Leviticus 19:18 – Seeking revenge or bearing a grudge. Love your neighbour as yourself.
When we are angry, when we call someone a fool, when we are seeking revenge – speaking bad to a person or wanting bad to come on a person - - all have something at the root; there is something deeper going on. Comparison and judgment. It is getting the upper hand. When I hold a grudge against a person the picture is of me stepping on their back while they are down. I have elevated myself. I have created these levels and I am on top. Comparison is dangerous. Read 1 John 3:11-14.

Would Cain have murdered his brother Able if Able was also doing evil in the Lord's sight. Unlikely – vs. 12b. He saw that he was a level lower than Able. He sought to drag Able down with him so he killed him. Comparison of levels – he is up there, I am down here – judgement – I deserve to be up there but I can't seem to get there so I will murder him pulling him down causing me to be on the higher level. This happens at schools. So and so made fun of me. I am now down here – I have got to get on top so I will hold a grudge, I will talk badly of this person, I will make her pay...then she will be brought down and I will be on the level above.

Now, it is not only those on a lower level wanting to yank down those on a higher level. But those on a higher level want to keep their position. It is also those on the higher level stomping down those on the lower level. James 2:2-8. Here we see comparison, levels, judgement, favoritism – this is what lies at the root of not loving.

This is the key to identifying what it is to not love others. This is the mentality of those who see themselves on the higher level: 'It is as if who I am and how far I have gotten in life was of my own doing. All that I have achieved in my life is my achievement and noones elses'. It removes God from the picture because it is God who has brought me this far.

Those who see themselves on the lower level see the pit they are in and think they have no control as if they are destined to be at the bottom. God summoned Cain before the homicide “Watch out for sin – it is lurking at your door – you must gain mastery over it”.

LOW LEVEL – says - God has put me in this position, I am destined to be a failure. But - God can help you up.

HIGH LEVEL – says - I have achieved this high poisition. But - God has helped you up. The measure of your faith is according to what God has given you (Rom 12:3).

It levels the playing field when God is in the picture. Have you ever noticed that those who love most seem to know no levels. Small children. Handicapped people. No matter how rich, how annoying, how cool, how uncool, how stable, how unstable – small children, some handicapped people seem to not know these levels. But we teach them. Watch out for strangers – they could be bad people. Then when we grow up after having been trained well on the levels of people – creepy and uncreepy – do we talk to strangers?

God knows no levels. 1 John 2:2 and 4:7-11....let's get it straight who the “us” is here. Rom 5:5-8. To God the whole world sits on this level playing field – His enemies. Being his children is not something we have done on our own – He has called us up from cold blooded killer enemy to child and has made us worthy. Do we behave as if our-being-made-a-child was our doing – that we somehow deserve to be child after having been enemy?

To love then is to know no levels. I have heard it said too many times, “I can love or deal with any person that comes my way except for that person”. That is not love. It recreates the levels. Comparison begins. That statement, in effect, is calling that person raca or fool.


What level do you think you are on? What does that mean you should do?

We treat God according to what we know of Him Our world has a long way to go when it comes to loving God. To some people it doesn't matter whether there is a God or not. They get up in the morning without giving a prayer or thought to God. They practice with one another how to avoid the subject of God and religion. They convince each other that to not think of a thing is to put it to rest. They substitute God's sovereignty with good luck and chance. They stupididly mention God's name but only in the form of a cuss not realizing they are heaping their sins up higher. The command is to love the Lord your God – He is their God whether they like it or not.


Some do one step better and believe this: that if one believes that God exists then that puts man on His good side – as if righteousness is passing a test of perception. If we would be so perceptive and see that there is a Maker behind all of this then we win the prize. So some think that acknowledging the existence of God is a deed good enough to please Him. But God didn't put us on Earth just to see if we would believe or not. Some go one step further and are in awe of the world and appreciate the Maker and his design and beauty. But they do not know God, they only appreciate his works. They are like the one who sits on a couch and watches an artist perform on the tv screen and filled with delight, they enjoy what the artist has to offer but they shut the tv off and and perhaps make mention of this artist to a couple other people. But the command is to love the Lord your God with all your mind and with all your strength.

