Rightly Treasuring Others!

Visit any news venue and within minutes you will be convinced the world is completely devoid of kindness, consideration, or tenderness. Human beings seem to be devolving into something less human with every news report and every click of the remote or mouse. Yesterday my wife asked her father if he had seen any “good news” on TV today. His response was a solemn and reasoned “No….it is all bad news anymore.” He went on to mention the terrorist group ISIS responsible for a number of recent beheadings asserting themselves as a force to be reckoned with internationally. Indeed they pose a threat to the Middle East and every country from whence they have effectively recruited and trained terrorist. A rash of new terrorist attacks will follow as these trainees return to their respective countries. Under their influence killing, fear, and barbarism reign!

This sadly is not where the barbarism ends though. It has emerged in supposed sophisticated societies in the forms of rape, sex trafficking, abortion on demand, wife beating, serial killings, city gang wars, abductions, protracted drug cartel clashes, homicide after homicide, and the list goes on seemingly endlessly with yet another example of gross inhumanity. Have we completely lost the ability to treat people like unique creations of God who bear His image? Have we forgotten that human beings are intrinsically endowed with worth and value by their Creator? Is it possible to reestablish a society that actually values each human life?

GENTLENESS IS RIGHTLY TREASURING OTHERS….

The fifth gracious quality of the character of Christ to be explored is “gentleness.” Paul, the writer of Galatians says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). Again spiritual fruit is purely the production of the Spirit as we Believers yield ourselves to God. It may surprise you to learn that “gentleness” is actually “usefulness, i.e. moral excellence (in character or demeanor)” according to James Strong (1890, p. 78). That is, our character or essential personality is made honorable and ethical as we trust God for this grace. Actually the word focuses our attention on the inner disposition, but not necessarily the associated acts of goodness it inspires.  Furthermore, Spiros Zodhiates (1993) in The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament says of gentleness, “It is the grace which pervades the whole nature, mellowing all which would have been harsh and austere.” This of course is the opposite of being intense, extreme, or severe. This fantastic inner quality is further defined as being harmless like a dove and truly tenderhearted.  Fairness, moderation, and clemency are also great synonyms for gentleness. Regarding interactions with others, gentleness involves sincere expressions of equity/justice and consideration. In a manner of speaking, gentleness is rightly treasuring others.

As you may have already concluded, a gentle Believer is free from needless roughness, discreet while employing sternness, measured when making assertions, thoughtful in speech, and considerate in actions. Typically gentle Christians are slow to make use of any form of violence or force. It is not that they cannot serve on a police force, in the military, or as part of the FBI with excellence; they simply do not operate predominantly from the position of force. Gentle Believers are marked with a moderate/mellow disposition; this translates into a demeanor that is cordial, congenial, and cool-headed. Beloved, high social considerations for the welfare of others are good hallmarks to aim for. This is the Christian doctor with an excellent bedside manner, a godly lawyer who serves for real justice respecting the statues of the law, and a nursing home care-giver who handles the elderly and fragile residents with tenderness and understanding. Gentleness reminds us of a nursing mother with her much beloved suckling, the tender ways of a wise old farmer with his favorite but aging Clydesdale, or the manner in which a loving father trains his only son. Gentle people truly treasure others and treat them as such!

Gentleness will manifests itself by goodwill rooted in the heart much like God possesses toward humanity. He typically sends rain and sunshine to the benefit of the just and unjust persons indiscriminately (Matt 5:45). Gentle Believers treat others well in what they say and they interact with others employing tender carefulness and thoughtfulness. We are to even evidence gentleness toward those who are undeserving and guilty of treating others unkind.  Still yet, while facing the gnawing pain of rejection, the gentle soul responds in character and refuses to lash out in revenge. Accordingly, the Spirit produces chivalrous qualities like thoughtfulness, politeness, graciousness, consideration, and understanding in the yielded believer. This quality describes the overworked pastor/biblical counselor who minister to a rape victim delicately and individually no matter how many cases they have counseled before. Yet again he blocks off time on his busy calendar to sensitively help yet another soul who has been violently violated. It is the social worker who still dares to look into a foster child’s eyes realizing they are more than just another case, but a highly valued life stoked with raw potential. Though placing children in foster homes has been her employment for over twenty years, she still finds herself weeping silently on occasions. I see gentleness in the response of a single father to his only fifteen year old daughter. “Daddy…I’m pregnant” she blurts out through tears and quivering lips. Instead of harshly scolding her while kicking her out of the house in rage, he gently embraces and assures her while fighting back his own tears. Deep inside he blames himself for not being there for her…but they desperately needed the extra money from his second job in order to make rent. Beyond any argument, gentleness is supernatural! It must stem from a person with a Spirit-tendered heart.  Once again LaHaye (1966, p. 51) observed, “The hurrying, bustling and pressurized life we live tend to make even some of the finest Christians annoyed at the interruptions of “the little people.” Without the influence of the Spirit even good Believers will become needlessly insensitive and harshly inconsiderate.

