“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

Have you ever had a vehicle repossessed? Me neither. So it was a new experience for me to be standing in the middle of a ‘Repo’ yard! Yup…there I was! Assisting someone who had that unfortunate experience, I began wandering around the property looking at the all the cars! Which experience now tells me…is a ‘BIG NO NO!’

Someone had asked if I would drive them to their car so they could retrieve their personal belongings. While waiting, I wandered. Which caught the attention of a couple employees. “HEY… WHAT-A-YA DOIN?” was the question each asked. And NOT in a courteous manner! How was I to know that, just by being there, I was ‘presumed’ to be a guilty, potential threat!?

At one point, another employee walked over and shut the barbed wire gate, blocking any exit. I thought that strange! Then I was told, “stand by your MY vehicle and do not walk around!” Using powers of deduction, I began to comprehend.

I was there to help. THEY thought I was there to steal back a car. I began to empathize, since at NO time in my life have I EVER had the urge to go walk around and look in a repo yard! Visitors to THEIR property ALWAYS pose a threat. To them I was guilty…simply because I was THERE!

It was an uncomfortable feeling! And for good reason. Being a representative of Almighty God for well over 50 years, considerable changes have been made in my character! I have been set free from the ‘GUILT’ label and now enjoy the FREEDOM of INNOCENCE, placed upon me by Almighty God. God knows it…I know it…but sometimes…others might not! And all because of WHERE I physically stand!

I Praise and Thank God that, carrying about a dirty soul and spirit, is NOT my common occurrence. It is a JOY to stand on HIS side of the fence and to be free from any charges the world, flesh or devil may level at me. It is ALSO one of the GREATEST reasons that, if YOU don’t know how that feels, you might want to consider His Son Jesus Christ and His offer of ‘No Condemnation!’   

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

After preaching about our responsibility of being a ‘Good Steward’ for Jesus Christ, found in 2 parables in Luke 16, it was time for our resident ‘Benedictor’ to close the service. Vic, our resident attorney and fellow member, rose to the occasion and proceeded to throw out the term ‘Fiduciary’ at least a handful of times! I could sense the Holy Spirit saying, “Pay attention to that word!”

A Fiduciary is a person to whom property or power is entrusted for the benefit of another, with strict care that ensures no conflict of interest arises between the fiduciary and his principle. A fiduciary obligation exists whenever the relationship with another involves a special trust, confidence, or reliance, upon the fiduciary, to exercise his discretion or expertise in acting or assisting the principle. Whew! That was a mouthful!

As members of the Body of Christ, we are designed and designated by Jesus Christ to special service and relationship to one another. He calls us to love, serve, encourage and support one another in a kind of fiduciary role that benefits both Christ AND His Principles…fellow Believers! The service provided is out of LOVE and CARE and is NOT for the purpose of financial gain for the fiduciary. I guess Pastors COULD be considered professional Fiduciaries!

The faith life of a fellow believer is a kind of trust! It may be varying in size and power, but by itself it doesn’t actually BELONG to the individual. It BELONGS to its author, Jesus Christ. That said, my faith is meant to be shared and involved with others. Our mutual responsibility is to take care of the Trust which Christ has given and to benefit our owner AND each other.

There are LOTS of commands that God gives in His Word about our responsibility toward one another. Unfortunately, there is a fleshy, selfish streak that tends to get in the way when someone comes to believe that THEIR faith and walk are their own exclusive property! It can become a VERY messy business when direction, instruction, help and care become perceived as interference, instead of a directive from God.

I thank God for His Church! When the service was finished I received news about a bill we received AND a political view expressed toward Christians in general. I was immediately angered and began to vent to a couple of people I ‘trust.’ They ’talked me down,’ with Jesus own words, in a gentle, yet forceful and loving way. The ‘preacher’ had become the student!

There is a saying I love that goes like this. “No one of us, has it all together…but all of us together.. have it all!” I LOVE that kind of security and mutual concern. And having been in some rather difficult times in life, I have learned to appreciate the encouraging words of a fellow Christian Fiduciary…and have learned to LISTEN!

