Closest of Bonds

 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.”

— Proverbs 18:24

 

I’ve heard this verse taught many ways, most often about the “friend who stays closer than a brother.” We all crave this type of friend. One who’s there for the joys of life and for the hardest times of life. One who encourages you and one who chastises wisely by teaching you.

 

Today, I’ve read three rabbis’ thoughts on this verse and I’ve considered the life of Jesus. The rabbis recognize the first “friend” is something you go out and strive to make. They then state, that of these, you will have a few who become more than that friend you may see or talk to periodically. Some or maybe only one of those friends will love you closer than a relative. They will love you like they love themselves.

 

These “friends” you make come from two different words. The first instance of it translates to companions. The second translates to as people as intimate as family.

 

Two rabbis found the first part of this verse as the cause for the second. They believed and taught you should make friends because among them, one or more may become closer than a blood relative and stick with you through sunny and stormy days. 

 

The third rabbi taught these two parts of the verse contrasted. He taught that although you should make friends to be a “man of friends,” you should seek out friends who love you, since some of these will “stick closer than a brother.”

 

In looking at Jesus’ example shows He made friends. Let’s look at his closest circle of friends, the twelve men He called to follow Him. Of these, one most assuredly did not stick closer than a brother, Judas Iscariot. Three of them, Jesus was closest to—John, James, and Peter. All of them Jesus taught, called, appointed, and purposely spent concentrated time with during His last three years on earth. Other than Judas Iscariot, these men obeyed Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:18-20. He commissioned them with these words. 

 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Each of these eleven men spent the rest of their lives obeying Jesus commissioning. It was only John, James, and Peter, though, whom He took when He went to pray. It was they who saw Elijah and Moses speaking with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. These three men went with Jesus as He raised Jairus’ daughter from death. It was Peter on whom He said He would build His church (the Christian church in Jerusalem, from where missionaries were sent). Peter was the preacher to thousands on the Day of Pentecost. It was John to whom Jesus passed the care of His mother. James, along with John, became prominent leaders in the early church, along with Peter, and they both expressed willingness to be martyred for their faith. James was the first disciple to be killed for His faith. John was the last disciple to die and had been persecuted and exiled for his faith. Jesus spent time with these three men because He was preparing them for leadership roles in the church. He spent time with them because they cared deeply for Him—in joys and anguishes.

 

Jesus intentionally met people. Of those, He made friends/companions. Some of those He created into deeper relationships. And some of these became closer than brothers to Him. 

 

Yes, we should make friends because that can lead to close friendships, like the first two rabbis taught. As the third rabbi taught, we should make friends, but seek out those who love you like family (John, James, & Peter). Jesus met thousands of people intentionally. Most of them came to see Him perform miracles or hear His wise teaching. Some became followers yearning for more. Some became friends whom Jesus grew to know. Jesus purposefully chose twelve men to follow Him and into whom He could impart spiritual truth, leadership, and authority. Eleven of these men accepted that calling and commission. Jesus saw the love and passion of three of the men and that they were closer to Him than His own brothers. They’d do anything to help Him and they did. 

 

Yes, we need a circle of friends in life. At one time we need the expertise of one of them and at another time the expertise of another. Yet, we also need daily, walk-beside-me friends who know our background, our heart, our intentions, and our purposes. These friends are closer-than-a-brother friends who when you say SNAP (stop now and pray) they will and will ask how they can help no matter the cost—physically, financially, emotionally, or locationally. They’d give you anything they had if you needed it. They’d do whatever at whenever time you needed. The blood that runs through you, runs through them. It’s the blood of salvation flowing from the throne of Jesus that unites us with Himself and each other.

 

Go out and intentionally create friendships. Create bonds closer than a brother. Allow the love of Jesus flowing through you to unite you with others. 

 

Maybe you feel you can’t trust anyone enough to get close anymore because of being hurt in the past. Jesus can heal that pain. Its sting will go away. Trust Him to heal you, cleanse you from sins, save you for eternity, and lead you to these close loving and trusting bonds. Just admit Jesus is the Son of God who came to save you. Believe in your heart this truth. Confess your sins and repent of them. 

 

We all crave friends and close bonds. God created us for relationship with Himself and other people. Let Him bring you into relationships with other people. Let Him use you to tell others about Jesus and teach them how to live like Jesus. Build relationships of all levels. Create relationships that are closer than a brother. We all need those people.