Characteristically, gentleness includes the inclination to forgive others. As Spirit-filled Christians, we must refuse to hold a grudge or harbor resentful feelings toward an offender. Through our Lord Jesus Christ we have the power to respond with tenderness while under great personal strain or pressure.

Gentleness is probably a strange trait to many since our culture is highly impressed with selfish advancement and individualism above all else. Neil Wilson’s (2000) book The Handbook of Bible Applications affords this very helpful insight into our contrary cultural values and vices.

“Jealousy and selfish ambition” are inspired by the devil. It is easy for us to be drawn into wrong desires by the pressures of society and sometimes even by well-meaning Christians. By listening to the advice: “Assert yourself. . . . Go for it. . . . Set high goals,” we can be drawn into greed and destructive competitiveness. Seeking God’s wisdom delivers us from the need to compare ourselves to others and to want what they have. 

In addition since God is gentle toward sinners (2Cor. 10:1; Js. 3:17), Christians should display this same virtue (1Thess. 2:7; 2Tim. 2:24; Tit. 3:2; 1Pet. 2:18). While there is not even a hint of encouragement for condoning sin, redemption and restoration are equally valued by gentle Believers. It was James who said the wisdom of God is distinguished by gentleness, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:17-18). Gentle people are experts at handling others with ‘kid’s gloves.’ They are masters of the ‘velvet gloves’ treatment, but remain free of sinful manipulations for personal advantage. Gentleness undeniably excludes a Christian from behaving selfishly forceful, competitively coarse, or needlessly insensitive when interacting with others.

Boaz’s dealings with Ruth in Ruth 3:7-15 is a good example of gentleness. She entered the threshing floor late at night and waited at his feet to proposition him with a marriage interest and option.  This was fully consistent with Naomi’s advice, the Law of Moses (Deut. 25:5–10), and the customs of Israel. Boaz responded with thoughtfulness and courtesy. He behaved like a gentleman. Understanding her proposition, he immediately blessed Ruth, commended her, praised her, protected her honor, sought her security, and made provision for her needs.  Boaz fleshed out sensitivity, thoughtfulness, consideration and old-fashioned gentleness. MacDonald and Farstad (1995, p. 291) drew a fantastic parallel from this passage to the believer in Christ Jesus in the Believer's Bible Commentary.

This assured Ruth of his deep love and gave evidence to Naomi that he would follow through on the matter without delay. Ruth was a noble woman, intrinsically worthy of Boaz’s kindnesses. But we were unworthy sinners. Yet the Lord spread His covering over us and took us as we were. He has loaded us with gifts and encouraged us with His promised return to consummate the marriage. Our salvation is settled, a finished work. But entrance into the full bliss of our union awaits the Bridegroom’s return. 

Gentleness as tender kindness is perhaps best explained in the attitude of the Lord Jesus toward little children (Mark 10:14; Luke 18:15-17). Christ’s gentle spirit is contrasted with the disciples’ rather cruel attitude toward the children who were brought to Him. As this episode unfolded the Lord Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mk. 10:14).  The disciples viewed themselves and the Lord as either too important or too busy to be bothered with such minor affairs. Christ Jesus on the other hand made time for the ‘little people.’ He expressed genuine interest in their desires, afforded them His undivided attention, and left them in an improved state because of His personal touch and blessing. The persons in need were not treated like a burden to Him; they were not merely tolerated but secretly resented and unwanted. Christ cherished no concept of Himself as being too important or too busy to be considerately gentle to the disadvantaged. More Christians should cultivate this Christlike quality through serious submission to the Spirit.

