I have been studying the book of Malachi over several weeks. I would like to share some of the things I have been learning from this small prophet at the end of the Old Testament. I am using a study called “Before His Throne” by Kathy Howard and have enjoyed searching the Scriptures each day over a nine week period. Kathy begins this study with teaching in depth about what it means to fear God.

What do you think fearing God means? Perhaps you have thought that fearing God means that we must be afraid of Him, terrorized or fearful. Is fearing God the same as the feeling in my stomach when the lights flash in my rearview mirror? Scripture clearly tells us that we are to fear God but what would a healthy fear of God be like? In Hebrew it is “yare” meaning to fear, be afraid; to stand in awe of, be awed; to fear; reverence, honor and respect. Fear often in Scripture may be translated as reverence, awe or worship. What would this fear look like if it were lived out in the life of a believer? The person who fears God according to Scripture is described as teachable, wise, one who seeks understanding, hates what God hates, is confident in Christ, seeks refuge in Christ, calls on the Father and glorifies Him. Those who do not fear God are described as those who do not seek the Lord, hate knowledge, seek their own way, are not righteous, do not profit, practice deceit and have no peace.1.

Malachi 1 clearly describes a people who had lost their fear of God. The sacrifices they offered were blemished, their attitude towards godly things became complacent and God’s words and instructions became a burden. They no longer saw God as holy and they began to have a casual relationship towards God. How about you and me? Have we become one-sided? Do we think of God as only love, love, love and forgotten He is holy, holy, holy? You and I need to know all the attributes of God. When we do we will be humbled and we will have a fear of God because He deserves to be feared for who He is. A.W. Tozer says an encounter with the holiness of God “is an acute feeling of personal insufficiency in the presence of God the Almighty.”2. In other words, He is God and I am not. Kathy Howard adds, “We must allow the fear of God to become a pervasive attitude that plays itself out in our thoughts, words and behavior. We can say that we fear God, but such statements are only words if our lives do not reflect a yielded obedience to Him. A proper attitude toward God will be evident in the way we live.”3.

Again I ask, do you and I fear God?

Kathy Withers serves in Guest Services at America’s KESWICK. She is wife to Dave and mom to Michael and Kerri.

1. Psalm 25:12-14, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:28-31, Proverbs 8:13-14, Proverbs 14:26-27, Romans 3:10-18, 1 Peter 1:17-19

2. “The Knowledge of the Holy” by A.W. Tozer

3. “Before His Throne” by Kathy Howard

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Not only are we to be like-minded, toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, but it is so that we may WITH ONE MIND AND ONE MOUTH GLORIFY THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

It all comes back to the glory of God.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess 1:11-12

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Psalm 86:8-10

When together, our deepest desire, our greatest passion is for God’s glory, we WILL be like-minded towards one another according to Christ Jesus and we will with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Diane

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

This week we have been looking at Romans 15:5-6. Thus far we have considered that we are to be like-minded toward one another. But not only are we to be like-minded toward one another, but we are to be like-minded toward one another ACCORDING TO CHRIST JESUS.

As I have shared previously, last year I asked the Addiction Recovery Staff to pray daily Romans 15:5-6 for our team. Over time I realized I was leaving out the phrase, ACCORDING TO CHRIST JESUS. Just that short little phrase makes a big difference because it is a reminder that this is not about us anyway. Apart from Christ Jesus there is no hope of being like-minded toward one another; we are far too self-centered, self-appreciating to be like-minded toward others. But that’s apart from Christ.

Remembering that we are to be like-minded toward one another ACCORDING TO CHRIST JESUS is like driving a stake in the ground, it brings our central focus back to Jesus.

Diane

Romans 15:5-6 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday we considered that we are to be like-minded, but not only are we to be like-minded, but we are to be like-minded TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

We can deceive ourselves that we are like-minded until we make it personal. It’s easy to be like-minded in theory, but we are to be like-minded TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

I wonder how much damage has been done when we gossip ABOUT ONE ANOTHER rather than being like-minded TOWARD ONE ANOTHER.

“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:12-15

Being like-minded is personal. We are to be like-minded toward other people, even the ones that rub us the wrong way (if you by chance have any of those in your life). We are to be like-minded toward one another.

Diane

I recently had the opportunity to speak at our Staff Chapel on Romans 15:5-6: Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

This week let’s consider briefly a few key points of this Scripture.

We are to be like-minded.

“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by BEING OF THE SAME MIND, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” Philippians 2:1-3 (caps mine)

What does it mean to be like-minded? It does not mean that we all think exactly alike. Paul gives 3 descriptions of like-mindedness.

