SHOULD WE KEEP THE SABBATH?

SHOULD WE KEEP THE SABBATH?

Gen 2:2-3

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Ex 23:12

12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Mark 2:27

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

          The Sabbath is an intermission and the word means a cessation. God rested from His creative labor not because he was exhausted from the task but because He was finished. He gave the Sabbath to man as a gift because He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. Man’s body, mind and spirit function more efficiently when there is a pause in labor.

          The very soil was given a Sabbath year of rest (Exodus 23:11). Farmers know that it is possible to ruin a piece of ground simply by farming it. The crop drains important nutrients from the soil. Today we either rotate our crops or we add fertilizers and chemicals artificially but originally God prescribed one year of rest out of every seven. This requires wise conservation of the yield of the other six years.

          As time went on the Sabbath observation degenerated into ridiculous prohibitions that sapped the day of its original intent and produced weariness instead of rest. Jesus did many of His miracles on the Sabbath day for two reasons. First, a miracle of healing was a refreshment of the body. Refreshment is the essence of the Sabbath. Second, Jesus wanted to point out that the observance of the Sabbath had drifted into error. "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath" (Mark 2:27). It was not to be seen as an end in itself but as a means to an end. The Sabbath was, therefore, instituted to bless man and bring honor to God.

          After Christ’s resurrection the day of worship began to be observed on the first day of the week. John said that he was “in the spirit on the Lord’s Day” (Rev. 1:10). For the first 300 years, Christians carefully distinguished the Lord’s Day from the Sabbath. Gradually these became confused and now they are generally ignored.

                Scholar, F. W. Robertson said: "I am more and more sure by experience that the reason for the observance of the Sabbath lies deep in the everlasting necessities of human nature, and that as long as man is man the blessedness of keeping it, not as a day of rest only, but as a day of spiritual rest, will never be annulled.

(from Easton's Bible Dictionary, All rights reserved.)

Dear Lord, help your people to know that observing your Sabbaths and worshipping on the Lord’s Day honors you. AMEN

SOMEONE IS WATCHING!

SOMEONE IS WATCHING!

Matt 5:16

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

          Someone is always watching our lives and evaluating the nature and strength of our Christian testimony. Some are watching us for a reason to believe. Others are watching us to discover a reason to mock. Both will be successful in time.

          Forty years ago it was said of our college president that he would mow his grass in a suit and tie! Someone might be watching and he did not want to appear sloppily dressed. He always drove a new car but that car was a Nash Rambler. We smile at this but his reasoning has its foundation in our scripture today. Someone is always watching. We are never off duty.

          Christians can’t live like “normal” people without a care or concern for the opinions of others because the consequences of a failed witness are too horrible to consider. We are being evaluated by two important things; everything we say and everything we do! What if some soul should observe us in our inconsistency and turn away from God? That soul will face condemnation but we will be liable for our failure. This is a pretty heavy weight to carry because no one can live in perfection in this life. The goal of our thoughts, words and actions should be “to glorify our Father which is in heaven.”

Dear Lord, today I will be observed by someone who is hoping to glimpse a bit of heaven in me. Let me not fail to glorify you. AMEN

POWER!

POWER!

Luke 24:49

49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:8

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Rev 11:3-6

3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.

6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

          In both Luke and Acts the Greek word for power is dunamis which means both ability and abundance. In Luke Jesus promised power “from on high.” He obviously was referring to heavenly ability and heavenly abundance. The work in which these disciples would be engaged was God’s work and they would need God’s power. He urged them not to begin without it; not to “jump the gun.” By the way, to jump the gun is a reference to a runner leaving his starting blocks before the starter’s gun is discharged. Either he is disqualified or the race must be restarted. Jesus said to wait for it!

          I can’t tell you how many times I have tried to proceed without God’s power. How foolish it is to think I could accomplish God’s work with just brains, muscle and money. Yet today we see many pastors and churches replacing dunamis with technology and marketing. Now, these are indeed powerful but limited.

          In researching the reference in Revelation, I learned that the word “power” is not in the original manuscripts. It was added in italics to make the text more readable. It actually reads: “I will give unto my two witnesses…” The idea is that God would give them whatever they needed. The word for “give” is didomi and means “to bestow or to set forth on an adventure.” When God sends his power simple acts are dynamic and simple words cut to the soul.

