Getting to know you

©Jeffrey Pearce. 8/4/2022

It is a real problem getting to know people, isn’t it? They seem so much like us to start off, and then they change! They really aren’t like us at all, are they. We’ve listened to them on the phone, watched them on Zoom or Skype, read their latest letters and e-mails, but when we are face to face, they aren’t the same as they were last time. We don’t even like them anymore. They seem to have an agenda that we were not aware of before. God forbid, but they even make an impression on me that I am not prepared to like. How dare they touch my heart and soul and cause me to examine what I am really like, rather than what I want to think of myself!

Getting to know people really is hard. IT REALLY IS HARD! When Christine, my wife, and I married over 30 years ago, we both had great difficulty with each other getting to understand how we each ‘ticked’. She had come out of a difficult marriage, and I had come out of a Christian Cult. (The Theology was correct, the Biblical Teaching excellent, there were no additions or subtractions or traditions or varying qualifications, BUT! The leaders had absolute power hidden behind a prayerful admonition of “Thus saith the Lord!” And if you didn’t do what “the LORD” said, you were a guilty sinner in need of repentance, and sometimes complete salvation again. What is more, the money that you earned was yours. However, you needed to tithe as the Word said, you needed to pay your bills, food, rent, petrol and other earthly necessities, and the left-over amount was given “to the Lord” as apportioned by the leaders. After 17 years I worked out I’d given at least $90,000.00 in 1989 currency value, so I stopped working it out. I knew where some of it had gone, but where was the rest?)

So we, Christine and I, had hard times getting along, and with Christine’s 3 teenage young adults trying to rule the roost, choosing to not accept me and trying their hardest to get rid of me. The only thing that kept us together and got us through was that we BOTH had agreed that God had put us together. That was obvious from the circumstances and timing of our finding each other. Whenever we found the going tough and significant problems arising, we would take time separated from everything else and pray, acknowledging that God Himself had put us together and asking Him to show us what He would do.

As we went through these hard times (nearly 30 years) we both changed. Both Christine and I found a new character coming out from within us, like we had never been before. I will not talk about Christine, because she is rather quiet about herself, and only opens up to some individuals in private discussion. I will however talk about myself. (Another Eye (I) Specialist, I hear you say? No, just someone who is truthful and willing to be an example to those who may be prepared to learn.)

Before I became a Christian, my mother once said that I was “quite different” to all my siblings. She never did explain what that meant. I have one older brother, one younger brother, and the youngest, my sister. I still call her my favourite sister! I was selfish as everyone else, headstrong as everyone else, and determined to do things in my way and in my timing, i.e., I was opposed to God (and my family, because I wanted to be my own God).

After I became a born-again Christian, I changed. I was sold out to God through faith in Jesus Christ. BUT I was still determined to be in control after God had revealed His Will and Purpose. It doesn’t quite work like that! GOD is GOD and “does HIS will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth, and no one can stop HIM or question what HE does!” Daniel 4:35. I used to read that and marvel, not understanding that God in His Mercy, Grace, and Truthfulness was trying to sort me out. O stubborn heart! Would you believe that it took nearly 30 years to give in to God! I personally am NOT HAPPY about that. After all my teaching and preaching about loving God and our fellow man, and being obedient to God, it had taken THIRTY YEARS FOR ME TO GIVE IN TO GOD AND TO SUBMIT TO HIS PERFECT WILL. I am ashamed! Really ashamed! Jesus ALWAYS submitted to His heavenly Father. Jesus ALWAYS gave in to God’s Perfect Will. “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but Thine, be done.” Luke 22;42. Had I really loved Jesus as much as I said I had?

In the past I have told of the Thymectomy I had for the Myasthenia Gravis disease I still have. During the subsequent Coma of nearly 2 weeks, you will remember I had 2 “visions”, one after the other, of an evil one coming to crush me to death and the extreme terror it caused in me, followed by three holy persons who became one, who placed his right hand on my left shoulder, all became peace and calm and tranquillity, and he left after about 24 hours. When I woke from the coma, I was different.

