Author: Ben Bourland

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QTVOTD: An Honorable Man…

Philemon 1:13-14 [ESV]
I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

I am tiptoeing through this book; trying to think through and put myself in the place of all three primaries – Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus. I know Paul is just a man, although a man who was stopped and talked to by Jesus on the road to Damascus. However, in this book I see so much more of his humanity. He has grown so close to Onesimus but knows he must provide the way back to Philemon for him. Also out of respect for Philemon even though Onesimus has been such a companion for Paul while he has been imprisoned, Paul does not feel it’s appropriate to keep Onesimus with him now that he has grown into a Godly man and transformed from his previous life where he stole from Philemon.

Application:

Paul’s heart is not only big here but the honor and integrity he shows in these two verses is so humbling. I have to ask myself whether I am this quick to adhere to an honorable path like Paul has done. I can’t imagine anyone would have thought ill of Paul for continuing to keep Onesimus as a faithful companion; but Paul knew that this approach was His honoring and honoring to both Onesimus and Philemon. I need to be sure that I am this kind of honorable man of God; quick to listen and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit when He tugs on my heart in this way.

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QTVOTD: A Spiritual Child…

Philemon 1:10-12 [AMP]
I appeal to you for my [own spiritual] child, Onesimus [meaning profitable], whom I have begotten [in the faith] while a captive in these chains.
Once he was unprofitable to you, but now he is indeed profitable to you as well as to me.
I am sending him back to you in his own person, [and it is like sending] my very heart.

It is so tender to hear Paul’s heart for Onesimus. Paul had truly taken him in as his own. If I think about this in todays circumstances, it would be like me taking in someone (like a work contractor) that botched a kitchen remodel and had abused their access to my friend’s home by stealing from them in the process. I then would mentor and invest in this person spiritually, winning them over to the Lord and assist in building them up in their sanctification.

What Paul is doing with Philemon would be like me asking my friend to take back this contractor, trusting them again with work on their home and trusting them not to steal again. On top of that I would be asking my friend to treat that person as though they were my child; my heart. When I think about this way, it was a super tall order to appeal to Philemon to do.

Application:

I am searching my judging heart and interrogating myself on whether I would accept this appeal to re-associate with someone who had wronged my in a way like Onesimus did to Philemon. Jesus is a 100% accepter of changed hearts…I too need to have a heart that accepts reconciled children of God.

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QTVOTD: Accountability, Accountability, Accountability…

James 5:16 [AMP]
Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

One of the most important ‘One Anothers’! This verse gets to the heart of biblical community. THIS is why we need each other, need Life Groups, need accountability. Confessing our sim to God is a no-brainer but confessing our sim to each other not only makes it real but also grounds us into a reality of the separation it causes us to be from God Himself. When we lean into each other through this kind of openness, we have the support of our brothers/sisters in helping us glorify God through obedience to Him.

Additionally, prayer for one another is such a powerful tool. It causes a vested interest into the well being of our community of believers. It takes the focus off ourselves and puts it onto those in our sphere of influence. We start to look for the Hand of God working in the lives of those we are praying for and it grows our faith to see His hand work for the good of those we care about.

There is a lot here in the line “the earnest prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available”. Whoa!! First, ‘earnest’ -> resulting from or showing sincere and intense conviction. The Amplified above uses ‘heartfelt’ and ‘continued’; add in conviction and we start to see what it means to pray for people ‘earnestly’. Second, when prayer comes from a righteous man, a man close to God, who has a heart for right living; it says that ‘tremendous power’ is made available. I want this for my brothers in Christ! I want to be able to provide these types of prayers to the Father on behalf of the people closest to me!

Application:

The best thing I can do for my Christian Community of brothers and sisters is to pursue righteousness and conviction in my prayer life. As a Life Group leader, I need to make prayer a more poignant piece of our time together, praying for one another and supporting through extended prayer through the week.

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QTVOTD: Blessing Does Not Always Mean Happy…

James 5:10-11 [AMP]
[As] an example of suffering and ill-treatment together with patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers]. You know how we call those blessed (happy) who were steadfast [who endured]. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the Lord’s [purpose and how He richly blessed him in the] end, inasmuch as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy.

The prophets are an example of patience in the face of suffering. The way the Greek is written here would indicate that the prophets were afflicted and the manner in which they endured that affliction was through patience. The fact that these prophets spoke in the name of the Lord is added to make clear that the suffering endured by them was not a result of wrongdoing, but specifically of their faithful adherence to the will of God.

