it is applies. We are to feel sympathy, pity, our emotions are to be moved by it, we are to show both mercy and grace, to spare people from harm, and to help them when they are harmed.

Jesus feed thousands. Can we provide funds or time to feed those who are hungry? The Samaritan paid both for a room and medical care. Can we provide funds or time to do the same? God not only forgives us, He gives us eternity, for by grace are we saved through faith in His ability to do so. Can we forgive?

It's not as easy as it sounds. If you are like me, there was one name that leaped to mind as being unforgivable. Maybe they didn't hurt us, but one of our loved ones. Yet - we are to have compassion on the unlovable. What is it worth to you to be more like Christ? Oh, yes - and I like John's inspired wording:

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (1 John 2:1-6 KJV)

Thoughts from Romans 8

As usual, my sermon notes from 2 July 2020 refer to a single verse: Romans 8:6. However, it is seldom a good thing to take a single verse and comment on it until we've placed it in context. As with many chapters in the Bible, chapter 8 begins in the middle of a thought. We can tell that because Paul writes:

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 KJV)

From the Pulpit Commentary Expository on Romans 8:2:

The designation of this new law is in marked opposition to that in which the ἐγὼ (ego) was before said to be held; we have life in opposition to death, and the Spirit in opposition to the flesh, as well as freedom in opposition to captivity. The Spirit is, in fact, the Divine Spirit, taking possession of what is spiritual (now at length brought into view) in the inward man, making him partaker in the Divine life, and able to serve God freely. The expressions used bring out strikingly one essential distinction between Law and Gospel, viz. that the principle of the former is to control and discipline conduct by requirements and threats; but of the latter to introduce into man's inner being a new principle of life, whence right conduct may spontaneously flow.

We learn in chapter 6 how mankind had been slaves to righteousness - living by the Law as given to Moses, which teaches what is sinful. Christ, however, brought the message of God's grace through faith:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Peter explains this and Luke is inspired to include it in Acts:

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11 KJV) (Do read that whole chapter to understand this statement was made to followers of Christ questioning the addition of other followers. Always a learning process.)

Paul mentions it in his inspired epistles:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9 KJV)

Back to Romans 8:

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4 KJV)

The Law given to Moses was right, and when followed provided righteousness to men - but mankind is pretty much driven by a sinful nature that follows what the "flesh," or personal desires we have. Through Christ, God's grace is provided and the Holy Spirit accompanies us on our journey throuigh life.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:4-8 KJV)

So - why would we want to be guided by the Spirit?

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9 KJV)

I've accepted His invitation to be His. I have faith in His Grace. Come, read more and more about God and His work with mankind.

Pay Attention to the Bible, please

We had a rough January. A cold at the first, Covid’s Omicron at the last. Being shut-ins, we read a lot. One line stuck with me: "I had lost something I never knew I had."

I read it a bit after I read a post on Facebook from a young mother whose husband was treating her the same way a husband treated my granddaughter - a combination of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse that had turned physically dangerous. A wife should never receive such from her husband.

Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. (Malachi 2:14 KJV)

Men who deal treacherously with their wives are not following Christ. especially those whose commitment to their wives were made after years of being church members, purporting themselves to be Christians, and who publicly proclaimed they followed God's commandments. If you’ve read here before, you know one of my most quoted verses:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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 22:36-40 KJV)

Ephesians 5 mentions the wife’s submission first, then explains what type of husband to whom she should submit. Paul describes a loving husband who protects and loves his wife.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: (Ephesians 5:25-29 KJV)

The two men I’ve mentioned most likely lied to themselves just as they did to others, for both mistreat their own bodies with an excess of alcohol that robs them of the ability to function with care for others. Never doubt - that can be a lethal combination. How can they love those they are consistently damaging?

What is a wife to do? Matthew, Mark, and Luke  - in the graphic above – wrote of what Jesus said when he sent His disciples out to preach that “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” they were told what to do if they were received in a house that was worthy – and what to do if they were not received:

And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. (Matthew 10:13-14 KJV)

I firmly believe that if a husband deals treacherously with his wife, and threatens the welfare of his children a wife should depart out of that house. She should pray for her husband, that his eyes should be open to the damage and that he would turn from his treachery because he loves God as well as his wife and children.

Some men will. Others won’t. That's when the line I read became firm in my mind - and I wrote this blog. Someday, at one time or another, these husband's will realize: "I had lost something I never knew I had." 

If they don't change, consider what Paul says of such:

Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (Titus 1:15-16 KJV)

Wives – there is protection for you. You do not have to live with fear of when he will lose his temper and hit you. You do not have to live with his threats. If you have no where to turn, contact me anonymously by posting a Comment and I will reach out to you with examples of success. You are worth my time and prayers.