Timeless

 

“In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.”

— Matthew 7:12

 

Let’s consider this whole passage.

 

“For this is (the essence or summation)” comes from the similar meaning as “now and forever,” i.e. eternally. The verb “is” is time inclusive, present indicative. It has timeless implications. Jesus used it in calling Himself, “I AM.” It speaks of His eternity and self-existent self.

 

So, the teaching of this verse, “do to others as you want them to do to you,” is a timeless command that Jesus used to sum up the previous eleven verses in His Sermon on the Mount and to sum up God’s command about caring for all creation, including human life. This command didn’t go away when the Old Testament period ended or when Jesus ascended to heaven or when the modern or post-modern times began. 

 

This verse, verse twelve, sums up the previous eleven verses. 

       *Don’t judge other people. (Vs 1-5)

       *Don’t continue to teach God’s truths 

         to people who continue to malign   

         and curse you and what you teach.     

         “Don’t throw pearls to swine.” (Vs 6) 

         They will only continue to twist 

         God’s truths, curse them, and/or       

         speak derisively about them. Obey 

         God then let Him work in the 

         person’s heart.

       *Don’t ignore someone when they 

         seek you, ask for your help, and or 

         plead for something from you. 

         Just as when you ask of something 

          from God, seek Him, and knock on 

          His door to visit with or beseech Him 

          and He responds by providing, 

          opening His door to you, and 

          listening, so you do to others. (Vs 7-

          8). But remember about pearls and 

          swine. 

        *Don’t give what won’t fill the need for 

          what they asked. For example, fry 

          beans to a homeless person, who 

          has no stove, will not give him food 

          to eat. It would be the equivalent of

          stones in his stomach. Giving fruit, 

          vegetables, or meat that is starting 

          to spoil or is spoiled is just as 

          dangerous as giving a snake 

          instead of a fish to eat.

 

In all these instances, do as you want to be done to you. It’s a timeless command, as timeless as Jesus and His love. It never goes away. It’s based on love and care for humanity, the pinnacle of God’s creation. Jesus came to earth because of His love for all people, a love that fed, healed, taught, forgave, and died for them. 

 

Jesus taught His disciples to follow His example. And, the base of it is love for all people. Do as Jesus did and does and will do for you. Do to others what you want them to do to you—love them in action and word and in truth. Teach. Feed. Pray over. Forgive. Help. With the means God has given to you, do to others as He has done for you.

Imperative Pleading

“Make me know Your ways, O Lord.” Psalm 25:4-8 [NASB]

The psalmist in these verses was brave. He issued imperative statements to God. Instead of thinking of verses 4-8 and 14-20 as commands to God, we should consider them as pleas from someone who feared his enemies and his own sinfulness.

Consider this idea from today’s point of view. When a child goes to his or her parent and demands ice cream or a new toy, often that demand is unfilled. If that child calls out, “Help me!” recognition is there of who the parent has been for that child in the past and what the strong connection is between them, then issues forth in a cry or plea to do what the parent does better than the child, help.

The psalmist did that. His seven imperative statements in these four verses are cries for help. Why did he cry for help? He recognized his inability to help himself. More importantly, he recognized God could help him. How did the psalmist realize God could help him? He understood this because he had life experience with God before or knew of people who did. Either way, the psalmist knew about God-His ways, truth, salvation, faithfulness, love, mercy, kindness, compassion, and forgiveness.

The psalmist recognized something else about himself besides his lack of power, wisdom, and might, and he openly admitted it. He acknowledged his sins and transgressions-his turning away from God and his rebellious life. The psalmist knew he had turned away from God. That realization means he knew God. The hymn writer had a relationship with Him but had turned his back on God and walked in his own rebellious ways. We each do that. Paul said in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

These things established the basis for the psalmist’s plea. For what did he ask? Did he ask for a mansion or sports car? Did he ask for a big paycheck or huge inheritance? No, at that moment, and like most of us when our backs are against the wall, the psalmist recognized his departure from God and begged for God to restore him to a right relationship with Him.

In verse four, this sinful man, whose enemies chased him, begged God to help him recognize, acknowledge, consider, and confess God and His ways. This was the first step. It was a static request for the moment to help him see God, so he could return to a right relationship with Him. The psalmist did not ask God to help him only at that time. He asked God to “teach” him His paths. This teaching is not a static once-off event, but a dynamic event that God skillfully taught, and the psalmist practiced as he walked with Him daily in His ways and in the manner of life He led. The first thing the psalmist pleaded God for was to “know” His ways. Next, he asked God to “teach” him His paths. Many of us only want help to get unstuck from the hole we cannot escape. We are like the car with a tire bogged in the mud. We try everything to get the car out of the hole. We rev the engine so much in our attempt to get the car to move that we make the muddy hole deeper and we gain no traction. The psalmist understood in his heart he needed and wanted more than a band-aid to help him out for now. He recognized his need to walk with God and learn from him daily.

