Month: February 2016

Godly Attitudes and Actions

Beloved, we find in Eph. 4:1-3 that the proper posture of a worthy walk is to have an eager readiness to do God’s will.  And as Paul makes clear, this involves embracing godly attitudes (“…with all humility, gentleness, and patience…”), and fulfilling godly actions (“…bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”).

How could we whom God in Christ has so chosen, adopted, redeemed, and lavished with immeasurable grace (Eph. 1-3!), not joyfully and earnestly love one another for His pleasure and glory?  Nothing is more basic to our calling as His children than this, that we passionately care for one another as our Father cares for us!  So it is that these blessed obligations are expressed in our “Membership Commitment” to each other at RCG:

I will walk humbly in love with my brothers and sisters in Christ, regarding others as more important than myself, speaking with wisdom and graciousness for the edification of others, giving and receiving admonition with gentleness and patience, and eagerly seeking forgiveness and reconciliation whenever transgression may break the bond of peace with any brother or sister.  I will diligently pray for and work for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace in this church.

I encourage you to pause, and consider 1 or 2 specific ways, with specific people, God would have you “walk worthy” in these matters.  Perhaps it’s a prayer, a phone call, a note, an invitation to dinner, some gift of kindness, by which you can encourage a brother or sister in Christ.  Perhaps you’ve noticed someone who’s been absent from our gatherings for some time.  Perhaps you should seek them out in love.

Oh beloved, how amazing that God would design to manifest His holy love through us His children!  And how endless are the tangible ways His love can be expressed toward one another!  May we continue to cultivate this proper posture of a worthy walk, that Jesus’ promise would be all the more fulfilled through us:

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  (Jn. 13:35)

Praying for you, and with you, to this end,

Greg

Therefore

Christians are those who, by the power of God’s Spirit, should be zealous to “THEREFORE…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called” (Eph. 4:1).

Because God has “made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:5), we should be eager to grow in the glories of knowing God (this is what Eph. 1-3 is all about).  And we should therefore excel in the duties of pleasing God (this is what Eph. 4-6 is all about).

The key to rightly understanding the Christian life is found in the significance of the word “therefore” in Eph. 4:1.  The point of Paul’s entire letter is that as we believe and grasp the glories of Eph. 1-3, we should therefore walk in the duties of Eph. 4-6.  If we try to fulfill the duties without living in the hope, riches, and power of the glories, we’ll know nothing but defeat, guilt, fear, discouragement, and exasperation.

Oh Beloved, God has called us to better things, things that magnify His grace and glory!  This is why Paul prays for believers as he does (Eph. 1:15-23; 3:14-21).  And this is why and how we should be praying for one another (Eph. 6:18); praying with the confident expectation that God is indeed “…able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20)!  Amen!

Praying for you, and with you,
Greg

Encouragement from Hudson Taylor

Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) was the founder of China Inland Mission.  He was also a man who deeply understood the power of prayer within God’s sovereign purposes.

 

Echoing the heart of Paul’s prayer in Eph. 3:14-21, the following expressed Hudson Taylor’s daily request before God.  Perhaps this simple, poetic petition will be an encouragement for your own longings at God’s throne of grace!

 

Lord Jesus make Thyself to me

A living, bright reality;

More present to faith’s vision keen

Than any outward object seen;

More near, more intimately nigh

Than even the sweetest earthly tie.

 

Because Christ lives, and is returning,

Greg

 

P.S.  You might want to check out this brief, well-rounded biography by John Piper, entitled The Ministry of Hudson Taylor as Life in Christ

Preparing for the Lord’s Day

As we prepare to gather again this coming Lord’s Day, let me encourage you in a few specific ways.

First, take advantage of the “order of service” information we include in this newsletter.  Individually, or with family/friends, take some time in the days prior to our Sunday gathering to read through the various Scripture passages we’ll be using.  Also take time to read or sing through the songs we’ll be singing (you can easily find the lyrics on the internet).  This will help your own heart and mind be that much more prepared, and also help you serve and encourage others as we meet.

Second, as we’ll be diving back into the book of Ephesians this Sunday, I encourage you to read the whole book before we meet.  It’s a relatively short 6 chapters, and only takes 20-30 minutes to read.  Again, this will be helpful in the preparation of your heart and mind.

Third, let Paul’s prayers in Eph. 1:15-19 and 3:14-19 be a guide for how you pray for our brothers and sisters at RCG.  And together, let’s confidently expect God to do as He’s promised in Eph. 3:20-21!

Finally, if you’re not already in the habit of joining us for our “Sack Lunch Sunday” following the worship service, why not begin this Sunday?  We enjoy an informal lunch from around 12:30pm to 1:15pm.  You can either bring a “sack lunch”, or grab something from a nearby restaurant.  Following lunch, we have a time of sharing and prayer from about 1:15pm – 2:00pm.  There’s always a range of folks who attend: singles, couples, and families with kids (young and old).  Of course it makes for a bit of a long morning and afternoon, but the sweetness of encouraging fellowship is well worth it, and brings glory to God.

Beloved, what a privilege and blessing we have to share life in Christ together at RCG.  Participating in what He wills for us each Lord’s Day is a huge part of that privilege and blessing.  I look forward to being with you again, as we eagerly await gathering with all the redeemed before God’s throne in heaven!

Because Christ lives, and is returning,
Greg