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7 Ways to Be Happy and Blessed

I like being happy. Who doesn’t want to be happy? But happiness is so elusive for so many. I’m not talking about a state of giddiness or hilarity. I think of happiness as a state of well-being, being blessed. The Greek word for blessed used 49 times in the New Testament is makarios, meaning happy, and is used in Jesus’ teachings beginning with the “Blessed are…” statements.

The teachings of Jesus Matthew 5 and Luke 6 concerning attitudes that yield blessing that could be acquired by followers of Christ are commonly referred to as “The Beatitudes.” For the sake of clarity, the word “beatitude” is not in Scripture per se, but that does not disqualify it from being used as a reference title. A beatitude is a statement about those who are blessed, highly favored, and happy, and so we use it as a collective category of the teaching found in Matthew 5 and Luke 6.

Be Poor in Spirit

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt.5:3).” This corresponds to Luke 6:20, “And turning toward His disciples, He began to say, ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’.” The two together fill in details of focusing on the poor. The word poor used in both is the Greek word ptochos, meaning beggar, pauper, or to crouch as in falling down. It gives us the idea of lack of the necessities for life. So, how could a beggar devoid of basic living conditions be blessed—happy? Is Jesus talking about food, clothing, or shelter shortage?

Matthew qualifies Jesus’ Words by saying poor in spirit, not in the flesh. Spirit here is the word pneuma, the spirit of man, as opposed to pseuche, referring to the soul (rationality, will, emotions). When a person’s spirit is emptied of self, dead and separated from the Kingdom of God, low and desperate for God, he is in the best possible position to receive new life from the only One Who can give new life. He is made new as an inheritor of the Kingdom of God (being born again), the emptiness is filled with the Holy Spirit, and he is in fact blessed—happy. He has access to the Kingdom of God now and forever.

If we remain full of ourselves, we don’t give place to receive what God has for us. It may seem to be a paradox, but only a pauper of the spirit without any other resources, has the capacity to receive of the Kingdom of Heaven and be filled with what God offers.

Hunger and Thirst

Related to this is Luke 6:21, “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh.”   In Matthew 5:4 and 5:6, we see the same. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt. 5:4)” and “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied (Matt. 5:6).” These also seem paradoxical. How is it that weeping, hunger, and mourning results in blessing? The key here is the target of weeping, hunger and mourning—righteousness.

Simply put, righteousness is right standing with God. Righteousness is imputed by faith. Genesis 15:6 says about Abraham, “Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” The same is true for New Testament believers. Righteousness is not a reward for good behavior. It is a gift given by God to those who by faith receive it as is stated in Romans 10:10,11. “For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.’”

Happy is the one who believes and receives righteousness leading to eternal life. Happy also is the one who continually hungers and thirsts after God, for he shall be satisfied with the joy of the Lord, our strength. “For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good” (Psalm 107:9).

Be Gentle and Meek

The beatitude regarding the meek has much to think about. Matthew 5:5 says, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” Some translations read gentle as meek, meaning teachable. The word meek in Greek is praus, meaning mild or humble. It speaks of the attitude of heart in one’s dealings with one another.

We have all experienced the difficultly in dealing with people who are arrogant or bullies in the marketplace or personal relationships. It never ends well. Such dealings are fraught with aggravation, pain and suffering not only on the receiving end, but also in the heart of the bully. People who are not teachable don’t start out that way. It is usually the result of deep feelings of inadequacy over many years that are mitigated and fed by self-aggrandizement.

This is not to be confused with confidence and assertiveness. Being gentle, humble, or meek (teachable) does not mean lacking strength. In fact, the opposite is true. A confident and secure individual does not have a need to be belligerent. They are self-actualized enough to hear, listen, and glean from others. They have the ability and reasonableness of mind to pursue what is ethically and morally right, and consequently, win more agreement from their relationships than someone who is contentious. Indeed, they inherit the earth.

Be Peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”   Let’s drill into this one. Man’s unregenerated nature is at enmity with God and peace between humanity and God requires the ultimate intercessor—the blood of Jesus. Jesus was born as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Even the angels declared the intentions of peace on earth at his birth. As born again “sons of God,” we are peacemakers. As we boldly tell other of God’s plan of salvation, we are peacemakers, helping fellow mankind make peace with God. The Holy Spirit draws humanity, but He uses believers to speak the message of reconciliation so that they may believe.

Beyond salvation, we also need to be peacemakers among one another. Second Timothy 2:22
says, “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Hebrews 12:14
says, “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord,” and finally, James 3:18 says, “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” Peacemaking within the Body of Christ is about ministering the Word of God (being good news bringers) to individuals who are experiencing strife and helping them to see that God’s ways bring about peace and fulfillment in their lives, ones that are happy.

Be Merciful

In the same vein of building godly relationships, Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matt. 5:7),” and in Luke 6:36, He says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Mercy, the Greek word eleeo, means having compassion by word or deed. This compassion has nothing to do with deservedness. In fact, mercy acts in compassion where it is not deserved. That is the nature and character of God, our Father. He is merciful toward us in providing salvation when we definitely did not deserve it. He is merciful to forgive our transgressions when we act ugly and clearly do not deserve compassion.

God is moved with compassion toward His creation in that He provided the path of redemption and resurrection life for those who choose to believe Him. In seeking to be more like Him, acting mercifully toward others, especially when they do not deserve it, is not only planting seeds of life, but positions you to live in abundant mercy from the Father. By meting out mercy, we become so much more aware of the continuous mercy of God granted to us. Our ultimate goal in this life is to be like the Master (conformed to His image), full of compassion, love and grace.

Be Pure in Heart

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” This statement sums up the relationship of a believer and God. It is a statement of assurance. If your heart is pure, the destination is being with God. Heart in this context is clearly not the flesh, nor the soul. The mind (soul) needs to be continually renewed by the Word of God and it is where growth in the knowledge of God takes place. The heart, however, in this context, is the spirit of man. Being filled with the Holy Spirit as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the only pure heart (spirit) because God dwells there, positions you to be assured of your heavenly destination. It also assures us of seeing God in our daily lives until we reach those heavenly shores. That is something to be happy about!

