Does Your Epistle Impart Grace?

He said that we need to remember that our words are like precious stones—we are to use them to enrich others.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how our casual communication—be it spoken, written, emailed, faceBooked, or even blogged—so often is unloving, although we may be completely unaware of it.

Each of us are living epistles, “read” by all who God brings into our lives. That reach has grown  considerably due to the social network. Blogging, Tweeting, and FaceBooking have created an atmosphere of thinking out loud in sound bytes with very little filtering. A natural erosion has taken place affecting our language and communication as a result.

I remember a teaching from a very wise elderly man (the late Richard Wurmbrand) on the power of our words. He was teaching on the Hebrew word, sefer, which is the word for book. It is also the root word for literature and library, etc. Interestingly, it is the Hebrew root sapir, from which sapphire is also derived. He said that we need to remember that our words are like precious stones—we are to use them to enrich others.

When we speak or write, we form images in others' minds. Do we consider what types of images we are placing in others’ minds? Are we edifying and enriching them? Building them up spiritually? Or are we creating improper or unsavory images, and causing them to stumble?

Consider a very common (yet coarse) expression: “I was so p---ed off!” This is one of my pet peeves—I really can’t stand this phrase. As an artist and a very visual person, it never fails to create a very vivid (and disgusting) image in my mind.

No wonder the Word instructs us: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. —Ephesians 4:20

Meditate on that for a moment... We are to impart GRACE to others with our words!
How often do we do this?

Proverbs 12:18 tells us that careless words wound, yet circumspect speech brings healing: There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (NASB)

We women can be especially careless in this area. How do speak around men (who are not our husbands)? Do we put images in their minds that may cause them to stumble? Do we talk about our bodies, causing them to think about our bodies—calling attention to ourselves in ways that create temptation? Even in seemingly harmless humor, we often carelessly create tension for the men (and their wives) around us. This is not loving. Nor is it Godly.

Unfortunately, it seems that many of us are lost in our own selfish little world—either oblivious or uncaring about the affect we have on others. We may be very active in spiritual pursuits and profess a deep love for the Lord. However, the “epistle” others read or hear sends out an entirely different message.

Perhaps we need to go back to the “Philippians 4 Test” that our children were taught in Sunday school to help us break some unfortunate habits and develop discernment and sensitivity that may have dulled over the years.

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. —Philippians 4:8

Blessings and love in Messiah,
Sarah Lynn

UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FROM THE NKJV

The Right(eous) Stuff

"Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." —Genesis 15:6

Sometimes  the  craziest  things  happen  between  me  and  the  Lord  after  my  wife  and  I  have  been  spending  time  together.  This  morning  was  one  such  occurrence. There  was  wake-up,  then, “Hey,  how  ya’  doin?” ...Then breakfast, more  chat, and a  time  of  prayer  for  her  productivity  in  writing  today,  and  off  we  went  to  our  separate  corners—her  to  her  study  to  research  and  write,  and  me  to  the  kitchen  table  where  the  Lord  and  I  spend  time  reading  His  Word. 

So  a  while  into  my  end  of  the  deal I  find  myself  in  the  book  of  James ... 2:21  specifically: “Was  not  Abraham  our  father  justified  by  works,  when  he  offered  up  Isaac  his  son  on  the  alter.”   Now  don’t  take  me  too  seriously,  but  there  may  have  been  a  few  times  when  offering  up  Sarah  has  not  seemed  like  such  a  bad  idea,  but  this  was  not  the  case  here.  What  really  caught  my  attention  was  that  ever-looming  question  in  Christendom,  “What  act  was  it  that  really  saved  Abraham? What  was  it  that  really  justified  him  in  God’s  eyes?” Was  it  the  work  of  offering  up  his  son?  That  would  be  salvation  by  works,  so that couldn’t be  right.  Or  was it an  act  of  faith  found somewhere  else?” 

A  little  bit  more  of  my  deep  theological  thinking  and  I  came  up  with  a  path  to  finding  the  answer. Check  the  foot  note  at  the  bottom  of  the  page,  Dummy. I  have  one  of  these  great  study  Bibles  that  address  questions  like  this  and,  hey,  there  it  was,  the  answer. In  Paul’s  writings,  justification  means  to  declare  a  sinner  righteous. That’s  receiving salvation. In  James,  justification  is  showing  by  your  works  or  even  a  single  act  that  you  already  are  justified,  or  saved.  The  first  is  getting  you  into  God’s  family  and  the  second  is  proving  you  really  belong  there.  Put  a  little  more  eloquently, James’  type  of  justification  is  that  which  vindicates  your  claim  to  being  a  part  of  God’s  family  or—now  get  this—to  show  you  to  be  righteous.