2 Cor 12:9-10

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

          As you might expect, the word for “strong” is a derivative of the word dunamis. It is the word dunatos meaning “powerful.”

Dear Lord, today we will be engaging a spiritual enemy force. Give to us your power from on high. AMEN

YOUR FUTURE IS IN HIS HANDS!

YOUR FUTURE IS IN HIS HANDS!

Job 23:8-10

8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

          We long to know the future, to peer through the window at tomorrow and prepare, but God is in charge of tomorrow. Job could not “perceive” him but knew he was there. God does his work imperceptibly and when we can’t see him working we must trust.

          I’ve walked through cemeteries and noticed stones with only the date of birth inscribed. The owner has not yet died and the chisel waits to carve the expiration date. Only God knows these things and I am glad He knows.

George Matheson was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1842. Before he reached the age of two, it was discovered that his eyesight was defective. He, his parents, and the specialists fought a heroic fight, but before George had finished his course at Glasgow University he was completely blind. With courage and faith he graduated with honors in philosophy, studied for the ministry, and in a few years' time became the minister of one of the largest churches in Edinburgh, where he carried on a memorable ministry. In addition to his laborious preparation of his services he did a great deal of parish visitation, wrote numerous articles and twelve books, and continued his own studies throughout his life.

It must have been heartbreaking for George Matheson's parents to have a strange infection in their baby's eyes lead to his blindness. Yet, in that tragic situation George Matheson found God's resources available for him. God poured into his heart the courage, resourcefulness, and grim perseverance that gave him victory over his handicap. Through it all his faith grew stronger, and after twenty years of blindness he wrote:

O Love that will not let me go,

 I rest my weary soul in Thee!

 I give Thee back the life I owe,

 That in Thine ocean depths its flow

 May richer, fuller be.

   --James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc, 1988) pp. 273-274.

Dear Lord, when I walk through dark valleys full of uncertainty and fear, let me remember that you know the way that I take. When my trials are over I shall come forth as gold. AMEN

SOTTISH CHILDREN!

SOTTISH CHILDREN!

Jer 4:22

22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

                The weeping prophet saw the approach of the Babylonians as a just but horrible punishment for a people who had abandoned God. Warren W. Wiersbe said: “When ministering publicly, he was bold before men: in private, he was heartbroken before God.”

          The word “sottish” is an unused and mostly unknown English word which means “a habitual drunkard.” These people were stupid! The word for “wise” actually means “skilled” so we can say that they were skilled in the art of doing evil. They had honed those skills by constant practice and were becoming experts at wrongdoing. Their level of skills at doing good was that of a child. They were about to receive an advanced course in applied consequences!

          As our own nation stumbles blindly toward the precipice of ruin, all we can do is point fingers of blame at one another. We are highly skilled at doing the wrong things but “sottish” when it comes to doing right. Neither Pharisee nor Sadducee are able to deliver us. We are overdue for judgment!

Isa 1:16-18

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Dear Lord, let me withdraw from the college of corruption and enroll in the primary school of purity. Aid me in my efforts to do right. AMEN

I PROMISE!

I PROMISE!

Rom 4:18-22

18 [Abraham] Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

2 Peter 1:2-4

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

          God delayed keeping His promise of a son to Abraham until his natural physical ability was finished. Abraham was ninety nine years old and Sarah was eighty nine. It was unthinkable to expect them to produce a child. All that remained was the promise of God!

          A promise is only as good as the One making it! We have been disappointed when others have made promises that they would not or could not keep. It may be that circumstances made it impossible to keep those promises but they were broken. We have disappointed others because we have made promises that we were not able to keep. Time ran out, resources evaporated or strength failed and so we could not keep our promise. But God is not like us. He is not restricted by time. His resources are limitless and His strength can’t be calculated.

Heb 11:11

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Dear Lord, let me continue to trust in your promises even when the prospects look bleak. AMEN

THE BEST ARGUMENT!

THE BEST ARGUMENT!

Acts 1:8

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Mark 16:20

20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Did you know that YOU are the best argument for Christianity? You and the way you live your life in the world is more convincing than Scripture, archaeological finds or other evidences. When believers began to walk as Jesus walked then the world took notice.