When Persecuted, Insulted, Hated, Ostracized, and Scorned

The remainder of the beatitudes has to do with how to handle conflict and harassment that comes against the believers because of their faith. Matthew 5:10–12 reads, “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven in great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.” Luke 6:22–23 reads, “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.”

It seems like a pretty heavy deal to be happy when you are being treated unjustly and even cruelly because of your beliefs. Are the victims of these atrocities happy? The survival instinct of the flesh would scream out a big NO.

Did Jesus have something else in mind in making these difficult statements? The short answer is yes, not for their suffering, but for the privilege of suffering for a heavenly cause as Christ did. Think about Christians around the world in our day who suffer inhumane attacks and martyrdom for the sake of the gospel. I’m pretty sure they do not enjoy the pain, but there is grace to see beyond suffering into the glory that awaits the one who perseveres to the end as is exemplified by the story of Stephen’s martyrdom.

Paul said in Romans 8:18, that the sufferings he endures are not comparable to the glory revealed in him. The reward for their suffering is great in heaven and ultimately to be out of the body is to be present with the Lord for eternity for all believers. That knowledge without reservation gives the committed believer the strength to endure, and the compassionate heart to forgive their oppressors and say as Jesus did, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”

Persecution is not necessarily from the unsaved world. Sadly, the history of Christianity in which conflicts over doctrinal beliefs have been the impetus for some nasty behavior has not always exemplified the principles given in the Word of God. Nevertheless, we are responsible for our own day and we have the opportunity to be different. Hearing of persecution puts our own petty differences into perspective and brings us to our knees in prayer for our fellow believers in Christ. Our responsibilities toward each other in the universal Body of Christ require us to speak out for justice (righteous, ethical and moral behavior) and help where we can. Jesus has much to say about law, lawlessness, liberty, and righteous behavior and so should we.

To sum up the heart of the matter in the beatitudes, we see Jesus addressing the central issue of the restoration of relationship between God and humanity as well as humanity within itself. It is God’s desire to bless and make His creation happy. Because of His nature of love, He gives mercy (compassion) and grace (unmerited favor) for us to be His for all eternity. He welcomes us to partner with Him in His ways through the power of the Holy Spirit. He has provided the motive, the means, and the method, for this to happen—seven ways. Oh, happy day!

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva S. Benevento. All rights reserved.

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5 Things God Has to Say About Love

It was 1967—the “Summer of Love,” where about 100,000 hippies converged on San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. It was the epicenter of the social revolution that changed the world, both for better and worse. The Beatles released their song, “All you need is love” in July of that summer. The lyrics are not complicated and expressed the notion that love is the answer for all of humanity’s ills, not a bad message.

The English word love is most often defined by its context, but the Greek language has different words for those contexts.

  • agapē – sacrificial and unconditional love (God’s kind of love)
  • eros – physical sensual love
  • philia – friendship brotherly love
  • storge – parental and sibling love

God has a lot to say about love, the agape kind of love.

  1. Love Is Excellent

If any city needed a revelation of the God kind of love, Corinth was a prime candidate. It was a wealthy commercial center with a reputation for depravity and debauchery, not too different from large cities all over the world today. Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church was to correct some disturbing behavior.

First Corinthians 13 begins by putting spiritual gifts into God’s perspective.

Without love, speaking in tongues (spiritual language) has no more power to be heard or received than natural language. It is mere noise. Furthermore, operating in the gifts of the Spirit in prophecy, word of knowledge, or faith, without love produces nothing in a person, and worse yet, leaves one empty.

Giving to the poor is honorable and noble. Many non-Christians support works to alleviate suffering, and I’m grateful for anyone who helps the needy. One can work for social justice to the point of being “burned out” with what people consider “good works,” even non-Christians. Yet none is profitable in the Kingdom of God without love—the selfless kind, the motive that doesn’t seek accolades and good press. Good works benefit flesh and blood, but they are devoid of God’s transformative power without love as the driving force.

Attributes of expressed love (patient, kind, gentleness, self-control, kindness, goodness) are the same as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5. It is what motivates and gives life to all the fruit. Without love, acts of “kindness” or “goodness” are self-serving, “patience” is apathy, and “self-control” is restraint. Because perfect love – selfless, sacrificial love — has no fear, it cannot fail. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).

Love is long-suffering and always hopes for betterment. It does not give up, but keeps pursuing righteousness and justice. It holds no grudges and offense even when forgiveness is difficult. Love is not happy with ungodly acts, revenge, or retribution. On the contrary, it keeps faith alive and motivates all other fruit of the Spirit.

  1. The ultimate outcome of love is always victory.

“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away” (1 Cor. 13:8–10). Cessationists use this Scripture to say that the supernatural manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit are no longer in effect. However, this position does not take into account the context and overall message of the passage, which is to centralize the motivation of love. Paul is saying that when the “perfect comes” there will no longer be a need for any of the gifts of the Spirit to operate in the Church because all will be complete and perfect. What is the perfect to come? It has been interpreted as a reference to the second coming of Christ, who is perfect and brings completion. Others interpret Paul as saying that no single operation of a particular gift of the Spirit like prophecy has everything needed for understanding and interpretation. We each know in part and we see in part. That is why we need one another and the all of the gifts to work together for complete revelation and understanding.

Paul likens the Church age to seeing into a mirror “dimly” in that the revelation given through the gifts is not like the full presence of God. We have parts, pieces for daily living, to walk in the Spirit until the day when the Lord returns and humanity will see Him face to face. It also alludes to the next life when the gifts of the Spirit are not needed because we will continually behold His presence face to face. Finally, we need to live in faith, hope and love, but of these three, love is the greatest because God is love (1 John 4:8b) and His love expressed is the source of all gifts and fruit of the Spirit.

