Mentoring Minutes

God’s Word, living in Christ and written for us in Scripture, make it very clear what we are called to be as Christ’s disciples.  It is also obvious in His Word that this can only be done by His changing our hearts as we accept Him as Savior AND LORD. 

So what does it look like?  If our hearts are truly changed and The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, then how will we (and others) know?  How do we apply the Scriptural principles of discipleship in practice?  For that matter, what are the Biblical principles that make His Lordship and our discipleship evident in our lives and to others?

“While volumes could be filled detailing scriptural principles, I will focus below on nine key applications that are to be practiced by all disciples if we are to live knowing and making Him known as Lord.  Before I do, however, I must explain something that is crucial in any disciplines—spiritual, physical, mental, or relational—and that I learned as an athlete and it has served many others and me well in our spiritual walk.

There are two essential elements for any discipline to stick and be effective.  Before I get to those let me tell the story of my hard lesson in discipline, and ultimately, discipleship.

As I said, I learned this as an athlete and, of course, the hard way.  One year in college after our season was over, I decided to take a break from my regular workouts.  Well, two weeks turned into a month.  A month turned into two and then to four, and by this time we were six weeks out from preseason.  I knew I had to be already somewhat in shape coming into preseason or it would not only be difficult but also put me behind.

No problem.  I’d just head to the gym and weight room each day over the next few weeks and be ready to go.  My mistake?  Not that I was very prideful, but I just knew, and was going to prove, that I could still lift the same amount and run as fast as I had four months ago.  I can see you grimacing now.

I did just that.  I pushed myself to lift and run what I had done at the end of the previous season and felt great initially (at least for the next few hours).  When I woke up the next day (and the following day), I literally could not walk, run, sit, stand, or even eat.  I kid you not, for two days every time I tried to put an eating utensil to my mouth my entire arm, side, and back cramped up.  It was an extremely painful but lifelong lesson.  What did I learn?

I return to the two essential elements needed for good discipline and maturity.  Maturity requires discipline and discipline requires 1) Manageability and; 2) Commitment.  No matter what we attempt, whether physical as evidenced by my story, mental as evidenced by every test you’ve taken, or spiritual in growing in Christ, in order to learn and grow in His Truth, we must remain committed to those priorities and principles in His Word.  And in order to do that we must make it manageable. 

If we had the strength to do it all at once the first time, why would we ever need to go into the weight room?  If we already knew His Word and will, why would we ever need to step into His spiritual weight room (or disciplines)?

We must make it manageable so we can keep the commitment and grow in order to mature as His disciples.  I had plenty of passion, as we all do when we’re going after something we really want or deem worthwhile.  The problem is not passion…it’s discipline!  Isn’t it interesting that nowhere in Scripture does it say, “Go make zealots!”  And yet I hear passion emphasized much more than discipline in our teachings and programs!

I’m sure you’re saying to yourself, “Thanks for the painful visual in that story, but how does this apply to spiritual disciplines?”  Great question, and here are the answers with Scriptures for your own study and application.  The first six deal with personal discipleship and the last three with discipleship in relationships and fellowship as Christ’s Church.

Before I share these, let me explain that those who received the letters in the first century that we’ve come to know as The Bible would have taken the words written as clear commands to be obeyed from the Apostles and other Holy Spirit-inspired writers. The Scriptures used in calling us to apply the disciplines of discipleship were not given as suggestions.  They were, and are, received as commands to be followed in loving obedience (John 4:15).  I’ll say it again…God has many commands that all deal with His love for us and us loving Him…He has no demands!  Willful surrender is what we are called to!

With that said, here are several Scriptures that speak to discipleship and the application in our lives.  I include brief explanations and trust The Holy Spirit to compel, encourage, and strengthen you to that loving obedience called for in Scripture and to His Lordship.  

Personal Discipleship Applications (Emphasis mine and added)

1) Bible Study – “Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 AMP); “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.  These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.  You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Whenever I’m sharing this with individuals or in events, I recommend that they be sure to spend time in God’s Word.  If you choose to use a devotional, be sure to choose one where Scripture as God’s Word is of absolute importance and ask The Spirit to lead and fill you.  “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16); “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18)

2) Prayer – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6); “Pray continually.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17); “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18) For a simple process to remember when praying, try C.A.T.S. (Confession; Adoration/praise; Thanksgiving; Supplication or requests for self and intercession for others).

One final thought regarding prayer and relationships in general, but especially when it comes to marriage and your spouse: “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.” 1 Peter 3:7 (The relationship with your spouse is crucial to God hearing and responding.)

