Everyone Has A Part

Paul continues his theme of unity in Corinthians, by discussing the design of God's family.

The word for church in the original language (ekklesia) literally means "the called-out ones". It was generally used to refer to a group of people, assembled to perform a particular task. A town's city council was referred to as an ekklesia.

God's people are called out to complete his mission in the world. To proclaim the gospel, and bring into his family, people from every nation, every tribe, every people group, and every language. To complete this mission, there are numerous jobs, assignments, and responsibilities.   New ground, without the gospel, needs to be identified, and reached out to. Areas need to be saturated with the gospel. Areas need to be saturated with prayer to alter the spiritual climate. New ones need to be grounded in God's Truth, and introduced to a new way of life. Lifestyle changes, corrections, and adjustments, need to be identified, and implemented. People's spirits need to be encouraged, loved, consoled, and comforted. And there are physical services: household repairs, meals, medical care, and rescue from disasters.

God's mission is not one thing. It is the creation of a community, a family, in tune with Him, and one another. As a result, there are a multitude of needs to meet. And God has developed his body to meet those needs. He gives his Spirit to each new family member. And the Spirit empowers each member with a gift. And each gift is the ability to complete one of the functions, one of the assignments, in God's family. And without that function working, God's family will not work as God intended.

So, we can look around at all the people in our local family of God. Each one has a place in the family. Each one has a role in the family. Each one has an assignment, that when completed, makes God's family function better, brings God's mission closer to completion, and demonstrates God's character to the world, because it expresses the love, and unity, of God's family.

It may not be the same as our role, and assignment. But that does not mean it is not needed, or valuable. If it is needed by the body of Christ, then we all need it, for our good, and our growth, and the growth of God's Kingdom.

It may not take place on Sunday morning. It may not take place in the Sunday meeting. It is still necessary for God's mission.

Not one person is the same. Not one gift is given to all -- except the gift of the Spirit, who gives all gifts. If they are in God's family, we need them, the church needs them, and the world needs them.

Lord's Supper

Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, because they had gotten off track in a number of ways. Paul brought the gospel to the city, and it was received with joy. But then cultural practices got mixed in with the gospel.

Now, God created culture. So, expressing allegiance to Jesus through cultural expression is not necessarily wrong. Scripture can be translated into a people group's heart language. Praise, and worship, can be offered using a particular cultures art forms, music, dance, or poetry.

Jesus translated the Lord's Supper from the Passover. The Passover is celebration of deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The Lord's Supper is a celebration of deliverance from slavery to sin. Jesus took the symbols of Passover -- bread and wine -- and applied them to the context of the new covenant. Unleavened bread, eaten in haste, to his body. Blood on the doorposts and lintels to his blood.

The problem came when the Corinthians connected the Christian celebration with the celebrations done before Christ, and the gospel, came to them. They would have celebrations for the other gods. They have to be the same, right?

Of course, they were not the same. The pagan feasts focused on me having a good time. The Lord's Supper focused on everyone's need, because of sin in everyone's life. The Lord's Supper focused on Christ's work of redemption, which we all need, and which we all received.

So, if someone is more concerned about how much food is piled on his plate, while others have none, then we have one more symptom of division. If we are all part of God's family, then it should matter than some of the children are provided for, and some are not.

A prominent theme in this letter is unity. How meetings, and other practices, are handled, demonstrates how all people are viewed. And we need to look at ourselves, make sure our hearts are right before God, so we act, and respond, rightly, with love, and unity, toward others. 

No Division

Paul urges agreement, and no divisions, in the Corinthian church. The people are quarreling about who to follow. Paul, Apollos, Peter? Is it any different today? Luther, Wesley, Calvin? (Or IV, Cru or Navs?)

I think we should be grateful for these individuals, and groups. They have reminded us of truths, principles, attitudes, and practices that were forgotten. God's family is better for all of them. But they did not die for our sins. We are not save by agreeing with their teachings, and putting faith, and trust, in them.

