Vexillum

“I would rather walk with God in the dark than go alone in the light.” ~Mary Gardiner Brainard

On October 28th, in the year 312, a Roman emperor and his soldiers fought bravely in battle  against a rugged and formidable army twice the size of their own.  And yet, amidst certain annihilation, they walked away victoriously.  What was the secret to their success?  It was an unusual standard that rippled and swayed high above their heads.  One in which they also wore brandished on their shields.  This vexillum lead the army into the fray and stood protected by men who were willing to sacrifice their very lives for what they believed in.

According to legend, Constantine I (the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity) had a vision of God the night before riding into battle against his rival and brother-in-law, Maxentius.  He believed  if he followed the instructions given to him in the vision, he would fight under the protection of God.  Lactantius, an early Christian author and adviser to Constantine, documented the tale and described how God spoke to the emperor and commanded him to  to “delineate the heavenly sign on the shields of his soldiers”. He obeyed and marked the shields with a sign “denoting Christ”.  He also adorned his helmet with the same mark.  There is some debate regarding the actual appearance of this symbol, but historians agree it had both the form of a cross and the monogram of Christ’s name from the formed letters “X” and “P”, which are the first letters of his name in Greek (ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ or Χριστός ).  Roman historian Eusibus of Caesarea also claimed to have heard Constantine speak of this vision.   Eusebius describes the event occurring while Constantine and his army were on a march to Rome.   In Eusebius’ version of the story, Constantine saw a vision of a cross of light floating above the sun.   With it  were the Greek words Ἐν Τούτῳ Νίκα. The Latin translation of the Greek is in hoc signo vinces— which literally means ”In this sign, win”.  A more useful English translation would be, “By this sign, conquer.”  The ‘Chi-Rho”sign, as it has become known, was placed on the emperors vexillum he called the Labarum.

“A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” ~John Stuart Mill

A vexillum is a flag-like object, banner, or sail that was used in the Classical Era of the Roman Empire.  It was used by both infantry and cavalry.  A person who carried a vexillum was known as a vexillarius and just as in the case of the regimental colors or flags of Western regiments, the vexillum was a treasured symbol of the military unit that it represented. Many modern military orders call these war flags “standards” and are closely defended in combat.  Under this strict sense of the term, few nations currently have separate war flags, most preferring to use instead their state flag or standard national flag for this purpose.  The word standard itself is from an Old Frankish term for a field sign (not necessarily a flag).  In military organizations, the origins of carrying standards both to act as a rallying point for troops and to mark the location of the commander, is frequently disputed.  Some believe the practice originated in Asia while others insist it began in ancient Egypt over 5,000 years ago.  According to the writings of Eusebius, Constantine held his vexillum in such high regards that he ordered that the Labarus be carried at the head of all his armies.    Since the  vexillum of Constantine I consisted of a flag suspended from the crossbar of a cross, it was ideally suited to symbolize the crucifixion of Christ.

“The moment you say that one set of moral ideas can be better than another, you are, in fact, measuring them both by a standard, saying that one of them conforms to that standard more nearly than the other.  But the standard that measures two things is something different from either.  You are, in fact, comparing them both with some Real Morality, admitting that there is such a thing as a real Right, independent of what people think, and that some people’s ideas get nearer to that real Right than others.” ~C.S. Lewis

There are several, more common uses for the word standard.  One only has to take a moment to look in a dictionary to find them.  Below, I have listed a few results from Dictionary.com.

1.something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model.  3.a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment: They tried to establish standards for a new philosophical approach. 4.an average or normal requirement, quality, quantity, level, grade, etc.: His work this week hasn’t been up to his usual standard. 5.standards, those morals, ethics, habits, etc., established by authority, custom, or an individual as acceptable: He tried to live up to his father’s standards. 23.serving as a basis of weight, measure, value, comparison, or judgment. 24.of recognized excellence or established authority: a standard reference on medieval history.