For what else did the psalmist plead to God? Consider he asked God to lead him in His paths in verse four. Recognizing the paths as God’s teaching him, he recognized the truths of God, true. God is faithful and truthful. The psalmist pleaded for God to bend, mold, and lead him in His truthfulness and faithfulness so he would become like Him. He recognized his sinfulness-his lack of faithfulness and integrity to God and other people. Once again, the psalmist pleaded for God to teach him-to walk with him daily teaching him and helping him put it into practice. This requires and creates a growing relationship with the Lord. The psalmist punctuated his desire for a relationship by the end of this verse when he said, “For You I wait all day long.” This hymn writer declared his desire to be with God and grow in his relationship with Him.

The psalmist recognized another thing so many people shutter themselves not to see. He recognized and admitted God is his salvation. This hymn writer said, God is his deliverance and rescue from sin and death. With this great “Ah Ha,” the desire of this hymn-singer’s heart echoed through history. “You, O God, are my salvation. You are my strength. Teach me Your ways. I desire to be with You daily.”

With verse six, the psalmist’s recognition of his sinfulness and God’s righteousness glared in his face. He begged God to remember His compassion and lovingkindness-His deep mercy and love, and His faithful kindness and favor. The psalmist realized He did not deserve God’s kindness and favor, but he begged God to remember who He has always been. God’s grace is written through the pages of history, from Adam until God’s kingdom comes. Many times, people deserved judgment for their hateful ways, but God had mercy on them, on us, and showed kindness instead of judgment. This kindness and mercy is of what the psalmist asked God to remember and apply it to himself and his own sinfulness.

Consider a child whose parent told her not to touch the vase from the time she could walk. As she grows and can reach the vase more easily, she keeps touching it. Each time, her parent said, “No.” Finally, she is big enough to pick it up, and then drop it. That is sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves punishment. All the times the parent said “No” when the child touched it is like when God gives mercy and kindness to the sinners. The psalmist pleaded for God to have mercy and kindness on him, the same mercy He showed to people from ages past-ancient days.

With verse seven, the psalmist begged God more. This verse is a negative reiteration of verse six. He stated it for emphasis. “Do not recall or consider the sins of my youth or the rebellious acts that broke Your trust in me,” he said. The psalmist knows he sinned. He recognized God’s righteousness and begged for His mercy and kindness. The hymn writer restated verse six with a twist. He did what every person and everything is supposed to do-bring glory to God. The psalmist said, “Remember and recall all your mercies and kindness from past generations and consider them with regard to me, not that I deserve Your mercy and kindness, but so that the nations may hear again how great, merciful, and kind You are.”

Consider this possibility. When you forgive your colleague at work repeatedly and the whole company knows the problem the colleague has given you, they consider you are justified to attack that person. Is it okay to attack or deride the person? You are justified according to humanly standards. Yet, you consider the person and what he or she did, and instead you forgive him/her again. What rings out from that action? Mercy. Kindness. Wonder. Who is the colleague who would forgive so many times? Does it have to do with his/her belief in God? This worker astounded his/her colleagues. What this worker did for the colleague who kept causing problems at work is what the psalmist asked God to do for him. Forgive him for his name’s sake. More importantly, he/she pointed toward God with his/her actions. The worker forgave his colleague for God’s name sake. God received the glory.

We don’t deserve help from God. We don’t deserve God’s forgiveness, mercy, compassion, love, salvation, or grace. It’s a good thing God doesn’t always give what we deserve. Paul said in Romans 10:13, “For whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” The psalmist realized he was not strong enough to defeat his enemies. He understood one band-aid would not fix the problem every day. The hymn writer recognized he needed God to walk with him daily teaching him. More importantly, the psalmist recognized his sinfulness and his need for salvation that can only come from God. He begged for God’s mercy, not because he deserved it, but because of God’s fame from the past and His glory now and forever. The psalmist asked for salvation because of who God is not because of who he was. That is the basis of our salvation. We come to God knowing He is the Savior and we are sinners. We come to Him repenting and asking for His divine forgiveness and mercy. He says come.

Lord, I do not deserve Your love or mercy. I do not deserve forgiveness for all I have done wrong against You and other people. Still, I come to You anyway asking for Your forgiveness and for salvation from sin and death. Lord, You are the Savior. Please save me, remake me, and walk with me daily teaching me Your ways. Amen.