It is Christ, and the gospel, that saves, and transforms, us. It is holding onto one truth as the most important, that divides God's family, and dishonors Christ, and the gospel, before the world.

Jesus says that if we love one another, we demonstrate to the world that we follow him. How we live in community, and how we live our lives individually, testifies to the reality of Christ, the cross, the resurrection, and salvation by faith, as much as preaching the gospel. (Which we should be doing also.) Hypocrisy is one of the charges hurled at God's family. And it is the main reason, many people reject the gospel.

This is especially tricky nowadays. Not only are there groups of Christians, who stress different parts of God's truth, but there are different groups of Christians, who reject different parts of God's truth. And there are groups, who call themselves Christian, but reject the cross, the resurrection, the grace of the gospel, and the divinity of Christ. 

I am certain that God wants his family to love, and be united, with his family. All parts of it. I am not sure how that works with quasi Christian groups, or pseudo Christian groups. But doing a good job of loving, and demonstrating unity, across lines of genuine Christins would at least be a good place to start.

A Role In One Another's Lives

Paul begins his letter to the Corinthians by identifying himself, and Sosthenes. He identifies himself as an apostle, a messenger, of Jesus Christ.

He brought the gospel to them. He was commissioned, and entrusted, by Jesus, not only to bring the message, and begin the church, but also to define the limits of life in the church, because they were given to him by Jesus.

We are all to bring the gospel. We are all to be involved in planting, and establishing, churches. But we are not all given authority to define what life in the church should be like. (Now, I do not mean whether or not we should sing 3 or 4 hymns. Or how long the message should be.) Rather Jesus defines the church as a community. And he defines how his body should live as individuals, and as a community. And he has given messengers, and the scripture, to communicate those definitions. Current day leaders are to take those definitions, clarify them, and help apply them.

Paul, also, mentions Sosthenes. He does not say who Sosthenes is, because everyone in Corinth should know him, as one of their local leaders.

If you have read 1st Corinthians, you realize that the church has gotten pretty messed up. This letter is Paul trying to get the church back on the right track. So, it seems like Sosthenes, seeing things go from bad to worse, tracks Paul down, and informs him about what is going on. So, Paul mentions Sosthenes to let the church know that he is not inventing all of the stuff he is about to say. He has an eye witness, who he trusts, and who they all know.

The Bible encourages all the followers of Jesus to give one another positive instruction, and encouragement, in living with God, one another, and those outside of God's family. But it can also include reproof, rebuke, and correction. As we see in this letter.

There are many places in Scripture, where wisdom is praised. And part of wisdom is in receiving correction. But there is also wisdom in giving correction.

One part of giving correction wisely is being sure of the facts. That is why Sosthenes is important. He is a witness to the problems of the Corinthian church. He is a trustworthy witness. And someone who is trusted by the Corinthians.

Another part of wise correction is a focus on the positive. The first thing Paul does in this letter is to praise the church for the good in them.

If all we recognize is bad in someone, and hammer away at that, do we communicate any message of hope, and worth, in that person.

The purpose of correction is to communicate wrong areas of thinking, speaking, and acting. But it should also communicate how to do those areas rightly, and why. And it should communicate motivation to change.

None of us are perfect. So, we all need correction. If all we hear about is how wrong we are, we will have no motivation to pursue what is right. Communicating worth, value, and where we excel can have as much effect in enabling us to move in a right direction, as pointing out our wrong direction. It gives hope, and encouragement.

The gospel reminds us, we are all condemned sinners. But the gospel also reminds us that we are loved, and redeemed. It is the second part that moves us to repentance, and pursuit of a new life, a new way of living.

Ambassadors and Priests

Peter writes to the churches that they are a royal priesthood. Paul uses another metaphor. He says those who follow Jesus are his ambassadors.

The point in both places is that the people of God are intermediaries, representing God to people, and people to God. This means that all of God's people are pastors. All of God's people are evangelists. All of God's people are church planters. And all of God's people are missionaries.