Even though each use varies slightly, they all revolve around a central theme which is to measure one thing, idea, or principle against another.  As Christian Believers, we have a standard that we are called to measure ourselves by that separates us from non-believers.  This Christian vexillum is called holiness.  Like the Labara, it should be held high and presented before us wherever we go.  Believers and non-believers alike should be met with it during intense spiritual confrontation and also during times of spiritual peace. The Holy standard helps believers see who the Commander is (Christ) and is the rallying point for the soldiers of the Kingdom of Heaven.

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.”~A.W. Tozer

Holiness is defined as the quality or state of being holy.  Which is in itself defined as being dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion.   While dedicating ourselves to God’s standards we are to separate ourselves from the worlds standards.  However, being holy is NOT a command to be traditional.  It means dedicating ourselves to live a lifestyle as closely as we can to Christs knowing that we will ultimately fall short of his perfection.  The Bible says this in the Book of Romans;

 ”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.” ~Romans 12:1,2 NIV

^“I am using an example from everyday life  because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness   leading to holiness.  When you were slaves to sin,   you were free from the control of righteousness.   What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!   But now that you have been set free from sin   and have become slaves of God,   the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.   For the wages of sin is death,   but the gift of God is eternal life   in  Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 6:19-23 NIV

^“We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual,   sold   as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.  For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.   For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.  Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.  So I find this law at work:   Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.  For in my inner being   I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war   against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin   at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” ~Romans 7:14-25 NIV

“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome.What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” ~C. S. Lewis

Eastons Bible dictionary has this to say about the word “holiness”

Holiness in the highest sense belongs to God ( Isaiah 6:3 ;  Revelation 15:4 ), and to Christians as consecrated to God’s service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God ( Romans 6:19 Romans 6:22 ;  Ephesians 1:4 ;  Titus 1:8 ;  1 Peter 1:15 ). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance ( 1 Corinthians 1:30 ;  2 co  7:1 ;  Ephesians 4:23 Ephesians 4:24 ).

This “gradual development” the author speaks of is often called sanctification.   Sanctification means 1.to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. 2.to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.  So in essence, sanctification is the process and holiness is the result.  Eastons Bible Dictionary also has some remarkable things to say about sanctification.

Sanctification involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man ( Romans 6:13 ;  2 co  4:6 ;  Colossians 3:10 ;  1 John 4:7 ;  1 Corinthians 6:19 ). It is the special office of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work ( 1 Corinthians 6:11 ;  2th.  2:13 ). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it (1) secures union to Christ ( Galatians 2:20), and (2) brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he is led to yield obedience “to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come.”

Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life ( 1 Kings 8:46 ;  Proverbs 20:9 ; Eccl  7:20 ;  James 3:2 ;  1 John 1:8 ). See Paul’s account of himself in  Romans 7:14-25 ; Phil  3:12-14 ; and  1 Timothy 1:15 ; also the confessions of David ( Psalms 19:12 Psalms 19:13 ;  51 ), of Moses ( 90:8 ), of ( Job 42:5 Job 42:6 ), and of ( Daniel 9:3-20 ). “The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments and strives to overcome. Believers find that their life is a constant warfare, and they need to take the kingdom of heaven by storm, and watch while they pray. They are always subject to the constant chastisement of their Father’s loving hand, which can only be designed to correct their imperfections and to confirm their graces. And it has been notoriously the fact that the best Christians have been those who have been the least prone to claim the attainment of perfection for themselves.”

 ”The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us; just as the roof of a sunhouse does not attract the sun because it is bright, but becomes bright because the son shines on it.” ~C.S. Lewis