James now references Job. In my study of Job, just before doing this study of James, I became very familiar with Job’s suffering, but also his groveling, his complaining, and even his defiance in some cases. So it makes me wonder what James is talking about here in regards to being blessed. What can be said about Job is that he was steadfast in his faith, and even clung to God in his suffering. I like white one theologian (Barclay) said in a quote about Job, “Job’s is no groveling, passive, unquestioning submission; Job struggled and questioned, and sometimes even defied, but the flame of faith was never extinguished in his heart.”

What the story of Job shows us is the compassion that God had on Job’s life after he endured his suffering. So, ‘To be blessed’ is not, of course, the same as being ‘happy’: ‘happiness’ normally suggests a subjective, emotional reaction; ‘blessing’ is the objective, unalterable approval and reward of God.

Application:

As I think about patience and endurance through suffering, and that blessing does not necessarily mean happiness, at the end of my endurance I can rest assured that the Lord has a blessing for me if I endure this life’s afflictions well. At the end of the day, I must not wallow in my circumstance or situation that happens to be an affliction. I need to keep my eyes set on the ultimate prize, which is the blessing I will receive from God when I have completed the race.

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QTVOTD: Tit for Tat..,

Great down day today after Thanksgiving. Went and got our Christmas Tree at Dairyland Farms with Marianne’s parents. It was a nice restful day.

James 4:8
Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

Tomorrow I will dive more into the ‘lamenting’ our sinful ways but today I just want to dwell on “Come close to God and He will come close to you”. What I love most is that it is a ‘this’ for a ‘that’ statement. If I do, He WILL. How comforting is that?!? In my faith, as I work to draw close to my Lord and Savior, He will come close to me. Coming close to God comes through a focused deliberate move into His Word, into a committed prayer life. I am doing this and God is drawing near and I already feel it. This thanksgiving was a wonderful time thinking on all He has done for me and my family.

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QTVOTD: The Wisdom I Crave…

I need to memorize today’s verse. I love how clearly James defines the wisdom that comes from above -> TRUE WISDOM.

James 3:17 [AMP]
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity).

The very first attribute that James gives to ‘Wisdom from Above’ is that it is “Pure” or “Undefiled”. Anything that comes from God is without fault; it is sin that corrupts.

‘Then’ James says that it is “Peaceloving”. In other words, wisdom from above does not seek devisivenes or combat. True wisdom looks for the common ground, the choices that defuse. In the same ‘then’ sentence he says that True Wisdom is also “Courteous” (or gentle and/or considerate). So not just peaceloving but also conscientious of feelings and tone. Giving ‘message delivery’ a strong place/weight as well as meaning or truth.

He then says it is “willing to yield to reason”. I see this as another aspect of humility where the person with the True Wisdom listens to the ‘reason’ and weighing against the situation and circumstances, voluntarily submits to the competing path being suggested.

“Full of Compassion and Good Fruits” feels saturated in empathy and willingness to work for and be of service to others.

“Wholehearted and Straightforward” means that the True Wisdom is not sourced from apathy or frivolousness; there is conviction and truth extended to support the wisdom being displayed.

Finally, “Impartial and Unfeigned” -> There is confidence when the wisdom is from above. When we pray for wisdom from God, He tells us to ask in full belief and faith that God will deliver. That is where this impartiality and unfeigning come from. The amplified expands to include ‘confidence’ and ‘integrity’ as aspects that define this wisdom.

APPLICATION: This is the wisdom I seek. As an elder at Canyon Hills, I want nothing more than to be just a vessel that executes Gods will and purposes for this body of believers. This verse conveys the attributes that I would want to have in the execution of my role. Confident in the direction that God would have us go yet ready to yield to reason and insight from my fellow brothers.

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QTVOTD: Real Christians Don’t Show Favoritism…

The watching world of today has lumped “Christians” into a group of people who are white supremacists, discriminatory, and racist. However, according to God‘s word, these attributes represent a total antithetical way of living life for the person truly following Christ.

There is no doubt, that as Christ followers, ridding ourselves of these unconscious bias issues of discrimination is part of our sanctification; however, the teachings of God’s word drive us in the direction of “No favoritism”. All people, including those who are not Christ followers, are prone to evil, wicked ways, and ungodly flesh driven treatment of those people we don’t relate to. We are called to a higher standard; a standard, that was modeled by Jesus Christ. There was no one that was outside of the love, compassion, and grace He extended.

James 2:1 [AMP]

MY BRETHREN, pay no servile regard to people [show no prejudice, no partiality]. Do not [attempt to] hold and practice the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ [the Lord] of glory [together with snobbery]!