We might not all function in the way most christians understand those terms today. Many think that only leaders, and the more spiritual, should practice these things. But God has commanded all of us to practice these areas. A large part of the role of leaders in God's family is to equip, train, and enable all of God's family to grow, and complete, those functions.

For example, all of God's family should be involved in producing, and facilitating the growth, of disciples. This includes instruction, encouragement, equipping, as well as reproof, and rebuke. All of God's family may not be involved in a formal, or structured, way. But our hearts should be filled with God's word, and love for one another, that we should be open, and alert, to give what we have to stir up, to encourage, to ground, and to promote growth in one another.

And we should be similarly involved in the other areas too. We need to learn to recognize opportunities for the gospel. We need to learn how to transition from one conversation into another that brings the gospel into focus.

The gospel moves into new areas by connecting to people, creating disciples, and planting churches. We generally refer to planting churches in new areas that involve crossing boundaries of language, culture, and ethnicity, as missions. And indeed, there are different issues to be faced, and so new skills to develop. Still the command is given to all of God's family to be concerned, and involved, in both of these areas. Again, a particular individual may not be on a church plant team, or move into another culture. But the hearts of all the family of God need to be given, and invested, in these areas, as much as those who are involved in person.

Now, we are not all going to be experts in these areas, but we should be growing in these areas, we need the experts to promote growth in these areas for all of us. And there should be those, in our churches, who can be resources to promote growth, and equip, in these areas. As well as ones who help promote other avenues of involvement. Like prayer, and support. Both of these are vital to promote the gospel -- locally, and around the world. And both are needed as much as person to person connection with people.

Jesus' Prayer

John records a prayer of Jesus's during the Last Supper. Jesus realizes his death, his resurrection, and his return to the Father are all near, and that the work of his Kingdom will fall to his disciples. So, he prays concerning the future of his followers.

He is thankful for those, who received him, and who will have a relationship with them -- Father and Son -- forever.

He prays for their continuing faithfulness. Not only are they entrusted with his Word, but they are now part of his family. So, they represent him in the world; and as a result, the world hates them, and is against them. So, he prays for protection. Especially that they maintain the truth.

And he asks for continued love, and unity. Not only among those who followed him directly, but also among those who follow Jesus through his disciples' testimony. Which means you, and me. He prays their unity would be like the unity of the Father and the Son. He prays that the unity of the family of God would be like the unity of God and himself. It is impossible to be more united than that.

Jesus says there are two important results of this kind of unity. This type of unity demonstrates that God sent Jesus. It also demonstrates that God loves those who follow Jesus with the same love as he loves Jesus.

Unity is a testimony of the truth of the gospel. In a world, where there are a million different types of Christians (twenty types of Baptist alone), I am not sure what this will look like. I am sure that many of the differences emphasized by these different groups are important aspects of God's truth. But I am also sure that Jesus' message about unity in his family, unity among those who give him their allegiance, is equally important. It is something which needs to be obeyed with as much intensity, and fervor, as any other teaching of Christ.

Jesus commands us to love one another to show we are his disciples. Jesus commands us to be united to show Jesus was really sent into the world by the Father. And it is the lack of these things, not manifested by the people of God, that most other people point to, as the reason why they are not followers of Jesus.

I do not think l love, and unity, necessarily mean we need to become one organization. But we do need to remember that all who give their allegiance to Jesus are one family. And we need to act like a family.

Grow in Love

There is a passage in one of Paul's letters, where he states: "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment." (ESV) At first, it looked like Paul was praying for growth in love, knowledge, and discernment. But, with a little more consideration, it looks more like Paul is praying for an increase in love, characterized by greater knowledge, and greater discernment.

Why would you need knowledge, and discernment, to love someone?

Well, first, do you know what love is? Nowadays, it seems like most people define love as complete acceptance. But I think the Bible defines loves as wanting, promoting, and working for the best for someone.