For centuries, people have debated the accuracy of the accounts of Constantine’s vision as told by Eusibius and Lactantius.   Many believe the legend to be a falsehood that was grossly adapted and retold by heralds and storytellers.  However, without question, there are two things that remain true.  One, Emperer Constantine and his army were victorious at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge after marking their armor with the Chi Rho symbol.  And two, his rival Maxentius drowned in the river while trying to escape. Believe what you may, but God has indeed called us to live at a standard that rests high above the status quo.  It’s calling is not just to live a life that mirrors Chirst’s but also to have the courage to reattempt that life WHEN we fall short of our goal.    It is a life where we love our neighbors as ourselves even when they refuse to show us any measure of love or kindness in return. As a husband, it is being committed to and loving our wives as Christ loved the church.  As a wife, it is supporting your husband and family by living as a virtuous woman of God.  As a child, it is honoring your mother and father.  As a parent, it is not only guiding and disciplining your children, but also pledging to love them even when they have done something wrong.  When offended, it is turning the other cheek.  It is refraining from course talk and retaining sexual purity.  It his being patient.  It is having temperance.  It is forgiving the unforgivable and loving the unlovable, even those whom are your enemies.  It is living a life free from greed and selfish ambition.  It is working for our earthly masters as if you were laboring unto God.  It is choosing to do what is right over what is popular.  In the Book of Ephesians,chapter 5, verses one and two, Paul simplified the concept in a few simple words. He wrote, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

It is not just a request, beloved, but a command.  As soldiers in the Kingdom of Heaven, the vexillum of holiness should ripple and sway high above our heads.  Not only should it precede us wherever we go, but it should be fiercely protected, brandished on our “shield of Faith” and marked on our “Helmet of Salvation”, lest we forget.  By being obedient to the command of God, we will be able to share in the victory over sin that is only obtainable through holiness and sanctification in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!!!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse: “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.” ~Romans 12:1,2 NIV

Memory Words:   1. Vexillum: a military standard or flag carried by ancient Roman troops.  2.Standard:  something considered by an authority or by general consent as a basis of comparison; an approved model. 3. Holiness: dedicated or devoted to the service of God, the church, or religion;  having a spiritually pure quality. 4. Sanctification:  to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. To purify or free from sin.

Inspiring Music:  “Teach My Hands to War”, Marvin Sapp

Love Vs. Legalism

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28 NKJV

In Greek mythology, Atlas (or Ἄτλας) was the primordial Titan who supported the heavens.  He was placed there as punishment after the Titans fell in a war against the Olympians called the Titanomachy.   Zeus condemned Atlas to stand at the western edge of Gaia (the Earth) and hold up Uranus (the Sky) on his shoulders, to prevent the two from resuming their primordial embrace. Thus, he was Atlas Telamon, “enduring Atlas,” and became a doublet of Koios, the embodiment of the celestial axis around which the heavens revolve.

The Pantheon of ”gods” in Greek and Roman Mythology were extremely cruel deities that toyed with mortals for their amusement and selfish ambition. The ideology of deities being cruel still exists in the minds of many Believers and unbelievers alike.  However,  the reality of the matter is  probably a lot farther from what many may believe to be true.  The popular notion is that God, that is The One True God, is floating around the earth on a cloud throwing lightning bolts at whatever human he finds in sin (That’s actually more along the lines of Thor from the Norse Pantheon, but lets not muddy the water).  Some Christians mistakenly perpetuate this line of thought by condemning everyone to Hell whom they believe is outside the will of God.  Truth be told, we ALL fall outside the will of God from time to time.  In fact, the big difference in character between God and the gods of Greek and Roman mythology is that Zeus forced Atlas to support the weight of the heavens for his transgressions, while God sent Jesus as a sacrifice to die for ours.

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—  he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” ~Romans 3:21-26 NIV

Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them”.  ~Luke 11:46 NIV

The Pharisees In Jesus’ day were mostly middle-class businessmen who held a minority number of positions as priests in the Sanhedrin.  The Sanhedrin was an assembly of twenty-three judges appointed in every city in the Biblical Land of Israel.   It was the supreme court of ancient Israel and was made up of 71 members composed of wealthy aristocrats known as the Sadducees along with the Pharisees who represented the “common man” (Yes, there were even political parties in the Bible).   Unlike their conservative rivals the Sadducees, the Pharisees accepted the written Word as inspired by God.  However, they gave oral tradition equal authority to the written Word of God.  They then attempted to defend this position by saying it went all the way back to Moses. Evolving over the centuries, these traditions added to God’s Word, which is forbidden (Deuteronomy 4:2), and the Pharisees sought to strictly obey these traditions along with the Old Testament. The Gospels abound with examples of the Pharisees treating these traditions as equal to God’s Word (Matthew 9:14; 15:1-9; 23:5; 23:16, 23, Mark 7:1-23; Luke 11:42).  Unlike the Pharisees, we are not to treat traditions as having equal authority as scripture, and we are not to allow our relationship with God to be reduced to a legalistic list of rules and rituals.

Like the Pharisees, Christians sometimes live a life of legalism.  Please don’t misunderstand me.  There is nothing wrong with the law, for it is the standard by which we measure our Christian walk by.  However, the law does not save us, it just shows us our flaws. The Bible teaches us that we are saved by grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-10).  That does not mean God overlooks sin, but that He shows us enough grace in His Love to save us from the consequences of sin if we so choose.

“know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.”  ~Galations 2:16 NIV

Be careful, though.  Here is my disclaimer.  As Believers, grace DOES NOT give us free reign to sin. The Bible says that the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).  Instead of giving ourselves over to the desires of the flesh, we are to uphold the law and live a life of righteousness.  For the weight of sin can be a burden to your soul as well.

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” ~James 4:7-10 NIV

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. “ ~Romans 6:6, 7 NIV

“Church has too many policemen & not enough paramedics. So many anxious to point out faults of others & not enough to help bind up wounds”.  ~Pastor Mike Haman

I have three wonderful sons, a nine year old and twins that are four.  Each son is totally unique, varying in temperament, and each carrying his own unique disposition. I have found that one of the twins has a peculiar fondness for things.  Not that he is materialistic, but rather that he places a high value or preciousness on everything that he owns.  He collects bottle caps, string, rocks, lint balls…. you name it.  If it was in his possession at one time, he cherishes every moment he spends with it and is greatly saddened when it becomes lost, misplaced or disposed of.

One day while reading, I saw him running about the den flying a toy airplane with his outstretched arm.  It had seen better days.  The wheels were broken off, the paint was chipped, and the wings were missing.  Yet, he continued to play with the toy as if had just received it.  He blew his lips making propeller sounds and chatted quite candidly with the imaginary crew who were busily piloting the wilds of our living space.  In what I thought was a loving gesture, I politely took the small toy from him and disposed of it in the trash can.  “It’s broken, little guy.” I said with a smile and in my fatherly voice.  “I’ll buy you a brand new one today when we go shopping.  Wont that make you happy?”  His response was less than concerting.  His eyes quickly welled up with tears and his little face became flush.  “Whats wrong?  I said I would get you a new one that isn’t broken.”

In a quivering voice, my son looked up at me and said, “It may be broken, but its mine”.   My heart melted and I reached into the trash to retrieve his airplane.  I began to think about how people will often dispose of others simply because they are not measuring up to their standards.  I thought about how the world and sometimes even the Christian church will cast people away for falling short of the mark.  I began to think about how God saw me and my flaws.  I thought about how I struggle with sin and how I affect others with my short comings.  Never once has God thrown me away.  Instead, he reached down into the pit where I lay and said, ”You may be broken, but you are mine.”

God does not hate you because you made a mistake, have become lost, or even broken.  GOD LOVES YOU AND THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE.  In fact it is not only easy for him to Love you, but to forgive you as well.  Regardless of what others may say about you, He is always ready to forgive you.  What can sometimes be difficult, though is learning to forgive ourselves for our past deficiencies and transgressions.  This is what world renown author and poet Maya Angelou has to say about it.