Pruned or Cut Off

 

“Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.”— ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬‬

Every vine, if it’s healthy, has branches. Jesus compared himself to a vine. He said He’s the true vine, the only one based in the Godhead. All other vines that supposedly lead to help and strength now and to life after death are false. They don’t begin from the Godhead and don’t lead followers to true Life. 

Jesus called His disciples branches. He said every branch from the vine that does not produce fruit—meaning obedience to God that causes others to know about Jesus and/or be helped because of His love in the disciple—will be cut off. Notice the difference in words in this verse. The branches not bearing fruit are cut off to be burned up. The branches producing fruit are pruned. 

Cutting off and pruning have two different purposes. Cutting off something to burn up bears witness that the thing removed was tainted, infected, unproductive and producing a fruit that did not carry the standard for which the vine grew. Pruning is not done to remove something producing fruit contrary to the vine. Pruning a vine is done to grow a branch more inline with the potential of the vine. It gives the fruit of the branch a more intense flavor similar to the first fruits of the vine, and, therefore, similar to the vine. 

The branches (true believers) in the true Vine (Jesus) are pruned (trained, disciplined, mentored, corrected, encouraged) so that what they teach, preach, do, and think is what Jesus thought, said, and did. Pruning makes the branch more like the Vine. It ensures the fruit of the branch are greater in cluster and intensity so that the seeds of that fruit bear much fruit with the intensity of the Vine. 

This should make us stop and consider if God is pruning us or cutting us off. If you’re truly a believer in Jesus whose life has been changed so that your words, actions, and attitudes are less like your old self and becoming more like Jesus, God will prune you. If, however, you have never believed in Jesus or say you did but never changed your life and submitted to God, God will cut you off. Why is this important? Pruned branches continue to grow, thrive, and become more like Jesus, with His passion, intensity, and purpose. They live with Him forever. Cut off branches are burned. 

What is the Vinedresser (God) doing to your branch, pruning or cutting you off from the Vine?

Power-filled Command

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””

— Acts 1:8

 

Never before have I been led to focus on the verbs of this verse. Let’s consider them together.

 

Jesus first said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” He was talking to His chosen apostles while eating with them. Jesus told them not to leave Jerusalem until His Father had given them His promised gift (vs. 4). This gift is what Jesus spoke about in verse eight, His Holy Spirit. Receiving that gift was very important or Jesus wouldn’t have mentioned it. It was so important that Jesus emphasized it as a command that sounded like, “Don’t leave until you receive the gift.” Jesus had no doubt God would give it. He and the Father spoke continually. This was their plan from before time. Jesus emphatically told His chosen apostles, “You WILL receive power” and it WILL come from the Holy Spirit (a personage in the triune Godhead). Jesus’ Spirit would empower and embolden the apostles. Jesus gives each Christian this promise; His Spirit will come upon us when we believe in Him for salvation. Don’t run out in your own steam living life like you did before you believed in Jesus. You’re supposed to live in the power of the Spirit, who leads you to live out God’s plan for your life. 

 

What was the second part of verse eight? Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses.” Upon looking at this, it may seem Jesus was just foretelling the future of His apostles. But if you look at the Greek words we consider future tense, you will note it’s an indicative. Indicatives are a future telling that carries a command. Jesus looked at the men and told them, “You WILL be.” It’s like a parent telling a child, “You WILL clean up your mess.” Like the parent’s command told the future about the child’s obedience, Jesus’ telling the future about what the apostles will be doing carried a command that resulted in their obedience. 

 

Several things to note here. Jesus didn’t just tell them to go make disciples. He gave them His power, words, heart for people, boldness, and courage by giving them the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t tell His children to do something without giving them the ability, desire, and tools to do it. Another note: Christians, whether called to live changed and godly lives or to go minister somewhere to someone, MUST rely upon the Holy Spirit. Trying to live godly lives cannot be done by human strength or ability. We must intentionally and assertively seek and take hold of the Holy Spirit for His purpose, power, and way to live godly lives. God gives us the gift of His Spirit to give us His power to live for Him. We must accept and take hold of it. 