To love like Jesus, we do need to accept people. We can list of bunch of people, Jesus accepted:

• The women at the well.
• The women caught in adultery.
• Zaccheus.
• The rich, young ruler.

Jesus accepted them. But, because he loved them, he did not want them to stay where they were. It would be better if they moved on, gave allegiance to the Father, and live in a relationship with him.

So, we need to learn what love is. We need to know how to express it. And we need to discern what to express. Sometimes the best way to express love is with a hug. And sometimes the best way to express love is to tell someone they are messing up, what they need to do to clean up, and how to move forward.

We need knowledge, and discernment, to express love. And if we grow in knowledge, and discernment, we can express love more, and better.

New Command

During the Last Supper, Jesus gave a new command. To love as he loved.

Now, to love is not a new command. "Love your neighbor as yourself" was given back in Leviticus. This is a new command, because we are to love one another, like Jesus loved us.

How did Jesus love? He washed feet. He healed. He fed. He died on a cross to erase the punishment for sin, and give people a chance for a new relationship with the Father.

We might have a little trouble with following his example completely. We can't die for people's sin. We can't feed a bunch of people with a couple of English Muffins. But we can keep our eyes open. We can be alert for needs. And we can sacrifice our time, our energy, and our physical possessions to help, benefit, serve, and provide for others. Jesus says that this type of other focused, self denying, work was a demonstration of how we belong to him. It shows that we are followers of him.

One of the Roman Caesars noted how those rotten Christians not only fed their poor -- ie. needy Christians -- but also our poor -- meaning normal idolatrous Roman citizens. 

In the Middle Ages, Christians were seen caring for victims of the bubonic plague. And, eventually, catching the deadly disease themselves.

There are numerous examples of Christians building schools, and hospitals. There are examples of job creation. Like teaching a group of women a skill, so that can begin a business.

And there are, unfortunately, negative examples. In one city, after another hurricane, the city asked a large church if they could house some families, whose homes were destroyed in their building. And because the church was more concerned about possible damage to their property, rather than the lives of people, they said no.

No one is perfect. Especially not Christians. We need to learn to do as Jesus did. And we need to learn to see, think, and feel as Jesus did.

I have started to think of love as: wanting, and acting, to bring about the best for people. This includes physical needs. It also includes heart needs. (Spiritual, emotional, and psychological needs.) So, part of love is wanting, and working, for people to come into relationship with Jesus. Sharing the gospel, because one wants people to know Jesus, is an act of love. To pray for God's Spirit to move, and convince people's hearts about Jesus, is an act of love. To rejoice because someone moves away from something wrong, even if it is not a complete move, is a response of love. They are getting close to the best, closer to the truth.

Love is service, providing, and acting to promote the good of people. But it is also an attitude, and a perspective about people, and their direction in life. One that wants what is best. And understands what that best is.

Testimonies

 I have heard people say that Christianity cannot be proven scientifically. Therefore, it cannot be true.

Science proves its assertions using the scientific method. The scientific method involves several steps.

• Observing something.
• Creating an explanation, or theory.
• Devising a test, or experiment, determine if the theory is correct.
• Completing the test, and evaluating whether it proves, or disproves, the theory.
• And making sure the test works the same all the time.

This is a valuable method for exploring many things. But there are number of things it does not work for. Try developing an experiment to determine if George Washington was the first president of the United States. Or if Abe Lincoln was president. Or Julius Caesar ruled the Roman Empire. Or there was an attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II.

For historic truths, the scientific method does not work. We need to evaluate historic truths based on testimony. Like a court of law. There is no experiment to prove if someone committed a crime. But if 20 people saw someone commit a crime, and they agree on when, how, and what, we can be pretty sure it is true. But if someone says the criminal was 6 feet tall, and wore a red shirt, and someone else says the criminal was 3 feet tall, and wore a green shirt, then maybe there is a problem.