The First Thing that happened when Nick, the ICU attendant assigned to me, woke me up he said “Wake up Jeff. Christine, your wife, is coming to see you.” I can distinctly remember thinking, “Wife? I don’t know I am married!” So, I just sat in the wheelchair they had put me in and watched the goings on through a fog of anaesthetised brain waves. I had been comatose for nearly two weeks and the anaesthetic was still affecting me. Then I became aware that a woman had entered the ICU and she was astoundingly attractive! I looked around to see how others were reacting to this vision of perfection, but they were all going about their work as though no-one and nothing out of the ordinary was present. Then she came my way and sat opposite, watching me and smiling. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know her, but she seemed to know me somehow. I had trouble looking at her, she was so pure and attractive. Then Nick came back and said, “Jeff, this is your wife, Christine.” What was I to do? I just didn’t know her at all. I didn’t remember seeing her ever. So, I just sat there looking at her. After about 20 minutes of just looking at each other, she stood up, walked over to me, kissed me, and left. I don’t remember anything else of that day.

The next day Nick told me that Christine was coming back. Then my Christine walked in, the one who married me over 30 years ago, the one with the pleasant face and attractive demeanour. I knew her instantly and reacted accordingly. I was SO PLEASED to see her. We talked for a while, but I soon tired, and Christine understood, kissed me, and left. It was so good to see her. Over the next months I puzzled over the “vision” (?) I had seen of Christine being pure and attractive and perfect. I think I remember praying about it because it really bothered me. Then one day a thought came to me. I don’t remember whether someone said it to me, or a thought came to mind, or it came to me while I was praying. But I DO remember what the thought was. It was that I had seen Christine as GOD sees her, not as humankind sees her. It suddenly made sense to me and changed the way I look at people in general, and women in particular!

I no longer look at people as big or small, fat or thin, tall or short, attractive or not, disfigured or perfect in looks. Instead, I try to see them as “MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD”, Job 40:10 “Deck Thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array Thyself with glory and beauty”. Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple”. (Please read ALL of Psalm 27). If only we could see people as God our Father sees them. I have never had that vision again, or anything like it, but what I practice is to imagine what I think others would look like standing with our Father. It is hard to do, because I am not perfect as God is perfect, but in general it really does help.

The Second Thing that I became aware of was that: I now REALLY love God. I now REALLY love people, ALL people.

Mark 12:30,31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the greatest commandment. And the second greatest is like it, namely this, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these two.”

QUOTE

(Source undisclosed) We so often hear quoted that we are “to love our neighbour as ourselves” Leviticus 19:18. But then Jesus gave us an expectation that was even greater than that! “A NEW commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this shall all people know that ye are My disciples, if ye have one for another." John 13:34,35.

Strangely, we rarely hear these two verses quoted together! That puts us under a greater obligation than did that given under the Law!

END QUOTE.

Let’s consider the first Law of Leviticus 19:18, and Mark 12:31. Loving our neighbour. Who is our neighbour? EVERYONE. This is an all-inclusive Law covering all the peoples of the world. We cannot exempt anyone from the need of our benevolence and respect, REGARDLESS OF THE WAY THEY TREAT US.

Here is where I REALLY get in to trouble! You see people think of my wanting sex, sexually abusing others, husbands think I want their wives, wives think I want their husbands, parents think I want their children, it’s the same down the street, in the parks, on the bus, and even in the church. Sex is predominant wherever the word “love” is spoken or written or used in any way these days. So when people see me showing Biblical Love, they immediately think sex, sex, sex. They don’t know me, they don’t have any idea what I am like, how I think, what my motives and attitudes are, or what I desire! This happens in the Church that belongs to Jesus Christ as well, so don’t go pointing fingers at those outside who do the same. We are ALL guilty of this!

Let’s talk about Biblical Love. To be Biblical means “to be of the Bible”, “true to the Bible”, “from the Word of God”. What is Biblical Love? Is the word Love Biblical? I’m not going to give you the references. Get a good Concordance, Crudens, Youngs, Strongs, the Westminster Confessions of Faith, or some good Bible Software (I like E-Sword, it’s good and it’s free, but from time to time I send them a donation for their excellent Bible Software) and read the word “Love” in its correct sequence of words and verses and chapters if necessary, in its proper context. Look for the Hebrew or Greek explanation of the word, and you hopefully will come up with a final description of “Love” as something like this.