Finally gentleness provides an atmosphere for others to mature. Think of how a good mother handles her newborn in the nursery. Such an environment is conducive to growing under special care. Though this grace is not cherished in society it is nevertheless incredibly valuable. Many people esteem power and self-assertiveness because such behaviors enable them to establish themselves as respectable. This evidences itself in millions of ways in a highly materialistic culture where individualism is a strong value. However, this results in pushing others around, justifying abject cruelty in the name of ‘good business,’ steamrolling over whoever gets in the way of securing another promotion, and loudly reminding others of one’s authority, rank, superiority and advantages.  Threats and intimidation are standard procedures in that environment. Such should never be the case for us who follow Jesus Christ.

That is correct; through the Spirit of Christ, it does not have to be that way. How wonderful to come into a climate where gentleness is highly valued. In this scenario love can spring into action. Allowance is afforded for needed growth. Understanding is generously poured out to the disadvantaged without belittling them. Selfless consideration of co-workers and addressing the needs of others become viable practical approaches to problem solving. There is an allowance of time for the other person to talk, and a willingness to learn, grow, explore, and discover together. Why do we not see the value and potential of treating others with gentleness?

Sadly much of the barbarism that plagues or modern highly sophisticated society will continue relatively unchecked. Unfortunately forms of rape, sex trafficking, abortion on demand, spousal abuse, serial killings, child abuse, gang wars, protracted drug cartel clashes, and homicide after homicide will continue as humanity ever spirals downward. As followers of Jesus Christ, we must not lose the ability to treat people like unique creations of God who bear His image! We must never forget how human beings are intrinsically endowed with worth and value by their Creator! By the grace of God in the Gospel, we must believe it is possible to reestablish a society that actually values each human life! We Christians must endeavor to maintain a Spirit-tendered heart and this will result in handling others with gentleness. It is not by becoming worldly, that we will have the greatest impact on our world. If we all subscribe to a dog eat dog philosophy we will only destroy each other. Trust God to give rise to more of this quality of gentleness in you. I am asking my Lord to do a work of grace in me also. If nice guys must finish last then so be it. Remember God said the first shall be last and the last shall be first in His kingdom. I believe God! We do not have to become cut-throats, vultures, and wolves lurking in the shadows to take advantage of another unwitting soul. Refuse to prey on people; choose to treasure them as God does. Beloved, learn from the Spirit of Grace how to rightly treasure others.

What Makes Christ Such A Great High Priest?

What is it that makes the Lord Jesus Christ so relevant still today? Why should anyone give Him any serious consideration? The short answer consists of a thoughtful contemplation about who He is, what He has done, and what He is still doing at this very moment! Christ is God’s perfect solution for struggling Christians in need of His ministry.

With the words “Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest,” (Heb. 4:14) our needy souls are directed to the Lord Jesus and His current ministry to the redeemed. Many Believers have a good working grasp of Christ’s past work at Calvary as redemptive, substitutionary, sacrificial and completely sufficient payment for all sin. We also seem to have respectable ability when intelligently discussing our Lord’s future ministries and end time events like the rapture, judgment seat of Christ, and His return to the earth to rule the world from Jerusalem. However, we seem woefully lacking in our grasp of Christ’s present ministry. The Bible describes Him as our Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:2), and as our High Priest who continually makes intercession for Believers (Heb. 7:25). Through our grand Representative’s intercessions, we have a solid defense with God and are assured of spiritual supplies from Heaven in our hour of need.

Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest not only because he meets a great need among believers, but because of whom He is and what He has accomplished. Israel had many priests and high priests down through the centuries of the tabernacle and temple, but never one like High Priest Jesus Christ. Historically there were good and bad high priests, but Jesus is described as “great.” What makes our High Priest so great?