The Bible has, at least, twelve people agreeing that Jesus performed miracles, died on the cross, and rose from the dead three days later. And then hung around for another 40 days. Not only were they in agreement, but they had to endure some pretty drastic circumstances, because of their testimony. And they refused to change, in spite of these circumstances.

The Value of People

A little while ago, I had one of those days. I had some things to accomplish, and although I tried, none of them got done. More over, a few other things happened, and, for a while, all I saw was black. The voice inside my head was making sure I knew how unimportant I was, and how little worth, and value, I had. I was pretty bummed to say the least.

The  only thing right I did was to bring my perception of myself to my Father. And I got two messages in response. The first was a picture of a cross. The second was a Bible passage: Romans 8:31-39.

In the Romans passage, Paul asserts that God is for us. Then, he asks four questions.

1. If God chose to send Jesus to the Cross, is there any good thing he won't provide for us. The question is rhetorical. He has already given us the best, and most important. Everything else we need is a no brainer.

2. Is there anyone, who can accuse us of wrong doing? From one perspective, the world accuses us. We accuse ourselves. From another perspective, God justifies us. Yes, we have failed. Yes, we have done wrong. But God has acted. He has wiped the slate clean. We can give our allegiance to him, and start over. And over. And over.

3. Is there anyone who can condemn us? Paul reminds us that Jesus died. Moreover, Jesus rose. Moreover, Jesus is now with the Father interceding for us. If someone points out how terrible we are, how we only deserve punishment and death, Jesus leans over to the Father: "I died for that person. I paid that person's punishment in full. There is no grounds for condemnation anymore. He\she is a child of the King."

4. Is there anything that can separate us from his love? Is there anything that can force, or persuade, him not to love us? Is there anything in life that says, "God does not love you anymore"? Paul included a couple of lists of things that might make someone think: "This thing that happened must mean that God does not love me anymore." But God has already given up the most important, most precious, thing he had -- his Son, Jesus -- to safeguard us. Surrendering Jesus to the Cross demonstrates God's love, and complete commitment to achieve the best for mankind. He invites everyone to be part of his immediate family. He proclaims the worth, and value, of everyone by this amazing sacrifice.

So, whenever you have a bummer of a day, remind yourself of these things. They show how important you really are.

Laodicea

The seventh church is Laodiciea. The salutation affirms Jesus as God's word, the main expression of who God is, and what he is like.

He knows their walk. He describes it as lukewarm. His preference would be hot: faithful, pursuing his mission, and focusing on knowing and obeying God's word. But he would rather that they were cold, so he could work in them to move them in a positive direction.

They are lukewarm -- not against God, but not really pursuing God -- because they perceive themselves as having made it. They are the ones, who have it all figured out. And that perspective just increases pride in their hearts. 

They believe they have no needs, when in reality, they are extremely needy. They are needy, because they do not pursue God, who is the one who fulfills, and meets all needs.

God reminds them that he has the cure for their needs, and he seeks to correct those he loves. They may experience trouble. And he affirms his willingness, and readiness, to unite with them, claim them as his own, and pursue relationship with them.

The overcomer is the one, who returns to relationship with him. He will rule with him. As Jesus conquered sin, and injected life into the world, they will experience that life.

Philadelphia

The sixth church is Philadelphia. In the salutation, Jesus reminds them that he is the Messiah, that he is heir to the house of David, and holds the key. And when he applies the key, the door is open, or the door is closed. And no one can change it.

He knows their walk, and what they are doing. They are small, and weak, but he has given them an open door. Their door is open, because they have remained faithful to him. Those who say they follow God, but do not, will submit to this church, because God has given them his love. He will keep them from the effects of judgment.

They have remained faithful, focused on God's mission and God's word. They have prioritized what God sees as important.

The one, who overcomes, will be a pillar in God's house. They will be identified as God's people.