3) Quiet Time, Reflection, Meditation – “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” (Psalm 46:10) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.  (Psalm 19:14)  For an excellent set of Scriptures exalting God’s Word and helping you meditate and reflect on it, read Psalm 119.  Read it by the 22 sections of eight verses based on the Hebrew alphabet.  It will really help you appreciate and desire God’s Word.

4) Communion – Allow me a brief explanation, as this includes not only the very sacred time spent in what many churches call Communion or Eucharist, but also growing in the discipline of communion with other believers in Christ.  The first is Paul’s recounting Christ’s establishing the Holy Communion: “For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-31).  This second reference is the command to commune and fellowship with others: “They (the believers – mine and added) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

5) Sabbath – This requires another brief explanation as you learn and prepare to follow through as Christ’s disciples.  Under the Old Testament law, breaking the Sabbath was an offense punishable by death.  The early Church shifted their focus of worship and all it involved (see Acts 2:42 above) to the first day of the week to commemorate Christ’s Resurrection on that day and likely also to allow them as Jews to continue observing the lawful Sabbath.  Many believing Jews and some non-Jewish believers continued observing the Jewish Sabbath Day while many non-Jewish believers continued the principle due to the great importance of Sabbath, in God’s design and law, but shifted the day to Sunday.  The key is to recognize and be obedient to the command of the Sabbath that served two purposes.  The first was to recognize that God is Holy and we are not.  The second was to recognize that in our unholiness and weakness we would need to recognize our need for rest, put aside pride in our own strength, and observe the Sabbath.  “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:2-3); “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8

6) Fasting – While this is not commanded, it is shown as a powerful spiritual discipline with great results.  Generally, we fast from food, but it can also mean not partaking of anything from which we draw strength, satisfaction, or pleasure so we can more fully depend on The Holy Spirit and God’s Word.  “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2); “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” (14:23); When Jesus cast out a demon that His disciples were not able to they asked Him why they could not do so? “He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.’” (Mark 9:29)

We don’t have to be commanded to do, and we need little, if any, discipline to follow through, what comes naturally.  Discipleship requires discipline.  We must make it manageable to keep our commitment to become fully devoted disciples of Christ!

5. Minutes. Every. Day!  In God’s Word, prayer and time with Him.  Great place to start making it manageable so you can do it every day!  You’ll be amazed at what He begins to do in and through your life!

Contact L&L to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help. 

Check out @Loveandlordship for L&L LIVE every Thursday at 4pm on our Facebook page for more.  Also you can find videos and podcasts at www.loveandlorship.com. 

Make it a great day and God bless in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – We must be willing to develop the new life that Christ has placed within us and that requires our disciplined efforts…that’s why it’s called discipleship.  Discipleship requires discipline.  What are you doing to die to self and grow in your life in Christ?

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) – Begin today to set aside 5-10 minutes each day in God’s Word, in prayer and reflection.  Don’t miss a day!  You will be blessed.

Discipleship is not only knowing Christ as Lord and exalting Him, it is putting ourselves in a position with our Savior, Creator, and Lord for Him to reveal to us who we truly are in Him!  As we make disciples we help others understand who they are in Christ and help them fulfill all He has created and called them to be—in life, in relationships, in community, and in culture.

How then can we make discipleship not only a priority but also a reality in our homes and churches? 

Of course, we turn to God’s Word.  I implore you to take to heart these principles and daily practice these disciplines found in His Word, as they are imperative to becoming His disciple and making disciples of others.

Here are four key principles needed as priorities for your personal development as His disciple.  Note that not one single principle will come naturally to you. That’s why it’s called discipleship; it requires the discipline of His indwelling Holy Spirit giving us the strength by faith to walk in line with His commands and to overcome the selfish desires of our own natural, fleshly lusts:

1. Honorable Submission – “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:21)  Paul tells us just before laying out God’s Covenant Order for relationships in marriage, family, church, and community, that the key to every good relationship begins with our honor for Christ.  In our reverence for Him we are then able to submit to others.  I don’t know about you, but truly submitting to others was impossible for me until I learned to submit to Him.  This is the essence of discipleship.

2. Honest Surrender – “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  (Galatians 6:7-9) 

Look at Paul’s instruction here for Godly living, or discipleship in Christ.  First we must be brutally honest with ourselves: You (understood pronoun) don’t deceive yourself (bold emphasis mine and added). Deception is easy to do in my flesh.  Over time His Spirit calls me away from this self-deception to integrity and honesty that is impossible to do in my selfish flesh. 

