An Offering of Thanks

Yesterday, families and friends gathered in homes all over the country to among other things, eat, watch football, and hopefully, to offer thanks for the many blessings we receive from God.

In weeks prior to this national celebration of thanksgiving, we have heard numerous comments and lessons, and read many articles, on being thankful. We have been prompted to count our blessings, to name them one by one. We have been encouraged to acknowledge that all blessings come from God, and to express our gratitude for those blessings.

My point, this morning, is to reflect on the things that we counted, and the things for which we are grateful. I would suspect it would be easy, and time consuming, to list, and give thanks for, all the ways God has blessed our lives. In searching for things that God has done to improve my life, I would not have to look far. My parents, both of whom, my faith tells me, have gone to a better place. My wife, who helps me in so many ways, is a great blessing. My children, my friends, my ancestors, both spiritually and physically, my extended physical family, and all those in my spiritual family that encourage and sustain me from day to day, have improved my life in ways that I cannot fully grasp. I am blessed, and my reasons to be grateful are many. But there is more.

James writes, in Chapter 1, that we are to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be complete, not lacking anything."

In this reading, I understand that without trials, I am not complete. I am lacking. God knows that I am lacking, and has blessed me with trials to complete me, and to improve me. Am I thankful for that? Do I consider trials as blessings?

Paul says it this way; "...we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us". (Romans 5:3-5)

In my accounting of all the things that God has provided for the improvement of my life, I must include suffering. I must be thankful that God loves me enough to help complete me, to ensure that I lack in nothing.

I believe this is a perspective worth considering and cultivating in all our lives.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3)

Philos or Hetairos?

What is friendship? Trust, honesty, fellowship, enjoyment? Yes, indeed those and many more characteristics can describe what friendship is. Christ Himself gives a characteristic of friendship in John 15:14, but is this the same kind of friend that Christ calls Judas in Matthew 26: 50?

In the Greek language there are two words that render “friend” in the English language: “philos” and “hetairos”. Both of these words are translated “friend” in the NASB, but both have a different meaning. “Philos” means a true friend. This is the kind of friend that Jesus calls his disciples (excluding Judas) in John 15: 15, and also this is the “friend” that is with the bridegroom at His wedding (John 3: 29). Therefore, this “friend” is one that we would understand as being a true friend. However, “hetairos” conveys more of a companion than a true friend. This word is only used three times in the Greek New Testament and all three occur in the book of Matthew. What’s interesting is that this is the word used when the King addresses a guest not dressed in wedding clothes and then condemns him to outer darkness (Matthew 22: 12). Also, in the other passages in Matthew (20: 13 and 26: 50), it is never indicating a close relationship that we would consider to be a friendship. “Hetairos” is what Jesus calls Judas in Matthew 26: 50, but in Luke 12: 4 Christ address His disciples as friends (philoi). That would include Judas wouldn’t it? What makes me wonder is this: was “hetairos” the word used by Jesus to prick Judas’ heart? Was it this word that made him change his mind and try to rectify what he had done? How would you feel if for three years you traveled with Jesus and built a relationship with Him so that He called you friend (philos), and then one day He calls you “hetairos”? Of course we can say that Judas may have also changed his mind by seeing Jesus in those chains and being pushed around, but I sometimes wonder how I would I feel if I was regarded as a friend one day, and then the next day I wasn’t. Are you Jesus’ “philos” or “hetairos”?

A God Who Is Worthy of Our Worship

Bart Campolo recently wrote an article under the title, “The Limits of God’s Grace,” which appeared in Youth Specialties’, The Journal of Student Ministries. Please read the following excerpt from his article:

“Some might say I would be wise to swallow my misgivings about such stuff [like God's sovereignty, wrath, hell, etc.], remain orthodox, and thereby secure my place with God in eternity. But that is precisely my point: If those things are true, then God might as well send me to Hell. For better or worse, I simply am not interested in any God but a completely good, entirely loving, and perfectly forgiving One who is powerful enough to utterly triumph over evil. Such a God may not exist, but I will die seeking such a God, and I will pledge my allegiance to no other possibility because, quite frankly, anything less is not worthy of my worship. Please, don’t get me wrong. I am well aware that I don’t get to decide who God is. What I do get to decide, however, is to whom I pledge my allegiance. I am a free agent, after all, and I have standards for my God, the first of which is this: I will not worship any God who is not at least as compassionate as I am.”

My initial thought is how remarkable that any publication that claims to present “Christian” literature would publish such a blasphemous piece of writing. It is even more unconscionable when I think about the fact that thousands of youth leaders around the country read this publication each week. It is disheartening to know that many youth leaders in churches of Christ make this a part of their monthly diet.

In the above quote, we get a glimpse into why so many Christians walk away from God and His Church. Through the centuries, mankind has tried to create a God to his liking. Sigmund Freud said that man created God because he was afraid. The Word of God says that God created man in His image, after His likeness (Genesis 1:26). Whenever we try to recreate God, as the author of the above quote has attempted to do, we will always turn away from the God of the Bible.

When he says he will pledge his allegiance to no other God than the one who is like him, he is in reality saying he pledges his allegiance only to himself. This is no new thought. Humanism has been around since the creation of man. There have always been narcissistic naval-gazers who are only interested in what they want.

For one to say, “I have standards for my God, the first of which is this: I will not worship any God who is not at least as compassionate as I am,” shows a gross misunderstanding of the God we serve. Our most well known passage of scripture affirms the all consuming compassion of God for man. “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.” (John 3:16) When you add these words from Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” what you have is the greatest show of compassion ever known to man. This God is most certainly worthy of our worship. When we understand the true meaning of compassion, and we come to realize all that God has done for us, we will want to worship Him. Our worship to this God is characterized by joy, reverence, love, and great gratitude.

By the way, there is one other small detail that Mr. Campolo has wrong. He is wrong when he says he will not worship any God who is not as least as compassionate as he is. He needs to reconsider his misunderstanding of the God of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), because someday he, like all of us will bow before the God of the entire universe (Romans 14:11).

The Lord Provides

God watches out for those who follow Him. Proof of this is found all throughout the Bible, but some very interesting proof is found in John 6 when Jesus feeds the five thousand. Jesus and His apostles gather the crowds together for whom Jesus has compassion, and they want to feed them but find out that all they have is five loaves of bread and two fish. Now remember: this is unleavened bread (more like a pancake), which makes it even harder to feed these five thousand men plus their wives and children! Jesus tests Philip at this point, asking him in verse 5, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” Of course Jesus knew what was going to happen. He knew from the beginning of eternity! I believe He tests us in the same way today: “You’ve lost your job. Where are you going to get money with which to feed your family?” “You’ve lost a loved one. How are you going to cope with this despondent time?” “You’ve come into contact with cancer. How are you ever going to get better?” Jesus knows the answer to these questions! He just wants us to come to Him for help. I remember Him once saying, “Come unto me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus can help us with any problem and He wants us to come to Him. So He feeds this large group and then what? There’s still food left over! Twelve baskets! The interesting thing about this fact is that the word here for basket, is not the basket that we generally thinking of. When I think of basket, I think of a pretty large wicker thing with handles. The word for basket here is more of a pouch. It was used by travelers (like the apostles) to hold food for their journey. Is it possible that Jesus made sure there was exactly the right amount of baskets left for his apostles? We need to be just like Abraham and have faith that the Lord will provide for His people.