If someone were to say to you that Jesus had to learn some things when He came to earth, I think your first response might be the same as mine.  “What do you mean?  This is Jesus we’re talking about!  He already knows everything and always has.”  Yet the Hebrew writer says it in black and white:  Though he was a Son, yet he learned obedience by the things he suffered, 5:8.

            Obedience is a tough thing to learn, and we all probably learned it the same way Jesus did, by suffering a little.  Already my little grandson Silas is learning those lessons.  It’s difficult to learn because doing what you are told to do, even when you don’t want to, takes humility and self-control.  That in turn takes maturity.  And that is why an attitude of rebellion is so wrong.  A person who refuses to toe the line, who seeks to always find a reason NOT to obey, and who questions authority simply because it IS authority is arrogant and self-willed.  Period.

            That sort of person would not have paid the temple tax as Jesus did.  Of all people, He told the apostles, the Son does not have to pay, yet He sent Peter to find the shekel in the fish’s mouth to pay that tax “lest we cause [others] to stumble,” Matt 17:24-27.

            He told the people to obey the scribes and Pharisees because “they sit on Moses’ seat,” even though those same men did not follow the very law they taught so rigorously, Matt 23:1-3.  Others’ disobedience is no reason for yours, He seemed to be saying.

            He purposefully made Himself subject to temptation, Matt 4, then overcame it.

            He put up with hardheadedness, petty squabbles, and pride to teach the disciples so He could leave His church in the hands of good leaders.

            He went to a cross He did not deserve, even though He really did not want to (“let this cup pass from me” and “thy will be done”).  He did it because he was an obedient son.

            Jesus would never have said, “You can’t tell me what to do.”  He would never have fomented rebellion in the parking lot.  He would never have planted seeds of doubt and discord among the weak and immature.  Jesus learned obedience.  If we are truly His disciples, isn’t it about time we did the same?
 
And hereby we know that we know him if we keep his commandments,  He who says I know him and keeps not his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps his word, in him truly has the love of God been perfected.  Hereby we know that we are in him.  He who says he abides in him himself also ought to walk as he walked, 1 John 2:3-6.
           
Dene Ward

Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we. 2Cor 10:7.

            We’ve been examining all the repeated lessons in the New Testament, the ones the writers felt needed a rerun because they were that important.  Usually we look at the passage in context.  This one we will take squarely out of context.  The message still works and it is rerun again and again, in every context imaginable.  We obviously need, as the passage says, reminding.

            Some of the Corinthians were still having difficulty accepting Paul as an apostle.  In this short verse he reminds them of what should have been obvious:  We both belong to Christ.  That should have had an impact on them when they considered what he was telling them and how they received him.  Don’t you judge the motives of a brother differently than anyone else?  You ought to because you know he has sworn allegiance to the same Lord as you, the one who demands a lifestyle that abhors sin.  He isn’t a pagan.  And that kinship creates an instant bond no matter where you may run into one another.

            This lesson has been taught in the scripture since the beginning.  The fact that Cain killed his own brother made that murder even worse.  When Lot and Abraham began having difficulties, Abraham came to him to work things out.  It shouldn’t be like this, he told Lot, because, “We are brethren,” Gen 13:8.  When Moses saw the two Hebrews fighting he said to them, “You are brothers.  Why do you wrong each other?” Acts 7:26. 

            Yes, if we are brethren, if we both belong to Christ, it should make a difference in how we treat one another.  Peter goes so far as to say that obeying the truth should have the effect of producing in us not just cold, formal love for each other, but an intense and passionate love, one that never pretends.   Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 1Pet 1:22.  If I do not feel that way about my brothers and sisters, he seems to be saying, then maybe I haven’t really “obeyed the truth.”

            John agrees.  He says if we do not love our brethren, we are in darkness and in death; that we are liars and murderers, 1 John 2:9-11; 3:14-19; 4:20,21.  Christ died for us all.  If he loved me that much, he loved you that much, too, which means I should love you that much and you me.  We are instantly bound together in the same emotional context of gratitude and wonder and unity. 

            I know, I know.  You’ve heard these “love” lessons all your life.  When you hear another starting, you almost sigh and roll your eyes.  “Again?  What else is there to say?”

            Nothing.  It’s a rerun, but it’s a rerun found in nearly every book of the Bible.  That means it’s worth our hearing again.  And again.  And again. 

            Unless you think you’ve already got this one whipped?
 