Some go one step further and show up at church occasionally or at best weekly. They think that their attendance is their love for God. When asked, “How do you know that you love God?” Their answer is this simple: I go to church. That is like asking a child, “How do you know that you love your parents?” And the answer is, “Well I go home for dinner”. The child doesn't realize that what he thinks is love is merely fulfilling his own need for nourishment.

Some go one step further and give to the poor. 1 Cor 13:2. This group is in danger. They are involved in religious activity which is often seen by others as love for God. They are in danger of becoming confused. They convince themselves that doing something for God is love for Him. But the command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart.

Finally there are those that try not to offend God. This is the last and most dangerous of all. This person says, “There is nothing that I do to offend God. I am a decent person. I stay away from what all the others stay away from. I don't drink, I don't smoke. I am more pleasing in God's sight. This is how I love him, by staying away from the things that I think I shouldn't do.” But it is not about what one does not do, but the command is to love God. The wife knows full well that the husband does not love her. He doesn't get it. He tells his buddies that she has no reason to be upset. "I don't cuss around her, I don't have bad manners around her, I don't abuse her, I don't offend her – what is the problem here?" The problem is that you don't love her. You don't give yourself to her. The command is to love the Lord your God yes you who merely believe w/ all your mind and strength, yes you who do a lot with all your heart but also you who are holding back - with all of your soul.



God's Word is the medicine to cure us of the disease. The symptom is our lack of loving God. The disease is separation. God is right next to each one of us. All we have to do is continue to turn to Him. The ultimate truth of God's Word is that He loved us first and His love is never ending – meaning He still loves us now no matter what our condition, what our hang ups. He is waiting. When one lover feels inadequate or has doubts about the relationship, he resigns himself to the position that he will wait and make sure of the love that the other has for him. God never said to Israel or to us – Love me and then we'll have a relationship. He said, I love you, would you love me and obey me. Deu 7:7-11

He is saying the same thing today – would you love me back and would you obey me?

My goalfor the Cambridge church has been Christ formed in each individual. What does it mean for God to be formed in a man? How can a preacher ever convey the words to accomplish this goal? Thankfully, the words are already in scripture. So I am preaching through Colossians this month. Glen Robins preached this past Sunday on chapter 2. Colossians is all about Christ. Having a spiritual knowledge and understanding of God and his will is the leading 'way' or 'how to' when it comes to being formed in Christ. Colossians present this knowledge. The amazing part is that the majority of historical characters had not the priviledge of God being formed in them....and we have the boast that we do.

Colossians 1:26-27

‘Which is, the mystery that has been hidden for ages but now is disclosed.’ The reason it is such BIG history is because it was a mystery hidden from God’s people for years and years but now has been revealed. This is so big that the prophets who told of its coming wanted to know when this grace would come. This is so big that even angels long to look into it (1 Peter 1:10-12).

‘It is to be made known to the Gentiles.’ There were two aspects of the mystery. The ‘who’ and the ‘what’. Israel knew that there was something coming for them and they were excited about it. They did not know who exactly was going to be coming and they did not know exactly what this person would bring. The closest that they could get was a King and he would reign. They were right. What they did not know was that the Gentiles would be included and soon the whole world would have the following opportunity…

‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ The commission that Paul has is so grand. He started in vs. 15 by talking about God’s Son as Creator and Sustainer. We learned that this Creator has a vested interest in mankind. He has loved mankind. He has offered grace and he continually calls man to come to Him. He has walked through history leading man and being with him. His desire has always been to make sure there is a way that man can approach Him. This mystery, one that no one would have guessed, is greater than mankind’s ability to approach the Creator. The mystery revealed, the word that Paul speaks is this: Mankind has the ability not only to approach God, but God now has the ability to dwell in man, a forever two way street.