“Love is summed up with the word Benevolence. “BENEVOLENCE is wanting the VERY BEST for the other person no matter what the situation or circumstance prevailing at the moment. This Benevolence is free of Creed, Religion or lack of it, Politics, Race, Colour, Hair colour, Tribe, Facial Features, Mental Capacity or Disabilities, National Identity, Personal Beliefs and Animosity to any and all we come across or meet!”

If we can honestly say that we adhere to this description of Biblical Love, then “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.” Romans 5:5

We all have our pet loves and hates, our pet likes and dislikes, our determinate does and don't s. What about God? Does He have any particular commands or decrees in the “Old Testament”, the Hebrew “Torah”, that are particularly important to HIM, and therefore to us? Well actually, HE DOES!

Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and might.”

And there is another.

Leviticus 19:18 “ Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

That looks sort of familiar. Haven’t we seen that before? Yes, just above when we looked at what it really means to Love. The following is from the “ta Biblia”, the original books of the “New Testament”.

Check it out in both Hebrew and Greek, and the overall meaning is “wanting the VERY BEST for the other person no matter what the situation or circumstance prevailing at the moment. This Benevolence is free of Creed, Religion, Politics, Race, Colour, National Identity, and Animosity to any and all we come across or meet!”

Think what you like, but this is what I aspire to. People have a habit of saying that we cannot be good in this world and that no-one can be perfect. I deny this! How can I do that? Because the Holy Bible lists several persons who were considered perfect in the sight of God, actually 5 that I know of.

Really? Tell us who they were, Mr. Smarty. Who were these perfect persons?

OK.

Genesis_6:9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. (He was “perfect” because he obeyed God, built the Ark to God’s instructions and detail, then gathered the animals, i.e., he was obedient. In this way he and his family drew closer to God).

Job_1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (Eschew; deliberately avoid using, abstain from). (Job was “perfect and upright” because he feared God [this shows great wisdom] and deliberately turned away from all evil. By his obedience in fearing God and turning from evil, he too drew closer to God).

Ezekiel 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. (Daniel was “perfect in righteousness” because he would not turn to the right or left when facing unrighteous and godless decisions. God was his only desire, and the will of God his delight. He was just plain obedient).

Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

Luk 1:6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (Zacharias and Elisabeth were not considered blameless because they were without sin. They were blameless because they knew the 613 Laws of the Torah and Tanakh, and if they inadvertently broke one of God’s laws, they took steps to have their sins forgiven, and their sins purged by the blood of a perfect lamb, kid or calf. By the Law they knew God, and they also knew sin. Zachariah had his doubts, but he was still obedient to what God said, as was Elizabeth his wife. They were obedient to the instructions God gave through the Law, through the Angel, and through the Holy Spirit. Because of this they both were drawn closer to God).

This means to me that at least these 5 persons were righteous before God, or walked with God, and were considered BLAMELESS, even PERFECT, by the Lord. That is a tall order to fill! It means being considered perfect in the sight of God. It means being complete, pure, whole, mature, entire and obedient! And that is what these 5 persons were considered to be.

Now before we go any further and get all tied up in Theological ranting and raving, let us consider what the word “perfect” or “blameless” really means, and what it DOESN’T mean.

Nowhere in the Bible does the word “perfect” mean SINLESS perfection. I propose that there is no such thing among humankind this side of the gates of Heaven. Kings 8:46; 2 Chronicles 6:36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man that sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captives unto the land of the enemy, far or near;
Eccleciastes 7:16 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
Ecc 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Ecc 7:18 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from this withdraw not thine hand: for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
Ecc 7:19 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
Ecc 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Ecc 7:21 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:
Ecc 7:22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
Pro 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Mar 10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
So, what does “perfect” mean “Biblically” in the Tanakh or Old Testament. "When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be PERFECT." [Gen. 17:1 KJV] If we just believed that the meaning of the modern English word “perfect” was what God meant when He commanded Abram to obey Him, the person we know as Abram/Abraham of Scripture would not be allowed to partake in most of today's church congregations. We would expect Abram/Abraham to repent of all his sins, "get saved" or born again and baptized, or he would be shunned and avoided as a heathen. We acknowledge him as "...the father of our faith". But just look at the man. He had slaves. He was a liar. It may be that he made and sold idols. He was a fornicator, as far as we can work out. Abram/Abraham would not be accepted in our “Churches” today. I am very, very serious.

