Integrity

      Integrity is that honest adherence to moral and ethical principles even when it does not personally benefit you—even when it seems to work against you. For the child of God, it is a solid commitment to the will of God and a relentless devotion to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
      Joseph certainly comes to mind as a person of God who would not compromise what was right to save his own skin. Genesis 37 tell us that Joseph was 17 years old when he had his dreams of reigning over his brothers. In anger they stripped him of his coat of many colors and cast him into a pit. Before his brothers had a chance to sell him, a group of Midianite merchantmen lifted Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver. From there, they went down to Egypt where Potipher bought him from the Ishmaelites. The Lord was with Joseph and made him to prosper. Potipher realized this and made Joseph overseer of his house (Genesis 39:5). Even when Potipher’s wife, many times, tried to sleep with Joseph, all he could think of was, “There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). The final attempt by Potipher’s wife was when “she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.” (Gen 39:12). She turned on him and reported that he had tried to rape her and when she screamed, he turned and fled, leaving his garment behind. This cost him some time in jail.
      While in Babylonian captivity, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not regard Nebuchadezzar, they refused to serve his gods and worship the golden image that he set up. They answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. (Daniel 3:16-18). They got thrown into the furnace, but God miraculously protected them.
      An unusual New Testament teaching in 1 Corinthians 8 regarding eating food offered to idols demonstrates, more in depth, the importance of integrity. In this, Paul establishes that "an idol has no real existence," (8:4). However, there were brethren who were “weak” in their conscience because of their former association with idols (8:7). Paul taught that the eating of food, previously offered to idols wasn’t sinful in an of itself, but it could destroy the weaker person. “Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, [while the world standeth - KJV] lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:12-13). This is integrity.
      This is no different than the character of Jesus as seen in Capernaum when He miraculously provided the tribute money in the mouth of the fish (Mt. 17:24-27). The Son of God was legally exempt, but “lest we should offend them” he instructed to pay the tax.
      Christians are to be soul-conscious. We don’t want to be the reason someone sins. Our influence and actions are powerful. Christians need to be known for their integrity—that honest adherence to moral and ethical principles even when it does not personally benefit you—even when it seems to work against you. It might save a soul.

Incentive Driven Culture

By Kris Groda

Schools are doing it. Businesses are doing it.  Even some parents are doing it.  Incentives programs are big.  We all have, to some degree, a  "What's in it for me?" mentality.    We will get involved if it benefits us in some way.    Kids are motivated to make the A honor roll if they know they can get a free dinner at El Chico's.    Harts Bluff students get free tickets to Six Flags if they complete 6 hours of extra-curricular reading.    According to the February 2012 issue of Texas Monthly, our very own Guaranty Bond Bank was ranked 22 in the Top 100 best mid-sized          companies to work for in Texas.   Business       consultants have identified perks like pay        packages, bonuses, healthcare, paid vacations, work attendance rewards, free concert tickets, company pizza luncheons, morale boosting       contests, employee appreciation parties and a host of other incentives have made for some really sweet jobs but in some instances have    become a necessary evil to keep and motivate people to be good workers for their employers.

While incentives are good things, it seems there really is a problem when people grow to the point that diligence in work and study has to be rewarded.  Is it that way in the church?   Yeah, I think so.    What would Bible Bowl be with our   ribbons and trophies?  What would Pew Packers be like without a medal for doing memory work?  What would our Peak of the Week Bible Class be like without a points chart for doing church work that we should be doing anyway? What would    being a bible class teacher at North Jefferson be like without an Annual Teachers Appreciation Banquet?   Brethren, I am not coming down on making our work fun and enjoyable or even     having a system that would motivate and help us organize and keep track of our work.  But we need to keep things in perspective and do church work with the right motivation.  We need to        remember the true and everlasting incentives.

What incentives do Christians have to be good students, employees, and laborers in the vineyard?    Let me submit a few ideas from the Holy Scriptures.

Hebrews 11:8-10 "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same     promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. "

2 Corinthians 4:16-18  "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but  for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Hebrews 11:25-26 By faith, Moses,  "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;  Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward."

Colossians  3:23-24  "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

Jesus taught, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets" (Luke 6:22-23). 

Am I incentive driven?  Yes, I am.   But not by what man can do for me, but by what God has promised me.   I am motivated to serve God and my neighbor because I want to bring glory to God (1 Corinthians  6:20; 1 Peter 4:16) and that will be glory for me (Romans 8:17). 

Resolving Conflict

People will be people.   I wish everyone could get along and never have deal with strife, disagreements, jealously,  misunderstandings, offenses and sin in general.  But, that is not reality.  In fact, even in our relationship with God, we need a mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). 

I am so glad that Christ gave a plan for unity in the church.   Not only does the Word provide information about the sin of division, discord (Proverbs 6:19), envy and strife (James 3:16).   It also provides us with a  standard of behavior  to live by and  a ‘how to’ for fixing the problems.  Paul’s letter to the Ephesians says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32).  

Jesus gave an instance of what to do when your brother has sinned against you.   He instructed, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." (Matt 18:15).   “If he hear thee”  is very important, but not nearly as important as you going to your brother in the first place.  Paul said as much in his letter to the churches of Galatia,  “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).  I realize this in not limited to the one who has been sinned against, but it certainly applies.

Then, there is another instance, of where a spiritually conscientious person realizes that his worship of God is meaningless unless his relationship with his brother is made right.    Jesus said, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24).  While the immediate context is about anger control it is also about right relationships.  Think about it.  Jesus is saying that repentance and reconciliation with your brother trumps worship.  Stop your worship to  repent and get right with a brother?  Yep!  In fact,  Jesus went on to say, “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison” (v. 25).    In other words, reconcile with your accuser speedily before it ever goes to court. 