The  understanding  of  James  2:21  then  is  not  that  Abraham  was  saved  by  the  work  of  offering  up  his  son  to  God. Rather,  Abraham  proved  that  he  was  a  real  believer  in  God  already  (Genesis  15:6),  by  being  obedient  to  what  God  had  told  him  to  do,  offer  his  son.   His  claim—already  established—was  vindicated.  This  act  of  obedience  showed  him  to  be  righteous. 

Well,  this  justified  by  my  works  thing  (or  proving  true  by  my  works  that  I’m  already  saved)  relates  to  my  wife ... how?  No,  I  haven’t  concluded  that  I  can  be  shown  righteous  by  offering  her  up.  What  it  does show  me  is  that  to  be  shown  righteous  I  must be  obedient  to  God’s  Word,  and  yes,  that  includes  in  relationship  to  my  wife  as  well.  

So  I  sat  at  the  kitchen  table  and  thought  about  the  last  time  I  wanted  to  really  offer  my  wife  up—a  thought  then  that  lasted  no  longer  than  a  second, I  assure  you. And  what  I  came  up  with  was  how  much  I  really  love  her ... with a  love  that  is  beyond  love. I  had  to  ask  myself,  “Did  I  show  her  that beyond  love,  that  agape  love,  then?   Or  did  I  operate  out  of  my  fleshly  nature? I'd have to say it wasn't the agape, beyond  love  stuff.  In  short  I  did  NOT  show  myself  to  be  righteous ... not the James sort of stuff.  Why? Because  I  didn’t  show  my  wife  the  kind  of  love  that  the  Word  says  we  are  to  love  our  wives  with—a  sacrificial love ... a Christlike love ... a love  that  is  beyond  human  love. 

So  the  next  time  one  of  those  potential  I’d  like  to  offer  you  up  moments  comes  along—and  it  will,  we’re  all  human—I  will  work  harder  at  doing  the  thing  that  vindicates  me  as  a  follower  of  Jesus.  How  wonderful  then  it  would  be  to  be  justified  by  my  works—to love  her  with  a  love  that  is  beyond  love.  And,  oh  yeah,  show  myself  as  well…to  be  righteous.

Thank  you,  James ... Thank  you,  Abraham ... Thank  you,  Lord.  

A  thought  from  a  husband … still  in  training.
Michael          

A NEWS NOTE

 Egypt & Israel: 
 God’s People Must Pray!

For days now the television and radio have been flooded with news of Egypt.  The streets in Cairo have been filled with protesters calling for the ouster of their President, Hosni Mubarak.  Should we be concerned?  I think the clear answer to this is, yes.

Regardless of what ultimately happens in Egypt, Israel will be affected.  And that should be a major concern of every believer in Jesus.  This tiny nation—the size of New Jersey, the only true democracy in the Middle East, and a staunch supporter of the West—will however be in greater danger if Egypt is turned to radical Islam.  And that is a clear possibility.  Already the Muslim Brotherhood, Hizb al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun, is moving to take a position in any new government that would replace Mubarak, to establish a political form of Islam which supports the use of Islamic law known as Sharia—radical and oppressive Islamic religious law, such as took hold in Iran and Afghanistan.

Israel herself is saying that now in question is the consistency of stability that has existed between these two countries for thirty years.  Radical Islam has made its goal not only to destroy the “great satan,” which is the United States, but to push into the sea the “little satan” as well.  That, my friends, is Israel. Here is what you can do.

First, understand God’s view of Israel.  God has said that Israel’s capital, the city of Jerusalem, is “the apple of His eye.” (Zechariah 2:8) He has also said, “I will bless those who bless you, And the ones who curse you I will curse.” (Genesis 12:3) God has tied biblical history to Israel—from beginning to end, and He loves this nation dearly—with “an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)  

Second, pray for Israel. We are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122), and we should.  Shame on us if we do not believe that prayer works and that God answers.  Certainly there will be turmoil ahead, both for Egypt and Israel, but God has a plan for both and your intercessory prayer will play a role.