Don't forget. GOD changes not! The rules and guidelines that we think are appropriate and acceptable to GOD today, also have to be the rules and guidelines that were appropriate and acceptable before GOD to Abram. For example:

Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Mal 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

Robbing God

Mal 3:6 For I AM the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?

Mal 3:14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

Mal 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

The Book of Remembrance

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Here we have a simple example of the Lord telling the children of Israel that He has not changed regarding the payment of tithes to God by the Israelites. These people in general have been too selfish to please God by obeying Him, and He is not happy. But there are some who feared the Lord and tried to work it out between themselves for God’s benefit, and He has their names written in a book, and they are as His jewels and will be saved.

What has that to do with “perfect”? Everything! Because the Hebrew word translated as “perfect” in English is the Hebrew word “TA-MEEM”, and it has nothing to do with being spotless. It means complete, pure, whole, mature, entire, and obedient, and it refers to Abram giving up of himself and drawing closer to God the Lord. Abram gave up his first-born son, Ishmael, and sent him away with his mother, Hagar, so that Isaac, the child of the promise could inherit everything. Also, Abram, the friend of God, obediently set out towards Mount Moriah, knowing full well that God the Lord had commanded him to kill his “only” son, Isaac. Abram was obedient in giving up Isaac, even ready to plunge the knife into him, when the angel of the Lord stopped Abram and provided a substitute. In the example above, in Malachi 3:7, we read the simple statement that we should return to God, and He will return to us! God still uses this TA-MEEM process whereby he “encourages” chosen individuals.

1Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1Co 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1Co 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

1Co 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

1Co 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord, (to give up their favourite items of choice and draw closer to God, revering Him as LORD.)

3 In the New Testament we find that the English word “perfect” is translated from the Greek word (teleioó) -- to bring to an end, to...consecrate, finish, fulfill, make perfect. From teleios; to complete, i.e. (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character) -- consecrate, finish, fulfil, make perfect. Alive in Christ

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Col 2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

So do we now have a basic understanding of what the Bible means when it says “perfect”? It means complete, whole, mature, entire, obedient, blameless, cleansed by blood (whether it be covered by the blood of a perfect lamb in the Tanakh, or the Blood of Jesus Christ shed on the Cross of Calvary to completely remove sin and sinfulness). What pleases God is to see us not only wanting to draw near to Him, but in our imperfect life actually taking steps to do it, i.e., being OBEDIENT to His Will.

So where does that lead us?

When I came out of the coma, I was different, and I KNEW I was different. I tried to explain to Christine, but didn’t know how to, and Christine understandably could not comprehend what I was trying to tell her. It was as if I was in a new culture. And I am! And this new culture is so full of surprises.

I knew I was to LOVE GOD

With ALL my HEART

With ALL my SOUL

With ALL my MIND, and

With ALL my STRENGTH and MIGHT.

These are not just words or rules. GOD IS TO BE LOVED AND TO COME FIRST! Not the boat or the fishing or the sport/s or the car or the husband or wife or the kids or the house/s or all the money in the bank accounts or the Cryptocurrency, or any other person or thing! JUST DO IT! All cultures are superseded by this, to me, new one.

GOD COMES FIRST!

IF YOU DON’T GET THIS RIGHT FIRST TIME, THEN YOU REALLY ARE OFF TO A BAD START!

HE IS THE SUPREME BEING

HE IS THE “EL SHADDAI”, THE “ELOHIM”, THE "HASHEM" ("NAME"), THE ALMIGHTY GOD

HE IS THE KING OF KINGS

HE IS THE LORD OF LORDS

HE IS THE GREAT CREATOR OF ALL THINGS ANIMATE AND INANIMATE

HE DESERVES, AND IS ENTITLED TO, OUR HONOUR, OUR RESPECT, OUR WORSHIP AND GLORIFICATION

HE DESERVES, AND IS ENTITLED TO, ALL THE ENERGY WE CAN GIVE HIM IN FINDING OUT HIS WILL FOR US, AND DOING IT. IT ISN’T ALWAYS SPECTACULAR AND SELF-GLORIFYING. SOMETIMES WE NEED TO REST WHILE WE WAIT FOR GOD’S WILL TO BE REVEALED. WHATEVER WE NEED TO DO, WAIT FOR GOD TO REVEAL HIS WILL, THEN DO IT.