  1. Love is the bond of unity.

The context of Paul’s writing to the church at Colossae was that some in the church caused dissention by insisting that Gentile Christians follow Jewish law and tradition. It was a flourishing church founded and led by Epaphras. Paul gives the attributes of love (fruit of the Spirit) as instruction on how they were to treat one another (Col. 3:12–13). Paul makes a plea for them to “put on love” as one does clothing. It means exerting purposeful decision and effort. The outcome of their love would be the “perfect bond of unity” (Col. 3:14). He ends his plea with telling them to allow the peace of Christ to take ascendancy, to rule because they are one body, and finally, to be thankful.

The love we have for one another is a testimony of the fact of our relationship with the Father and His children. It affirms our having been transformed from orphans to children of God and joined His family (1 John 3:14).

  1. Love reveals Christ to the world.

The love Christians have for one another should testify of the fact that they have been transformed into followers of Christ and members of the family of God. It is not only a unifying element; it is an evangelical statement. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

How can we know who belongs to the kingdom of God and who does not. Those who practice evil are not of God’s kingdom. Those who claim to be Christian and who do not love one another are lumped into the same group. “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).

In Mark 12: 28–31, Jesus begins his response with the “Shema” and then gives the two commandments of love, the summary of the ten. Two tablets recorded the Ten Commandments: one dealt with humanity’s relationship with God (commandments 1, 2, 3), the other tablet dealt with the relationship among one another (commandments 4 through 10). Jesus is really not giving new commandments, but rather summarizing the existing ones. The substance of the relationship is centered on love. Simply said, love God without restraint and selflessly love one another. There can be no greater commandment than that of love.

  1. Love never fails.

The Beatles’ song of love hit on a truth, but it was not a complete message. All you really do need is love, but it doesn’t tell of the source of that love, how that love is expressed, and how to access and receive that kind of love, or how to exercise that kind of love. That’s left to the hearer’s interpretation, but it’s a pop song made for entertainment and no pop song is ever expected to do that. We just hum along and remember the words decades later with accompanying memories.

Quite the contrary, God’s Word on love and our relationship with the Spirit give us the revelation of Himself. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38–39). We have the complete message in Him. “. . . for God is love” (1 John 4:8b, emphasis added).

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

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So You’re Taking a Mission Trip

So you’re taking that first mission trip. Your heart’s desire is finally actualized. It’s the first time outside of the country. Ticket–check. Passport–check. Visa–check. Itinerary–check.

Traveling internationally is both an adventure and challenge. The basic idea is to be prepared for things that you may not readily find or have difficulty obtaining because of language or cultural differences. I’ve jotted some basics for first timers on a mission trip, or for any other reason, that may help in making the trip less stressful.

I’m a list person. Sometimes I even have lists for lists. I keep a travel packing checklist in my computer and print out a copy every time I fly. It’s organized by category and all I do is check off the items I need for the particular trip as I pack. The categories are: clothing, personal care, first aid OTC meds, prescription meds, documents, work-related items, equipment, items for developing countries, and miscellaneous. I keep small travel packs of personal care items and first-aid meds ready to go that just get put into my baggage. It helps keep my life organized so I can pay more attention to other things.

Before you go:

  • Let your credit card company know you will be in _____, so that if you have to use it, your card won’t be denied due to fraud alerts. Calling the card company on the spot for approval can be a royal pain.
  • Arrange for international phone usage, especially if you don’t have access to applications like wechat or whatsapp.
  • Photocopy your passport info and photo page in color, as well as necessary visa pages. Keep them separate from your passport.
  • Get travel health insurance. It’s not expensive and provides added protection if ever needed.
  • Do some homework. Check out the location, its uniqueness, its history, its weather patterns, and its cultural context. You will appreciate your travels more and you will be less likely to make a cultural faux pas.

For the flight, have things handy in your carryon that you will likely need.

  • Planes can get pretty cold on a long haul and window seats are especially cold. Airlines usually provide a little puffy rectangle, good for stuffing behind your low back, and a thin cloth that covers your feet or your shoulders, but not both. One of those horseshoe shaped pillows works, but better yet, a small roll pillow. I bring a fleece blanket. They roll up fairly tight and provide better comfort.
  • Compression socks are particularly good to prevent your feet from looking like pontoon boats by the time you deplane. Wear loose-fitting clothes even though you may have to sacrifice cute for comfort.
  • Get a bottle of water at the gate kiosk. Drinking water regularly during the flight helps prevent dehydration and swelling.
  • Airline food is notoriously dicey. Bring some snacks and food bars to hold you over in case the selection is particularly nasty.
  • Personal items you use to freshen up (things like toothpaste, toothbrush, comb, wipes, etc.) can  make you appreciate feeling human again at the end of a long flight.
  • Bring a USB cable to keep your electronic devices operating without draining the battery life.
  • A battery operated book light is great because it clips onto the book and focuses the light on the book. The overhead lights are annoying to others.
  • Bring a pen! In fact, bring a few because invariably someone will borrow yours and walk off with it. Whenever you fly internationally, you will be required to fill out declaration forms and pens are never provided. Have your passport number, the address of your destination, emergency phone numbers, and the flight number handy. You will need that info repeatedly as you fill out forms.
  • Delayed or lost luggage could be a disaster, so bring your work-related documents, as well as anything valuable, in your carry-on luggage. Clothes can always be purchased, but losing your notes and related documents is no fun. Be sure to check the overhead and under seat storage for your belongings before you deplane.
  • Bring some foreign currency with you. It can be purchased at the airport leaving and arriving, as well as some agencies. I like to keep a small amount separate for such things as tipping and cab fares. Some countries have exit fees that must be paid in their currency. Be sure you find out before you have to leave. Also, be aware that in other countries, not every store accepts credit cards due to fees that they have to pay for its use. Ask before you get on a line to purchase if you want to use a credit card. Personally, I don’t use credit cards in foreign stores if I don’t absolutely have to do so, and if I do, it is a card that I reserve just for travel and definitely NOT a debit card. Major hotel chains are usually pretty safe.