The Greatness of His Person

First consider the greatness of His Person. Christ’s fitness to serve as Believers’ great high priest is deeply rooted in His complex personage. Notice his description is “Jesus, the Son of God” (Heb. 4:14). Jesus is His human name that emphasizes His humanity. Obviously, He is also “the Son of God;” which portrays His deity (Heb. 4:14). Therefore, our attitude should be marvelously influenced by the fact that Jesus Christ is both God and Man—His Person. The Lord Jesus is a single Person of the triune Godhead, but His personality is comprised of two unmixed natures—divine and human. He essentially knows humanity and is God enough to do something about it. As our Priest, Christ has a 360 degree comprehension of the human plight with its weaknesses, infirmities, and challenges. As God, He is fully capable of addressing any matter with complete competence. His platform for perceiving our challenges is rock-solid perfect because of His first-hand experiential knowledge of life as a human. As God, He is postured to work supernaturally in our lives and through the Holy Spirit. These facts assure us that He is able to understand us and minister to our needs with perfect insight. There is no place we can wander off to emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, or volitionally that Christ has no first-hand appraisal of. Though He never ever committed a single sin, He is fully cognizant of all human difficulties and God's will simultaneously.

Again “Son of God” (Heb. 4:14) affirms the reality that Christ is possessed of a divine nature; therefore, He fully grasps the weight of divine expectations for His people and is capable of functioning as God on our behalf. His knowledge of the divine is complete, and free of any misconceptions. He wields the power of the Most High because He is Himself true God in the fullest sense. He can receive, process, forward, and answer all our prayers and appeals simultaneously without being overwhelmed! Absolutely no one multitasks like Almighty God! Furthermore, as God He can resource His people according to their true spiritual needs most adequately. Dr. Wiersbe (The Bible Exposition Commentary) stated, “In His unique person, Jesus Christ unites Deity and humanity, so that He can bring people to God and bring to people all that God has for them.” No other such ambidextrous personality abides anywhere else in all the universe and no other ever will! The Lord Jesus is consummately and uniquely fitted to serve His Father’s will and our needs as our superior High Priest. Any matter whatsoever, whether pertaining to God or man, regarding our Christian journey He can aid and help us with. There is no point where His expertise reaches its limits or His capability is exhausted. We have a Great High Priest!

The Greatness of His Position

Secondly, consider the greatness of High Priest Christ’s position. Certainly He is in His person altogether glorious because His role as priest is anchored in His very unique natures.  Equally astounding is the reality that His position is similarly fascinating and meaningful to God’s redeemed people. Christ is in Heaven—“that is passed into the heavens” (Heb. 4:14). Jesus, the Savior, literally circumnavigated the atmospheric and stellar heavens and on into the very abode of God when he ascended to His Father two thousand years ago (Acts 1:11). Just before Stephen was stoned to death in Acts chapter eight, He was given ability to see into the very third Heaven being exposed to the glory of God and the Lord Jesus “standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56). Our Lord then is most exalted and astronomically higher than any other priest ever! William Newell (Hebrews Verse-By-Verse, pg. 141) said, “All earthly priesthood and ceremony and temple are abandoned by God during this dispensation, and that worship is carried on in Heaven alone!” There Christ abides on our behalf as our representative in the awesome Presence of Almighty God. Because of our splendid High Priest, we can enter the incredible Presence of the Most High God to enjoy an audience with Him in prayer, or to worship Him with abandonment before His throne to the end that He is delighted with us (Heb. 9:24; 6:19-20).

Aaron and his successors ministered in the tabernacle and temple precincts; only once a year the high priest entered the holy of holies. In contrast, Jesus Christ has navigated triumphantly through time and space to be in the very presence of God for believers (Heb. 4:14). When He ascended to the Father, Jesus Christ soared through the stratospheric and planetary heavens into the third Heaven where the Most High God resides (2 Cor. 12:2). He is exalted and glorified at the Father’s right hand. Absolutely no honor transcends this throughout the entire universe! Only God can take a place at the right hand of God! Our priest, as God, lives in the presence of the Father; from this position He affords ceaseless intercession and constantly provides aid to His people as we traverse a course of genuine discipleship down here. By His exalted position he guarantees and assures every believer of complete and constant access to the Father!