“I don’t know if I continue, even today, always liking myself.  But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes- it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, ‘well, if I’d known better I’d have done better,’ that’s all. So you say to people who you think you may have injured, ‘I’m sorry,’ and then you say to yourself, ‘I’m sorry.’ If we all hold on to the mistake, we can’t see our own glory in the mirror because we have the mistake between our faces and the mirror; we can’t see what we’re capable of being. You can ask forgiveness of others, but in the end the real forgiveness is in one’s own self. I think that young men and women are so caught by the way they see themselves. Now mind you. When a larger society sees them as unattractive, as threats, as too black or too white or too poor or too fat or too thin or too sexual or too asexual, that’s rough. But you can overcome that. The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself. If we don’t have that we never grow, we never learn, and sure as hell we should never teach.” ~Maya ANgelou

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” ~Matthew 5:17 NIV

Our God is a God of Love, but like any good parent, God does not always agree with what His children have chosen to do.  So we honor Him  by honoring His commandments (1 John 5:3), and gracefully bearing the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2).  For if we ask in faith, God will do the same for us, in spite of our transgressions against the law (Psalm 68:19, John 8:1-11, John 4:1-42, Luke 7:36-50, John 21:15-19).  Forgive others as you want to be forgiven (Luke 17:3,4 & Matthew 7:1-5) and remember to take time to forgive yourselves.  For when God forgives you, Love is victor over legalism (Jeremiah 31:33,34).  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!!!!!!!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” ~Matthew 5:17 NIV

Memory Word:  Pharisee: 1.a member of a Jewish sect that flourished during the 1st century b.c. and 1st century a.d. and that differed from the Sadducees chiefly in its strict observance of religious ceremonies and practices, adherence to oral laws and traditions, and belief in an afterlife and the coming of a Messiah. 2.( lowercase ) a sanctimonious, self-righteous, or hypocritical person

Inspiring Music:  “Come Unto Me” performed by Nicole C. Mullen and “Under Pressure” by S.H.O.C.K. Muzik Records

The Ambition of Fools

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

After outwitting a butcher, a clever dog frantically ran from town with a steak suspended from his jaws.  As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and noticed his reflection exchanging glances with him.  Thinking his likeness was a second dog with a larger steak than his own, he snapped at the duplicate in an effort to steal its meal.  However, in doing so, he let go of his first prize and was forced to watch the feast vanish beneath the surface of the brackish water.  Whats the lesson to be learned?  ”If we greedily grasp after the chimeras beyond our reach, the treasures we already have sail away…” 

“All man’s efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.” ~Ecclesiastes 6:7 NIV

As foolish as the dog was in this classic tale, many believers live their lives in the very same manner. They lead a life of vain pursuit chasing after the superficial pleasures and vices of the world thinking “the grass in greener on the other side of the fence”. They carelessly abandon the virtues of sound Biblical doctrine to quest after the illusion of success.  But at what cost does this success come?  The dog from Aesop’s fable lost his lunch. However,  as humans, we are at risk for losing far greater attachments.  Spouses, careers, children, and valuable time can all suffer or even be lost due to a persons selfish discontent.  Money, sex, clothes, cars, an education, mansions…  There is nothing wrong with possessing any of these things.  However, to pursue them as if they would bring you joy beyond a fleeting moment is a falsehood believed to be true by many.  Lets take a look at a few scriptures to see what the Bible has to say about selfish ambition.

^“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” ~Galations 5:16-21 NIV

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~Matthew 6:31-33 NIV

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” ~Phillipians 3:16 NIV

Ambition is defined as an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment.  Is their anything wrong with being ambitious?  No.  At least not in and of itself.  When that ambition takes on a life of its own and becomes self seeking and places its own interest above the interest of others, then there is a problem.  Then ambition turns into greed and/or envy.  Greed is defined as an excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.  Envy is defined as a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to anthers advantages, success, or possessions.  The Bible warns against this type of behavior and even goes so far as to call it demonic.

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” ~James 3:14-16 NIV

”Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” ~Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV

A reoccuring trend in the Church is where people in ministry (pastors, preachers, bishops, deacons, rabbi, etc) use the pulpit as a method to pursue their own selfish desires.  These evil people divide churches, tarnish the image of the Kingdom, and destroy families all in the pursuit of high grandeur.  The Bible is very clear on not only how God sees these people, but also how we as individuals should interact with them.