1. “Having the same love.” It would be difficult if not impossible to be like-minded with someone that does not love Jesus. That is why God tells us not to be unequally yoked. “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”1

2. Being of one accord: “to be consistent or in harmony”2

3. Of one mind : “…walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call – one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”3

As followers of Jesus Christ, we have this in common with all other believers: We all love and serve Jesus Christ. This agreement provides a solid foundation upon which to build like-mindedness.

Diane

1 2 Corinthians 6:14

2 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accord accessed 07.08.09

3 Ephesians 4:1-6

Every day 1440 minutes pass. Every week 10,080 minutes pass. Every month 43,200 minutes pass. Every year 525,600 minutes pass. What are you doing with your time?

Are you intentional in whatever God has called you to today? Time passes one way or another. Very little of value gets accomplished by accident.

Do you parent intentionally?

Do you worship intentionally?

Do you pray and meditate intentionally?

Do you encourage others intentionally?

Do you read Scripture intentionally?

Do you serve intentionally?

Do you love intentionally?

Do you forgive intentionally?

Do you befriend intentionally?

Do you submit to others intentionally?

Do you bear others burdens intentionally?

Do you seek to be holy intentionally?

Do you weep with those who weep intentionally?

Do you rejoice with those who rejoice intentionally?

Do you accept others intentionally?

What will you do with your 1440 minutes today?

Diane

When we consider the parable of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) we recall the lawyer who stood up seeking to test Jesus and justify himself, asking Jesus, ìWho is my neighbor?î and Jesus replied with the story of the Samaritan that journeyed by the wounded man and stopped to care for him, even though Samaritans were considered dogs, enemies. ìSo,î Jesus asked, ìwhich of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?î In so doing, Jesus expanded their perspective of who was their neighbor.

Jesus told his listeners, ìëYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,í and ëyour neighbor as yourself.íî Loving their neighbor didnít sound too bad until Christ challenged their idea of neighbor.

Now, instead of asking who is my neighbor, I want to ask you, who is your enemy? Yesterday, we read Matthew 5:44-45 where Christ commands his followers to love their enemies. It would be so easy to reverse the above situation. Rather than seeing our neighbor as someone close to us, relationally or geographically, Jesus broadens our perspective to include those that may not even be known or liked. Likewise, rather than seeing your enemy as someone remote from yourself that hates you and actively wars against you, would you consider with me those ìenemiesî that are close to you?

If you were to ask me if I had any enemies, I would be hard-pressed to name one. Are there people that are not fans? Yes. Are there people that I irritate? Yes. Are there people who would seek to avoid me? Yes. Are there people that disagree with me? Yes, even strongly disagree. Are there people of whom I am not a fan? Yes. Are there people that irritate me? Yes. Are there people who I may try to avoid? Yes. Are there people I disagree with, even strongly disagree with? Yes. Does that make them my enemy? Again, we are trying to apply the principle of ìwho is my neighborî in reverse. Could not my ìenemyî be closer than I think? I believe so.

What if we treated those close to us as our ìenemiesî biblically, when we disagree, argue, get angry or are in conflict? NOW STAY WITH ME BECAUSE IF YOU DRIFT HERE, YOU WILL COMPLETELY MISUNDERSTAND ME. All of us have times of opposition with those who are very near and dear to us. If we treated those dear ones as ìenemiesî according to Matthew 5, we would love them, bless them, pray for them and do good unto them which is far better than the way we are prone to treat those with whom we are in conflict, even family and friends. Am I right?

ìYou have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.î Matthew 5:43-45

Perhaps rather than asking ìWho is our neighbor?î we need to be asking ìwho is our enemy?î

Diane

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” ~ NKJV Matthew 5:44-45

These are Christ’s words to His followers.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES… okay, sounds difficult and certainly not my preference but I can chose to love my enemies by God’s grace. So far, it doesn’t sound like I actually have to interact with them.

BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU… okay, again, sounds difficult and certainly not my preference but I can chose to bless those who curse me by God’s grace. I think I can ask God to bless them and still not have to interact with them.

PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE AND PERSECUTE YOU… I can pray for my enemy and never actually interact with her.

BUT this is the one that stopped me dead in my tracks:

DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU… DO GOOD? Now this sounds extremely difficult, if not impossible, to actually do good to my enemies. This requires I interact with them. Now it’s personal. It is going to cost me something to do good to my enemy as God commands.