We need to know this or we will convince ourselves that by attending church, giving some money, and serving from time to time, or worse, deception that justifies our sinful thoughts and choices.  The former are all good things and we need to do them, but they can be just actions of a fleshly heart seeking favor or attention from others rather than a heart truly surrendered to Christ.  Do not deceive yourself. The only way we can know and grow as His disciples is to honestly evaluate our motives, thoughts, and decisions and make sure they are surrendered to His Spirit and will.  And as we remain patient and persevere in this honest surrender, we will reap His harvest if we don’t give up. That’s discipleship.

3. Holy Sacrifice – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:1-3) 

Pay attention here as I suspect that many of you, like myself and many others I’ve shared this with, initially glossed over something incredibly important in this text.  It is clear that Paul, through the Holy Spirit, is calling us as disciples to sacrifice our life to God.  What I so often missed was that this is not a salvation command, it is a post-salvation one.  Paul is begging us to take what Christ has made “holy and pleasing to God” and surrender it back to God. 

It is not our sacrifice that makes us holy and pleasing; it is His sacrifice that has already done that.  Our job in fulfilling our calling to discipleship is to take what He has made right in God’s eyes and faithfully and sacrificially return it to Him for His Glory.  The only difference between the Old Testament sacrifices and what we are called to in the New Testament under the grace of Christ is that we can choose to get up and walk away from the altar.  Our sacrifice has to be of our own free will, but make no mistake it is what we are called to as His disciples.

He even tells us how we are to do this: Don’t conform (think or do things according) to the world or culture, instead; transform the way you think and act in line with God’s Word. 

He then encourages us with an assurance if we will choose to be a Holy Sacrifice.  We will be living, walking proof of God’s good and perfect will.  We will live it and others will see it.  But be careful because as this happens, if we’re not alert to the enemy, we can begin to think “too highly of ourselves.” 

How do we counter this as we walk as Christ’s disciples?  In humility we obey the command to take the time to honestly think about who we are, and know that God has given each one of us the faith to do just that as His disciples.  This leads to our fourth discipleship principle.

4. Humble Service – “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end (completely/fully – emphasis mine and added)…Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him…When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.  Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”  John 13:1, 3-5; 12-17; Philippians 2:3-8. 

These Scriptures and principles are prevalent throughout this book with regard to relationship, marriage, family, and relational servant-leadership.  I introduce them here because, as stated earlier, every relationship begins with our disciple relationship with Christ as Lord. His teaching and modeling lays the foundation and sets the stage for our discipleship walk in Him.  With that said, I describe here the principle of humble service required of us as disciples and elaborate later in applying it as we live out all other relationships and servant-leadership according to His Word. 

Here are four key elements calling us as His disciples to humble service:

A) Love – Jesus showed them His full and complete love (v. 1).  Since God is Love and Christ is God and here He is described as showing them this complete love, as His disciples we should pay close attention to what happens next.

B) Humility – He knew He was from God, returning to God, and God had placed all things in His hands (authority) (v. 3).  Remember this is the essence of humility, which is knowing with confidence and contentment who you are in Christ so you can place others above yourself.  I asked the Lord several years ago as I was studying and praying through this, “Why would you tell us this about Christ?”  Not audibly but very plainly The Spirit placed these thoughts in my mind in line with The Word.  “I want you to know that Christ knew Who He was because of what He was getting ready to do.” Christ modeled humility.  And what did that look like? What was He getting ready to do? 

C) Service/Servant’s heart – Jesus got up from the table, removed His robe and put a towel around His waist and began to wash all the disciples’ feet (vv. 4-5).  This is what loving humility looks like and we struggle to practice it in our selfish pride if we do not know who we are in Christ. He doesn’t stop there. 

D) Authority – After washing their feet (and His exchange with Peter in vv. 6-11) Jesus does something that should stop us in our tracks when it comes to understanding love, humility, service, and discipleship.  He literally calls attention to what He has done and instead of saying, “There, that’s love and humble service,” He recalls for the 11 remaining disciples that they know Him as Master, Teacher, Rabbi, or Lord, depending on the translation.  What do all of these strongly imply?  That Jesus is the Authority in their eyes and He confirms it: “You are right, that’s what I am.” (vv. 12-13)

In one loving act of humble service and with one question and statement, Jesus powerfully tells His disciples, then and now, that love, humility, a servant’s heart, and authority cannot be separated in My Kingdom!  WOW!  This is powerful and speaks to how we should live as His disciples in our homes, churches, and everywhere we are called and placed in this culture and world for His Kingdom and Glory.

