Weekend Words

 From Amish Peace...

God-Breathed

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives.  It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." - 2 Timothy 3:16

Many people are at least somewhat familiar with the Amish and Mennonites, but another Anabaptist group, established in Europe some two centuries ago, is River Brethren.

Jacob Engel separated from his Mennonite congregation, wishing only to be baptized in a scripturally correct mode...

Given Engel's understanding of Christ's scriptural baptism as face-forward, [triple] immersion, he and the other dissatisfied Mennonites in his society were left with no other alternative than to begin a quest to secure baptism either by a minister of an existing religious group or by mutual baptism.

The River Brethren are a small group (2010 figures indicated fewer than one thousand), and they baptize by total immersion.  They live plain lives and believe in foot washing.  They oppose involvement in the military, the use of alcohol and tobacco, and worldly pleasures.  They also carry out missionary work in Asia and Africa.

How do people reading the same Bible have such varied means of living it out?  I strive to follow God's Word, but I don't live like the Amish.  The Amish, the Mennonite, and the River Brethren strive to live it out too, yet they do so in different ways.  

God's Word is inspired.  His Spirit breathed the Scriptures into His scribes.  It's profitable, which means we benefit when we follow it.  It convinces us of the truth and corrects us.  And above all, it reveals God to us and points us to Christ.

Men and women may focus on various Scriptural teachings, but we can be all united in God's body when we choose to "major on the majors."  What are those?  God's creation of this world and men and women; human sin, which leads to death; and Christ's death, which leads to life.

The body of Christ may look different, and even live and worship differently, but those who focus on the big issues of God's Word can find common ground with those who look and live differently.

Dear heavenly Father, I thank you that even though I live and serve differently from other Christians, You are the breath of inspiration who changes everything.

From Our Daily Bread...

Small Kindnesses 

Read Colossians 3:12-17

"Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Colossians 3:12 

Amanda works as a visiting nurse who rotates among several nursing homes - often bringing her 11-year-old daughter Ruby to work.  For something to do, Ruby began asking residents, "If you could have any three things, what would you want?" and recording their answers in her notebook.  Surprisingly, many of their wishes were for little things - Vienna sausages, chocolate pie, cheese, avocados.  So Ruby set up a GoFundMe to help her provide for their simple wishes.  And when she delivers the goodies, she doles out hugs.  She says, "It lifts you.  It really does."

When we show compassion and kindness like Ruby's, we reflect our God who "is gracious and compassionate ... and rich in love" (Psalm 145:8).  That's why the apostle Paul urged us, as God's people, to "clothe [our]selves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).  Because God has shown great compassion to us, we naturally long to share His compassion with others.  And as we do so intentionally, we "clothe" ourselves in it.

Paul goes on to tell us: "over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (v. 14).  and He reminds us that we are to "do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus" (v. 17), remembering that all good things come from God.  When we're kind to others, our spirits are lifted. 

- Alyson Kieda

When have you been the benefactor of someone's kindness?  How can you show kindness to another?

Jesus, thank you for showing me overflowing, unlimited kindness. Help me to find joy in doing kind acts for others.