Overall, some good common sense goes a long way—things like:

  • Be aware of your surroundings like who is near you
  • Hold objects like bags or purses on the side of the building and not toward the street
  • Notice the exit locations wherever you are
  • Use a crossbody purse instead of that cute little handbag
  • Leave your jewelry home

The funny thing is that even though you think that you are prepared for every possible event, each trip teaches you something new. You’ve brought too much, too short or long, not enough this or that, too whatever, but if you have the basics down, it makes the unusual or the suddenly much more bearable. I take fairly detailed notes as I travel for two reasons. It helps me remember what happened where, and also informs the next trip. So as you take that next mission trip to the other end of the world, bon chance, bon voyage, and Godspeed!

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento. All rights reserved.

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Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

 

Today we celebrated Resurrection Sunday. The sealed tomb was miraculously opened and the resurrected King of Glory came forth from the tomb that could not hold Him. The tomb is empty. He is alive forevermore.

I thought about things that are sealed and why we bother to do so. An envelope—an ordinary object used to contain something, not given much thought, and pretty much taken for granted. I like the ones with a paper strip over the sticky stuff instead of licking glue to seal the envelope. Whenever I seal an envelope I feel like the contents are secure, even though I know a sealed piece of paper is far from secure.

On official documents like deed, wills, legal agreements, corporate papers, diplomas, and passports to name a few, a seal of some sort verifies the document as being authentic and binding. Your diploma, for example, officially testifies to the fact that you have completed all of the requirements of the schooling. The seal is the intended as a stamp of approval, authenticity, and protection from forgeries.

In biblical times, various ancient cultures secured their documents in different ways. The Hittites and Babylonians wrote their documents on clay tablets and they were put into clay envelopes. To sign their documents and make them official, they used signature seals in the form of signet rings, stamp seals, or cylinder seals. Cylinder seals resemble a bead with a hole through the length and could be worn like a pendant. The outer surface of the bead has symbols, graphics, and letters carved indicating the owner’s identity. When the owner would want to “sign” something, they would roll the cylinder seal onto the wet clay making an impression. It is then the signature seal that made the document official, authentic, and protected the identity of the person.

Other ancient cultures used velum parchment made of animal skins rolled into scrolls or bound flat. To make these documents official, a signet stamp was impressed into soft wax applied to the document. When the wax becomes hard, it forms a seal to protect the contents from manipulation and identify the source as authentic.

The whole point of using a seal is to secure important information and attest to its authenticity. Imagine, though, what it would look like if it were not on clay, parchment, or paper? God made covenants with humanity throughout the ages that came with a seal or signet of action, not wax and stamps, beads, or rings.

Genesis 17:1-11 reveals the covenant between God and Abraham. God promised to do two things: He would make Abraham a great nation, and that He would give the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants as an everlasting possession and be their God. Abraham’s obligation and that of his descendants were two things: walk before God and be blameless. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant, the token that declares that the covenant is protected from misappropriation, approved, authentic, and secure.

The word for sign in this passage is the Hebrew oth, meaning a flag, beacon, monument, evidence. Hebrew for seal signet is chothemeth, the oth being the root. Romans 4:11 says, “and he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them.”

So, how could Abraham walk before God and be blameless? It requires the same thing that was required of humankind from the beginning. Abraham is a descendant of the lineage of Seth, who “began to call upon the name of the Lord. (Gen. 4:26).” It is an issue of faith from the beginning. It is by faith that Seth called upon the name of the Lord and it is by faith that Abraham walked before God blameless (Romans 4:20-25).

God simply wants a people of faith to fully believe in Him and take Him at His Word. We are justified by the shed blood of Jesus and we receive righteousness (reconciliation) by faith in Jesus and His work (Romans 5:8-11). Romans 10: 4-10 declares how we receive that reconciliation and righteousness—confess with your mouth and believe in your heart. God sent Jesus to die and be raised from the dead so that we can have resurrection life and we receive this work by faith. Now this covenant is not without a seal.

Ephesians 1:13-14 declares,“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 4:30 also says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” The Holy Spirit living in you is the seal.

The word for seal is the Greek word sphragizo, and it means to stamp with a signet or private mark for security or preservation, to keep secret, to attest, to fence in or protect from misappropriation. The Holy Spirit is given as the seal in order to declare in both the earth and in the spiritual world that

  • we belong to the Most High God; that God has attested to our being His children;
  • we have His mark upon us for security and preservation now and for eternity;
  • we are fenced in to protect what we have against misappropriation of the power, authority and position of the Almighty in us to do the works we are called to do – preach the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, set the captive free, cleanse the leper, be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and walk in the fullness of all of His promises.

“Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness’ (2 Tim. 2:19).” Furthermore, 2 Cor. 1:21-22 tells us, “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”

We are known by God and are recognized as one of His own by the seal upon those who belong to Him. This confidence that we have in Him that by His promises and Word, we who have “named Him as Lord” are irrevocably in His family. We are secure, preserved, and protected. The seal of the Holy Spirit within us is the eternal stamp of approval, the stamp of the covenant we now have with God, whereby we are sealed and have everything we need for life and righteousness now and forever. God provides the greatest possible assurance, that of Himself, the Holy Spirit, as the pledge of eternal life in Him, the ultimate guarantee of being signed, sealed, and delivered to the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento. All rights reserved.

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Trees, Fruit, and Wisdom

I love the trees around my house—maples, oaks, poplars, pines. Right now tiny buds are forming in readiness for spring blossoming. Some time ago, a massive tulip poplar from the next property, well over 50 feet in length, crashed into my driveway. It took down two of my trees, and damaged two cars and house shingles. Thankfully, no one was injured. It was a sunny day with not a breeze anywhere, so the weather was not to blame. The tree was dead. We had warned the property owner of the condition of the tree more than once, but it was ignored. Since then I am even more diligent about tree health.

Trees show up in Scripture over 250 times. Jesus taught about character and eternal destination using trees—good ones and bad ones—as metaphors.

“You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’ (Matt. 7:16–23, NASB, emphasis added).

This teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:16–23 uses fruit bearing trees as the object lesson about the character and behavior of people. The tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. It serves as a warning that trees that do not bear good fruit are removed, and so it is with the ultimate destiny of the wicked.