In the natural, the potential negatives of  this moment in history are weighty. Open for discussion are Egypt’s present support of the Western agenda, her protection of free and unimpeded transit of the Suez Canal (A stranglehold on the Canal would cause the price of oil, food, and goods to skyrocket.), her stand against the radical Islamic agenda, and her thirty-year long cooperative relationship with Israel.   

Yet, as critical as the above concerns are, support of Israel should be every Christian’s key concern at this moment.  A change in the Egyptian government may put Israel in a very perilous position.  Yes, support of the Western agenda, protection of the Canal, a stand against terrorism—all are important, but Egypt’s relations with Israel must for believers top the list.

So, pray for Israel—the Land, its People, their future. Pray also for the people of Egypt as the Lord may lead you. God does have a plan for both countries.  That plan is in the process of playing itself out in His schedule of end time events.  Let’s be a part of it...and …Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you. —Psalm 122:6

For Zion’s Sake
Michael and Sarah Lynn
1.31.11

The Vision of Beyond Love

Love. How much has been written about this tiny, four-letter word... How many lives have been lifted and ruined in pursuit of it... How many times have we declared it in earnest ... or carelessly...

Love is a universal driving force.

The Bible, God’s love letter to His creation, exalts love above all: “But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” —I Corinthians 13:13

Few of us, however, will define love in precise terms. Many of us have heard sermons delineating three kinds of love in Greek, that very specific and ancient language, the language of our New Testament. 

EROS From “eros” we derive our English word, erotic, which speaks to the sensual. It is often mentioned in ancient Greek manuscripts, but surprisingly is never used in the New Testament.

PHILEO The most common form of love mentioned in the New Testament is “phileo,” having to do with one’s passionate warmth or affection for another. But did you know that we are never told to give God that kind of love? Nor is God’s love ever described with this term. That’s because there is something far better.

AGAPE The term for this uniquely superior love is “agape,” which, due to the way it is used in Scripture, it is known as a God-like love, a surpassing quality “way beyond.”

So how did the name Beyond Love come to be? What is our vision?

All of us experience that “phileo” kind of love. Whether it be for parent, sibling, friend or even pet, love is a natural part of our lives. It is that closest kind of love that every human being regardless of their relationship with God experiences. Unfortunately, that for many of us, is where we stop. We go no further. We say we love him or her, or it (the pet). We invest ourselves in the object of our affections. And that level of investment is our terminus. What we are receiving from the other or giving to them is “phileo” love. It is human. And that’s good, but not good enough. We each should and must go beyond that to the next level of love. And that is a love that is beyond human love. It is that God-like love known as “agape” love, a transforming, surpassing love beyond “phileo.”

Beyond Love then is the next step beyond all the love any of us could possibly muster up in himself, short of our Master’s input. It is simply … beyond human love. And who wouldn’t want to receive that level of love? 

John 3:16 is a perfect example of “agape” love: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” Agape love, God’s form of love, is sacrificial. It is total. And it comes with results that last forever. He gave that kind of love to us. And it is ours to give to others. Wow! Who wouldn’t want that kind of love?

Our theme passage for Beyond Love is Romans 8:38 & 39. God provides a challenging list of things—as daunting as they are—that are unable to separate us from His “agape” love for us:

“For I am convinced that neither death , nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love (agape) of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

While these verses so eloquently declare that there is nothing that can come between the believer in Jesus the Messiah and His God, it says something else as well. It says that as you allow God to produce through you His “agape” love—that very same kind of love—that love will as well allow nothing to separate you and your loved one. This is a love, Beyond Love.

It is the goal of this site to help us go beyond that human level of love to a love that is, Beyond Love.

Our prayer is that you will be enriched and your loved ones blessed as God’s surpassing love is exemplified in your life.

Love,

Michael & Sarah Lynn
Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible references from the New American Standard Version

The Extraordinary Life of an "Ordinary" Man – Tribute to Jim Mills

"Jim’s was not just a human love for kids and everyone else around him.  His was a divine love, a God imparted love, a love that was Beyond Love."

“Well... (a pause too long) it’s over the next little rise and around the bend.” 