Sardis

The fifth church is Sardis. In the salutation, Jesus reminds the church that he holds the seven spirits of God, and the seven stars. He is reminding them of his authority. He has power to bless, and power to bring judgment. Their place, and effect, in the world is a result of their relationship to him.

The church has a reputation for life. But that is not true. It is like a church who has a lively, well-attended, Sunday morning, but has no walk with God the rest of the week. God encourages them to wake up. To share the gospel. To demonstrate God's character by acting in love. To move into a life of obedience. He urges them to remember what they have been taught.

There are some who really follow God among them. And those who live, like they do, are the overcomers. God will judge them worthy of walking with him. Their names will be listed in God's Book of Life. And Jesus will announce their names before God's throne, and to all the angels.

Jesus will remember a life of faithfulness, a life of love, and service, in the background, without being noticed. 

Thyatira

The fourth church is Thyatira. In the salutation, Jesus reminds us that his eyes are like fire, and his feet like burnished bronze. He is reminding the church of his purity, righteousness, and holiness.

Then, he praised the church for the good in it. It is growing in love, faith and service.

But it is not correcting ones in the church, who are being influenced by a woman, who promotes herself, and a sensual lifestyle. She has been urged to repent, as well as those under her influence. And she refuses. So, there will be judgment, so that everyone will realize the purity, the righteousness, and the holiness, of God. They dishonor him by their lifestyles.

Throughout history, there have been people, who say they are the real deal, but promote ideologies, and practices, that distort, and diminish, the gospel, and the word of God.

He urges, and encourages, the ones, who are still holding onto truth, to persevere. The overcomer is the one, who keeps God's word, and God promises to give the faithful ones authority over nations. Those, who walk with God, will have influence beyond their numbers, and station in life.

And they will have the morning star. That is, they will see new hope, new light, new direction, and new life.

Pergamum

The third church is Pergamum. The salutation is a reminder that the power of Jesus' words are like a two-edged sword. They are powerful. They can cut through all darkness, ignorance, lies, deception, and false philosophies. 

He assures the church, that he is aware of their situation. They live in a wicked place. Satan rules in that place. So, all sorts of evil is happening. But he commends them for remaining faithful. They did not cave into the surrounding culture, and lifestyle.

But there is a particular wrong that some are following. Some hold the teaching of Balaam. Many think that this is an encouragement to compromise God's standards. Some are saying that stuff some people believe, and do, is not really that bad. We should ignore those things, so we can all get along. We see in the book of Judges, that Israel developed this attitude in a lot of ways. And bad things resulted from it. Israel did not develop into the kind of people God wanted them to be. They did not represent him well. And they suffered for it.

Many people today have not paid attention to God's word. They have accepted current political thinking as more important than God's word. So, they do not put God, or his mission, or his values, or a lifestyle that is derived from those things, first. That's why he reminds us of the power of his word in the salutation.

He urges repentance. To return to wholehearted obedience, and faithfulness, to God's word. There will be a judgment against those who are not faithful to what God has revealed.

The overcomer, the one who remains faithful, and obedient, to what God has revealed, will be fed, and supplied for, by God's grace. And he will give each one a new identity. They will be transformed. The transformation will be hidden, because it will be developed between God and the person.

Smyrna

The second church is in the city of Smyrna. The salutation is a reminder that the eternal God, entered into the world, and was persecuted. That persecution resulted in his death. But death could not hold him. He returned to victorious life.

He is reminding the church that persecution is not the end.

Jesus tells them, he is very aware of their tribulation, and poverty. He is aware of the slander of people, who say they follow the God of Israel, but, in reality, they follow Satan.

Then, he encourages them not to be afraid. There will be tribulation and imprisonment for some. But, they have way more than they realize. The world may think they are poor, but God thinks they are rich.

Those who overcome, who remain faithful in light of all issues, and problems, will not experience God's judgment. They will experience God's life. The grace God gives to live life, to demonstrate who he is, is extraordinary, when living in extra negative, extra difficult, circumstances. We demonstrate God's love, and grace, in the way we live, and the way we interact with people. It is more powerful when life is difficult, and toward those behind our problems.

