I was thinking about an analogy for the debate regarding the definition of marriage. It goes like this:
Imagine Steve Job's invention of the Macintosh computer. It's a different baby than Windows in more ways than I understand. Suffice it to say that the Mac is not a Windows, although it can function in much the same way.
Now imagine with me the reality that God invented marriage and declared it to be a union between a man and a woman. This is clearly defined in his holy Word. Now fast forward to this generation and the desire to change the definition of God's creation. It's like calling a Mac a Windows. Call it what you will, it is not the same thing! Steve Jobs might just turn over in his grave! Out of respect for him and due to the legal rights of his company, this redefinition would not be possible. In like manner, try as we might, it is not possible to redefine marriage since we didn't make it up to begin with. This will only lead to more confusion in this already mixed-up world of ours. Apples are apples, after all.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Monday, October 01, 2012
Encourage!
Hebrews
3:12 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you and evil,
unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But
exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today”, that none
of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
Hebrews 10:24 & 25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
I love these verses. They are certainly sober warnings, but they also contain great promises for productivity. The first is more negative: be careful to look after one another because you will be tempted and tried and need to stay strong by being reminded of the great and precious promises of the gospel. The second points the way to fruitfulness: through regular fellowship we are strengthened and encouraged to keep our love and our pursuit of good works strong.
We need each other. That’s why God gave us the church. We are the body of Christ and relationships are not optional. The fellowship is not about the coffee and donuts! It’s about putting courage into each other-that’s what encouragement means. And how we need it since we are swimming against a very strong current of sin within and without.
Are you your brother’s keeper? Sounds like we’re supposed to be!
Hebrews 10:24 & 25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
I love these verses. They are certainly sober warnings, but they also contain great promises for productivity. The first is more negative: be careful to look after one another because you will be tempted and tried and need to stay strong by being reminded of the great and precious promises of the gospel. The second points the way to fruitfulness: through regular fellowship we are strengthened and encouraged to keep our love and our pursuit of good works strong.
We need each other. That’s why God gave us the church. We are the body of Christ and relationships are not optional. The fellowship is not about the coffee and donuts! It’s about putting courage into each other-that’s what encouragement means. And how we need it since we are swimming against a very strong current of sin within and without.
Are you your brother’s keeper? Sounds like we’re supposed to be!
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