Both kinds of trees had room, provision, and time to grow. Trees do not bear fruit when first planted, and so the ingredients for the tree to actually bear fruit took much time to process. The fact that the unfruitful trees are removed implies that the trees have someone who tends them, provides opportunities for fruit bearing, and inspects them when they should produce—a gardener who has ultimate decision-making power to remove the unfruitful tree.

Our lives are like the trees. We are given opportunities to produce good fruit as the gardener prunes and provides what is needed for a fruitful life. In what fruit is God interested? The fruit of the Spirit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, which are produced by controlling the deeds of the flesh (Gal. 5:22–24). I’ve heard people pray for fruit to manifest supernaturally. I applaud the yearnings, but it just does not work that way. We have control of our deeds by the willful decisions we make. As we make decisions that reflect the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit grows (Gal. 5:16–17). Fruit is the natural outgrowth of the life of the Spirit. As we are transformed into the image of Christ through renewal by the Word of God and obedience in the Spirit, we take on His image, the image of the Triune God.

From the metaphor of the trees, Jesus makes a parallel to practitioners. He says that not all who claim to be followers of Christ are in fact, good fruit bearers, but rather are virtually imposters, not worthy of entering the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus equates these as ones who practice lawlessness. The word practice (prassō) carries the idea of accomplishment, performance, commitment, and perpetration. It’s not simply experimentation or impaired judgment, but rather willful and determined repetition. The character of wickedness is not just an impulsive mistake. God’s mercy and grace is repeatedly extended for those who seek His forgiveness and strive for repentance.

To what laws could Jesus have been referring? Jesus made it simple—love God and love one another. The law of love undergirds all that is done in and for the kingdom of God. The fruit of the Spirit is not in the miracles, signs and wonders one performs, but in the character produced by hearing and obeying God. The law of love is fulfilled, for God is love. Having the infilling of Holy Spirit gives us access to hearing God and power to obey, not out of demand, but out of love.

Jesus says that you will know them by their fruit. He does not give us permission to affirm or condemn people by these words, but we can discern fruit or lack of it. We are not given the imperative to metaphorically speaking cut down the trees and burn them. That belongs to the gardener—God. He simply gives us wisdom to discern the difference between godly character and wickedness. It is for us to check ourselves first and use wisdom in our dealings with others. It is for us to give the good news to the oppressed of evil so that they can be free.

The warnings of “that day” are sobering. It is so easy to assume godly character with supernatural wonder workings. The truth is that supernatural wonders are the works of God, not the works of humans. “Did we not . . .” implies that some workers of good deeds take ownership of the workings of God, robbing Him of the glory, as if piling up effort and good works motivated by self-aggrandizement impresses God. The indictment in this context is that God does not judge by appearances of performance. God knows the heart of every person and He is the ultimate judge. We get to participate in His works because of His great love, not to earn it, even though He does reward those who seek Him.

Does this mean that people whose motives are not pure should stop doing good works? God forbid! People who do not know God or may not even believe God exists do countless good works. They have their reward in feeling good or in self-promotion. The recipients of good works are blessed regardless of the vessel that gives to them. Jesus’ teaching is not about the recipients, but rather about the person performing the work. He is especially critical of those who give the impression of altruism while all along having selfish motivation.

James 3 compares two kinds of wisdom, that which comes from above with that which does not come from above. God’s wisdom produces pure wisdom that is peaceable, gentle, merciful, unwavering, and without hypocrisy. These attributes mirror the nature of God. In contrast, the demonic and natural world offers a different wisdom. Wisdom that is rooted in jealousy and selfish ambition generates every other kind of evil because it is in direct opposition to the love nature of God.

In a few weeks my trees will be covered with little fuzzy things, new pine shoots, and lots of pollen. It lets me know that they are good trees producing good fruit. May our hearts remain pure before God so that all we do in His name brings Him glory and serves His creation–good trees producing good fruit.

 

copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento. All rights reserved.

 

 

 

 

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10 Things to Know About Writing a Book

“I want to write a book.” I have heard many ministers say this and each time I am tempted to say, “Be careful what you ask for.” I listen, nod, and smile. But I’m really thinking why is it that because people put together sermons week after week do they think that it’s the same thing as writing a book? Publishing a book is a scary affair, fraught with land mines and quagmires.

This blog post is a departure from my usual topics, but I want to share what I learned about indie (independent) author publishing. Improvements and accessibility of technology has opened more possibilities for indie filmmakers to find their niche, and similarly, technology has opened the literary world for indie authors. With the explosion of POD (print on demand), vanity press, and assisted self-publishing (ASP), the literary market has been blown open to writers in every genre resulting in some great, some mediocre, and some OMG-you-can’t-be-serious literature. Yes, anyone can write a book, but not necessarily a good one. All you need is a computer and money.

Seriously, here are some things you need to know that might save you from overdosing on Advil.

  1. Know your purpose.

Why do you think people will fork over cash to read what you have written? Does your book address a controversy, a neglected idea, something confusing that needs to be unraveled, a common need that you perceive? Is it a testimony of a remarkable story that is unique in some way? Is it something you are passionate about and want everyone to know about it? A good book answers questions and provokes new ones. It brings about new insights or inspires in a new way.

  1. Know your audience.

For whom are you writing? The audience will determine a few things—the style of expression and vocabulary choices; the depth of content; the degree of research you invest. Try to identify your audience and target your writing to them. After all, you want to hold their attention beyond the first chapter.

  1. Have something to say.

A good book has ideas that are strung together thoughtfully to build a central theme. Each new idea is  scaffolded to reveal the central theme with supporting evidence or details. The text has internal unity, and pieces well connected to each other. Nothing is worse than presenting a single idea up front and then beating it to death chapter after chapter. (I’ve heard enough sermons like that too.) The opposite is true as well, where disconnected rambling is a literary garage sale.

A good book, as opposed to a poorly constructed one, is like the difference between fine pastry and a dump cake. Both are edible, but let’s be honest, if you paid the same for each, which one would you choose? What you have to say and how you say it is the sum of your book. Keep in mind that if a book is poorly written, readers may not even finish it. Worse yet, they are not likely to recommend it to someone else or buy the next one you write.