Ephesus

The first church is in the city of Ephesus. This is the same church that the book of Ephesians was written to.

The salutation is from the one who holds the seven stars, and walks among the seven lamp stands. In the first chapter, John sees Jesus in his vision, walking among the lamp stands, and with the stars. He is told that the lamp stands are the seven churches. The stars are the angels, or the messengers, of the churches. So, the stars could represent human, or angelic, leaders.

The lamp stand seems to be used as a symbol of the church, because the church should be an instrument of light. Those in its presence should be able to see where they are going, what is in the way, and what the destination is. This is the purpose of each church: to give light to the paths of people it connects with. So, Jesus reminds this church of its purpose.

And then he praises the church for its hard work, its patient perseverance, and being true to its standards.

And then he gently reproves them for a failure. They have left their first love. This church is very active, doing very good things. But if they have lost their love, there is a heart issue.

Have they gotten so hung up on doing, that they have forgotten grace? Gotten religious? Or forgotten the relationship that brought them to the Savior?

What we do is important. But actions need to come from a right heart. We need to have the heart of Jesus, who gave without expecting anything in return. Who served from a heart of love.

The result of not repenting, and returning to a correct heart, is the removal of the lamp stand. The church will be removed.

But those who overcome, who repent, pursue a relationship with God, and love with an open heart, will receive a place in God's Kingdom, and will be nourished from the Tree of Life. They will experience real life.

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The church is also commended for hating the works of the Nicolaitans. Someone suggested that this group believed that since all sin was forgiven, it was perfectly OK to live the party animal lifestyle.

As we said earlier, salvation does come from grace, and our sins have been completely dealt with at the cross. But if we give our allegiance to Jesus, our hearts have been transformed, and, therefore, our behavior has been transformed. So, what we do matters. Our hearts, and our allegiances, are demonstrated by our fruit.

Seven Churches in Asia

In chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelations, there are letters to seven churches in Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey.

The letters seem to follow a pattern:

• The salutation is a description of Jesus. It describes his position, character, and role, to the  church being addressed.
• The body is a description of the church, its situation, its character, its successes, and its failures.
• It closes with a promise to the overcomer. Meaning, if the church deals effectively with it situation -- it grows, enhances the successes, and corrects the failures -- Jesus gives these churches a promise of how God will look at them, and interact with them.

Some people think each church represents an age of the church. That is, the situation of this particular church is a description of the universal church in a particular era. I recognize that this could be a possibility. But I could not say at this time, that this is true.

But it does seem that these churches are types of churches. These churches have characteristics that current day churches have. And God feels the same about these current churches, as he did those seven churches. And his assessment, and his promises, are the same then, and now.

So, of course, the next little series will be about these churches, where we will highlight the pattern I discussed above in each church.

Zaccheus

Zaccheus was the chief tax collector for the Romans. Which means he was hated, and despised, by the Jews. He was a traitor, and a collaborator, with the oppressive Roman conquerors.

Apparently, he was spiritually curious also. He heard Jesus was traveling through his town. He wanted to see, and hear, Jesus. So, he went to where Jesus was. But, because he was really short, he could not see anything. So, he climbed a tree. Really, maintaining a dignified posture in front of everyone.

Jesus, of course, maintained his popularity ... he invited himself to Zaccheus' house for dinner. The process of giving, and accepting, hospitality was demonstration of acceptance, understanding, and approval. In other words, Jesus was saying that the traitor, Bacchus, was an OK guy. God saw him, and approved of him. Which was not what the ordinary Jew, or Jewish leaders, would think. They would condemn, scorn, and ignore Zaccheus. Certainly not have a meal with him.

At that meal, Zaccheus listened to Jesus, and his disciples, talk, and saw them interact with each other, him, and his staff. And Bacchus, a very rich man, announced that he was going to repay those he cheated -- four times what he took -- and then half of what was left to the poor.