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4:2-3.
 
Dene Ward

Was there ever a church with as many problems as Corinth?  We can easily make excuses for them.  Corinth was one of the most sinful cities in the world at the time.  In fact, “Corinthian” was an adjective describing a licentious lifestyle.  Certainly it was difficult to be a Christian in such an environment.  I have said before that if a person could remain pure in that city at that time, anyone can live a pure life today.
            Yet the apostle Paul obviously expected more out of them, and he told them their faults plainly. 
            They were factious (1:10-14); they were carnal and immature (3:1-3); they were arrogant (3:18,19; 8:10); they were selfish (6:7; 14:26-33).  They had little regard for one another and put their own interests ahead of the mission God gave them as His people (6:5-8; 8:9-13).  They glorified sin in their presence instead of removing its leavening influence so their worship could be pure before God (chapter 5).  They even corrupted the memorial meal that should have unified them, reminding them that they all came from the same humbling circumstance of sin, dependent solely on the grace of God for their salvation, (11:17-34).
            Yet despite all this, how does Paul end that first letter of rebuke?  With hope.  Yes, they had been “fornicators…idolaters…adulterers…effeminate…abusers of themselves with men…thieves…covetous…drunkards…revilers…extortioners,” but they had also been “washed…sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (6:9-11).  Paul scolds them over and over, but he ends with the hope that they could change their lives, overcome their problems, and be “raised incorruptible” on that final day (15:52).
            Paul told even these bad boys and girls of the New Testament that they could live righteously and inherit eternal life.  Doesn’t it make you stop and think a minute before you consign someone to Hell by refusing them the opportunity to even hear the gospel because of their sinful, problem-filled lives?  Doesn’t it make you cringe a little at how carelessly we label congregations of God’s people “sound” and “unsound?”  And most important of all, doesn’t it give you hope when you fall yet again and have to pick yourself up and repent?
            Most of us would have simply bypassed Corinth if we had been making Paul’s itinerary for him.  To paraphrase Nathanael, “Can any good thing come out of Corinth?”  Yet Paul knew that where there is the greatest need, there will be the greatest response.  It may be tough going.  It may be that these folks will be “high maintenance Christians,” people who need a little more help, a little more support, and a whole lot more of our time, but who is to say that one soul is worth more than another?  We all stand before God as helpless sinners.
            And God holds out for us the same hope he gave those early Christians who had to fight their upbringing in a libertine culture even worse than ours. 
            O death where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Wherefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as you know that your labor is not vain in the Lord, 1 Cor 15:55-58.
 
Dene Ward

My boys survived on hand-me-downs, including hand-me-down toys.  An acquaintance gave us one of those molded plastic “rocking horses” that hang suspended by four large springs on a tubular steel frame.  The boys were so young we had to hold them on it at first, but before long they could mount it and ride on their own, the steady, groaning sproing, sproing, sproing reaching my ears as I worked in the kitchen.  As they grew older and gained experience with western heroes, particularly a certain Texas Ranger who wore a mask, I often heard shouts of, “Giddy-up,” “Whoa,” and finally, “Hi-yo Silver, awaaaaaay!”

            In their active little minds they traveled everywhere on that horse, despite the fact that they never left the room.  Sometimes we have the same problem.

            I have seen good, sincere, faithful Christians hamstring themselves by riding a certain hobby nearly to death.  No matter what subject comes up, they can finagle it around to their favorite topic.  After awhile you learn to avoid certain words that function like detonators on a land mine.  We often accuse preachers of this problem, but it can happen to us just as easily, not only about topics, but about people too.

            When you can only focus on the aggravating things about a person, you fail to see the good in them.  When all you can see are the annoyances in the church, you fail to gain the encouragement you need from the assembling together of a spiritual family.  When one pet peeve is all you see in any passage of scripture, you fail to see the things you yourself need in order to grow and improve.  Obsession can rob you of any influence you might otherwise have because everyone will just say, “There s/he goes again,” automatically dismissing anything you say.

            It is even worse when the thing the “equestrian” goes on about is actually a good and right thing.  He simply makes more of it than it deserves because to him it has become a holy grail.  He can make it seem that anyone who does not share his opinion has some sort of deep-seeded problem with a) love; b) authority; c) faithfulness; d) all of the above, choose whatever fits the occasion.  So division often occurs, if not in fact, then in spirit, because in his arrogance he believes that this “thing” is the root of every other problem we might possibly have and important enough to cause a fuss about.