He finishes by describing discipleship.  “Do as I have done for you and you will be blessed” (vv. 14-17).  Live as a humble servant of your Master.

Again these are all repeated in principle in the beautiful condensed Gospel story and our call to imitate Christ found in Philippians 2: Sacrificial love and a humble servant’s heart (6-8); Blessing and authority (vv. 9-11); our discipleship call to be like Him (vv. 3-5).

These are certainly not easy in our flesh.  That’s why we must, as His disciples and by His Spirit, follow through and sacrifice our renewed and holy lives in Christ back to God.  That’s how all of this is fulfilled and we are alive with Christ in us.  As His disciples, it’s how we live and move and have our being.

Ultimately in the discipleship life we are called to sacrifice our SHAPE – Brother Rick Warren wrote Purpose-Driven Life, in which he outlines how we can know how God has called us by our SHAPE.  Spiritual gifts. Heart/passion. Aptitude/ability. Passion/heart. Experience/education.  It was an excellent book as many millions can attest.  I would simply add one thing that I feel confident Brother Warren would agree with:  While our SHAPE reveals how God made us and what He has made us for, according to His Word, the only way we’ll fully know His will is to sacrifice our SHAPE back to Him (see Romans 12:1-2 again).  There is a huge difference in maturity between telling The Lord what we are going to do for Him, and sacrificing back to Him what He has given us with the heart that says, “Here am I, do as you please in and through me.”

Contact L&L to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help. 

Check out @Loveandlordship for L&L LIVE every Thursday at 4pm on our Facebook page for more.  Also you can find videos and podcasts at www.loveandlorship.com. 

Make it a great day and God bless in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – We were created to live with Christ as Lord.  Sin upset and destroyed that relationship.  Christ’s sacrifice has made it possible for us to return to God but we must do so with Him as Lord and us as His disciples.  Only in this relationship do we discover a fulfilled life.   

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) – Take a look at the four key principles of discipleship in this article and the four key elements that Christ modeled for us that we are to imitate as His disciples.  Determine where you are doing well and what you need to work on in your heart and actions as you sacrifice your SHAPE and allow Him to have His way in your life and relationships.  Act on it!

“Without liberty, law loses its nature and its name, and becomes oppression. Without law, liberty also loses its nature and its name, and becomes licentiousness.”

—James Wilson (1790)

We must be willing to stand for what is right and best and against what is unjust and harmful and not allow anyone to create a situation or culture that will destroy what we are working toward.  All three of the following issues must be given attention as we move forward.  We must be diligent, vigilant, compassionate and truthful in all things to overcome any actions that will destroy our God-given freedoms.  We must be wise and discerning to listen and work through the real issues and avoid being blindsided by those whose agenda is control and power.  We must be able to empathize with those who are hurting while holding fast to the facts as they truly are…not as our feelings want them to be. 

I always go first to God and His Word for Truth, comfort, peace and solutions.  So, you’ll see Scriptures applicable to each issue.  As we’re willing to apply them in our lives and relationships we will see major change and avoid lies and manipulation.

1. Covid-19 pandemic – Obviously a global issue, impacting our health and economies.  On the surface this appears to be the greatest threat.  As we’ve already seen, there is a return to some normalcy.  That will continue as we create a “herd immunity” from those who have contracted the virus as well as those who will eventually receive the vaccine once it is developed (now likely within 6 months). In the meantime let us make wise choices and encourage our fellow human beings to do the same.  This is solvable and will allow us to return to enjoying our freedoms and freedom of movement, as we are careful and prudent in our health decisions and personal interactions.

The answers and our hope are in the promises of God that I pray will strengthen your faith…God as Healer; the manifestation of Christ’s healing in his suffering and wounds that He took for us, and; His protection from disease.

I, the Lord, am your healer.  Exodus 26:15 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.   I Peter 2:24 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”  For it is He who delivers you from the … deadly pestilence… You will not be afraid of the terror by night… Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness… For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.  No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.  Psalm 91:1-3, 5-6, 9-10

2. Social injustice and bigotry – We must listen and stand with our black brothers and sisters doing our best to erase every form of systemic and community injustice and bigotry.  We must also remember that while we can legislate justice and punish injustice, bigotry cannot be removed by force or control.  Removing bigotry and bias is only achieved by an individual’s heart change.  While many philosophies, religions, and ultimately humanism, claim they can bring about this change of heart, history has shown them all to be dismal failures.  The only One that can change hearts is Jesus and as we show others that change in our hearts, willingly surrendering to Him, we hope they will desire and do the same.  Let’s fight injustice and the outcomes of bigotry on every level but let’s do so in a way that we are a witness to His Truth, Love and Grace so others might have the chance to come to know Him and have their hearts changed.  This brings about the lasting systemic change that we desire.  Let’s also be discerning and wise as to whom we listen to and how we respond.