Pretend MicroSoft overcharged $50 on each of its products. Then, imagine Bill Gates giving $200 for each product -- Windows, Word, Excel -- to those who have these products. Then, taking half of the rest of his money, and giving it to Compassion. Or some other charity.

When someone hears the gospel, and it clicks, there is an upheaval in the person's heart. A revolutionary change takes place in the heart. And as all behavior comes from the heart, there are revolutionary changes in behavior. Behavior demonstrates changes in the heart. The Bible calls these changes fruit. When someone gives allegiance to Jesus, there is fruit. And not just any fruit. The Bible lists the fruit of the Spirit. Fruit as the result of the Spirit living, and acting through, a person.

We see this fruit in Bacchus. And Jesus says that salvation came to Zaccheus' house, confirming the reality of the Spirit in Zaccheus' life. And Jesus confirms that such change was his mission from the Father.

Citizens of God's Kingdom - 4

The fourth passage involves a rich, young ruler. He asks Jesus how a person can attain to God's kingdom. Jesus told him to obey what God said. And he responded that he did obey what God said.

Jesus told him there was one more thing: give what he had to the poor, and follow Jesus. And the man was unable to do this. His possessions controlled his life.

Basically, there should be only one thing that controls us. And this young gentleman was controlled by his image, and his lifestyle.

Jesus' basic message was: there is only one person, who is worth our personal allegiance. Today, we see many things that people give their allegiance to. Politics. So, cial issues. Cultural pursuits. These things may not be necessarily wrong in themselves. God may even want his family to pursue these things on his behalf. But these things need to be given the right priority, the right attention, and the right value. 

There are people who have studied God's word -- and that's good -- and grabbed onto certain truths. Conclusions have been drawn. Extrapolations made. And systems built.

I do not think that someone believing, that a particular system is the correct system, is wrong, or dishonoring God. We are urged to walk by faith, and our convictions. But this will mean that in God's family, there will be some disagreement. Trouble comes when people from one system disobey God in regards people from another system.

Jesus said the most important command is to love God. And we love God by keeping his commands. The next most important command is to love people. To obey the first command, we need to obey the second command.

Disagreeing about systems is one thing. To lack patience, kindness, and to hold someone in low regard, because of that disagreement, disobeys, and dishonors, God. Jesus loved, and died, for those people, as much as he did for people in systems, we agree with. The Holy Spirit is working to teach, and transform, all of his family. And God is working to achieve one understanding, and one perspective, of who he is, and who he needs us to be.

So, we need to grasp onto some things tightly, and loosely on others. Or we run the risk of being like the rich, young ruler. Holding onto things we should not be holding onto.

Citizens of God's Kingdom - 3

The third passage is when people bring their children to Jesus. The disciples rebuke those families. And Jesus said to not stop the children from coming. Children are like those who enter God's kingdom.

What is the difference between adults and children, that makes children more acceptable in God's kingdom.

Children seem to be very open, and trusting. When told that a fat man, dressed in red, squeezes down the chimney, and leaves gifts in the house for everyone who lives there, they believe it. When told that a magic rabbit hides candy in the house on Easter morning, they believe it.

Children are not used to people cheating, lying, and deceiving others, so they accept what they hear. Especially if the people telling them have demonstrated love, and generosity, in other circumstances.

If we recognize God as loving, gracious, and merciful, wanting only to give us good things, then we should believe what he says. We should trust him.

It should be easy to trust him, because we understand his goodness, and it is not in his nature to lie, cheat, or deceive.

God is motivated primarily by two things: his holiness and his love. It is his holiness that motivates him to draw the line. And it is his love that motivates him to draw the line. He designed people, their hearts and their bodies. And part of that design is a code of conduct. If people follow God's way, they are better off, and more happy and fulfilled. And the world is better, and more happy. Let us trust like children, and experience God's best.