            The rider may think he sees better than others, but all he is seeing is one tiny corner of the Word, while the rest remains hidden behind his self-imposed blinders.  He may think he is enjoying an amazing ride on a marvelous steed, but he is sitting on a swayback nag in the middle of a field, going nowhere.  At least the children eventually get off the horse. 

            It is a whole lot easier to get on the horse than to get off it.  Sometimes we don’t even realize that is what we have done.  Do you need to get off yours and take a new look around?  It might surprise you how far you have not come—but it’s the first necessary step to going farther.
 
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.  Give diligence to present yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:14,15.
 
Dene Ward

​​​​​​​The LORD says, ​​​​​​“The women of Zion are proud. ​​​​​​They walk with their heads high ​​​​​​and flirt with their eyes. ​​​​​​They skip along ​​​​​​and the jewelry on their ankles jingles. ​​​​​​​So the sovereign master will afflict the foreheads of Zion’s women with skin diseases, ​​​​​​the LORD will make the front of their heads bald.” At that time the sovereign master will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, neck ornaments, crescent shaped ornaments, earrings, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle ornaments, sashes, sachets, amulets, rings, nose rings, festive dresses, robes, shawls, purses, garments, vests, head coverings, and gowns. ​​​​​​​A putrid stench will replace the smell of spices, ​​​​​​a rope will replace a belt, ​​​​​​baldness will replace braided locks of hair, ​​​​​​a sackcloth garment will replace a fine robe, ​​​​​​and a prisoner’s brand will replace beauty. ​​​​​​​Your men will fall by the sword, ​​​​​​your strong men will die in battle. ​​​​​​​Her gates will mourn and lament; ​​​​​​deprived of her people, she will sit on the ground.  ​​​​​​​Seven women will grab hold of ​​​​​​one man at that time. ​​​​​​They will say, “We will provide our own food, ​​​​​​we will provide our own clothes; ​​​​​​but let us belong to you – ​​​​​​take away our shame!”  Isa 3:16-4:1.
 
           God’s people had simply become too wealthy and they were proud of it.  They felt they had earned it.  The women’s obsession with expensive clothing and jewelry, with the self-centered cultivation of their beauty, showed in their facial expressions, in their strutting and flirtatious walks and looks, and were products of an upper class that had never known hard times and hard work.  Somehow, they simply “deserved” it all.

God promised them punishment suitable to their attitude—diseases that would rob their good looks, the indignity of baldness and stink, and horror of horrors!—not a thing to wear!  Their craving to be noticed would not be satisfied, even if they begged men to take them in, promising to see to their own needs instead of expecting support from him.  Do you see what really mattered to them?  The attention of man instead of God; the carnal pleasures of life rather than the spiritual blessings of being a child of God. High maintenance women indeed—a man could work himself to death and not satisfy a one of them.

            You see them in the church all the time—high maintenance members—and, in my experience, most of them are women.         

            Every need is an urgent need to this drama queen.  She demands more visits, more phone calls, more cards, more mention from the pulpit, in the announcements, in the bulletin, on the webmail, than any ten other people combined.  And what she gets seldom satisfies her.  Instead of telling you how many have visited or called, she will greet you with a list of all who have not.  In fact, she will always call attention to herself when others are mentioned, even if their need is obviously and by far more than hers.

            She is never content, and will carry a list of wrongs against her that goes as far back as her childhood, and mention them whenever the opportunity arises.  Forgive and forget, or simply letting something go, as in “love covers a multitude of sins,” is not in her repertoire. 

            She is especially conscious of status—all of “those people” have it and she doesn’t.  And because “they” look down on her, everyone is against her or “has an agenda.” 

            She resents authority, particularly when it tries to correct her, and is highly critical of others.  She will judge your motives as surely as if she dwelt inside your heart, and dare you to question her conclusions about them.  She will even tell you what you would have done in any given situation—whether you know what you would have done or not.

            If you want her to remain a Christian you have to hold her hand in every situation, comfort, console, pray for, talk to, and serve her every minute or she simply won’t make it—and it will be all your fault!  And by the way, don’t you ever expect any of the same help from her.  It isn’t her “talent.”

            No, you don’t have to be a luxury lover to be high maintenance.  All you have to be is self-centered and shallow, with all the wrong priorities and a sense of entitlement.