I knew he wasn’t telling me the truth, but coming from Jim it was still somehow rejuvenating.  As one of the leaders of a group of teenagers come from the city, we had joined our friend and guide, Jim Mills for one of his favorite adventures – a backpacking trip in the Sierra Mountains.  The backpacks on our citified bodies feeling as though they weighed a ton (at least), ALL any of us wanted to know was, when would today’s leg of the trip be over?

Jim is gone now, taken by cancer only a few short days ago.  I had received a phone call telling me he was dying. I hadn’t spoken with him in over twenty years, but now I was on the phone with him.  As we talked, I thought of those summer trips, my aching back and pleas for relief, and of course his fib of our day's end being so near.  How did he ever keep us going?  But that was only one of his MANY gifts to us.

Jim’s great love was for kids – kids of all ages.  Jim had a way with them.  He would play his guitar, lead in a song, and shine with his love for all that were around.  And once drawn in he would tell them in the simplest way about his love for Jesus and Jesus’ love for them.

I had trouble holding back the tears.  Had it really been twenty years since we last talked?  It had only been lost contact, a sad story far too often heard.  But now I wanted to tell him how much he had meant to me,  just to encourage him.  Yet Jim in his simple way, as had always been the case, ended up being the one giving out the encouragement.

We spoke of Ma Bradley.  Half woman and half man, she roamed the hills of the American Canyon right where we backpacked.  Each year kids new to our trek would sit around the campfire – some with opened mouths of awe, some with faces framed in fear – and marvel as Jim wove, once again, his mythical story and scared the dickens out of them, which they thoroughly loved. Jim assured me Ma would live on through his sons as they picked up his mantle. 

Knowing that Jim’s time was short we spoke of his soon passing.  I sensed an air of excitement as he anticipated his departure and soon presence with our Lord.  I asked if I might share a passage of Scripture with him.  He was eager to hear the words of his God as it related to his dying body, so very much in failure by now.

I read to him from II Corinthians 5:1-9.  Verse 8 leaped out at both of us, “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.” Jim was excitedly anticipating that last little rise in the trail and bend in the path to make it to journey’s end where he would set up an eternal camp in heaven with his Lord and Savior.

There is so much to say about Jim.  His heart for kids has moved him to touch the lives of multitudes of young people.  His home – always open. His material possessions – always dedicated to the ministry of kids.  His time – always theirs for whatever needs they came to share with him.  His dear wife, Anita, and children – standing by his side aiding in loving kids and sharing Christ with them.  Jim is/was the complete man of God.

As Jim spoke to me, my mind wandered for just a moment and I asked, “Jim, do you remember the time I had brought a group of teens to your house? We were staying the night prior to the next morning’s departure for a backpack trip. There was this young man who saw your guitar and asked if he could play it, obviously overly proud of his own skill.  You, of course, said yes.  He did reasonably well, but was obviously showing off.  His need was for a “little” humbling and a “whole lot” of the Lord.  After you pretended not to know the guitar all that well he brazenly asked if you would like him to teach you to play a little.

In your eye I saw that wry look of, this is how I’ll win ya, as the rest of your face said, please do teach me. Now a second guitar appeared in your hands.  He would strum a little and you would quickly pick it up.  He would play a little more in depth and after a try or two you would pick that up as well. It went on like this for a while.  Finally the young man said, “I’ve never seen anyone learn so quickly.

The gotcha, first in your eye, now spread over your whole face, as you began to play a Christian song with no small amount of quality.  The group around us burst into laughter.  The young guitarist became more than just a little embarrassed.  And then I asked myself, how will Jim make the next step?  Had I been that young man I would have escorted my blushing face into the nearest closet and set up camp for the night.

But you had a magic about you, Jim.  I think it must have been the Holy Spirit witnessing with his spirit, not a human love, but the love of God that you felt for that boy.  You set the guitar down and put your arm around his shoulder laughing not at him but with him.  I don’t think he took his eyes off of you the rest of the night.  He certainly was your constant companion the whole backpacking trip.  We enjoyed remembering that night.

Jim’s magic reached out to me over the phone.  He had a love for life and a larger love for Jesus. That love touched all he came into contact with, and it was touching me now as we remembered our times of ministry together.

Jim’s was not just a human love for kids and everyone else around him.  His was a divine love, a God imparted love, a love that was Beyond Love.

