Psalm 5:1-5 Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and cast no slur on his fellow man, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Commentary:
The Lord provides some very specific instructions on how each of us is expected to live in pursuit of eternal life. But more importantly is the assurance that we “will never be shaken.” In our faith and obedience there is power, and this should never be forgotten.
Matthew 5:37 Simply let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No”; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Commentary:
Truth, integrity, mankind struggles for the fine line of a definition. Christ sets the record straight by a most simple definition.
1 Peter 5:2-3 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Commentary:
Leadership is to be viewed as a privilege and not a burden. God’s word tells us that it is not the firm hand of leadership but the examples given by leadership that will cause people to follow a leader. Isn’t that what Christ did with His disciples?
Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, no a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
1 Peter 2:13-17 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.
Commentary:
- God wants us to obey our leaders. He has given them their authority and we see two key points:
the leaders will be required to give a full accounting to God for their actions. In this, we must take comfort that the final word will be Christ’s (Romans 8:34);
- and this command is for our benefit. God knows that to be in continuous confrontation will impact our ability to be a good witness.
Psalm 139:13-16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Commentary:
Only man struggles with a definition for the beginning of life.
Genesis 2:20-24 … But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the mans ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman, for she was taken out of man.” For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
Matthew 19:4-6 Haven’t you read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female, and said, For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?” So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.
Commentary:
The two prior verses are probably the most quoted verses on the institution of marriage. When asked, most people remember that woman was created from man, to help man. Yet the significance of the bonds of marriage lay in a more subtle fact. Noted both the Old and New Testament verses, “man and woman are no longer two after marriage but become one.”
What does a good marriage look like? God no longer sees two people but one new person, created through the vows of marriage. Aristotle, a student of Plato and tutor of Alexander the Great, defines friendship as “a single soul inhabiting two bodies.” In a marriage, a couple must understand that God will see only the new being created by their union, becoming one flesh. “One flesh” is not “his and hers” nor is it “what’s mine is yours,” but a new single creation in the eyes of God and measured together in all both do together.
When marriage is viewed in this Biblical way, goals are set as one, work is done as one, play is done as one and service is done as one. For when you live as one, God joins into one and can never be separated.
1 Corinthians 14:29-33 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
Commentary:
By Paul’s instructions to the prophets, we can all see that the process of learning is enhanced by:
- giving each a chance to speak;
- waiting your turn even when you have a great idea;
- encouraging each other;
- and always remembering that if it is of God, there is order and peace.
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever, is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Commentary:
Our minds are like a video tape recorder, saving images of our experiences. The Apostle Paul provides us insight on how to shape our minds for Christian service. His advice begins with the basic idea of recording good things. We fool ourselves if we think that exposure to a sinful world does not impact our thoughts. Focus on what is good and you will record (in your mind) what is good. Last but not least, no video is of value unless it is played back for others to see. If our patterns are constructed correctly, our lives will play back a visual image of the “God of peace.”
Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Commentary:
So many times we find ourselves feeling guilt because we hurt after a loss of someone we love or our job, etc. It seems that as Christians, the image of someone strong in faith takes the form of someone without emotions. Christ tells us that it is OK to mourn for our loss because when we do, we will be comforted. Our comfort will come through the hands of other Christians around us and through the great gift of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 4:5-6 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Commentary:
As Christians, we often become insulated. The Christian community offers comfort, protection and enrichment. However, the Apostle Paul tells us that we need to be smart about our interaction with people outside our faith. These may be our family, neighbors, friends, business associates or even casual acquaintances. We are instructed not to avoid them but to use every opportunity to show them the impact of Christ in our lives. Furthermore, we are to keep our conversation “full of grace,” something that the aggressive street evangelists often forget. We are also to season our conversation with salt (truth). Salt is interesting in that a little of it enhances the flavor of food, too much destroys the flavor.