  1. Get some help.

Remember the English class where you convinced yourself you don’t need to know about noun-verb agreement, not to mention dangling modifiers, when to split that infinitive, the difference between an en-dash and an em-dash, proper use of possessives, and the Oxford comma controversy? Consider yourself warned. Grammar, spelling, syntax, and format really matter. Besides the mechanics of proofreading, you have editing issues—structure of paragraphs, author’s voice, use of dialogue, argument building, just to name a few. Formatting (things like margins, indents, fonts, symbols, footnote styles) can make your head spin like Rosemary’s baby. Clean it up as much as possible before submitting it for print. Finding mistakes after a proof copy is done can be expensive. Here’s a secret: all writers need and get help. At least smart ones do.

If mechanics of writing are not your forte, you need a good editor. Use editing checklists and rubrics—several different types are available free online. Have others read your work and give you honest and tough feedback. If you have a friend who has major skills and is willing to slog through a mountain of text, you have found a great treasure. If not, you may need to dip into your treasure and hire one.

Trust me, just when you think you have caught every typo error, another one jumps onto the page. Tiny ninja-typos wait and pounce on your text when you are bleary-eyed from reading the same chapter for the twentieth time. After a gazillion read-throughs, you will reach the point where a typo error here and there, as long as they are not glaring, will have to be at the mercy of readers’ capacity for forgiveness. It’s a fight to the finish.

  1. Spend the time to craft your best.

Don’t be afraid of the delete button to cut unnecessary prattle and be brutal about rewriting. Rework those muddy, incoherent, or ambiguous paragraphs. Demolish those tired adverbs and long winded phrases that makes you sound pretentious. Vary those sentence patterns to keep the reader awake. Remember that editing is not just about proofreading for typo and grammar errors. It’s about polishing phrases and making your points clear. And incidentally, that online thesaurus is a very good friend.

  1. Set time, space, material, and pacing work for you.

If you ask ten authors about their discipline and writing habits, you will get ten different answers. Some follow strict rituals of time, space, material, and pacing. Others write in bursts of inspiration. Some require a tidy space with no clutter, while others work in spaces that look like a paper factory explosion.  Some authors work on a few projects at the same time, while others work on one at a time. Find productive routines that work best for you and stick to it. Set deadlines for your work load with only a little bit of wiggle room. Face it, you really want to get it done.

  1. Love the process even when it gets hard.

Give yourself permission to get frustrated, but don’t let it make you quit. Take breathers away from it when you need to, but not too long. You don’t want to lose momentum. When the writing process gets tough, don’t become a grouch and call it “creative privilege.” If possible, find a writing buddy or group where support is offered. The struggle is worth it.

  1. Do your homework and read the fine print.

You decide you book is ready for publication. Now what? You have many choices. You can send queries to standard publishing companies if you are looking for them to foot the bill for publishing. First books by unknown authors are rarely accepted, but stranger things have happened. Big time publishers most often work with literary agents, and by the way, if you go with traditional companies, they own the copyright, whereas with self-publication, the author owns the copyright. I’m taking a risk by say this, but I believe literary agents will become obsolete within the next fifteen years because technology has forced open the door of book publishing to the immediate world.

First time writers often opt for self-publication. Even experienced authors opt for this choice. Self-publication can be a minefield and difficult to navigate for a newbie. Persevere–you are too far into this deal to stop now.

Vanity publication is where you simply have your book printed, but get ready to stockpile your garage with a bazillion copies and then find outlets for selling them yourself. Assisted self-publishing (ASP) is where you contract with a company and they provide a variety of packages and services for which you pay fees for things like editing, formatting, interior design, ISBN number, LCCN number, cover design, and marketing tools.

ASP books are printed on demand (POD), which means you can purchase your books a reduced author’s price for your own marketing outlets in amounts you choose. That means you can still keep your car in the garage. ASP companies typically offer marketing tools and services for a fee as well. People can purchase the book at bookstores or online for which you will receive royalties. (Don’t get too excited here. Unless you are a J.K. Rowling in the making, breaking even on your investment is a huge accomplishment.) You can also have the book formatted and made available to download electronically. This is a huge trend and one I recommend.

You must do your homework. A huge amount of information is available online for writers, which will require you to find what matters to you. It is also a good idea to talk to people who have used the various publishing services. Ask them about their experiences. Check out feedback from authors online. Compare different companies for what they offer and what they charge for their services. By all means, always read the fine print so that a misunderstanding does not disappoint you.

  1. Believe.

Believe in yourself, your voice, your leadings, and your company of encouragers—that insider group of cheerleaders. This is huge. The greatest enemy that causes people to quit is the inner voice that says you don’t have the stuff—the creativity, the know-how, the skills, the whatever. A better voice prompted you to believe you can do this and your steadfast faith will carry you through to its fruition. “If you build it, they will come,” is the famous line from the film Field of Dreams. In the same way, you need to believe that if you write it, they will read.

  1. Finally, honor God in your work and it will bless people.

Steward your gifts, your calling, and the leading of the Holy Spirit with honor, integrity, and holiness. That includes the work of your hands and your mind. If you believe that God is prompting you to put those words into print, do it. God’s blessing upon you is also intended to bless others.

So, if you still want to write that book, go for it.

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva S. Benevento. All rights reserved.

 

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The Power of Touch:Divine Impartation Through Touch

The Power of Touch: Divine Impartation Through Touch is now available on Kindle as well as paperback on amazon.com.

Why do people lay hands on others or extend their hands while they pray for them? How long has this practice been in existence and by whom? Why is this a God-given practice? What does the Bible have to say and what examples provide insights? What is the power and efficacy of the laying on of hands and why should we partake? What about frauds, empty promises, or placebo effect outcomes in medical contexts? How do we account for reliquary touch (objects instead of hands)? Who imparts what and to what effect?

These are the questions the kinds of questions that have prompted the writing of this book, a three year labor of love to research and write. The contents take a topic an inch wide and mile deep, yet very much in the forefront of interest in impartation and transference, especially in the context of contemporary charismatic circles. The book explores the biblical, historical, theological, and theoretical foundations of the power and efficacy of the laying on of hands in prayer for imparting healing, gifts, and blessing.