In reality, all of these components of Jesus’ words require a change at the level of the heart. If I genuinely seek to love my enemies, bless those that curse me and pray for those that spitefully use me – I will be seeking ways TO interact with them and do good unto them.

Will it cost me? You bet.

It will cost me time, requiring I sacrificially give it when in my heart I’d rather be doing something else.

It will cost me pride, requiring I humble myself.

It will cost me self-protection, requiring I trust Christ to be my guard.

It will cost me effort, requiring I go out of my way to find ways to serve my enemy.

It will cost me self, requiring I be more concerned with their needs than my own.

It will cost me the satisfaction of being right (if I am), requiring that I value God’s glory above my own.

It will cost me in intention, requiring I seek ways to do good to them rather than ways to avoid them.

Does it cost us to follow Jesus? Absolutely, but not nearly as much, not nearly as much as it cost Him to make it possible.

Today, do good unto your enemy.

Diane

A few years ago, we studied Steve McVey’s books “GraceWalk” and “Godward Gaze” in our Higher Ground women’s group. The study was rich and life-transforming for many of the women. One of the truths that made such a huge impact on the women and continues to even today is stop trying and start trusting. So many of us go through our Christian walk trying and trying to measure up, falling short over and over, getting up and dusting ourselves off and making ourselves feel better by promising to do better next time. We are trapped in a vicious cycle of failure and trying harder and harder to be a good Christian. McVey’s point is that it’s already a done deal: Christ accomplished for us what we can never accomplish for ourselves: Live the Christian life perfectly. So rather than trying harder we need to rest in the finished work of Christ on our behalf. Trusting by faith that we are already perfected, holy, and accepted.

Recently, I have been reading “The Enemy Within” by Kris Lundgaard. Perhaps for the first time in my 26 years as a follower of Jesus Christ I am starting to really understand the battle of my flesh as a real enemy of the things of God. There dwells within me the law of sin that wars against the Spirit. (Romans 7:23) Now, don’t misunderstand me – the only power the law of sin has over me is what I grant it because “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2) But, whether through laziness, ignorance or self-centeredness, or more likely a combination of all three, I have granted my flesh, indwelling sin far too much sway in my life. I failed to recognize the mole – the enemy within. I was more intuned to the enemy without – temptations from outside of myself. Of late, I have been quickened in my spirit to be alert to the law of sin that resides within. “For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” Romans 7:22-23 As I have gained understanding (even if feebly) of the enemy of my soul that resides within me, that is indwelling sin, which will remain until I see Jesus face to face, I am more and more certain that I must fight the flesh reckoning it dead.

At first blush – McVey and Lundgaard sound like they are contradicting one another; one saying stop trying start trusting, the other saying fight to mortify the flesh the enemy within. So which is it? Stop trying or fight?

Both….

We need to stop trying in our own strength to do that which Christ has already accomplished and trust in His finished work.

We need to fight to put to death the deeds of the flesh BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13 We need to fight, not in our own strength but by faith in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Please do not rush past this truth because this distinction is vital to our spiritual health and growth.

Take some time today and read Romans 6, 7 and 8 meditating upon the truths packed into these 87 verses. Savor them like a piece of rich chocolate, extracting every morsel of truth, allowing it to sink deeply into your spirit.

Oh, sisters, that we would be changed.

Diane

A few months ago my Aunt had been ill and went through two major surgeries. I went to see her soon after the second surgery. Upon waking she told me that she didn’t think she would be here much longer. I knew in my heart that that was probably the case. Aunt Jo continued her thought by quoting a familiar hymn, “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” She was an organist for many years and her love of music was always apparent. These words easily came to her mind. Here in trying times and near the end of her life her desire was to see Jesus and to praise Him all day long. It was hard and difficult to watch my aunt suffer over the last few months of her life, yet it was a privilege to see her finish well.

I share this because I am challenged at how well I will finish. Will Jesus continue to be the desire of my heart? If I make it to 87 years of age will my love for Him be as strong?

In the midst of pain and uncertainty will I cling to Jesus? As I face death will I waver or long to see His face? I hope to finish well but I know that my “finish” begins today. My finish is determined by the choices I make today. A little compromise today may be all that it takes to cause me to falter at the finish line.

If you feel like you have quit the race you can still get back in. If you feel disqualified you need only repent. Today may be the day you will choose to memorize Scripture and songs that will later carry you through dark valleys. Maybe today is the day that you need to choose to get back on track with your Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let these verses be your hope and goal today:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

Kathy Withers

Kathy works in Guest Services at America’s KESWICK. She is married to Dave and Mom to Michael and Kerri.