Did you know that YOU are also the best argument AGAINST Christianity? The world knows enough about Jesus to measure your life by His. The world is discerning, watching and merciless in its evaluation of your behavior. In a strong moment you may convince and win a soul but in a weak moment you may damn a city by behaving in a way that contradicts your Christian profession. In a world that is looking for a reason to continue in unbelief – it is important that we do not reinforce that unbelief.

Charles Stanley said: We are called to act out our faith every day. God works through us to reach those who may never otherwise open the Bible or enter a church. What's more, He borrows our voice to tell His story and uses our life to demonstrate His grace and glory.

Dear Lord, let me faithfully present Christ wherever I go today. AMEN

LOSS!

LOSS!

Phil 3:7-9

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

          Three times in these verses Paul uses the word “loss” which is the Greek word zemia. This is not referring to something that is lost through being misplaced and forgotten but precious things that have been taken by violence. Here the apostle admits a feeling of suffering damage and yet through it all he has found something better to take the place of all that has been lost.

          I was talking to a friend yesterday who is facing the possible loss of his home! Without sharing too many details, I can tell you that it is more than distressing. Why would God allow such a thing to happen? Why does He not step in to rescue us at such times? Silence is often our only answer. God sits in His heaven and does what He wants to do without feeling obligated to explain it all to us. We are forced to trust his nature when we can’t see the logic in it all.

          When Elijah told the king it would not rain again unless he said so, God told him to run away and hide beside the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:3-5). God would command the ravens to bring him bread and flesh both morning and evening. Elijah was safe and slowly settled into a comfortable dependence upon God and the ravens. Gradually the brook dried up because it hadn’t rained. It was time to move. Elijah suddenly suffered the loss of his safe retreat and regular meals. God’s answer was a widow! By whatever strange means God was committed to taking care of Elijah – and of us.

          Paul had learned to view his past privileges and treasure as “dung!” We have cleaned up this word when we speak in gentle company by referring to it as anything thrown to the dogs. It is refuse and garbage but the actual meaning is ordure or excrement. Paul had found something better in Christ.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

Dear Lord, let me see all my treasure in the same way that Paul saw his. Let me understand that some of the things you allow me to lose stand in the way of gaining you! AMEN

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL!

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL!

Ps 23:2-3

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

          We often think that this means a restoration to a proper position. The general idea is that the wandering sheep has been found and restored to the safety of the flock. However it most likely refers to the spirit when it is exhausted, weary, or sad. The meaning is, that God breathes new life into the spirit when it becomes exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, worn down with care and toil. (From Barnes' Notes)

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, certainly knows how to deal with us during times of our backsliding but this is not the case here. Because He is the Good Shepherd, He also knows how to mend us when we are broken. When the disciples wanted to press forward – He said rest. When burdened down with care, we are urged to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.

Often in the midst of urgent labor He will “make” us, or force us, to lie down in green pastures. Thus lying on the soft green earth, chewing contentedly, we are able to separate the urgent from the truly important. I am convinced that many sheep are not so much involved with sinful behavior as with urgent things that are not important.  

Dear Lord, today a thousand voices will cry out for my attention. One of those voices will be your very own. Help me to hear you when you speak. Today, Lord, restore my soul. AMEN

WORLDLY AMBITION!

WORLDLY AMBITION!

Mark 9:33-35

33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

34 But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

35 And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

John 13:4-6

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

Luke 22:24-26

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

          Ambition has a positive side. Our culture of listless and shiftless masses could use a bit of ambition but this is more about a healthy work ethic than the kind of ambition mentioned in our verses above. Peter, James and John were hard working fisherman. Matthew was a tax collector and Luke was a physician. Each one of the disciples seemed to understand the need for the right kind of ambition.

          Ambition also has a negative side. When our desire to become first causes us to scheme against our brother and to sabotage his enterprises it is destructive. The Apostles disputed as to which of them would be the greatest as they walked the dusty trail to Capernaum. Jesus asks them what they were arguing about because their worldly ambition needed to be challenged.

          We see this in the great chambers of commerce across our land. Business owners gather for self-congratulation ostensibly for the benefit of the community but there is always an undercurrent of wrestling ambition. It is subtle because it is usually painted with a heavy coat of community pride but all the ribbon cutting has more to do with grappling ambition than community development.