 

Christians are to go out of their way to maintain proper relationships.  John said, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”  (I John 4:20).  I am not interested in sinning against folks nor am I interested in causing them to stumble (1 John 2:10).  If I am concerned about my relationship with God and my brethren,  that I will be eager to resolve conflict when I know it happens.

Let's Delve in 2012

The other day I was asking Lena to help me think of catchy slogan for 2012. Previous years included "Thinking of Heaven in 2011"; "Let your light shine in 2009"; "Things will be great in 2008"; and "Read the Bible through in 2002". This year has proven to be difficult to come up with a catchy slogan and one that rhymes. We couldn't come up with anything. Lena did come up with one word - "delve". So, here are a few things that I can suggest that we delve into.

We need to 'delve' into God's Word.

"...Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." (1 Peter 1:10-12). The prophets prophesied about things that were coming to us, in our age. Not only did the prophets have great interest in the things of the new covenant, the angels “desire” to look into it also.

The disciples were privileged to see the unfolding plan of God and to live during the age when the kingdom of Heaven was coming to fruition on earth. "But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it" (Matthew 13:16-17). Their hearts (the prophets) desire was to see and hear about the very things we take for granted - the church and the Christian life.

We need to 'delve' into the Christian Family Life.

Cindy Colley listed some things in her blog (cindycolley.blogspot.com) that would make for a great holiday season. I want to forward them to you because this is a picture of what Christian families do (Deut. 6.4-ff shows how families show immerse themselves spiritual things). 1. Prayers for the safety of the travelers in your crew. 2. Excitement in your conversations about the works of your various congregations of His people. 3. Family devotionals with singing and prayer and discussions of scripture before bedtime. 4. Gifts, cards and wishes to and from your family in the Lord. 5. Funny, happy, sad and wonderful stories about great servants in the kingdom that your family has known. 6. Dinner table discussions about passages of scripture and their applications. 7. Gifts of commentaries, lectureship books, children’s Bible story books and recordings of hymns. 8. Delicious dishes prepared from recipes shared by sisters in Christ. 9. Hospitality extended to brothers and sisters in the Lord. 10. Filling up a pew or more at the worship service of the local church. 11. Kids working on projects for Bible class, Bible Bowl, Lads to Leaders or service projects with the youth group. 12. Messages, handwritten or verbal, telling your loved ones the spiritual character traits you admire about them and encouraging them to grow in faith and service. 13. Goodbyes when our part that everyone knows are not final, even if an accident or an illness steals a life before the next earthly reunion.

We need to 'delve' into Church Life.

Ok, after the last paragraph, we may be a bit redundant, but this is what we want for the church at North Jefferson, right? We can't talk about our church work with our families if we are not really involved. So, consider this, the church is to be a sharing and caring people. If  there is a need, share your stuff (Acts 2:44-45; Matthew 5:40-41). If there is a burden, bear it (Gal. 6:1-2). If someone is weak, support them (1 Thess 5:14). If there is ignorance, teach them (1 Tim 6:2; Titus 2:4; Hebrews 5:12). If the doors are open, make the choice to be here. Nothing turns a visitor off like an empty building (Hebrews 10:24-25). [You're looking these scriptures up, right?] The saved are added to the church (Acts 2:47). Jesus is the Savior of the body (Eph 5:23). Salvation is in the church just like salvation was in the ark during the flood. You are the church and the church is God's holy temple (1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5). So, we should be interested in the life of the church! "Let's delve in 2012!"

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

The Gift that Keeps on Giving' sales pitch usually deals with diamonds or magazine subscriptions. In many ways, the phrase has become as meaningful as “It's the thought that counts”. No one really believes  it – just try it on your spouse sometime if you do.

Actually, there are gifts that are really nice. A gift is something voluntarily transferred from one person to another without compensation.

In the Old Testament, we find that God had, “given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation” and to make an atonement for the children of Israel (Number 8:19). Then in Numbers 18:6 it says, “And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation”. Interesting that the Levites were considered a gift given by God to Aaron, and a gift from Aaron to God!

The scriptures also indicate that the offerings & the titihes that were offered for the Levites were called gifts (Numbers 18:29; Mt 5:23-24). In 2 Chron. 32:23, following the Lord's great salvation of King Hezekiah from Sennacherib (king of Assyria), many people brought gifts unto the Lord to Jerusalem and presents to Hezekiah.

The wise men from the east came to Bethlehem for to worship the young child Jesus “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Mt. 2:22). It was common in Eastern culture to give such gifts to royalty. In this we see a principle of the lesser giving gifts to the greater. An example of this is when Abraham gave tithes (a tenth part) of all the spoil to Melchisedec (Gen 14:18; Heb 7:1-2). God is greater than we are, so we should offer to Him what is due. However, Hebrews 7:7 says, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better”.  This seems to be a contradiction, but it is not.  Melchisedec blessed Abraham – and God is blessing us. Think about how Jesus taught on prayer. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matt 7:7-11).

God is a great gift giver. Sometimes we don't recognize it as such (like the Levites in Numbers 8:19). We are told that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). One such gift “is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). It is a free gift (Rom 5:15, 16), but not a cheap gift! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8). Obedient faith is the contribution that we make to God for this free gift. With David we ask, “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?” (Psa 116:12). We could start by offering thanks to God “for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor 9:15), the gift that keeps on giving!