            These people, men and women, think they are unique and that only God can really understand them.  They think one of these days He will come and show everyone else who is really in the right.  He didn’t do it for those proud women of long ago.  Why should He start now?

            What these high maintenance people really need is a good dose of Philippians 2:  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

            Be careful, ladies. It is far too easy to fall into this bad habit, especially as wealthy and luxury-conscious as we have become in this culture.  And we are oh, so good at it.
           
Dene Ward

We often talk about avoiding distractions when we discuss our lives as Christians.  Usually the things we list are jobs, families, material goods, and other physical items.  Feelings can be distracting as well.  When I let myself become angry, when I feel outrage at injustice done me or mine, when I “get my feelings hurt,” all these emotions can distract me from my mission as a Christian by switching my focus from others to myself.
            For me hurt is more distracting than anger.  I have come to realize with age that most things are not worth becoming angry over, especially for what anger can do to our minds and our bodies.  But hurt is something we seem to want to hang onto.  Being a victim is good--it lets us off the hook for any wrong we might have done and puts everyone on our side whether we deserve it or not.  But while we are busy nursing our hurt like some sort of wound sustained in heroic conflict, we are not completing our mission as disciples; in fact, we are helping Satan complete his.
            Jesus shows us one way to avoid the distraction of “hurt feelings.”  Everywhere he went he was received as an important new rabbi, a teacher worth listening to, even when people might disagree.  Everywhere, that is, except home.  Matthew 13 tells us the story of his preaching at Nazareth, his home town.  Did they listen?  Did they accord him any respect at all?  No, they were too busy wondering among themselves what had happened to the little boy raised by the carpenter, the one who used to run and play with a whole brood of brothers and sisters.  Wasn’t he cute?  How could that little guy have anything of importance to say?  And that was probably what the nicest of those folks thought.  In fact, the first few verses of Mark 6 make it plain that their unbelief was palpable.  Jesus was totally amazed.
            So what did he do?  Did he leave with hurt feelings?  Did he go mope in the wilderness?  Did he sit around the fire with his apostles recounting all the wrong done him?  The very people he had known all his life, whom he might have expected to produce the most followers, rejected him.  No, he avoided the distraction of hurt feelings by refusing to take it personally.  Instead he made note of a trait of human nature:  a prophet is not without honor except in his own country.  None of the commentators I checked think this was an old proverb, but it was certainly true.  Jesus must have seen it before.  I have certainly seen it since.  Jesus told himself, “This isn’t about me; it is just the way people are.  They would have treated anyone else in my position the same way,” and then he moved on to complete his mission.
            I was woefully ill-prepared to be a preacher’s wife.  I thought everyone loved preachers and their families because my family did.  When I was growing up, they were in our home often, and remained friends through the years.  At the age of 20, a brand new preacher’s wife, I was shocked to the core to find out that not everyone was like that.  By 26 I had finally come to grips with the fact that some people just don’t like preachers and their families on general principle.  That was especially obvious when we had lived in a place less than a week before one of the women there called to bawl me out about something she thought I should have done the one time I was ever in her presence.  It wasn’t about me, it was about what I was, so I just shook it off and went on about my job, standing beside a man who took far more abuse than I did just because of what he was, a preacher.
            And since then, I have talked with many young women, not necessarily preachers’ wives, who are shocked at the behavior of others, who are hurt over misunderstandings and the resulting mistreatment.  How did this happen, they wonder?  Sometimes it is just human nature trumping the new nature a Christian is supposed to have because not everyone fights the battle, they just wear the name.  It happens because of who they are, not because of how they feel about you personally, and you need to learn the lesson and move on.  While expecting better of your brothers and sisters, even of the world in general, you must also learn not to become discouraged when you are disappointed.
            Jesus knew the secret—it isn’t about me, it’s about what I represent and how that affects their lives.  Don’t be distracted by feelings of hurt or anger or bitterness.  Get on with it!  Don’t let the devil win one by moping around when you could be out there showing others how to handle slights and insults.  A soul I lose because I sit down and cry over my own hurt feelings, pitying myself for how mean “they” were to me, is my fault and no one else’s.
 
Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you, Matt 5:11,12.
 
Dene Ward

I certainly do not mean to be judgmental, but when people actually say it out loud, when they write it on facebook posts, isn’t it a matter of “by your words you will be condemned” (Matt 12:37)?
 