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.  But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;  but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.  For God does not show favoritism. ~Romans 2:6-11 NIV

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.         ~2 Timothy 3:2-5 NIV

Jesus Christ is the son of God and has been described as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  However, he was a servant FIRST.  How quickly some our of Brothers and Sisters in the pulpit forget that Jesus washed his disciples feet and not the other way around.  They have forgotten that Jesus rode a donkey to work, not a Mercedes.  Jesus could have been born in a palace but, instead God saw it fit for His only begotten son to be born in a horse trough.  Are all of these things a coincidence?  Probably not.

If we look upwards towards the composition of the night sky, it is fairly easy to locate the moon.  It glows brightly compared to the other heavenly bodies, yet it does not generate or emit a light of its own.  It merely reflects the light being transmitted from the sun allowing late night travelers to find their destinations. As believers, we should maintain a similar attitude respective to our position in the Kingdom.  WE ARE NOT THE SON.  We are merely bodies that reflect and retransmit His light so others can find their final destination.  To consider ourselves greater than what we are because of our position in the ministry is foolish.  For like the moon,  we are just another cold and lifeless body without the Son. 

“What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself or waste your life?” ~Luke 9:25 CEV

Right now, I would like you to take a moment to consider the pursuits of your day to day life.  Would they be pleasing and acceptable to God?   Are the things you are trying to attain temporal or eternal?   How much are you willing to sacrifice to achieve them?  Sure, you may need the overtime at work, but is it separating you from your family?  Yes, it feels good to be noticed by someone, but if that someone is not your husband is it pleasing to God?  You have a GREAT idea for a business, but are you investing too much of your own money into the project?  Does your work at your church detract an unnecessary amount of time from your family?  Are you a minister who reflects the Son’s light or are you secretly seeking credit for God’s work?  Are any of these things worth losing your family, career, or livelihood for?  The choice is obvious to me. What about you?  Be Blessed, My Friends.  Be an Overcomer!

~Bro. Jason Z. Hunt

“A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough”~The purported epitaph of Alexander the Great

Memory Verse: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” ~Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV

Memory Words: 1. Ambition: an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment. 2. Greed: an excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions. 3. Envy: a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to anothers advantages, success, or possessions.

Inspiring Music: “Get to Heaven” by Out of Eden,”Chase That” by Lecrae, and “God is Enough” by Lecrae

La Belle et la Bête

“That which is striking and beautiful is not always good; but that which is good is always beautiful.” ~Anne “Ninon” de l’Enclos

Are you familiar with the children’s faery tale Beauty and the Beast?  Of course you are!  Even if you have never read the original, you are probably more than familiar with Disney’s animated version of the story all done up with song and dance.  Originally published in 1740 by  Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, La Belle et la Bête is the quintessential tale of unrequited love.

In the original telling of the story, a wealthy young prince is turned into a hideous beast by a fairy after he refuses to let her in from the rain.  She tells him that the curse can only be broken by finding true love in spite of his ugliness.  The Prince, distraught and stricken with despair, begins to live a life of isolation believing that no one will ever come to love him as The Beast.

As time goes by, a merchant lost in the woods stumbles across the Beast’s castle.  Recently afflicted with severe financial misfortune, the Merchant not only finds shelter, but also tables laden with food and drink, which have apparently been left for him by the castle’s owner whom he has never met.  He graciously accepts the gifts from his unknown host and helps himself to a rose from the garden.  Upon picking the most lovely rose he finds, the merchant is confronted by the hideous Beast, which tells him that for taking his most precious possession after accepting his hospitality, the merchant must stay his prisoner forever. The merchant begs for his freedom, arguing that he had only picked the rose as a gift for his youngest daughter, Belle (which coincidentally means “beautiful” in French). The Beast agrees to let him go only if the merchant will send his daughter to live in the castle in his place.

