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God Views By Dawn
Jon-Mark Sandquist
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Romans 13:9-21 –
Marks of the True Christian
I’ve always been fascinated by the list that Paul gives in this chapter about the family characteristics of us believers. I know that it is only by the amazing power of the Holy Spirit, who is at work within us, that we can live these ways.
“Let love be genuine.” This is a fascinating statement and a challenge for all of us. At first look we might think, ‘Well, when isn’t love genuine?’ How can love not be genuine? I think it’s because we often give where we know we will get back or we give where its easiest. Sometimes we want people to like us so we give and behave in ways that will help them like us. Genuine love does not seek anything for itself and that is challenging!
“Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Sad to say but we often don’t abhor what is evil in God’s sight. Our culture has numbed us in places and has caused us to laugh at things that could not otherwise stand in His sight. Television shows have fornication, adultery, and perversion in them and we laugh. News programs castigate people and judge and criticize and we sit and agree. We fill our heads with all sorts of human reasoning and opinions and then we wonder why it is so difficult to hear God. We’re bombarded with lies in the guise of comedy or mystery and of course, violence. We celebrate sin and death instead of celebrating Christ. Jesus said to be careful what we listen to. We must hold on tight to what is good because the lines are getting more and more blurred.
“Love one another with brotherly affection.” Do we realize that we are family? We have a Father and an elder Brother. Loyalty to family in the best of times and the worst of times is valuable to God. God doesn’t walk away, reject us or forget us when we do wrong. He doesn’t turn His back until we say we’re sorry. He is our Father and He waits with open arms and Fatherly affection. As family we are to exhibit these same attributes. So let’s love one another as family.
“Outdo one another in showing honor.” We all need to work on this. Competition, insecurities, jealousy all fight against honoring. We’re so afraid we won’t be noticed. Paul doesn’t just say we are to honor but we’re to “out do” in our honoring. We are ALL valuable in God’s eyes and those are the only eyes that really count so why are we looking for man’s approbation? He is more than pleased with us because of the blood of Jesus. There is nothing more we can do.
Yes, we all need encouragement and that is a family characteristic we should all be participating in. However, if we honor and encourage others then God will be glorified and He will make certain we are encouraged when we need it. The measure we measure out still does get measured back to us. That’s not just about evil, that works for good things as well. I believe the Holy Spirit is the greatest example we have of honoring. He never calls attention to Himself. He moves in order to honor Jesus and the Father. He knows how to help us do the honoring thing because He does it so well.
These are God’s View of what a true Christian and son and daughter look like and they are only the first four. More will come in the months ahead!
I’ve always been fascinated by the list that Paul gives in this chapter about the family characteristics of us believers. I know that it is only by the amazing power of the Holy Spirit, who is at work within us, that we can live these ways.
“Let love be genuine.” This is a fascinating statement and a challenge for all of us. At first look we might think, ‘Well, when isn’t love genuine?’ How can love not be genuine? I think it’s because we often give where we know we will get back or we give where its easiest. Sometimes we want people to like us so we give and behave in ways that will help them like us. Genuine love does not seek anything for itself and that is challenging!
“Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Sad to say but we often don’t abhor what is evil in God’s sight. Our culture has numbed us in places and has caused us to laugh at things that could not otherwise stand in His sight. Television shows have fornication, adultery, and perversion in them and we laugh. News programs castigate people and judge and criticize and we sit and agree. We fill our heads with all sorts of human reasoning and opinions and then we wonder why it is so difficult to hear God. We’re bombarded with lies in the guise of comedy or mystery and of course, violence. We celebrate sin and death instead of celebrating Christ. Jesus said to be careful what we listen to. We must hold on tight to what is good because the lines are getting more and more blurred.
“Love one another with brotherly affection.” Do we realize that we are family? We have a Father and an elder Brother. Loyalty to family in the best of times and the worst of times is valuable to God. God doesn’t walk away, reject us or forget us when we do wrong. He doesn’t turn His back until we say we’re sorry. He is our Father and He waits with open arms and Fatherly affection. As family we are to exhibit these same attributes. So let’s love one another as family.
“Outdo one another in showing honor.” We all need to work on this. Competition, insecurities, jealousy all fight against honoring. We’re so afraid we won’t be noticed. Paul doesn’t just say we are to honor but we’re to “out do” in our honoring. We are ALL valuable in God’s eyes and those are the only eyes that really count so why are we looking for man’s approbation? He is more than pleased with us because of the blood of Jesus. There is nothing more we can do.
Yes, we all need encouragement and that is a family characteristic we should all be participating in. However, if we honor and encourage others then God will be glorified and He will make certain we are encouraged when we need it. The measure we measure out still does get measured back to us. That’s not just about evil, that works for good things as well. I believe the Holy Spirit is the greatest example we have of honoring. He never calls attention to Himself. He moves in order to honor Jesus and the Father. He knows how to help us do the honoring thing because He does it so well.