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” … Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV

Paul always expresses great concern about the possibility of a split in the church. In a similar passage in his letter to the Philippians he says, So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord, and of one mind, (Philippians 2:1-2 RSV). In writing to the church at Ephesus, he exhorted the elders there to be careful to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, (Ephesians 4:3 RSV).

Church unity is a very important matter. Paul puts it first in the list of problems he has to deal with here at Corinth. Many of the other problems were flowing out of this division within the congregation. Here in Verse 10 he briefly shows us the ground of unity, and the nature of unity in a church. The ground, of course, is the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I appeal to you, he says, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Their relationship to Christ was the unifying factor of the church. There is no other name big enough, great enough, glorious enough, and powerful enough to gather everybody together, despite the diversity of viewpoint and the differences of background or status in life, than the name of Jesus. That is why the apostle appeals to it. He recognizes that we share a common life if we have come to Christ; we are brothers and sisters because we have his life in us. He is the ground, always, of unity. And more than that, we have a responsibility to obey him, to follow his Lordship. Therefore, the only basis upon which you can get Christians to agree is by setting before them the Person of the Lord Jesus.

He describes the nature of unity this way, that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. That does not mean that everybody has to think alike. With all the differences among us, it is impossible to get people to think alike. The church is never called to having everybody think exactly alike. Yet the apostle says they are to be of united in mind. How can that be? The letter to the Philippians helps us here. Paul says, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Philippians 2:5). He then goes on to describe for us the mind of Christ, which is a willingness to give up rights and personal privileges and give in and take a lower place. Then comes that great Christological passage where he describes how Christ, …though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 RSV)

That is the mind Paul is talking about. When everybody decides to put the things of Christ first, and is willing to suffer loss that the honor and glory of Christ might be advanced, that is what brings harmony in a congregation. That is always the unifying factor in a church, and that is the mind we should have, the mind that does not consider itself the most important thing.

Thank you, Father, for your word. Let it do its great work of cutting down and eliminating from my life the things in which I take pride and which separate me from others. Help me to judge these in the light of the cross, and to walk before you in unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Are we confusing equality with authentic unity in Christ? Do we need to re-think our personal responsibility for building walls of separation and disunity, choosing rather to be peacemakers?

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” Job 31:1

My wife and I were recently at a place with lots of people. Different people. Younger people. You know the place! The place where people dress up to stand out and show off. Out of the corner of my eye, and within my peripheral vision, I caught a glimpse of a potential perpetrator. Looking away, I knew I was safe. Then my wife asked, “did you SEE what SHE was wearing?” Thank the Lord I was able to smile and say, “No dear, I didn’t!”

At 1 point in my life I could not have said that. Transitioning from single to married requires changes. I’ve learned SO MUCH about change… the HARD way! Katie and I BOTH remember the time when we were engaged and my attention was drawn away from HER to a gal I didn’t even know. When I turned around, I realized I was ‘caught caught caught!’ Katie had been staring at me, as I was staring at that ‘someone else.’  The hurt in her eyes was palpable.

One of the greatest spiritual lessons I ever learned came from a movie character played by Clint Eastwood. ‘Dirty Harry’ had a saying, “a man’s GOT to know his limitations!” And oh how true that is. And if you think I am writing about looking at other women…you’d be very wrong!  We ALL have weaknesses and limitations. Some are particular to men, others to women. Young vs old, rich vs poor, there are many areas in a life where ‘limitations’ can make their home. As the years have gone by, I have learned from God that there are OTHER areas of my life where I was convicted to say, “”I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at ___________!”

One of the best ways to get rid of a dirty rat is to not let it in your house in the first place! It DOES take discipline and maintenance. But I have learned (and AM STILL learning) that the time spent THERE saves me from a LOT of time, pain and guilt spent trying to ‘CLEAN UP’ later down the road! Freedom FROM temptation is a LOT more fun than time spent living IN it. Whatever the ‘IT’ may be.

It is good to remember that wherever I go, there I am! But then.. so is HE! God sees and knows and watches what ‘I’ watch, and pays particular attention to ME at the things that I pay particular attention to! And so does satan! Whether I FALL into temptation or not is completely up to MY attention and focus. Whether it is a car, different clothes, a house, an attitude or WHATEVER, it is a good habit for me to remember the covenant of my eyes and heart! What is YOUR _____________________?