December 1, 2020 (Tuesday)
“Edification” means building up. This is a Christian activity. We are not here to “tear down” people, but to help them by building them up. Edification is not flattery; it is an expression of genuine appreciation.
“There is a passage in Philippians that says to “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable… to think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Practical advice on a wonderful spiritual principle to change our life by changing our minds. But as I reflect on this passage it speaks to me about the possibility of changing our relationships by changing the way we look at the other. Perhaps looking for all the good in them etc, actually does more to bring out the good and even help them to believe that they are good than anything else we could do. To believe it for them, even when they don’t believe it themselves. A powerful way to love another, even at their worst, knowing that at their core, they are a prince or princess, not a dragon, longing for love.” (Bill Johnson, who calls himself a “free range pastor.” His website is at http://billjohnsononline.com).
Somewhere there must be a published study of the personal relationships of Jesus, especially about how he treated other people. I think such a study would reveal that Jesus encouraged people, built them up in their own eyes, and did not condemn them. Some people think Jesus lost his temper when he spoke bluntly with the religious leaders of his day, calling them “hypocrites,” but we must remember that those men were not ordinary people–they were representatives of God and claimed to speak for Him. They needed to repent. They were hypocrites and they needed to hear what Jesus said to them. Even so, several Pharisees were among the followers of Jesus. In the daily meetings with people from every walk of life, Jesus dealt kindly and compassionately, never berating them but offering them his acceptance. For example, many people hated Zaccheus because he was a tax collector for the Romans. But when Jesus came to his home town, he singled him out, called him by name, and became a guest in his home. His kind treatment struck a chord in Zaccheus’ heart, and he promised Jesus he would change his ways and help people.
When I was a student, I worked in an automobile assembly plant, and often the company scheduled a Dale Carnegie seminar for the managers in the plant. One of the general foremen gave me the pocket card he had received, with brief accounts of the teaching they had received. Actually, it was an index to the chapter headings in Carnegie’s book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” If the leaders in the plant put those principles into practice, they would have better morale and greater productivity from their workers. When I read that card, and later, the book, I was impressed by similarities between Carnegie’s principles and those of Jesus. Basically, those principles were simple attitudes that valued people and treated them well.
Soldiers were sent out to arrest Jesus, but they returned empty handed, and when asked to explain, they said they had never heard anyone speak like Jesus. He was kind to everyone. The last great commandment He gave us was to “love one another.” He came to save us but never let us forget He also came to reveal to us a much better way of life–the way of love.
Check out the Scriptures about edification at the bottom of this page.
Music, John Adcock
1870
1. Never lose the golden rule,
Keep it still in view;
Do to others as you would
They should do to you.
Kindly, gently,
In their burden bear a part,
Meekly chiding
With a loving heart.
Refrain
Never lose the golden rule,
Keep it still in view;
Do to others as you would
They should do to you.
2. Help the feeble ones along,
Cheer the faint and weak;
To the sorrow-laden heart
Words of comfort speak.
Freely, freely,
From the bounty of your store,
Cheerful givers,
Help the humbler poor. [Refrain]
3. Love the Lord, the first command,
With thy soul and mind;
Love thy neighbor as thyself,
Both in one combined.
Justly, justly,
With each other strive to live,
Ever ready,
Willing to forgive. [Refrain]
Happy Birthday to my grandson, Austin Hamm, now 28 years of age. Austin lives in Houston, is employed and attends college.
Edify, Edifying (King James Version):
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
ons
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
1 Corinthians 14:5
I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
1 Corinthians 14:26
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
2 Corinthians 12:19
Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.
Ephesians 4:12
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:16
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1 Timothy 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.