In Their Words: Petra's and Fabrice's Stories

Refugee is a word almost everyone has heard in today’s world. The phenomenon of displaced people is rife now. Modern history has never seen this amount of people running to save their lives from political unrest within countries.

Media centers portray refugees trudging through rivers and mud, hiding in forests, carrying their meager goods, and looking at the world with desperation and hopelessness. Are these the true story? Is there more to the story? What is the background of each of these people? Do they want to return home or make our home nation their new home? Each of these questions are important, but their answers are often surprising, especially the answer to the last question. From interviews with refugees and asylum seekers, most want to return to their home countries. Let’s consider more refugee stories and understand them better.

In an earlier segment of this series, we heard from refugees and asylum seekers from three countries-Burundi, DRC, and Sudan. With this article, a refugee from Serbia and one from the Democratic Republic of the Congo will tell of their lives in their home countries and their refuge countries. Petra and Fabrice will answer three questions and provide color to refugee stories so we can learn more about them and the refugee crisis.

Interviews

Petra from Serbia

Question 1: What was life like in your home country?

My home country was very beautiful in many ways. My town of Banja Luka is beautiful. It sits on a pretty river called Vrbas and hills surround it. It is a picturesque town and if it was not for the war, I would have never left.

I have a great life until April 1992. Things had become politically complex. I was a child and did not understand much. All I knew was that the governments were changing and things were going to be different. My parents had great jobs. We had everything I now have in the United States. When war broke out suddenly, our very existence came into question. We were a Muslim family in a city that was majority becoming Serb territory.

Question 2: What made you decide to leave your country?

Bosnia and Herzegovina was a country that suffered horrible atrocities. The Yugoslavian Army overnight became the Serbian army and started attacking civilians and all those that did not identify as Serbs.

We left due to the genocide that our people experienced in the period between 1992-1995. It was the worst war crime committed against civilians since World War 2 in the heart of Europe. Little was done to help innocent people.

Question 3: What has life been like in your host/adopted country?

Life in the new country was a struggle in the beginning. We were eager to get acclimated as soon as possible. My parents are highly educated in their native land and were factory workers in the USA when we arrived and as we grew up. They sometimes held three jobs to keep the bills paid. My parents never complained. They just pushed my sisters and me to get our education.

We did not speak much English, and friends were few. We tended to socialize with those that also came from Bosnia since it was easier. Americans were extremely friendly, but due to coming at the awkward age of a teenager, we did not make many friends with the nationals. It became easier in college. Our accents always made us different and to this day I am asked from where my accent comes.

My sisters and I did well. One works as an accountant at a major oil firm in Dallas. The youngest is a pharmacist. I am a psychotherapist, but also work as a consultant for the patient experience division in a major health system in Texas.

I am telling you my story because refugees have been painted so negatively and almost as a threat to America. In all honesty, we just fled violence. I cannot express my gratitude to this country for welcoming us, and allowing us to work hard and live in peace. My heart bleeds for those that are somewhere in a camp on the other side of the world that will never get that chance.

Fabrice from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Question 1: What was life like in your home country?

First of all, my country, Congo DRC, is nice and big. We have many riches, but people are suffering too much because they are not getting profit from those riches. Even if they study and get degrees, getting a job is very difficult. Some of us with degrees stayed home for a long time without getting a job. Those who are supposed to fight for the people so they can get profit from our natural riches are using all the riches for their own gain.

Life is good only for those who are working for the government. The rest of the people are suffering. Those people were supposed to speak on behalf of all DRC people. Politicians are getting rich, they and their families, while people are suffering. There is no food, no school, and no jobs.

My country’s politics are very bad because everyone is seeking his own interests, not the peoples’ interests. The few politicians who are fighting for the peoples’ interests are killed or put in prison for reasons that are not viable. The president is not respecting the constitution and is taking more mandate of his function by changing the constitution. Corruption is his top purpose in my country.

Question 2: What made you decide to leave your country?

The main reason I decided to leave my country was the political conflict. In fact, in 2016 there was a big conflict between two political parties, the UDPS, which was led by Mr. Tshisekedi Wa Mulumba Ethiene, and the PPRD, which is led by the current President of the country, Kabila Kabange Joseph.

I was studying at Petroleum and Gas Institute, which was in the same area as the UDPS general quarter. My father was an activist of the UDPS, as well as all my family. In the same year, our general quarter was burned by the PPRD activists. Some of the UDPS activists were burned inside the general quarter. Some researchers were killed by those PPRD activist. My family and I are part of the list of UDPS that the PPRD knows about. We were unsafe in the Congo from then.

