Born that way!

Every parent wants their child to be born with all body parts; we look for fingers and toes, eyes and nose. There are other body parts we are born with that are not so immediately visible.

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" - Colossians 3:5

"Members", literally means "body parts". It's the same word Jesus used in his controversial illustration of cutting off hands, eyes, and feet.

"... it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." - Matthew 5:29b

I was born with some, you were born with others - "sexual promiscuity, impurity, lust, doing whatever you feel like whenever you feel like it, and grabbing whatever attracts your fancy"¹ - These are the body parts, "members", the Bible says to remove so we can serve God in and with our bodies throughout eternity.

- fritz

^{1 - Colossians 3:5b The Message Bible}

Reading the Beatitudes Correctly...

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled...
- Matthew 5:3-6

Many read the beatitudes thinking Jesus is recommending these as ideals to strive towards. This being contrary to logic we try redefining them into something more palatable like recognizing our spiritual poorness", mourning our sins, "controlled strength" (meek), always seeking righteousness.

Dallas Willard has a different take it:

"Those poor in spirit are called "blessed" by Jesus, not because they are in a meritorious condition, but because, precisely in spite of and in the midst of their ever so deplorable condition, the rule of the heavens has moved redemptively upon and through them by the grace of Christ."¹

In this view Jesus is not recommending a spiritual goal, but offering wonderful opportunity even to the most disadvantaged!

- fritz

¹ The Divine Conspiracy, pg.102, published by HarperCollins, copyright 1998 by Dallas Willard

We all want a reward, let's admit it!

The idea true Christians are to act from purely ⁽¹⁾altruistic motives is popular but NOT Biblical and not realistic, either!

God doesn't expect it of us. Jesus tells us "why" we are to rejoice when persecuted, give a cup of cold water to the needy, fast and pray in secret, and even love our enemies:

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?" - Matthew 5:46 (KJV)

The Sermon on the Mount mentions "reward" no less than nine (9) times - check it out. And compare that with the Bible's definition of real faith:

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" - Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

Many believe in God (even the devil believes) they just don't think diligently seeking God will give them what they want right now.

The desire for a reward is God-Given! It keeps us seeking, pushing, longing, looking until we find something that satisfies. It's the itch that only God can scratch, and He's not afraid to match his "rewards" with anyone.

He's the giver of "living" water, the maker of better "wine", the ladder that connects heaven and earth (John 1:51; Genesis 28:12) and His is the adventure that never grows old.

We all want a reward, I'll admit that and go for it!

- Fritz

1. altruistic - the quality of unselfish concern for the welfare of others