I love how the Amplified shows that spirit of this first verse is to not serve people with ‘Snobbery’. This is exactly how it comes across too. What is sad is that I have even seen this show up in churches toward internal staff…There is literally no place for it in the execution of pastoring, growing, guiding, and guarding the church.

James 2:2 - 4[AMP]

For if a person comes into your congregation whose hands are adorned with gold rings and who is wearing splendid apparel, and also a poor [man] in shabby clothes comes in, And you pay special attention to the one who wears the splendid clothes and say to him, Sit here in this preferable seat! while you tell the poor [man], Stand there! or, Sit there on the floor at my feet!   Are you not discriminating among your own and becoming critics and judges with wrong motives?

I am pretty confident that this learning can be applied in many contexts. God’s Word absolutely calls us to be discriminatory in regard to false teachers, the factious, and those who would set out to harm the church. What I believe James is talking about here is discrimination on the basis of status, circumstance, race, creed, or disability. These things are clearly part of the cultural discussion today. The things I fight with internally (in my mind) are knee jerk reactions to attitudes, entitlement, and ungratefulness I find in people I meet. This is not Christlike. God is the ultimate judge of one’s heart and I am not God. I am called to love as He loves. God still loves the arrogant, the prideful (like I can be), the selfish, and the intolerant. What God abhors is sin and that sin is what will receive His wrath on that dreadful day. God is infinitely ‘Just’…I am not.

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QTVOTD: Religion That is Pure…

This was a late quiet time but so specific in the instruction. 

James 1:27 [AMP]
External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

There is so little and so much packed into this verse. I have fallen away from deliberate aid to widows, single moms, and abandoned kids. There is no excuse but the explanation is TIME. This is an area, that even today, has piqued a conviction that I must step out in purposeful execution; leading my family in taking care of those in need.

Secondly, the “keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world” is a minute by minute attention to my heart and mind as well as the exposure I permit to my children. It is what I listen to in the car, what I watch when I relax at night, and even what I allow on the devices for which I pay for service. I am so thankful for this reminder today.

Putting the two verses from yesterday and this one today, we have a very clear view on what legit religion looks like; executed in a way that is honoring to the Lord.

  • Obedience to Gods Word as we immerse ourselves in it each day.
  • Controlling one’s mouth and speech in alignment with scripture.
  • Deliberate caretaking of those most afflicted- widows, orphans, etc
  • To keep oneself free of the nastiness this world can pull you into. The battle with our flesh is a minute by minute battle. We must strive for the righteous life God call us to; however, we live here in the flesh. Thank God we have the imbued righteousness of Jesus, the Son of the Living God.
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QTVOTD: Our one calling to Love Jesus..

Main Takeaways from my reading in John 14:25-31 today.

  1. What we have seen from Jesus’ teaching in the Bible is all we need today. There is no instruction missing.
  2. God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. The Holy Spirit is an intercessor and proxy for Jesus until He returns.
  3. Jesus has GIVEN us His PEACE; so, we have NOTHING to fear.
  4. We must understand the deep relationship the Son has with the Father.
  5. Satan has no hold on Jesus whatsoever.
  6. Jesus modeled His love for the Father through His unwavering obedience to the Father. This is how we love Jesus!

John 14:25-31 AMP
I have told you these things while I am still with you.
But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.
Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
You heard Me tell you, I am going away and I am coming [back] to you. If you [really] loved Me, you would have been glad, because I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater and mightier than I am.
And now I have told you [this] before it occurs, so that when it does take place you may believe and have faith in and rely on Me.
I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.]
But [Satan is coming and] I do as the Father has commanded Me, so that the world may know (be convinced) that I love the Father and that I do only what the Father has instructed Me to do. [I act in full agreement with His orders.] Rise, let us go away from here.

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QTVOTD: A new commandment…

This second half of chapter 13 primarily focuses on the identification of Judas as the ‘betrayer’ of Jesus. The interchange between Jesus and ‘the one whom Jesus loved’ (aka John the gospel writer) is interesting because Jesus revealed to John that it would be Judas to betray Him but John never does anything to prevent this betrayal. I wonder if John did nothing because Jesus did nothing or because Jesus directly after identifying him told Judas to hurry and go do what he was about to do.

After Judas leaves Jesus talks about how it is time for God to be glorified. We know that this is glorification in the redemptive story of the cross and justification for all through the death of His Son.

Jesus gives one new commandment -> “that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

APPLICATION: All this time the children of Israel adhered to the 10 commandments but here Jesus gives the disciples a new one. The importance of this new commandment is that through living with this love for one another, we easily find it achievable to adhere to the other 10. This servant heart I talked about yesterday is now bolstered by a command to actively love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:13
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”