Giving God's Way...with Discernment

GIVING GOD’S WAY ...WITH DISCERNMENT

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT

WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”

JOHN 3:16

Giving God’s Way

With Discernment It is crucially important to understand God ’s expectation when He invites us to give. To give with discernment communicates the understanding of our responsibility as believers. It is the knowledge this is a part of our worship, commitment, and devotion to the Lord. When we give with discernment we recognize God ’s grace, we walk by faith, we show our thankfulness because through time He has been our Ebenezer, the God who has always helped us.

Therefore, let us show our thankfulness by giving as freely as we have received.

-Major Eric Rodriguez Territorial Mission & Culture Secretary

Devotional "DO NOT CONFORM TO T HE 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." ... THEN YOU WILL LEARN TO KNOW GOD'S WILL FOR YOU, WHICH IS GOOD AND PLEASING AND PERFECT." ROMANS 12:2 (NIV) In Scripture, we see how God calls and empowers the faithful to be like Christ (e.g., John 15:12; Rom 8:29; Eph 5:1; Phil 2:5; 1 Pet 1:15; 1 John 3:2). Answering the call to Christlikeness involves all our human faculties—spirit, mind, body (Matt 22:36–40; Deut 6:4–5) as well as God’s grace. Let us consider how Christlike generosity involves the mind in particular.

Christlike generosity yields sanctified discernment. After Paul urged the Roman Christians to sacrifice, he presented a critical sequence: transformation precedes discernment. Paul asserted, “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” (Rom 12:2 NIV, emphasis added). First, comes sacrifice, then transformation, then understanding.

Paul urged the faithful, “In view of God’s mercies” (Rom 12:1), to do something highly counter-cultural—to offer their bodies to God alive as an act of worship. Such a response to “God’s mercies”—that is, everything God has done for us through Christ Jesus—opens us to radical transformation, even resulting in a new mind.

This new mind can grasp things our old mind never could. Sacrifice, humbleness, longsuffering, and love of enemies never made sense to the mind of flesh; but now they are the way of life to the redeemed mind, the transformed mind. (continued on next page…)

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Nothing could be better for human lives than God’s “good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Rom 12:2). But we can only discern God’s will when we place ourselves before God and open ourselves completely to God’s transforming grace. Until then, what is best looks worst and what is wisest looks most foolish (see 1 Cor 2).

Exercising Christlike generosity—that is, “giving God’s way”—requires the kind of discernment that only comes through a mind transformed by grace—a mind that elevates others rather than being preoccupied with itself, a mind that trusts, that releases the need to control, a mind entirely given over to God, one that lives to God’s glory in response to “God’s mercies.”

Isaiah Allen, THQ

Feature Story Post Pandemic???

Covid-19 Cases and hospitalizations- down! The percentage of Americans vaccinated - on the rise. Restrictions are easing…and in some locations no longer in existence. Masks and social distancing are becoming a thing of the past? As we begin the Summer of 2021 it is increasingly apparent that the pandemic is all but history in our country. Life is returning to “normal” …or is it?

In The Salvation Army, there is widespread return to “in-person” worship and corps activities. “If you are fully vaccinated, you do not need to wear a mask or be too concerned with social distancing.” In some divisions, summer camps are again opening to overnight campers. Camp staff are arriving to new and different protocols for doing their jobs and leaving camp overnight. Remembering that vaccines are not available to children under age 12, some divisions have made it clear that we hope to attract these young people to our overnight camping programs. For some others it will be another summer of “camp in a box” activity kits being distributed for use at the local corps or at home. It is important to remember that while Covid-19 cases are down, there is an increasing percentage of children among those who are currently being hospitalized.

There is frustration among corps officers in The Salvation Army who are encouraging members of their congregations to return to “in-person worship”. There is a yearning among them to return to “normal” and many are frustrated (I have seen indisputable evidence of this on Facebook!). If we have learned anything over the past year and half, it is that “normal” will likely be quite different. (continued on next page…)

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While many of us welcome the widespread easing of restrictions that were imposed by the pandemic, it is essential that we recognize that there are those who may be far more apprehensive as it relates to these newly realized freedoms.

As we embrace and exercise the relaxing of these protocols, we must do so with discernment. We need to be mindful of our neighbors who may have very different views than our own. It is crucial that we be sensitive to those who have lost jobs…to those whose lives have been severely impacted...to those who may have lost loved ones to Covid-19.

Discernment is essential as we move forward as faithful stewards of easing restrictions during these days of change and uncertainty. The Apostle Paul writes these words of wisdom to the Christians in Rome – “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.” I must confess that as I witness the haphazard manner with which so many in our country have dealt with the easing restrictions, I find Paul’s reminder to “not conform” quite timely.

Considering increased numbers gathering in person along with the hesitation of some to move forward in this way, let us be reminded to discern the Lord’s good and perfect will. It is not “one size fits all”…but rather allowing the love of Christ to shine through us in our unwavering love and support for our brothers and sisters in these changing and uncertain times.

Major A. Philip Ferreira, THQ

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Giving God’s Way

Challenge The challenge this quarter may sound simple, but it is crucial. Now we know what it is to be apart from each other, and without corporate worship. Let us make our time with our fellow congregation members, and our time with the Lord, two of the things that we treasure supremely. How do we do this? See if you can choose something from the list below on which to focus. (I have a few which need my particular attention.)

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If you notice yourself slipping into the service and sitting down, then just leaving at the end, make it a point to check on how someone is doing. Making eye contact and really listening are a vital part of our spiritual life together. It may be tough with social distancing but make the effort.

Learn each person’s first and last name. Next work on family members’ names.

Pray for the brothers and sisters from the Corps through the week, and for the service on Sunday. Don’t forget to lift up your Officers and lay leaders.

Call or email or text someone that is missing, letting them know that you missed them.

If a whole family or group is missing, think about what barriers may need to be overcome.

Invite someone to your home or out for coffee on another day.

If your mind is wandering during the service, actively bring it back to the Lord and the words that are being sung or spoken. How have the promises been true in your life?

Sing and pray with gusto for all that the Lord has brought us through.

Invite someone to church and follow up. Who could use help from the Lord? Everyone!

Hebrews 10”23-25 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Let us not go back to our old normal.

Major Tracy Hughes, THQ

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