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva S. Benevento. All Rights reserved.

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Stop Whining and Do It

I have a small wood plaque on my kitchen wall. It says, “Hier wird nicht gemeckert,” German for “No  whining here,” above an image of a funny goat. It reminds me that whining did not exist in my home when I grew up, and is still not well tolerated in my kitchen, or any other room for that matter. Whining never helps the situation and pretty much only serves to annoy others.

“Faire et se taire,” a phrase attributed to Flaubert means “Do it and be silent.” That’s the polite version. It has been alternately translated as “Shut up and get on with it.” The implication is that there is no way to get around hard work and whining about it doesn’t change a thing. Every biography I have read about prime movers and shakers, regardless of the field of endeavor, reveals a hard working individual whose persistence caused them to achieve their goals. That’s why biographies sell. They inspire readers because those powerful stories highlight people who overcome great odds. These stories give hope to readers that they can also overcome their obstacles.

An old adage says that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day. I disagree. You will probably work even harder at it because you love it, but hard work is not necessarily a burden. Doing what you hate is. So the way to lighten your burden is to find out what you love. If you work at your passion, you still have to work hard, but it is not burdensome because doing it provides the satisfaction.

Sometimes we end up doing tasks we really don’t like but somebody has to do it, and we agree out of a variety of feelings that have nothing to do with calling and purpose—a favor to someone, personal guilt, wanting to appear a team player, feeling trapped. That works for a while as a temporary fill-in, but for the long haul, it’s not a good idea. Here is where the whining comes in—complaining about lack of support, lack of help, lack of resources, incompetent co-workers, and the list continues. We’ve all heard it and probably even did it at some point. What is even worse is that the longer we persist in doing what we are not called to do, the longer we keep the right person from doing it.

The funny thing is that when you do work at whatever is your passion, you put up with the same shortcomings along the way, and even greater ones, but you find a way to overcome them for the sake of the vision. You appreciate small successes and it sparks renewed motivation to press on to more.

The same principle applies to our relationships in the Kingdom. Each of us has a purpose. God has a perfect plan with the people, places, and things. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart (Jer. 29:11). The context for this is for Israel, but why would God not have a plan or purpose for each of us as well? He is omniscient (all knowing) and we can rely upon His goodness and faithfulness. As we seek Him for direction, our heart’s desire is revealed. Our passion for the callings of God keeps us pressing on in the face of opposition. No whining is allowed in this territory. Hier wird nicht gemeckert!

 

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What is this thing called race?

“Can we all just get along?” These famous words by Rodney King ring out as an indictment against the kind of hatred that fomented the 1992 Los Angeles riots and cost King a serious beating at the hands of L.A. police. The call for “getting along” that King spoke of is more than simple tolerance of race. It is the deep commitment to intentionally become inclusive of race and culture as the family of God. We have come a long way as a nation and even in the Church, but as long as we have institutionalized queries with race identification as part of government and private surveys, forms, and legislation, we cannot say race is no longer an issue. It is just one of many instances where racial divide is categorized and institutionalized.

How do we even identify race? Is it about color and facial structure? Is it about culture? We hear arguments for and against such things as affirmative action or white privilege. Should we make a point of race when it becomes politically or socially advantageous to manipulate existing prejudice? It is certainly not an exact science and quite frankly is becoming more difficult as families are becoming more multinational, multiethnic, multicultural, and multiracial.

Just as an example of complication, sorting out Hispanic identification is not so easy. When did Hispanic lose its meaning as language orientation and become a race? If we decide that people from Central America, South America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean Islands are Hispanic (meaning Spanish-speaking regions), we eliminate Brazil and Haiti. Brazil is the largest South American nation where Portuguese is spoken and French is spoken in Haiti. Both are Latin-based languages, as is Spanish, Italian, and even Romanian. Perhaps Latino (Latin based) is a better description than Hispanic, but that can be problematic because as a male oriented word, it is gender biased, particularly from a non-Latin perspective. Furthermore, countries south of the U.S. are as diverse in population as those north of the border. Every shade of human skin is well represented in the Latin Western Hemisphere because of the mix of African, Asian, European, and indigenous peoples in differing proportions over the past four centuries.

Furthermore, cultures among the varying nations in Latin America have distinct differences. Culture includes food, music, and traditional costume, but it is much more. It expresses itself in how people view such things as beauty, family relationships, how they respond to authority, concepts of time and space, and much more.

One can easily see that race identification is not so simple, and needs rethinking for purposes of classifying demographics if those purposes still have a need to exist. Language is significant in attempting to categorize people groups. For example, references to Hispanics often imply non-white terms and evoke a non-white image, yet millions of Hispanics are white. Other Hispanics have Asian features (particularly in Peru, Chile, and Cuba) in varying combinations of shape and shade. Certain Caribbean nations also have large communities of people having ancestry from India. How do we account for such variety?

Even the term “people of color” referring to people who are not white can be seen as a biased term because “white” is also a color. And then, who is white? Only people of European ancestry? How do we categorize Middle Eastern peoples of varying skin shades? Calling white people Caucasian is problematic since most do not hail from the region of the Caucuses. Sensitivity to reject pejorative terms toward various groups is laudable, but I have often heard the words “lily white” (also a pejorative term) in reference to whites, usually in a negative context, used by the very people who speak against prejudice. When asked to identify oneself, perhaps the best response for everyone should be “other.” Either we need to stop classifying people by inadequate classifications of race or create a new language that is inclusive, equitable, and respectful to all.

We have seen church leaders call for reconciliation of past offenses toward various racial groups to be a top priority among churches, which is a righteous agenda. Reconciliation, however, needs to be more than a handshake and public photo shoot. Whereas past sins cannot really be adequately atoned, we can certainly be agents to change wrongs of the present. It does require us to see and do.

It’s fair to say that most churches are still fairly homogenous in terms of race and cultural construct with the excuse that people tend to be more comfortable with others of the “same face.” While there may be some truth to feelings of comfort, without intentional integration, inclusivity, and reconciliatory agendas, change does not happen. My hope is that our churches reflect an “all nations” look in a country that offers more diversity of people groups than most. It can only happen when leaders become intentional about integration in every program, every outreach, and every mission.