 

Jesus still foretells the future of our lives. When we believe in Him for salvation, we will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit from the Father. And we will be His witnesses by and through our lives so that the people around us see Him at work in our lives and want to know more. Some Christians will be called to go to other cities, provinces, districts, and countries to show and tell about the love of God to anyone who will listen. Going and sharing the gospel is an imperative by Jesus for which He provides the power, words, strength, and will.

 

Will you choose to obey Jesus’ command? Will you assertively take hold of the power the Spirit gives to live changed, godly lives? If not, what difference is your life now than before you believed in Jesus?

Wisdom

 

 

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

— James 1:5

 

What is wisdom? First note, it comes from God. He is the source of wisdom. Wisdom is part of God’s being. It is “the knowledge and practice of the requisites for godly and upright living.” God wants us each to live sinless lives and be in a right relationship with Him, so He will give wisdom and the ability to live righteously. So ask Him for it. 

 

How much wisdom will God give? Does God give enough to tease a person? No, He gives what is needed to live godly lives by making godly decisions. God gives wisdom sincerely. He seeks to bless a person, so why would He withhold any wisdom when He wants us to live godly lives. God gives blessings without holding back.

 

God gives wisdom without reproach. He doesn’t give wisdom while casting blame. God doesn’t say, “You should’ve known this, but here you go, have My wisdom.” He doesn’t give begrudgingly or while shaming. 

 

God wants a deeper relationship with His children. He willingly blesses us with what we need to grow closer to Him and to make us more godly. God gives from His unending fountain of blessings, from His being. James said just ask for wisdom from God. Upon seeing our sincerity in seeking Him and His wisdom, God will bless us with wisdom in how to live our lives more godly, so we can be closer to Him.

 

Have you asked God for wisdom? Ask with faith not with doubt. Grow more like Jesus and closer to God. Know and remember what Jesus taught, “Seek first God and His kingdom and all these things shall be added unto you.” Seek God. Ask for what you need. Be closer to Him, more like Him. Live godly lives. This requires God’s wisdom. Go ahead and ask Him for it.

No Judgment

 

 

“Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus,”

— Romans 8:1

 

“Now” of this verse seems to be a static point in time, but since God is the author of time and space and is not confined to them, “now” is forevermore for people who have believed in Jesus as God’s Son and the Savior who died for their sins. Each Christian’s “now” of salvation is fulfilled now, but not yet. Not yet because he/she has not died and entered eternity’s door into the presence of God. That “not yet” is the present hope of believers that will be fulfilled. It’s a hope backed by God, the ever-faithful and never-forsaking God. 

 

What is the promise upon which the present and future hope rests? Paul writes that no condemnation will occur to all who believe in Jesus as their Savior. Ultimate condemnation—judgment for sins (wrongdoing)—comes down from ever-holy God to sinful people. This judgment will render unbelievers in Jesus into a  permanent separation from God, a state of torment of endless evil with no good ever to come. This state of being and place is called Hell. See how great is the salvation Jesus died to offer when compared to unending evil with no chance of goodness and mercy.

 

There is now no condemnation for whoever believes in and are in Christ Jesus. 

 

On which side of that great divide between good and evil will you be? If you believe Jesus is God’s Son, who died as the ultimate and final sacrifice for your sins, you are saved and safe from ultimate and tormenting eternal separation from God. If you have not believed in Jesus by the time you die, your future does not hold any hope of goodness, mercy, joy, love, and peace. Your future will entail endless agony at not being able to taste, touch, hear, smell, and see God’s goodness. Your judgement—condemnation—will be sure and secure.

 

What prevents you from believing in Jesus, confessing and repenting of your sins, and asking Him to save you and be your Lord? What part of yourself are you unwilling to give up and, instead, let it lead to your condemnation? Is that really worth being separated from God’s goodness for eternity. Stop now and ask God to show you what separates you from Him. For the sake of your soul, confess, repent, and believe. 

 

Come to know the “now” and “not yet” of the hope of eternal salvation and life with God.

Live It Out

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

— Colossians 3:13

 

The command from Paul to “bear with” means to endure by living out the faith God works in you and do it with calmness and composure. It’s not the “grin and bear it” determination just to get through a meal with someone who irks you. This “bearing with” is more of being a loving presence of God to the person by your example of patience, faith, and forgiveness. God bore with sinful humanity out of love. He planned the perfect method of salvation for humanity before time began, before day and night existed. One who loves so much that He plans our salvation before our sin shows great love and that love shows itself in many ways, two of which are patience and forgiveness. This kind of bearing is the example from God and Jesus that Paul commanded the Colossian church and all Christians to show each other. Without this example of bearing, we Christians would have a hard time relating to people who grate on our nerves. So, be patient— endure with love—the person who irks you or is difficult.