Jim, you have crested your last little rise and made it around the last bend in the trail.  You are now, “…home with the Lord.”  God has touched each of us through you, young person and adult alike. 

Thank you for allowing Him to express through you something greater than any human love.  Yours is the love of God that is … Beyond Love.

Jim, born November 2, 1942, passed on December 21, 2010 and now with his Lord awaits the arrival of the multitudes he touched at His ultimate camp site.    

Read other tributes to Jim Mills from the Union.com: 
Jim Mills: Ordinary man, 'extraordinary ministry: http://tinyurl.com/4gnoj46
And it all started with a bus: http://tinyurl.com/4dv3wn

A Fresh Look at a Familiar Christmas Verse

Probably one of the most well known Bible verses related to Christmas is Luke 2:14. The most familiar translation is taken from the King James version: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” 

To most, the accepted understanding has been that God’s Son came that we might have peace on the earth and spread good will amongst mankind. However, since we have not had much peace on this earth and the spreading of good will worldwide has always been in short supply we might look for another understanding.

In the original language of Scripture, Luke 2:14 reads, “Glory in highest (places) to God and on earth peace among men of goodwill.”  This exclamation carries no small amount of significance since it came from a multitude of angels who could hold their silence no longer. One angel had just announced the birth of the long-awaited Messiah to a group of shepherds. The rest—that multitude looking on, undoubtedly so excited over the birth of the Son of God, and what it was to mean for mankind—could not restrain their praise. Yet what did their words mean?

Luke 2;14 starts out this way: “Glory in highest (places) to God…”  Simply put, to glorify God means to prove true to others what God has said is true of  Himself.  That being said, the multitude of angels were stating a fact, excitedly I’m sure.  It was that in the highest places of heaven that God's promises had just been proven to be true!

Throughout the heavens all beings now knew that God had done what He said He would do, send His Son, the Second Person of the Godhead to take on the likeness of man, being born of the seed of a woman. Having proven true what He had said of Himself had brought glory in heaven to God.  And the angels in heaven could not be silent now seeing the reality of this miraculous event.

But this angelic host went on to say more, “…and on earth peace among men of goodwill.”  We most likely have understood and probably hoped that this angelic host was proclaiming that the birth of the Son of God would bring worldwide peace and goodwill to mankind. But sadly that has hardly been the case, as our history since that event bears out.  So if not that, then what was being said?

The host of angels have unanimously proclaimed that the objects of this peace are members of mankind who possess a unique quality, that of goodwill.  This begs the question, “Who are those people of goodwill and how did they come by it?”

Looking elsewhere in the Bible we can see that when an individual enters the human race there is nothing good in that basis model of human being.  Indeed we are all sinners from birth and in need of the Redeemer. The only good to be found in any of us is that which God produces through us.

 

So the answer to our question is that men of goodwill are those who have truly been brought into God’s family by accepting the work of redemption of the Son of God on the executioner's stake. And the peace that is to exist on earth is that which is given them for having made this decision, and then living in light of it.

 

Put another way, God’s peace is not universal. It is specific. While it is available to all who will accept God’s Son as Savior from sin, true peace will be manifested only in those who make this decision and then let God work through them.

 

This Christmas season we should revel at the immeasurable joy the heavenly host expressed as they saw God bring glory to Himself  by accomplishing what He had said would be true of Himself. A more timely thought however is this: “Are we demonstrating in our lives that unique peace that can only come by having made Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah and Lord, and then continually manifesting that peace in our lives by allowing God to work through us?"

May the joy you experience this season be that which comes because the peace of God is really yours through the Prince of Peace. 

Blessings in Yeshua,

Michael & Sarah

Michael, you may find this article of interest:

The "Hypocrisy" of the Pharisees

Without reading the Scriptures carefully, and without a familiarity with Second Temple-period extra-biblical sources, a simple reader of the New Testament might assume that a majority of the Pharisees were hypocrites and that the Pharisees as a movement were indeed a “brood of vipers.” As a result of this common Christian assumption, the word “Pharisee” has become a synonym for “hypocrite” in the English language.
However, this widespread Christian misreading of the New Testament is a terrible mistake, which, in the course of the last two millennia, often has resulted in appalling consequences for the Jewish community.
Go to David Bivin article

Your love,
Sarah Lynn