Race is a peculiarity that we think we can identify, but it really is indescribably elusive. Maybe the point is that we need to have new eyes in how we see humanity and better ethics in how we treat one another. My personal family may be peculiar in that we have representation from every continent except Antarctica, but I don’t think the penguins mind. We are many and we are one all at the same time. Isn’t that what heaven looks like?

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento

All rights reserved.

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Let Justice Be Done Though the Heavens Fall

Fiat justitia ruat caelum — An ancient Latin phrase meaning, “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.” We live in an imperfect world—no surprise there. So, let’s pass some laws to make it fair. Ha! People are not fair, ethical, or moral because of laws. You cannot legislate morality because that is an issue of heart, but you can legislate justice by passing laws that demand people to be treated with equality and dignity. If our desire is to promote liberty, it requires us to be diligent in the cause of freedom and justice. My blog today is to make a plea for each of us to renew our commitment to the godly principles of justice and love for God’s creation in each of us.

People become moral and ethical when their hearts change. Who can change hearts and how can we facilitate a change of heart?

We will never achieve a perfect world. That is for the return of the perfect King Jesus. But until then, we, as believers, are given the privilege to do the work of the Kingdom. The cause of justice is an ancient cause and no less relevant for today. For whom should we seek justice? Here are just a few things God has said about the cause of justice (emphasis added):

  • He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing (Deut. 10:18).
  • ‘Cursed is he who distorts the justice due an alien, orphan, and widow’ (Deut. 27:19a).
  • Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
  • Who executes justice for the oppressed; Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free (Psalm 146:7).
  • Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and destitute (Psalm 82:3).
  • I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted And justice for the poor (Psalm 140:12).

Why is God so interested in justice? We must understand the difference between justice and vengeance. So often they are confused with mob mentality. Justice is moral rightness, doing what is right. Vengeance is “getting even,” exacting punishment, usually violent, for a wrong perceived or done. God is interested in righteousness, doing the right thing on behalf of others.

For whom does the Lord seek justice through the hands of humanity? To the oppressed, the widow, the orphan, the alien, the weak, the fatherless, the prisoner, the poor, the disenfranchised. When we examine the ministry of Jesus, to whom do we see Jesus extending mercy, love, provision, and healing? It is repeatedly to the sick, the poor, the widow, the marginalized, the rejected, and the oppressed. Jesus quoted His mission from the prophecy in Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed,” (Luke 4:18).

Jesus met lepers more than once and healed them out of a heart of compassion. These were outcasts because of their disease. They were the untouchables of society, yet Jesus touched them. Who are the untouchables in our society? The homeless? The diseased with cancers, alzeimers, mental disorders, or AIDs? Are we touching them with compassion and healing?

Jesus encountered a widow whose only son had died. He was the widow’s only source of support. Jesus raised him from the dead. Scripture tells us, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (James 1:27). What is our part in keeping this word? Even if we are unable to go, we can support missions and outreaches that care for orphans and women in distress.

Jesus watched as a widow gave two copper coins in the offering, all that she had. “Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury” (Mark 12:43). I would say most of us are not wealthy by the world’s standards and so we may think that our little bit does not count for much. Large contributions are great, but a little by many can do much as well. One person giving $1000 is the same as 100 people each giving $10, and New Jersey is not short on people. Some can do a lot and some a little, but everyone can do something.

The mercy and compassion of Jesus extended to the defiled and marginalized. He rescued the woman caught in adultery by a few words written in the dirt. We don’t know what those words were. Could they have been the sins of the accusers? It certainly had an impact on the watchers and those ready to hurl rocks at her.

Another time Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman drawing water from a well. Religious leaders would have nothing to do with her. According to common Jewish customs, she had three strikes against her. 1. Being a woman—religious leaders did not have conversations with women. 2. Being a Samaritan—a mixed people alienated by the ruling class of that time. 3. Being a fallen woman—she had five husbands (we don’t know if they were legitimate or not), but the one with whom she was cohabiting was not a husband. Yet Jesus took the time to give this rejected and marginalized woman the good news of the gospel. Are we giving the good news to the alienated, the marginalized, the rejected because they may not be socially acceptable? Do we withhold the gospel and mercy from those of a different belief like Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, or atheists because it is uncomfortable?

God’s perspective is clear and plain. “To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice (Proverbs 21:3).” The cause of justice is God’s chosen fast. “Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6). Why? God’s kingdom has its foundation in righteousness and justice. Psalm 97:2 says, “Clouds and thick darkness surround Him; Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.”

Furthermore, because God is a giver beyond our concept of giving, He declares, “How blessed are those who keep justice, Who practice righteousness at all times!” (Psalm 106:3). When we actively engage in the works of justice, we are blessed. It is not a hardship to those who love the Lord. Proverbs 21:15 says, “The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.” It is a terror to the wicked because “Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things” (Proverbs 28:5).

My challenge to you today is to follow the course of justice. Let us take the faith of our fathers, true Christianity, to those who are suffering. Join the work of ministry that furthers the cause of justice, whether it be ministry to the homeless, to the prisoner, to abused and abandoned women and children, to those trafficked, to the depressed and alienated, to the disabled. The list of human suffering is a very long list. Each of us can find a place where our lives will make a difference to someone—each one, help one. We don’t have to look very far. Simply start with the one. The one God puts before you—each one, help one.

If you love God, the suffering and need of others will move you. We can do no less with the gifts and callings God has for each of us. It means giving of your time, talents, substance and even your wallet with joy and gladness of heart. It means involvement in your community’s issues to better the lives of its residents. It means finding out the legal and political issues and positions of local and national candidates so that we can vote out of conscience, not only popularity. It means volunteering your time and energy in the outreaches of your church and community. It’s not complicated. Let us all commit to a change of heart for the sake of justice to glorify the King of Kings. Simply hear and obey. Each one, help one.

 

Copyright 2016 by Eva Benevento

All rights reserved.

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