           Listen to the things people say about why they worship where they worship, or what makes that place appealing to them.
            “I love the singing there.”
            “The preacher is so easy for me to listen to.”
            “I feel so good when I leave.”
            “Everyone is so friendly and loving to me.”
            “They came to visit me while I was in the hospital.”

            Okay, so maybe a few of them are not terrible reasons, but do you see a common denominator in them all?  It’s all about me and how I feel.
Why is it you never hear things like this?
            “I go because my God expects me to be a part of a group worship and accountable to a group of brethren and godly elders.” 
            “I go so I can provoke others to love and good works as the Bible says.”
            “I go to study God’s Word and this group actually studies the Bible instead of some synod’s pamphlet.”     
“The sermons often step on my toes, but I want to be challenged to improve as a disciple of Christ.”

Can you see a completely different center of attention in those?  In fact, if the second list can be said to center on the object of our worship, what does that say about the object of worship in the first list?

I hear items from the first list often, but from the second seldom, if ever.  So here is my question:  If a person cannot find any items from the first list in a church, does that excuse him from the assembled worship in his area?  Of course not.

So why do we act like we are sacrificing something if the only place available has a preacher with poor speaking ability, no one who can carry a tune, and isn’t particularly outgoing?  If that is my idea of sacrificing for my Lord, I’d better hope our country never builds a modern Coliseum. 

Sometimes serving God is not a lot of fun.  Sometimes it isn’t very exciting.  Sometimes it is a lot of work with little appreciation.  Sometimes we will be ignored.  Sometimes we will be criticized.  Sometimes we will be the object of scorn and sometimes these things will come at the hands of our own brethren.  If I can’t take a boring sermon and off-key singing, what makes me think I can handle real persecution? 

If I would be ashamed for my first century martyred brethren to hear my griping about the church, why do I think it is acceptable for anyone to hear it?  Does it glorify God?  Does it magnify His church and His people?  No, I imagine it sends everyone else running from instead of running to “the pillar and ground of the truth,” the church for which “he gave himself up,” the manifestation of His “manifold wisdom” (1 Tim 3:15; Eph 5:25; 3:10).

And if somehow we could call it some sort of trial or persecution to worship with a group that is not exactly the ideal, what would the proper attitude be?  Certainly not griping about it, but rather “rejoicing that we are counted worthy to suffer,” (Acts 5:41).  Why, maybe we should actually go out and look for those places to worship! 

And if I did choose one of those places to hang my hat, would it really become any better with someone like me in it?  Make no mistake.  It isn’t about whether the kingdom of God, specifically the one I attend, is worthy of me and my commendation, it’s about whether I can ever be worthy of it.
 
For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory, 1Thess 2:11-12.
 
Dene Ward

I was checking my stats last month.  It is helpful to know which posts receive the most pageviews, the most shares, and the most likes.  It is instructive to see which days of the week are most active and which are least.  It’s just plain interesting to see where my referrals come from—some strange places sometimes, real head-scratchers, but even accidental evangelism is evangelism I suppose.
 
           So in all that checking I discovered that on November 16, 2015, I had someone “unlike” a page, which I suppose means they had liked it in the first place and then changed their minds.  I think I must have hit a nerve.  Can I just say this at the beginning?  None of these posts is meant to make people angry.  I appreciate being challenged as a Christian.  I want to improve.  I simply assume that if you are bothering to read these, you do too.

            Why is it that people don’t realize what they are revealing about themselves when, as the old saying goes, “The hit dog howls?”  If the preacher’s sermon is about gossip and I become angry and show it, isn’t it obvious that I bear some guilt over that subject? 

            And here’s a novel idea—if someone steps on your toes, how about moving them?  A long time ago when I was young and extremely naïve, I actually thought that when you showed someone they were doing something wrong, they would quit doing it, especially brethren.  Now I know better. Only a few will take that high road.  Everyone else will find fault with you, tell others how mean you are, sometimes even spread lies about what you supposedly did to them.  Yes, even Christians—I use the term loosely.  Have I become your enemy then by telling you the truth? Paul asked the Galatians (4:16).  Evidently the answer is yes to some, unfortunately to many.

            And this is what they tell people about themselves:  Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning, Prov 9:9.  Becoming angry over correction means a person is neither wise nor righteous, which is what that November post was all about.

            Which brings us full circle, and for all I know, will get me “unliked” again.  I guess we’ll see.
 