“The beauty seen is partly in him who sees it.”~Christian Nestell Bovee

When Belle arrives, she is given extravagant gifts and is treated like royalty.  She enjoys his company and engaging conversation, but cant see him as more than a friend.  Each night, the Beast asks her to marry him, but she refuses.  After each refusal, Belle dreams of a handsome prince who pleads with her to answer why she keeps refusing him, and she replies that she cannot marry the Beast because she loves him only as a friend. Belle does not make the connection between the handsome prince and the Beast and becomes convinced that the Beast is holding the prince captive somewhere in the castle. She searches for him and discovers multiple enchanted rooms, but, of course, never the prince from her dreams.

OK…  at this point in our story, both Belle and the Beast obviously have some serious unresolved issues they need to work out.  What makes me say that?  Because, they have both come up with a “Procrustean Solution” to their problems.   I know what you might be thinking;  “Here goes Brother Jason with his five dollar words again”.  But, before you click on the big red “X” at the top of the page, please hear me out.  

“Do I love you because you’re beautiful,Or are you beautiful because I love you?”~Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, Cinderella

”Procrustean Solution”  is the undesirable practice of tailoring data to fit its container or some other preconceived stricture. A common example from the business world is embodied in the notion that no resume should exceed one page in length.  The term actually has its roots in Greek mythology.  In the Greek myth, Procrustes was a son of Poseidon.  He lived in a stronghold on Mount Korydallos where he kept an iron bed and frequently invited passers by to spend the night.  Unbeknownst to them, Procrustes was crazy.  As they slept, he “set to work on them” with his smith’s hammer, stretching any one too short to fit the bed exactly and amputating the excess length of anyone who proved to be too tall.  Here’s the sucky part.  NOBODY ever fit the bed exactly because secretly Procrustes had two beds. Procrustes continued his reign of terror until he was captured by Theseus, travelling to Athens along the sacred way, who “fitted” Procrustes to his own bed:

In regards to Belle and her beastly friend, their stricture was beauty.  The Beast fears that no one will ever love him because he has lost his good looks.  This causes him to compensate by showering his new found love with gifts.  The only problem with this plan is that even though Belle likes the gifts, conversation, and company, the Beast does not “look like” what she has envisioned her ideal prince to be.  She therefore casts the notion of loving him as more than a friend aside to pursue the love of her dreams (I know, right?  They have more drama than a Tyler Perry play).  Eventually, after Belle becomes homesick, the Beast releases her from their arrangement risking the chance of never seeing her again.  Belle promises the Beast that she will return in a timely fashion, but does not.  Her evil sisters, jealous of her treatment and new fortune, convince Belle to stay longer than what she had agreed.   After some time has passed, Belle begins to feel guilty about not keeping her word and decides to look in on the Beast through an enchanted mirror (Most faery tales have one.  This one is no different).  To her surprise, she discovers the Beast is lying in his castle half dead from loneliness and heart break.   Using a magic ring, she whisks herself instantly back to his side where she finds the Beast almost dead. She weeps over his body, saying that she loves him. When her tears strike him, the Beast is transformed back into a handsome prince.

“Everything that is beautiful is cracked.  That’s how the light gets in.” ~Leonard Cohen