I once knew a young woman in a group of young Christians who were asked to minister at a Christian Church in Queensland, Australia, telling of their beliefs as to how they thought they were to serve the Lord. The reasonably young single minister introduced the group to the church, then sat back to take it easy for a while. Each of the young people rose one after the other to tell how THEY were going to serve God in this way or that, and they trusted that they would do glorious things for God as He was doing glorious things for them. (I remember doing a similar thing myself at that age.)

Finally, this young woman rose and said that she did not know what she could do for God as He hadn’t spoken to her yet. BUT when He did speak, she would obediently serve and please him with all her heart. The young minister quickly married her, they have 4 children, several grandchildren, and have both served faithfully in the churches God ultimately led them to. An easy job? Not on your life! Running a true suburban church is just as hard as being out in the jungles or desert seeking the lost and healing the sick. The concrete jungle is just as hard!

Incidentally, this young minister, in one of the churches before he met this young woman, was given the job of leading a small church on the coast below Sydney, NSW, Australia. This church had a static congregation, it was neither growing in numbers, nor falling. He was given the job of instilling spiritual life into this church, or it would be closed.

He began by explaining the ordinances and beliefs of the church to the congregation, and then started preaching righteousness from the Bible. The congregation’s immediate response was to start leaving. Even the Elders started leaving. Eventually there was only the Minister and one elder left. They had a “congregational conference”, just the two of them, to see what God wanted, and concluded that they should continue the services as normal, and see if they could pray for GOD, not the preaching etc., to bring in a congregation. In a slow, sometimes steady trickle or flow, God DID bring in a new congregation, and the church was saved at that time. This minister in Queensland had seen God work, and he knew God’s choice of a wife for him when he HEARD what she had to say. (So many of us LOOK instead of LISTENING).

Secondary to this inspiring command is the one that “we should love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves”. (We have already seen the references a couple of times, so you can look them up yourselves in both the Tanakh (Old Testament) and ta Biblia (New Testament)).

Well, that’s much easier isn’t it. We just have to be nice to people, and pat them on the back, and crack a joke with them. Yes, and we’ll pat their dogs and babies, and shake hands, and ask how their aged parents are going. Well actually they died 6 years ago. Oh, I’m so sorry. Are you? Really? Sorry means we wont do it again!

No, it isn’t that easy.

Then we find that commandment that Jesus (Yeshua) gave us, as our Undisclosed Source has reminded us. “A NEW commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” John 13:34,35.

This is not an all-inclusive counting of everyone in the world. This is different! This commandment is addressed firstly to the Twelve Apostles, and by inference, TO Christians FOR Christians by CHRIST! This is wanting the very best for our fellow Christians because Jesus our LORD has loved us, not only as an example but with ALL HIS HEART AND BLOOD! And I am sure we have all seen this screwed up at various times. Disdain creeps in, even hatred. Rejection for poorer and less theologically correct believers. Power and disruption causes factions and cliques in churches, and love goes out the windows as the Holy Spirit leaves.

So what was that about love?

Romans 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Rom 12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rom 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Rom 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Rom 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

Rom 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Rom 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Rom 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Rom 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Rom 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

This is loving our neighbours and our fellow Christians as much as we love ourselves. And believe me, IT ISN’T EASY. Anyone who thinks they are in for a lazy time working for the Lord, just ask our good friends Heather and Michael, or some of our other nameless friends who helped us with various difficult and strenuous jobs when I was so sick. Or ask my beloved wife Christine who has worn herself to a frazzle looking after me and working to wash and hang out the clothing and drive me everywhere and do the shopping and being so tired she can’t stop worrying about me.

And these are only a few examples of what it means to love our neighbour as much as we love ourselves. Imagine being called to the Mission Field in a far country, far from family and friends, with the funds drying up, prayer groups not functioning, local ministers aggressive to the preaching of God’s Holy and righteous word, and God’s leading and direction absent. Did God really call me to this? Was it really the voice of the Lord? I was so sure it was right. Perhaps I got it wrong.