It’s time that mutual love and respect are action items, not bullet points!

The love and justice needed is found in God’s Word and faithfulness as we strive in His strength to truly love all others and especially our black brothers and sisters! 

How wonderful & pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!  Psalm 133:1 Are we not all children of the same Father? Created by the same God?  Malachi 2:10 Your love for one another proves to the world that you are my disciples.   John 13:35 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.    John 17:21

Both of these present threats to our personal and cultural health and we must continue to address them compassionately and carefully.  However there is another issue and it poses by far the greatest threat to who we are as people and as a nation.

In war, truth is the first casualty.                  Athenian playwright Aeschylus

In the never-ending quest for power by any means necessary, truth has indeed become the first casualty. Rather than presenting America with the facts, media, academia, Hollywood, virtue-signaling corporations, and cowardly politicians abide the destruction of their own cities, hundreds of businesses (many minority-owned), and the Rule of Law itself.  The “fundamental transformation of the United States” demands nothing less.                                                                            Arnold Ahlert

This helps no one and actually hinders and harms those who are truly seeking racial justice and equality!  Let us be diligent not to allow this third issue to destroy all we are working for.

3. A moral crisis highlighted by those who pander divisiveness and extreme agendas – While passions are high regarding the injustice (rightfully so), those who manipulate and use the anger, bitterness, rioting, and looting to play on people’s emotions and fears!  They promise immediate gratification through political or government “solutions” if we will just vote them into power. This political agenda and the players involved have shown themselves willing to do whatever is necessary to be in control.

Most of those espousing systemic change without looking to individual heart change will present tired, old agendas and ideologies, doctored up as though they were new in order to appear that their focus is injustice and racism.  Test them deeply as their attempts have proven to be temporary at best and destructive long-term or self-serving at worst in a rabid grasp for power and control. 

“Wannabe radicals are taught the essence of community organizing and the mechanics of anarchists: Change the end goal, make terms relative, and never come to a point of resolution. Instead, just keep the chaos stirred by playing on fears, emotions, and anger. Alinsky describes “how to organize for power: how to get it and how to use it.” The basis for his formula is to DIVIDE the population into Haves, Have-Nots, Have-a-Littles, and Want-Mores, using personal politics to mobilize citizens.”  (Robin Smith) (Bold & caps mine and added).

Think about it…this all plays on who we are as selfish human beings!  How in the world are we going to learn to love and respect one another when this is the defining and predominant narrative being given a voice?  Don’t let these people abduct the narrative and destroy work that really helps bring about health, justice and equality!  Have we learned nothing from the past?

Government and communities can’t change hearts.  Their promises are empty if they are not willing to work for personal and relational healing.  This is where we must focus our attention and efforts to build loving and caring people and communities!

The foundations of our country are not irredeemably racist. Abolition, women’s suffrage, desegregation, the Civil Rights movement—these were not appeals to overthrow our values, these were demands that we fulfill them. And the Constitution that once considered slaves three-fifths of a human being was ultimately the vehicle used to free them and, eventually, to secure their most basic rights.  Senator Marco Rubio  (Full article here)

Again we turn to His Word for the wisdom, discernment and peace needed…

If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.                 John 8:31-32 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.                            John 14:6 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.       James 1:5 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.                                                     Hebrews 5:14 The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.    James 3:17

Check out this thought provoking article…Patrick Hampton article.

Contact L&L to let us know what you’re thinking and how we can help. 

Check out @Loveandlordship for L&L LIVE every Thursday at 4pm on our Facebook page for more.  Also you can find videos and podcasts at www.loveandlorship.com. 

Make it a great day and God bless in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Wisdom and discernment begins with fearing The Lord and placing our fellow man above us.  This is what we’re called to as Christ followers to help control the spread of the pandemic, fight the injustice of racism and expose the deceptions and manipulations of those who would use both for their own favor.   

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) – Pray for God’s healing to be evident in the pandemic and practice good physical distancing as needed.  Pray for His people to act in love toward all people especially our black brothers and sisters and attend unity rallies and follow through in building relationships in His love.  Pray for us to stand up for justice and against bigotry and speak out to expose extreme agendas that promise solutions but are only for selfish gain.