Jesus asks, "Ralph, Do You Love Me?"

I recently posted that my job situation is changing again and have been asking myself the question, "Where's my joy?" I was at a men's Bible study today that discussed John 5:1-15 (Jesus feeds the 5000) where we learn alot about ourselves, but more importantly, we learn alot about Jesus.

To summarize, Jesus was followed out to the desert by 5000 men, not counting women and children. Their pursuit of Jesus was mostly out of their desire to see signs and wonders performed (see John 4:48), in other words, what Jesus could do for them. When Jesus asked Philip where they could buy bread to feed all these people, He already knew what He was going to do. His question was to test Philip's faith and demonstrate His sufficiency to know our needs and meet them.

This is the third time in three years that I've been laid off. I keep trying to provide for my family under my own strength when I need to be fully reliant on God. Even today I started to grieve over the loss of my comfort zone (steady employment/income/benefits) and the 'scary' position of trusting God day to day when I realized what that meant: I was basically saying that I was adequate and God was not. How upside down is that?!?

The Bible study included the passage from I Peter 5:6-11

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Talk about a timely passage! Am I willing to humble myself and place myself completely under His care? There's a promise attached to that with a lesson in patience built in: 'He may exalt you in due time' (vs. 6) and 'ye have suffered a while' (vs. 9). I also took note of the warning in verse 8 -- it's times like these that I am the most vulnerable. The words 'sober' and 'vigilant' call me to stay focussed on God. Verse 9 also gives me encouragement as well as a lesson in pride -- I'm not the only one who's ever gone through what I'm going through (e.g., Elijah and the remnant of priests). Verse 10 lifts me up, and parallel to James 1:2, shows me God's purpose for all of the things that happen to me, with verse 11 being the over-arching purpose: God's Glory!

I was really moved by this passage when I got blessed with more. John 21:15-19 is the account of Jesus, after the resurrection, asking Peter three times, "Do you love me?" with Peter's replies. What a thing to ask, after Peter denied Christ before his crucifixion and death. What shame Peter must have felt being asked that, but having been restored to fellowship with Christ, what joy to be able to prove our love!

Is it coincidence that this is the third time I'm being laid off? Do I hear Jesus asking me, "Ralph, do you love Me?" each time? Yes! I recognize that after the first one, I loved myself more than anyone around me, let alone Jesus! After the second one, I loved others a little more, and Jesus a little more, but when it came down to it, my focus was still on poor me...

Maybe this third layoff is like Jesus asking me the third time, "Ralph, do you love Me?" Did Peter finally realize that he could not love Jesus and that it was only through Jesus that he could? Do I realize that the only way I can trust Jesus completely and love Him fully is throught Him? I believe the answer is, "Yes! I do!" I am inadequate; however, in Christ, I am more than adequate! From II Peter 1:3 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" That passage goes on to describe how these processes that God prepares for us (see James 1:2-12) are to prove us and transform us to be more like Christ, all for His glory!

Learning James 1:2 In Every Moment

Regarding the central theme of my blog, "Where's Your Joy", James 1:1 - 4 would be my foundational scripture passage:

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren (Adelphos), count (Hegomai) it all (Pas) joy (Chara) when ye fall (Peripipto) into divers temptations (Peirasmos);
3 Knowing this, that the trying (Dokimion) of your faith (Pistis) worketh (Katergazomai) patience (Hupomone).
4 But let (Echo) patience have her perfect (Teleios) work (Ergon), that ye may be perfect (Teleios) and entire (Holokleros), wanting (Leipo) nothing (Medeis).

The idea that I should see trying circumstances (Peirasmos) as sources of joy runs counter to my flesh, which says, "Run away!" every time. The word Hegomai is translated 'count' or 'consider', but has a stronger meaning than just give it a thought in passing. The idea is to look at each and every trial that surrounds me as a cause to rejoice, which includes thanksgiving. Moreover, that idea should be my ruling perspective on life.

Fortunately, this commandment doesn't end without hope, although I must obey regardless. James gives us insight into Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." The word Dokimion describes proving, testing, purifying like metals, and is applied to our faith (Pistis). The result of this testing is Hupomone, which comprises perserverance, endurance, steadfastness, loyalty and patience. It's interesting to me that the word Katergazomai which is translated 'worketh' has the notion of a mechanism, or process in it, like God puts our faith in a machine, cranks the handle, and out comes patience.

This process, work, (or job, from Ergon) of perfecting me (finishing and completing from Teleios) is the responsibility of the process of patience, not only to do the work, but make sure it is completed. Phillipians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." It may sound redundant, but it can be expressed as completed 'completedness'. Not only are the various parts of us being perfected, but they are being integrated, as the word Holokleros describes. James sums it up in the last two words, leipos medeis -- not one part of us lacking, left behind, unaddressed.

To put this into practice, the Lord has willed, in His Sovereign Wisdom, to end my employment with my current company -- the entire office is being closed down. This will be my third layoff in three summers running. Ah, I think I'm supposed to be learning something from this...Where's MY Joy?

I have to confess that there was no joy to be found in me the first time around. Can't say that the second one was that much better (although it WAS better, thanks be to God). This time, however, I can honestly say that I'm relying on the Joy of Jesus Christ to be my strength and getting satisfied in Him alone. If God be for me, who can be against me?

So I am content in the Lord, but only because He has given me the ability to be content. I'm abiding in Christ the True Vine, but only because He grafted me in. My joy is looking UP!!!

Character Quality – Discernment

Discernment in these last days is an extremely important character quality; however, the only source of true discernment is in Christ (Romans 12:2).

Dictionary Definition (Source: Webster’s Dictionary): the [character] quality of being able to grasp [get a hold of] and comprehend [understand] what is obscure [dark, dim, hidden by darkness, not clearly seen or easily distinguished (known the difference between), faint, not readily understood or clearly expressed, mysterious, relatively unknown, remote, secluded, not prominent or famous.]

Operational Definition (Source: S.M. Davis): The God-given ability to understand why things happen. (Opposite: Judgment).

Bible Verses:

1 Samuel 16:7 – But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

1 Kings 3:9 -- Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Ezekiel 44:23 – And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

1 Corinthians 2:14 – But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Questions:

1. Name someone you know that has the quality of discernment and tell us how they use that gift.
2. Give an example of a time where discernment would have helped you avoid trouble and what you learned that will avoid that same trouble in the future.
3. How can you know you are using God’s wisdom rather than man’s wisdom?

Discussion:
Reasons for Discernment and Logic (from ChristianLogic.com):

1. To Logically Defend Your Faith (Apologetics)

1 Peter 3:15 – But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

2. To Defeat the World’s Philosophies by Advancing Biblical Reasoning.

Colossians 4:5-6 – Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Acts 17:10-11 – These [of Berea] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Jude 3 – [I] exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

3. To Prove Your Doctrines from the Bible.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

4. To Apply the Logical Implications of God’s Commands in Your Life.

Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Colossians 1:9 – For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

5. To Be a Good Steward of Your Mind.

Hebrews 5:14 – But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

6. To Seek Wisdom in Living Your Life.

Proverbs 1:1-5 – . . . To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

7. Jesus Was a Logical Man

Jesus used logic in the following examples: when He was tempted in the wilderness, when he healed the man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, when his authority was questioned (where did John’s baptism come from?), when he was asked whether taxes should be paid to the Romans, when he was asked about life after death (whose husband would she be?), when he was asked what is the greatest commandment, and when he was asked how David could call his offspring Lord unless He (Christ) was God the Son.