These are God’s View of what a true Christian and son and daughter look like and they are only the first four. More will come in the months ahead!
News & Notes
Jon-Mark Sandquist
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Prayer For Nicaragua:
Nicaragua's elections are on November 6th. Please pray for men and women of God to be elected and for corruption and darkness to flee before truth and light!
This Month's Project Spotlight
Los Braziles, Nicaragua
For over a decade now we have been involved in a small community just outside of Managua called Los Braziles. From 1998 we have been acuiring empty land adjacent to the town and building housing for people who cannot afford homes as well as other structures for the well being of the community. Two years ago some of you were generous in donating funds to repare the community center we built that was hit by a very rare tornado. The structure is back to 100% and is being used regularly for Trade Education (wood working and electrition training), a feeding program and church & youth group activities for the surrounding villages. We have recently acuired new land and in the last couple years have built a community recreational and picnic area and have plans for a half dozen new homes. We are planning new construction as soon as January! Committing to long term growth and development and sticking with a community on an open-ended basis allows for greater input and stronger bonds in ways that short term aid can never accomplish. Our goal is to break the chains of generational poverty and oppression by offering opportunities and projects and establish relationships that last decades! Please continue to pray for the ongoing work the Lord has for GWI and Los Braziles! If you would like to join us you can! See below for our January trip details or consider joining us in July!
January 2012 Nicaragua Trip: Our next trip to Nicaragua is planned for January 27 - February 5, 2012. We will be hosting a construction team and plan on building a new home in the Los Braziles neighborhood. The cost of the trip is $650 plus airfare to Managua. If you would like to join us let us know as soon as possible. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have about this trip or July 2012.
Nicaragua's elections are on November 6th. Please pray for men and women of God to be elected and for corruption and darkness to flee before truth and light!
This Month's Project Spotlight
Los Braziles, Nicaragua
For over a decade now we have been involved in a small community just outside of Managua called Los Braziles. From 1998 we have been acuiring empty land adjacent to the town and building housing for people who cannot afford homes as well as other structures for the well being of the community. Two years ago some of you were generous in donating funds to repare the community center we built that was hit by a very rare tornado. The structure is back to 100% and is being used regularly for Trade Education (wood working and electrition training), a feeding program and church & youth group activities for the surrounding villages. We have recently acuired new land and in the last couple years have built a community recreational and picnic area and have plans for a half dozen new homes. We are planning new construction as soon as January! Committing to long term growth and development and sticking with a community on an open-ended basis allows for greater input and stronger bonds in ways that short term aid can never accomplish. Our goal is to break the chains of generational poverty and oppression by offering opportunities and projects and establish relationships that last decades! Please continue to pray for the ongoing work the Lord has for GWI and Los Braziles! If you would like to join us you can! See below for our January trip details or consider joining us in July!
January 2012 Nicaragua Trip: Our next trip to Nicaragua is planned for January 27 - February 5, 2012. We will be hosting a construction team and plan on building a new home in the Los Braziles neighborhood. The cost of the trip is $650 plus airfare to Managua. If you would like to join us let us know as soon as possible. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have about this trip or July 2012.
Prayer Requests
Pray the planning of our trip to Nicaragua in January
Pray for the elections in Nicaragua on November 6th.
Pray for the continued fund-raising and planning for Hydroponic Farming, Holistic Farming, our work in Ometepe, Los Brazilias & Managua, our ability to keep Jon-Mark on staff and our funding of our Fellow Initiator's projects.
Pray for Threads of Hope and the Women who are working hard to learn, grow in the Lord and provide extra income for their families through the craft of sewing.
Pray for the elections in Nicaragua on November 6th.
Pray for the continued fund-raising and planning for Hydroponic Farming, Holistic Farming, our work in Ometepe, Los Brazilias & Managua, our ability to keep Jon-Mark on staff and our funding of our Fellow Initiator's projects.
Pray for Threads of Hope and the Women who are working hard to learn, grow in the Lord and provide extra income for their families through the craft of sewing.
Free Song Of The Month - The Crown Is You
As performed by Ted, Dawn & Jon-Mark Sandquist
Meditations on the song by Jon-Mark
What do I strive for? Getting a raise (haha, not
me), getting through to the weekend, that new car, gratification and praise,
love and affection from my family/friends/authorities/strangers??? We've all
used the phrase "I deserve that much" before, but what do we really
deserve? The whole of our lives are not worthy of Him yet He Himself. Did we
deserve that? This song was recorded years ago. I didn't change much. We
recorded it for a good friend who was dying of cancer. This song comes to mind
often since that time. 2 Cor 4:17 says "For our light and momentary
troublesare achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
all!" And the reason it outweighs them all is that our crown is not our
achievements or the work of our hand. No, our crown is Christ! Fight the good
fight and run the race knowing that He is the prize!!!
