Right at the end of First Timothy, Paul gives a special list of ways for the rich people to act.  Knowing there are challenges involved in the pride and greed that can creep in with great wealth, the rich are told to

–          Not be haughty

–          Not to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches

–          Do set their hope on God, who richly provides

–          Do good

–          Be rich in good works

–          Be generous

–          Be ready to share

The goal is to use their wealth to “store up treasures for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

It is great when a Holy List actually uses the word “holy”!

1 Peter 2.9-10 describes the body of Christ – his church.  You are:

–          A chosen race

–          A royal priesthood

–          A holy nation

–          A people for HIS own possession

–          To proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light

–          Now God’s people

–          Recipients of mercy

When you sit in church this Sunday remember this applies to all the believers around you!

Most elders will admit to an persistent low level of guilt that they are not doing enough or doing it well enough in their leadership role.  The list of qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3.2-7 is indeed daunting; an overseer must be:

–          Above reproach

–          The husband of one wife

–          Sober-minded

–          Self-controlled

–          Respectable

–          Hospitable

–          Able to teach

–          Not a drunkard

–          Not violent but gentle

–          Not quarrelsome

–          Not a lover of money

–          Able to manage his own household well

–          Able to keep his children submissive

–          Not a recent convert

–          Well thought of by outsiders

Just before the list, Paul says that the aspiration to the office is noble.  Even though it is impossible to be perfect at any of the qualifications (except maybe having just one wife), it is a joy to see God give grace for service.   

In his epistles, Paul regularly gives thanks to God for the people he is writing to.  In 2 Thessalonians 2.13-15, he gives reasons for thanksgiving and instructions for proceeding – the reasons for thanks are based on what God does, and the instructions are for what believers ought to do:

Reasons for Thanksgiving, because God

–          Loves you (his people) (vs 13)

–          Chose you as the firstfruits to be saved (13)

–          Sanctifies you by the Spirit and belief in the truth (13)

–          Called you through the gospel (preached by Paul) (14)

–          Allows you to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (14)

Instructions for believers:

–          Give thanks to God for fellow-believers (vs 13)

–          Stand firm (15)

–          Hold to the traditions you were taught (by Paul), either by our spoken word or by our letter (15)

God is due thanks for his miraculous work in loving, choosing, sanctifying and calling sinful men out of darkness and into His glorious light.  Believers are commanded to do two things hard for them: stand firm and hold to the traditions taught in scripture.

See tomorrow’s post for why the commands are hard and how our awesome god helps.

The poster of “Desiderata” was a big hit in 1969 dorm rooms.  The poem is a credo for life, including the phrases “as far as possible, be on good terms with all persons” and “speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others.”

Similar concepts are stated in the following list from the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5.14-21:

Admonish the idle

Encourage the fainthearted

Help the weak

Be patient with them all

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil

Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone

Rejoice always

Pray without ceasing

Give thanks in all circumstances

Do not quench the spirit

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything

Hold fast what is good

Abstain from every form of evil.

So why would you value one credo over the other?  For a Christian there are at least two major distinctions.  First, the Thessalonians list is from the scriptures, written around 50 AD; Desiderata was written in the early twentieth century and copyrighted in 1927.

Second, the Thessalonians passage includes, particularly for “give thanks in all circumstances,” this phrase – “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

So the list from Paul is the Word of God and has the Will of God.  It’s hard to beat that.

In Luke 7.18-23, John the Baptist is in prison and wondering if Jesus really is the Christ, since the new kingdom seems to be progressing slowly.  John sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one who is to come. Jesus’s responds, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard:”

–          The blind receive their sight

–          The lame walk

–          Lepers are cleansed

–          The deaf hear

–          The dead are raised

–          The poor have good news preached to them

–          Blessed is the one who is not offended by me

These miracles are fulfillments of Old Testament predictions.  See Isaiah 29.18-19, 35.5-6 and 8.14.  Jesus validates his ministry by the words of scripture.

The first part of the famous “Sermon on the Mount” is the well-known list of “Beatitudes” (Matthew 5.2-12).  Each blessing includes a promise that God will keep:

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Colossians 3 starts with a command – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”   

The writer, Paul, then proceeds to make sure you know what the things of the earth are, with a list that catches everyone up at some point: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. PLUS: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk.  Do not lie.

Those are the ways in which you once walked, but now as a Christian you have been raised with Christ; as God’s chosen ones  you must put on the new self, which includes:

-Compassionate hearts

-Kindness

-Humility

-Meekness

-Patience

-Bear with one another

-Forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you

-Put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony

-Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts

-Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

-Teach and admonish one another in all wisdom

-Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

-Do all things in the name of the Lord Jesus.

-Thank God the Father

Christians are not perfect, but the changed heart when one is born again and the ongoing help of the indwelling Holy Spirit makes a very positive difference in the way they live their lives.

When given the phrase “holy list”, this is probably the one that most people think of; certainly it is the most famous.  They are enduring, just, loving, and fit with the way God made us to be.  Found in Deuteronomy 5.6-21:

I am the LORD your God.

–          You shall have no other gods before me.

–          You shall not make any idols.

–          You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

–          Observe the Sabbath day.

–          Honor your father and your mother.

–          You shall not murder.

–          You shall not commit adultery.

–          You shall not steal.

–          You shall not lie.

–          You shall not covet.