 

Paul then commanded them to “forgive” any complaint. Forgiveness originally comes from God. It’s a grace—a favor—He gives to us. Forgiveness is one of His characteristics and its source is God. Believers can forgive because they have received the example of forgiveness from God for their sins. They can forgive because, with that gift of forgiveness received from Him, they forgive and live in harmony with other people. Forgiveness is part of growing closer to God and growing to be more like Jesus. It’s a gift the Spirit bestows to us. God extended down to us forgiveness freely. Nobody who has ever lived or will live can ever do enough good things to earn forgiveness from God. In the same manner, believers in Jesus are to extend forgiveness freely to other people. That person who irks you shouldn’t have to do anything to earn it. 

 

The second part of this command says to forgive without complaining. Paul used a Greek word here in this verse that means forgive without casting blame or fault. Freely forgive, whether or not they know they’ve offended or hurt you. Freely extend forgiveness by living out your faith in Jesus like He modeled to and for humanity. Never did Jesus tell His Father people were unworthy. Never did He complain when people distrusted, betrayed, hurt, or spewed lies about Him. Jesus knew His task to live as God with us in daily life and God for us at His crucifixion. He did this because of His love for humanity. Jesus forgave people with His life.

 

Live out your faith in Jesus with the patience and forgiveness He has shown to you and gives to you. Live this way among people who are easy to love and those who are difficult. Do it without casting fault or blame on them in your heart, mind, words, or actions. To emphasize these commands to Christians, Paul reminded them to forgive as the Lord has done for you. You forgive others as Jesus forgave and forgives you—seventy times seven—ceaselessly and perfectly. 

 

Take time to ask God who you have not loved and forgiven as He loves and has forgiven you. Seek God’s mind and heart about this person. Live out your faith with that person first by asking God to correct your thoughts and heart about him/her. Then, in the quiet of your spirit, forgive that person without seeking that person’s fault or confession. Now, go and be with him/her as you worship, live, and minister, living as Jesus did by loving and forgiving people. Forgive as often as necessary, for bitterness in your heart can cause your relationship with God to become distant. Forgive seventy times seven. 

 

Live out in your life what God has given and keeps giving you.

Proclaim Fellowship

 

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”

— 1 John 1:3

 

John said he and the other disciples proclaimed, they declared openly to everyone. He testified. 

 

Unless a person has experienced something with at least one of his/her senses, it is not a testimony. It would be hearsay, which is when no personal senses are involved. John declared he had a personal testimony proving Jesus is who He said He was. 

 

Which of John’s senses witnessed Christ? John wrote of what he personally had seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears. He probably could have testified based on touch, too. As the “beloved” disciple of Jesus, John probably hugged Jesus before His death and after His resurrection. 

 

John said he and the other disciples openly declared their testimony to whomever would listen about what they saw and heard from Jesus, the Son of God. Did the disciples proclaim to gather a following of disciples for themselves? Did they proclaim so they would receive offerings that would provide them with an income? Did these disciples of Jesus declare their testimony to become famous? No. John said they spent their lives proclaiming their testimony about what they’d seen Jesus do and how He lived and what they heard Jesus teach and preach. They proclaimed so that other people could have fellowship with them. 

 

What did John mean by having fellowship with them? “Fellowship” comes from the Greek word “koinonia”. Koinonia is the absolute bond of love and care among believers in Jesus that unites them with and for each other no matter the cost. This bond unites believers in fellowship with God and Jesus. Koinonia is absolute love for the benefit of the community corporately and individually, whether in joy or crisis or in excess or need.  Koinonia was very visibly seen in Acts 2:44-45 after Pentecost when many people believed in Jesus. Luke wrote it as follows:

 

“And all the believers were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need.”

