Monday, September 13, 2010

Open Adoption

by Charles Spurgeon

Romans 8:23.

Even in this world saints are God's children, but the only way that people will discover this is by certain moral characteristics. The adoption is not displayed; the children are not yet openly declared. Among the Romans a man might adopt a child and keep it private for a long time; but there was a second adoption in public; when the child was brought before the constituted authorities, its old clothes were removed, and the father who took it to be his child gave it clothing suitable to its new status in life. "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared." We are not yet clothed in the apparel of heaven's royal family; we are wearing in this flesh and blood just what we wore as the children of Adam. But we know that "when he appears" who is "the firstborn among many brothers," we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Can't you imagine that a child taken from the lowest ranks of society and adopted by a Roman senator would say to himself, "I long for the day when I shall be publicly adopted. Then I shall discard these poor clothes and be dressed in clothes that depict my senatorial rank"? Glad for what he has already received, he still groans until he gets the fullness of what has been promised to him. So it is with us today. We are waiting until we put on our proper clothes and are declared as the children of God for all to see. We are young nobles and have not yet worn our crowns. We are young brides, and the marriage day has not arrived, but our fiancée's love for us leads us to long and sigh for the bridal morning. Our very happiness makes us long for more; our joy, like a swollen stream, longs to spring up like a fountain, leaping to the skies, heaving and groaning within our spirit for lack of space and room by which to reveal itself to men.

1 John 3:2

Romans 8:29

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Does How We Treat Other Nationalities (Races) Matter?

When Jose Rizal visited the United States (April 28 to May 16, 1988), he was impressed with the progress and beauty of the country, the drive and energy of the people, and the opportunities for a better life for immigrants.

However, he was shocked with the discrimination, racism, and prejudice, especially against the poor, Chinese and the blacks.

When Rizal was asked later by a friend what impressions he had of America, he answered, “America is the land par excellence of freedom, but only for the whites.”

“So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain” (Philippians 2:15-16, nasb).

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Slavery Was Not Cost Effective (nor the Mistreatment of Employees Today)

There is an excuse by many that slavery was important in the USA in the 1700 and 1800’s because of economics; that the economy of the south depended on slavery. This is simply not true!

Slavery was an obsession and it was very expensive!

It would have been more economical for a plantation owner to give freedom to the slaves and then provide proper housing and an adequate wage; therefore saving the huge expense of purchasing slaves. God’s people would have benefited greatly, not only from caring for these needy in an adequate way, but the conscience of Christians would not have been seared.

Companies, factories, and organizations even today, would greatly benefit if they cared for all their staff and employees in a humane, dignified, and generous way, instead of putting all their profits back into the company. Everyone benefits from the fair and just treatment of all.

"And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail" (Isaiah 58:10- 11, nasb).