The symbolism is beautiful. There are no hoops to jump, no rivers to cross, mountains to climb, or barriers to surpass in order to get to God. He has already gotten to us. He is not ‘just over the rainbow’, he is not near us; he can now be IN us. This is the picture of reconciliation – not man to God, but God in man. This is the hope of glory to a world that is so far removed from God. What stunning history for the Colossians that they would be some of the first fruits. What history for us that we have the mystery already unfolded. The hard work is done, now we just experience it and talk about it.

In October, I went on a road trip with Glen, a dear friend of mine. It's amazing the topics of discussion that can come up on a road trip, when you're in a small enclosed space with someone for hours at a time. At one point (and I'm not sure how we got there -- that's part of the mystery of road trips) we began talking about how people tend to be lacking in the trust they place in Christ.
Yes. I have issues placing trust in Christ. I expect you might too.

You see, most of us trust Jesus to help us in our daily lives. We tend to be reasonably certain that prayers for strength, wisdom, patience, etc. will all be answered satisfactorily. That's not much of a problem.

Most of us trust Christ to save us. We know that we are sinful and unworthy, but God saw fit to save us and bring us salvation and innumerable blessings besides in Christ. That's not much of a problem either.

Well, it's not much of a problem until you get to some of those blessings. It has been promised to us that we, the saved, will be transformed into the likeness of Christ. I John 3:2 says, "Beloved, we are now children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we will be. We know that when he (Christ) is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is." Also, one of my teachers, Jim, says "We read scripture not so that we will be informed, but so that we will be transformed."

Jesus is ready and willing to transform us. Jesus can take us wherever we are, with all of our faults and failings and foibles and turn us into a new creation. This transformation is part of our salvation, but do we really really trust him to do it? Are we ready to place our trust fully in God and be changed into something we wouldn't believe possible? God can work in us best and use us best when he has full control over our lives. You are of value to God. He needs your service in his kingdom. Let him use you to your fullest potential.

Some build gigantic stone structures that point to the heavens.  Some build sparkling glass monuments that spill into the sky.
We have chosen to build a spiritual temple in Cambridge. One committed
to God and His work. As such it is quite fearful/joyful to have 1st
Corinthians 3:10-18 quite literally apply to our situation.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an
expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should
be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than
the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this
foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his
work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to
light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the
quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will
receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself
will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s
Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy
him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

In this text the Apostle Paul has laid the foundation for the
Corinthian church. Then it was up to the Corinthians to build on his
foundation. This is church building. What church will be built? What
ministries will be built? Of what quality? Gold? Silver? Costly Stones?
Wood? Hay? Straw? How will it fair under the test of fire?

• There are two warnings here.
• Be careful what you build.  If what you build does not survive the fire then you will suffer loss.  You will be singed.
• Don’t destroy God’s temple (this church).  God does not take kindly to those who would destroy His temple.

There is also a reward.  If what is built survives the fire then a reward is given.

Just as the foundation was laid in Corinth, the foundation has been
laid in Cambridge. We are building on the foundation. What will we
build? Of what quality? Will it pass the fire?

So far I am greatly pleased. Our group is intelligent, passionate
and willing to work with each other. This suggests to me that our
spiritual temple will be a grand one. With great turrets, steeples,
domes, arches and brilliant light.

Still, this is both fearful and joyous.

Paul

One night last week I had the great desire to go for a walk in downtown Galt. After
consulting the weather service and discovering that the region was
under a variety of warnings (not the least of which was a minus 30
chill warning) I decided that I should bring my camera. Interesting
information of note: Batteries have very short life spans in minus 30 weather.

After wondering quite aimlessly for awhile I paused on the Main St bridge
over the Grand River. There was a certain calmness. The sort of
calmness that naturally comes with minus 30 temperatures. During the
summer this area (from Park Hill to Main St along the riverside) is
full of people and is quite beautiful. You can even get a great hot dog
right beside Mill Creek.