And then when you get to the lowest ebb of spiritual life in great turmoil of mind and heart, God brings you through with a soul or two saved, then some more, and on and on. Then the local citizens start looking after your needs, and you begin to realize you didn’t need the faithless majority back home who forgot to pray for you (but the faithful few didn’t). Or the loving locals who replaced the unfaithful prayers back home, and the irregular gift givers who were replaced again by locals who didn’t give money but instead willingly gave food and washed and ironed your clothes, and gave you a place to stay, respected and honoured you and not only heard what you preached, but diligently sought to understand it, not because I preached it but BECAUSE GOD SAID IT IN THE BIBLE! I’ve been through all of that, and it is all a part of loving your neighbour as much as you love yourself. All the forgoing sounds like a big mess, going from one idea to another. But really there is a predominant thread woven through all of it. It is simply CULTURE!

I was born into an Australian European culture with all its nuances, slang, Aussie larrikinism and “different” ways of life. Christine was from English European culture with its varying abbreviations, different words, and different ways of expression. Sometimes different ways of dressing as well. Then we can look at the different cultures of the various States and Territories of Australia. Yes, they too have their own unique cultural words and patterns. So do the various immigrant peoples who now call Australia home. But above all of this, we in this country can proudly say that we live in the home of the OLDEST LIVING CULTURE IN THE WORLD. That really is something!

How do we enter these cultures? Why, every one of us is born into our various cultures. There is no other way, except perhaps adoption, or naturalisation ceremonies.

There is another culture we have not talked about, and it too is entered by birth. The Culture is introduced into the world by the Book called the Bible, the culture is Christianity, the first person introduced to the idea of this culture was Nicodemus, and the introducer is Yeshua (Jesus of Nazareth). The concept is amazingly simple, ridiculed by billions, but to this day is upheld at least in some way by over 2.3 billion worshippers.

This is the concept. “Ye MUST be born again!” John 3:7. Just as we are born into the world, so we must also be born again into the World of God. The empire of the world is a natural world ruled and administered by natural laws and elements. The World of God is a Spiritual Realm, ruled and administered by Almighty God for the eternal good of all who will turn to Him in repentance and faith. Simple. But it is so different from the realm of the world. So different that anyone who is “born again” becomes a new, different person of a new culture, with a new way of thinking and talking and living. 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any person be in Christ, they are a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” babies are new creatures. So are we, when we enter this culture that God uses to separate us from the things of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Are you born again? Are you like Christ Jesus? Are you a new creation, new in Christ? Have your old wrong things, your old wrong customs, your old wrong habits, passed away? If they have not, then you too must be Born Again! Let’s see what the Bible says further about this!

Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in there at:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

I Never Knew You

Mat 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Well, that seems pretty clear, doesn’t it! Don’t go around doing what everyone else does, but stick to the narrow way of righteousness, goodness, holiness, truth and godly, benevolent love. Above all, do the will of Jesus’ Father which is in heaven!

What else does the Bible say?

Luke 14:25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,

Luk 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

[Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life [in the sense of indifference to or relative disregard for them in comparison with his attitude toward God]--he cannot be My disciple.

Luk 14:27 Whoever does not carry his own cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow after Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me] cannot be My disciple. Amplified Bible]

Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Luk 14:29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Luk 14:30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Luk 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

In this new culture that we are born-again into, EVERYTHING revolves around DOING THE WILL OF GOD, WHO IS JESUS’ FATHER! It must be understood that NOTHING ELSE should be allowed to get in the way of this expectation. Hence the need to take care that our family, relatives, and friends do not take more of our time, effort and care than is necessary. GOD IS PARAMOUNT AND EXPECTS TO BE SO! And we have the responsibility of making it true in our own lives.

I hear you say that this makes us HIS slaves! No, it doesn’t! He causes us to be born into this natural world so that we can ultimately turn from the cultures of the world that belong to Satan, and upon dying pass from death to life (Matthew 10:22; 24:13) with God as our supreme Commander and Leader, and we as His obedient servants.

So, what else can the Bible give us?

In finishing, the Bible says that husbands are to love their wives, and for wives to respect their husbands. (Ephesians 5:25) This too is, I believe, part of that second most important command to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. If we do not love and respect our marriage partners, then how are we going to love our children, their children, our parents, their children and children’s children, and so on. What about the people next door, etc., etc., and on and on. The term “neighbour” as used in our Bibles means to me anyone who I come across in my local community or during my travels. So far it has mostly worked for me. If God, who is all in all, shows you differently, I’d love to hear from you.

Jeffrey Pearce,

Jp.tabiblia@gmail.com

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