Christ is likewise enthroned in heaven, and this enthronement speaks of power, and authority. In fact Newell (pg. 141) observed, “The believer has the same blessed rights in the presence of the Father as belong to the Son in Whom he is, and Who “appears before the face of God for him.” Dr. Wiersbe (The Bible Expositor’s Commentary) stated “His throne is “the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). The mercy seat, the lid on the Ark of the Covenant, was a symbol of God’s throne among ancient Israel (Ex. 25:17–22), but it was impossible to refer to it as “a throne of grace.” Grace does not veil and remove itself from people; it is not interested in hiding itself or being reclusive. Absolutely not, the veil of Herod's Temple was torn in two from the very top to the bottom (Matt. 27:51) immediately after Christ died for our sins. This signified that the way to God was opened wide through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There is a new and living way to God through our risen Lord. This is the grace of God, and grace stoops down low to afford privileges and reaches out to give opportunities to those recognizably undeserving. Grace embraces and lifts the repentant no matter how contemptible we presently are or once were. So, you have blown it again with sinful behaviors and practices and you don’t feel like God desires to hear from you. While it is true that God is not pleased with anyone’s sinful behavior (1 Tim. 2:3-7), but if you have believed on Christ, He wants to hear from you. He still desires fellowship (1 John 1:1-2:2) with you because fellowship with God is what you were made for. God does not need our fellowship, but He knows that we need His! Therefore, through confession and genuine repentance turn to Him and make things right and He will receive you into His fellowship again. Your and my High Priest made all of this possible. 

All of this assures every Believer that we are extremely welcome and wanted in the Presence of God for living, continuing, thriving, even though we are struggling! The common Israelites enjoyed no such privileges as entering the holy precincts of the tabernacle and the earthly temple. Furthermore, the regular priests could proceed no further than the mighty veil dividing the sanctuary from the holy of holies. Privileges of access beyond the veil belonged exclusively to the high priest, and this was permitted only on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). The arrangement was forbidding and foreboding! In contrast, every believer in Christ is invited, and is even heartened, to “come boldly unto the throne of grace”! This in no way implies irreverent attitudes or behavior towards God. But what a great throne it is because the Great High Priest is ministering there to afford believers great access to the Father. Do not miss this all important truth: it is through High Priest Jesus that you and I are extremely welcome in the mind-blowing, heart accelerating, temperature raising Presence of the Most High God! "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Tim. 2:5, 6). What a mighty Priest we have to avail access to God very God to us.

The Greatness of His Pathos

Thirdly, consider the greatness in His compassion or sympathy--pathos. My family knows my deepest secrets and greatest failures. I trust them with the knowledge of some of the worst things about me. But they still love me, treat me with respect, and have genuinely forgiven me for failures that directly affected them.  I am truly grateful to them. Generally speaking, one thing that helps people trust is the ability to show empathy and ‘understanding.’ Trustworthy friends are honest, transparent, and forgiving as they interact, thus inviting our reciprocations. Subsequently, we can deeply sense their sincerity; therefore, the trust of a companion is earned and a relationship advanced. We freely share our hearts most transparently with them free of any fear of condemnation or judgment. What we afforded in such instances is grace and mercy. To be clear compassion in no way implies sanctioning sin or rebellion in any way. The Lord is both loving and holy, merciful and just! His compassion assures us that He really understand us.  

Likewise, our Priest, the Lord Jesus, is compassionate and sympathetic towards His people. Instead of standing back with a judgmental scowl while doing nothing to aid His hazarded people, He reaches out in mercy and grace to us. No trial is too great, no temptation is too strong, but that Jesus Christ can give the mercy and grace required, when it is needed (Heb. 4:16). Since our Lord is fully familiar with all the struggles and weaknesses of the human experience, He is uniquely fitted to sympathize and empathize with His struggling people. The assistance He provides is given with acute understanding and in the most appropriate measure. He has Himself faced these things and can help believers face them also. His level of compassion is fully informed and readily available.

No one can truly sympathize with another unless he or she has grappled with a similar experience and benefited from it. Our Great High Priest can be touched with the feelings of our infirmities because He was tempted in every area we are currently tempted in. The difference with Him is that He never gave in to any temptation. Walvoord and Zuck (The Bible Knowledge Commentary) observed “One who fully resists temptation can know the extent of its force. Thus the sinless One has a greater capacity for compassion than any sinner could have for a fellow sinner.” God communicated this to assure us that Jesus really knows and understands where you are in life. He has no doubts about where He wants to take us in life pursuant of God's will. Again, in Jesus Christ we have a Great High Priest!