Sadly, as Christians, we sometimes commit ourselves to the same tragic lives as Belle and the Prince.  What do I mean?  I’m glad you asked!  Lets start off with the Prince/Beast.  After losing his good looks, he is convinced that he will never find true love to break the fairy’s spell.  How many times have you had someone cry on your shoulder because they felt that they were not good enough?  Or, to make the question more personal; How many times have YOU cried on someones shoulder because you felt that you were not good enough?  Society places a high emphasis on things that are temporal versus things that are eternal.  If someone or something, does not fit on the Procrustean bed of life, the world is quick to try to force it to conform.  But just like Procrustes, the world has too beds.  You are either too smart or not smart enough.  Too old, or not old enough.  Too proud or not proud enough.  Too Black or not Black enough.  Too White or not White enough.  Too rich, too poor, too fat, too skinny, too this, or too that.   What we are doing is defining our worth by the worlds standards instead of by the standards set in place by our Heavenly Father.  Who cares if you don’t look like the lady on the cover of Vogue.  You are STILL beautiful (besides, the cover girl probably isn’t as skinny as she looks anyway).  What does it matter that you don’t have a degree.  You can STILL be called and used for Gods purpose.    So what if you are divorced with three kids.  You can STILL find a new love.  It doesn’t matter that the only money in your checking account is spare change that you cant withdraw.  My Bible has taught me a lot about enduring hardship, but two things stand out regarding finances 1. The righteous will never be forsaken or their seed begging bread. And 2, If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Now that we’ve discussed the Beast, lets talk about Belle a bit.  Far too many times as Believers, we put our trust in what we think is right for us intead of what God believes to be right for us.  If what God has presented does not fit on our Procrustean bed, our day planner, or if it has too much baggage, or work associated with it, we cast the idea off as being ungodly when in fact we are just failing to see the potential in something beautiful.  ”Potential” is a funny word because it speaks of things that are yet to come.  It refers to things that are possible instead of actual.  The word potential means that a person, place, or thing, has the ability to become something else.  Looking at your situation with your earthly, nearsighted eyes prevents you from seeing the potential beauty that stands right in front of you.  Their is a saying that familiarity breeds contempt.  After being exposed to something over and over again, that thing sometimes loses its luster.  Man is exposed to potential beauty so much that he often fails to recognize that it is even there.  Nature writer Rachel Carson put it this way.      

“One summer night, out on a flat headland, all but surrounded by the waters of the bay, the horizons were remote and distant rims on the edge of space.  Millions of stars blazed in darkness, and on the far shore a few lights burned in cottages.  Otherwise there was no reminder of human life.  My companion and I were alone with the stars:  the misty river of the Milky Way flowing across the sky, the patterns of the constellations standing out bright and clear, a blazing planet low on the horizon.  It occurred to me that if this were a sight that could be seen only once in a century, this little headland would be thronged with spectators.  But it can be seen many scores of nights in any year, and so the lights burned in the cottages and the inhabitants probably gave not a thought to the beauty overhead; and because they could see it almost any night, perhaps they never will.”  ~Rachel Carson

Belle was showered with gifts, spoiled, and lived in the lap of luxury.  However, even being exposed to the kindness and selflessness that true love offers, she could not see the potential beauty in front of her because of its temporal situation.  This lack in knowing what she had almost cost her everything.

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”  ~Kahlil Gibran

So enough about faery tales, Brother Jason.  What does the Bible say about beauty?  The Bible tells us that we need to take a different approach to appearance than fitting into society’s idea of beauty.  God doesn’t focus on our outward appearance. It is what’s on the inside that matters most to Him. The Bible tells us that God’s focus is on developing our inner beauty so that it can be reflected in everything we do and what we are.  Here are a few examples.

^7″ But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” ~1 Samuel 16:7 NIV

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” ~Proverbs 31:30 NIV

 ⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰ but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. ~1 Timothy 2:8-10 NIV

 ¹³ “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  ~Psalm 139:13, 14 NIV 

More than anything, when you meditate on what you have just read, I want you to remember two things.  Who you are is not dictated by what others believe and what you have is not dictated by what you see.  God has the final say in EVERYTHING.  Your situation may look hopeless but it is temporal.  As children of God, we don’t have to fit in or be measured by the worlds standards like Procrustes bed.  We are measured by our Heavenly Father, created by His Divine hand.   Therefore, you have been  fearfully and wonderfully made.  In short, YOU…ARE… BEAUTIFUL!!!!!  Be Blessed, My Friends.   Be an Overcomer!!!

~Bro Jason Z. Hunt

Memory Verse: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  ~Psalm 139:13, 14 NIV 

Memory Word: “Procrustean solution“ is the undesirable practice of tailoring data to fit its container or some other preconceived stricture.

Inspiring Music:  “Imagine Me” by Kirk Franklin