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it…Ps 141:5.
 
Dene Ward

I suppose it is the time of year.  The mailbox has been spewing out six inch high piles of catalogues lately.  Usually they wind up in the trash, but I opened up one of the less familiar ones the other day.  The prices made it obvious this was for people of means, not folks like us, and so did the items themselves. 
           
            A Marshmallow Blaster—a pneumatic gun to shoot marshmallows up to 40 feet, $39.95.
           
            A Touchscreen Portable Video Poker Game--$99.95.
           
            A Balance Board Trainer—helps you improve your balance without having to go to a gym, $479.95.
           
            A Rotating Dual Disco Ball--$59.95.
           
            A Fish-Finding Watch--$139.95.
           
            A Laser-Guided Pool Cue--$79.95.
           
            An Authentic Scottish Practice Chanter—the first step for those who wish to learn to play the bagpipes--$49.95.
           
            Obviously, the people who would want these things are either so wealthy that they truly need nothing, or else bored to death—possibly both.
           
            That’s what happens when you count on this world to make you happy.  Solomon did exactly that and came to the conclusion that all things are full of weariness; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing. That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun, Eccl 1:8,9, despite what Hammacher Schlemmer comes up with.
           
            Boredom can get to us in every way when things are too easy.  We recently sent care packages to Zimbabwe that included powdered Concord grape juice. Evidently grapes are not a native crop over there, and with the drought, rampant inflation, and food shortages, they were having difficulty even fulfilling the obligation to observe the Lord’s Supper on Sunday mornings.  At one point, they were reduced to boiling raisins and using the decanted water. 
           
             And here some of my brethren sit arguing about whether or not to call it an “act of worship,” how big a piece of bread to break off, whether the bread should contain oil or shortening, whether it can be sweet, and other assorted nitpicky items.  Our destitute brethren could teach us a thing or two about how precious this observance should be, precious enough to even think of buying the grape juice instead of food, and certainly not a source of contention. 
           
             When things become so easy that our worship to God becomes tedium so that we argue about it to fill the time, remember how it got to be that way—because we are so blessed in the first place.  Maybe there is a reason that the last beatitude is Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’s sake.  Maybe our blessings would mean a whole lot more to us if they were harder to come by.
 
For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the Gentiles, says Jehovah of hosts. But you profane it, in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible. You say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and you have snuffed at it, says Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus you bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? says Jehovah, Mal 1:11-13.
 
Dene Ward

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people, Titus 3:1-2.
 
           You would think a Christian wouldn’t need such reminders, but look at the things above.  Aren’t these the most difficult things for us to do?  To submit to someone else’s decisions, especially if we seriously disagree with them; to obey even when you had rather not; to be eager to serve others; to stop arguing and just accept; to be kind, even to those who do not deserve it; and to be courteous, even when people are not courteous to us—none of these things comes without effort.  In fact, they usually don’t come at all, and when their opposite surfaces, we are full of excuses.  He did it first; he needs to see what it feels like; if he can do it, so can I.  No you can’t.  Not and stay faithful to the Lord.

            Did you notice that most of these things are simply a matter of submitting one’s will to another?  And God always says that the reason for this is “the Lord’s sake” not the sake of the person you are submitting to, and that’s why we fail so often.  We look at the wrong person and when we see that person doesn’t deserve such submission, we find excuses.  You see it every day on the pages of facebook—rants about the government in words that are hardly “submissive.”  Even if you do obey, the submission is not there.  Let me ask you husbands, would you call a wife who rants at you in the same words you do at the President and congress “submissive?”  Parents, would you accept the attitude of a child who, while he ultimately obeyed, rolled his eyes and made sarcastic remarks while he did so?

            And so we have to be reminded to behave ourselves, every bit as much as a child needs that reminder, and because, like a child, we are “slaves to our passion” (v 3), especially our passion for self.  We submit our desires, our opinions, and that pesky thing called “self” because when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life, v 4-7.  We do not deserve our salvation any more than those people deserve our submission, service, and courtesy.  Are you going to give it up just to prove a point?

            No, we do not have to be reminded to do the easy things, so obviously these are difficult.  We need the reminder.  We need sometimes a reminder as sharp as a slap in the face.  Read the prophets.  They were good at that.  And the New Testament writers were not far behind.  I’ve been told that sometimes I’m not either.
 
But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder…Rom 15:15. 

Dene Ward