 

 

 

 

During that night last week you could not get a hot dog because (a)
Frank’s was closed, (b) there wasn’t any people around and (c) in a
minus 30 chill a hot dog would not be hot for long (it would be a
“slightly-less-cool dog”). I didn’t mind that there wasn’t hot dogs
around because there was a certain beauty to this chilled river and
downtown.

Perhaps this is an Canadian thing but there is an ideal of an city frozen (metaphorically and
literally) during winter. Snow is packed on the road, steam hesitantly
rises from random buildings, streetlights reach out and bathe small
areas with brilliant light against the dark sky and people huddle by
their fireplaces in their warm homes. Ideally a game of shinny was
played earlier. For a moment it seemed that I was in the a painting.

I suspect that these observations could likely be applied to many places but for a brief moment Cambridge was the perfect place.

Paul

Today Greg gave a really insightful message about family — how we are a
family, how family originated with the trinity before the world was
even created, that family is something that isn’t just created
by God it is a part of who God is, how the fact that we are a family
has implications for how we treat one another, and that the designation
of family means we come together with a common identity (and I would
include a common bond), rather than a team which has a common aim.
Following Greg’s sermon Murray Hibbard led the hymn “God’s Family”
which was new to me. God continued to work on my heart through this
hymn. While I don’t have the words in front of me right now, it spoke
about hurting with a brother and when a brother is done hurting we are
done hurting. I thought about whether or not I felt that the group of
people I was worshipping with would be there for me if I was going
through something difficult and how that might look (for me the example
was losing someone close to me, like a parent). I immediately had the
surety that they would. That was one of the main things I was looking
for in a new church family and one of the things I’ve been so thrilled
and blessed to have found.

However, my next immediate thought was, “would I accept that support
and help and love?”. Believe it or not, this is a problem for me. Call
it being a”private person” (the nice face I put on it), or “fear of
rejection” (part of the more uncomfortable truth about the situation),
but I sometimes struggle with allowing people “in”. In my marriage I’m
much more comfortable being the supportive one than being the
vulnerable one in need of support (a frustration for my very loving,
supportive, ‘please tell me what is wrong’ husband). I realized that my
responsibility to a family is two-fold — giving where and when it is
needed, and being open to letting others in when it is their turn to
give to me.

Despite Greg’s admonition that family is not merely a social
construct born in the world, the earthly families that we are a part of
(both biological and otherwise) are fraught with dysfunction because
they are made up of people. Dysfunction isn’t a product of a lack of
love or commitment to the family by its members, it is just a product
of the fact that families are made up of dysfunctional people (the only
‘functional’ person to have walked the earth being Jesus). The
challenge for each of us as a member of this family is to identify what
barriers we as individuals each bring to the family — whether it is a
desire for self-preservation (like me), a selfish heart that puts me
first, or an inability to accept people where they are at and desire to
‘jerk them up’ to maturity (for a few examples). Knowing these things
about ourselves helps us to work toward being the best family member we
can.

A thought from Heather McGrath

Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”


This Sunday’s worship and fellowship time together was great. As we grow with each other and as a group we will begin (and are beginning) to put this verse into action in Cambridge. On Sunday we proclaimed to each other “Your God reigns!” Let us then continue and bring good news, peace, good tidings and salvation to each other and to Cambridge generally.

-Paul

On January 14th, 2007 the Cambridge Church of Christ had its first
Sunday Morning Worship. There was an electrifying atmosphere as we
crammed 22 people into my (Paul Moore) living room. Of those attending
were folks from the cities of Waterloo, Kitchener, Brantford and
Cambridge. Greg Whitfield delivered a reflective talk and Murray
Hibbard presented the Lord’s Table wonderfully (it was, however, a
metaphoric table because there wasn’t an actual physical table present
due to lack of space). Our voices joined together beautifully for
praise and worship. Afterwards those who could stay enjoyed a potluck
meal together and fellowship into the afternoon. In the immediate
future we will continue to meet Sunday mornings. In the near future we
will begin a few small groups. We look forward to meeting with the
Waterloo congregation on the 28th. Please pray for us as we begin this
work in Cambridge. Our first meeting was great and we are excited about
the future.

Paul