Ephesians 2 (KJV)
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Hebrews 11 (AMP)
13 These people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of [God’s] promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth. . .
38 [Men] of whom the world was not worthy—roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and [living] in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.
39 And all of these, though they won divine approval by [means of] their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,
40 Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].
Hebrews 12
1Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us...
These verses reveal a great cloud of spiritual ancestors and witnesses stationed like an amphitheater around us. These are well known saints and hidden ones, like my grandmother who prayed often for me all those years, now cheering those of us on who are running the race. The baton has been passed to this generation like a great relay race. So, what about modern times? We have dear departed ones in the spirit realm surrounding us but what about the living? Who are the modern day parents in the family of God? First of all some understanding is needed to qualify those who are our true parents in the faith.
First, let me address a paradox. The Word is deliciously filled with so many of them. In Matthew 23:9 Jesus stated in no uncertain terms: “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” The Message illumines this same verse in this way: “Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven.”
Maybe the apostle Paul didn’t get the memo? In his first epistle to the church at Corinth he wrote: 1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. . . 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
What is the difference here? I leave you with this question for pondering. Jesus said to “CALL NO MAN FATHER UPON THE EARTH.” Yet Paul, arguably the most astute disciple of Christ, described himself as a “father” in this passage and others. Surely Jesus did not mean that we are forbidden to call the man who gave birth to us and raised us up our dad, or “pops”, or “FATHER”..?! Paul also referenced the “first commandment with promise” in Ephesians 6:2-3: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “"Honor your father and mother" is the first commandment that has a promise attached to it, namely, "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
The next question I have, are we doing this spiritually in the body of Christ? Are we honoring the parents God assigns to us (both in the natural and spiritual)? In my next entry I will address this question in greater depth.
To be continued...
On this same date of 11.12.13 Neil Young turned 68 years old / young. Here are two glimpses of a man in the younger son stage and the elder father statesmen
Old Man Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life, Twenty four And there's so much more Live alone in a paradise That makes me think of two. Love lost, such a cost, Give me things That don't get lost. Like a coin that won't get tossed Rolling home to you. Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you I need someone to love me The whole day through Ah, one look in my eyes And you can tell that's true. Lullabies, look in your eyes, Run around the same old town. Doesn't mean that much to me To mean that much to you. I've been first and last Look at how the time goes past. But I'm all alone at last. Rolling home to you. Old man take a look at my life I'm a lot like you I need someone to love me The whole day through Ah, one look in my eyes And you can tell that's true. Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. Old man look at my life, I'm a lot like you were. | Forever Young May God bless and keep you always May your wishes all come true May you always do for others And let others do for you May you build a ladder to the stars And climb on every rung May you stay forever young Forever young, forever young May you stay forever young May you grow up to be righteous May you grow up to be true May you always know the truth And see the lights surrounding you May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong May you stay forever young Forever young, forever young May you stay forever young May your hands always be busy May your feet always be swift May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift May your heart always be joyful May your song always be sung May you stay forever young Forever young, forever young May you stay forever young Bob Dylan lyrics Copyright © 1973 by Ram's Horn Music Happy birthday Neil - may your heart always be joyful, may your song always be sung, may you stay forever YOUNG! |