 

That is koinonia. Giving whatever you had to help others in need, doing whatever it takes to help. John and the other 11 disciples knew this sacrifice personally because of their fellowship with God and Christ and their witnessing of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension. These men did not only give up the right to income or a place to call home. In their decision to follow, believe in, and fellowship with Jesus, they absolutely gave up their right to their own selves. The disciples were persecuted. Many of them died in horrendous ways. John lived to an old age, but exiled from his people. Yet, he still had fellowship with God and Jesus.

 

Where do we stand in this? Do we openly declare our faith in Jesus? Do we give God the glory for the blessings we have received? Do our lives show a fellowship with God and Jesus by doing and giving whatever they request, even their blessings, for other people’s aid? Do we have an absolute bond of Christian love and care for our brothers and sisters in Christ so that what we have would be sold to help them in their need? This shows our absolute fellowship with God and Jesus. It is our living testimony of our faith in Christ and His work in us. This shows our fellowship with Him.

 

Do you have a testimony about your relationship with Jesus?

Do you openly tell it?

Do you have a koinonia fellowship with God and Jesus that causes a koinonia fellowship with and for other Christians?

 

Even to his old age in exile, John’s koinonia with Jesus led him to koinonia (fellowship) with other believers by testifying and teaching through something as simple as a letter. Do you have a heart like John, who had a heart for and like Jesus? That’s koinonia.

Attending Means More

 

 

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart.” (Proverbs 4:20-21)

 

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23)

 

My children, listen to my words of wisdom and live them out. Make them part of who you are by thinking about and meditating on them. In this way, these wise godly ways of life will become yours in what you watch, say, think, and do. Remember most of all to guard your heart, for from what flows out of it in action and word shows if you are living according to God and His wisdom, about which I taught you. [paraphrase]

 

Attending to someone’s words is more than acknowledging him speaking, more than hearing him speak, and more than listening to what he says. Attending is listening, meditating on, understanding, and then acting upon what is taught. Inaction to what is taught is action. It’s refusal to believe and obey the person’s wisdom and teaching. 

 

Keeping a person’s words in one’s heart is part of attending. It’s a pondering on it, guarding that lesson as important, and acting upon it. Keeping a person’s words changes one’s life. In this passage, the person speaking was Solomon, the one to whom God granted wisdom as his gift. Keeping Solomon’s teachings—his words—can be considered equal to keeping God’s words because wisdom comes from God. 

 

Keeping God’s words is guarding them in your heart so that lies cannot change your mind, heart, and actions. Keeping God’s words protects you from evil. They remind you of what is good (from God) and what is evil. They protect your mind and the people you teach and help. They protect your heart so that your spirit is not confused and put into chaos. God’s words keep you connected to Him through His Spirit living in you, a believer in Christ. 

 

How can you hear, listen, and know God’s words, His wisdom? By reading, studying, and meditating on what you read in the Bible every day. By listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching. By praying and fellowshipping with other believers. 

 

Are you attending to and keeping God’s words? In what way are you slacking off in your relationship with Him—praying, reading and studying His word, worshipping Him, listening to Bible-based preaching and teaching? It’s never too late to return to God and to hear, listen to, keep, and do what He says. Right now, take the time to pray to God and return to Him.

Freedom and Humility

 “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.”

— Galatians 5:13

 

Paul wrote, “You, who have become my brothers and sisters because of your believing faith in Jesus, were called to be free” (paraphrase). God called you to Himself and removed the shackles of your old, sinful nature so you were not bound to be powerless against temptation and evil forces. He made you free by His power through Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself on the cross to pay the judgment price for your sins. You are free! You have God’s power available to you now to defeat temptation and evil by walking in step with the Holy Spirit who lives in you. 

 

Since God called you to freedom and has freed you, don’t entangle yourself with your old desires and sins. Your freedom gives you the right and ability to have and live the best life—the perfect life God created you for. (God only gives good gifts)

 

What does that best life include? It includes the penultimate example of what Jesus showed you. Just as Jesus loves you and loved people while on earth (all who were/are not biologically His family), you, too, serve and humbly love others. For Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 and Galatians 5:14)” By doing this, you obey God and His commandments and show your love for Him with your heart, soul, mind, and strength (Matthew 22:37). Your serving is a willing submission (humility) of your right to yourself because of your love for God by obeying Him eternally. 

 

Today, will you use the freedom you received from Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross to entangle yourself with your old desires? Or, will you use your freedom to humbly and gratefully love God by humbly serving your brothers and sisters in Christ?