We ran from them, the PPRD, me and my father, mother, three brothers and sister. Until now I don’t know where they are. I mean my family. I was running from the PPRD with my wife. We ran from the capital of Kinshasa to a city of Katanga province called Lubumbashi, but there we were still not safe because Lubumbashi is still Congo. I spoke with a truck driver about what happened to us and he drove us from Lubumbashi to Zambia. When we got to Zambia, he spoke to his friend, another driver, asking him to drive us to South Africa. He said we would be safe in that country. That driver drove us to Cape town.

Question 3: What has life been like in your host/adopted country?

Living in South Africa wasn’t easy for us when we arrived. Indeed, we arrived here on 23 December 2016. I didn’t know English. I didn’t have asylum seeker documents, and in January my wife got pregnant. It was very difficult for us to live here because I didn’t know what to do. Without a job and documents what could I do? Really, we suffered. 

At that time, a Congolese person advised me to go to the Scalabrini center to seek a document that would allow my wife to be assisted, and to give birth. That time I wasn’t working and by the grace of God my wife was doing a small job as a hairdresser. The little money she got helped us to get food to eat and to buy baby stuff.

When the baby was born, my wife couldn’t work again. Then one person in my church fellowship connected me to a lift job. After 3 months, that job was finished because I don’t have asylum documents. The little I’m getting now is helping to pay rent, to eat, and buy some baby stuff.

We were happy when Home Affairs said that it was going to give newcomers documents here in Cape Town, but until now they do nothing. It’s like they canceled it. We are willing to go in Pretoria, Durban, or Messina to seek documents, but we don’t have money for transportation.

Life in South Africa is difficult if you are foreigner because we are facing many problems: difficulty in getting documents, xenophobia, difficulty in getting jobs.

Conclusion

Often people consider refugees as people who will enter our home counties and take our jobs, introduce foreign religions and cultures, and take over our nations. Displaced people only seek asylum from the ravages of despair, hopelessness, and fear in their countries. They seek safety, rest, and reprieve. Refugees have no long-term goal of overthrowing and taking over another nation. Still, people fear them, their differences, their languages, and their influence on the people of the host countries. What will it take for us to realize these are people made in God’s image, too? They, too, are for whom He sent Jesus to die and give eternal life because of His sacrificial and dear love? These stories become the voice of refugees and asylum seekers. By them, we can learn the truth and accept these people, these voiceless and persecuted humanity, and love them as God asks us to love them, as our neighbor. What will it take for you to love them as your brothers and sisters? 

Trust in the LORD: A Psalm 115 Devotional

Focal verses: 1, 9-11, & 18

¹Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your loving-kindness, because of Your truth.

⁹ O Israel, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
¹⁰ O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
¹¹ You who fear the LORD trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.

¹⁸But as for us, we will bless the Lord
From this time forth and forever.
Praise the Lord!

David wrote saying the LORD alone was to receive all glory. He then went on to show to the readers and hearers of this Psalm that other so-called gods are not gods. They can offer no help to their worshippers.

Those supposed gods are made by the hands of man. They have no mouths, eyes, ears, noses, hands, feet, or voice. David added than any person who follows these man-made gods will become like these gods, even the ones who make them.

David said these gods are ineffective and cannot help anyone. The LORD God is unlike the man-made gods. He can hear, see, speak, smell, touch, and walk/run. The LORD can and does help. The Israelites knew that and could rely upon Him.

Because of the LORD being alive, the nation of Israel and every individual Israelite could know and trust that the LORD is their help and shield. He will provide them with every form of provision they need, including protection with His shield.

The LORD’s priests, the Levites, and their families know Him and can trust in Him. He is their help and shield. They have experience with Him and can continue to rely upon the LORD.

People who have come to know the LORD God, though they are not descendants from Abraham, can have faith and trust in Him as their help and shield. These are the people who come to have faith in Him, fear and are in awe of Him, who worship and dutifully follow Him. Even the people who are not from the seed of Abraham can become children of God because their faith made them righteous, just as God declared Abraham’s faith as righteousness (Genesis 15:1-21).

Every person, whether the nation of Israel, individual Israelites, Levites and their families, or those who have come by faith to believe in God, can trust in the Lord’s help and shield. We can each know the Lord will provide everything we need for our daily living. As a people, the children of God have reason to proclaim the glory of the Lord. As verse 18 says, “But as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord!”

No matter what the circumstances we find ourselves in today, we can trust and know the Lord’s help and shield are already at work for us. We who are His children are cherished, loved, and protected. God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate and only sufficient sacrifice for our sins.

That is the greatest show of His love. How much easier it is for the Lord to help and provide for us in our daily needs. Whether great or small, our needs are not beyond the Lord and His love is greater than we can anything we can think or imagine.

Trust in the Lord and his help and strength.

Give glory to the Lord

for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do.