          Alas, we too often see it in churches where one or two members have chosen the church as their platform for personal promotion. The mother of James and John came to Jesus asking that her sons sit on either side of Jesus in his kingdom (Matthew 20:21). She did not ask that her sons be crucified with him on His left and right.

          Raging ambition always damages relationships; always causes disputes. Think of all the things you have collected and are now hoarding. Which of these will you take with you to heaven? Now think of all the friends and family that are dear to you and you to them no matter how far flung they may be. These, if they are saved, will be with you throughout eternity. Do you see the true value here? Struggle then, if struggle you must, to maintain and enlarge your collection of relationships. Live and speak so that these relationships will last beyond the grave.

Dear Lord, let me be an ambitious gatherer of friends. AMEN

NOT EVERY ONE!

NOT EVERY ONE!

Matt 7:21-23

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

          Words are no substitute for obedience and religion alone is no substitute for true faith. None are more lost than those who are unaware of their true condition. In Jesus’ day religion dripped from the Pharisees like sweat from a common laborer. The common Jew was trapped between the dual oppression of religion and Rome. Laws were not only oppressive but contradictory. True devotion to a living God was stifled in the atmosphere of the time.

          Today the religious world is doing very well with so-called mega churches springing up in every shopping center. Worshippers wander in from off the streets and, with a dazed look, raise their hands to an unknown God while mouthing unfelt praises to a rhythm that moves the body but not the soul. It is hard not to speculate on how many true worshippers are in attendance at such gatherings. True righteousness and morality are smothered by our culture.

          We are not the judge of another’s profession of faith. That role is reserved ultimately for God alone. He alone can know our true heart and judge both our actions and our motives. Until then the tares grow alongside the wheat until the harvest. The wheat will be gathered into barns and the tares will be bundled for burning.

2 Peter 1:5-10

…giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Dear Lord, please minister to me and through me today. Let me be a blessing and an encouragement to those who struggle in the way. AMEN

CAREFREE?

CAREFREE?

1 Cor 12:25-26

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

Luke 10:33-35

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

          What would it be like to be truly care free? What would it be like to have no anxiety about anything or anyone? Our first response, I think, is always wrong for we think it would be heavenly. Upon further contemplation, however, we would discover that we love no one but ourselves and that all our pleasant things no longer satisfy us. God built into each one of us the capacity to care. The first man – even before Eve – was given the task of naming all the animals and “taking care” of the perfectly formed garden. Man without a care is not so care free after all.

          The word and concept of “care” is different in our two portions this morning. The word used in Corinthians which talks about mutual care of each other is the Greek word merimnao and means “to be anxious about or to take thought.” The idea is that someone is on my mind and that I desire them to be happy, healthy and well looked after. Now, imagine that there is nothing or nobody in your heart that causes you to care! It is hard to wrap your mind around the concept, isn’t it? We care for our spouses, our children, our friends and a host of others. It means that we have the capacity to love someone other than ourselves. Thank God for that!

          In the story of the Good Samaritan the word care is the Greek word epimeleomai and means “to minister to someone physically or practically.” This is when concern springs into action. It is always costly! The Samaritan cared because he had compassion. He felt the pain of another. He allowed himself to be inconvenienced and to suffer a small financial loss. It was not an investment – it was a gift!

          God gave us the capacity to care and the energy to do something about that concern. He knows that when we minister to others it costs us something physically, psychologically and often financially. However he does not want us to be burdened down with care. 1 Peter 5:7 invites us to “Cast all our care upon him; for he cares for us.” In this verse the idea of care is that we are distracted. When it gets too heavy give it to Him.

          Is someone heavily on your mind? Pray for them! Do they have a need? Minister to them in a practical way! Is it so heavy it is driving you to distraction? Toss it to Jesus!

Dear Lord, I care for many of my friends and loved ones this morning. When possible, let me minister to them in a practical way. When the burden gets too heavy please lift my load. Thank you. AMEN

BE SENSITIVE TO PROPHETIC SIGNS!

BE SENSITIVE TO PROPHETIC SIGNS!

Luke 21:22-27

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

          There is a danger in interpreting every unusual current event as a prophetic sign. Do you remember the panic involved in Y2K? People hoarded drinking water, food and flashlight batteries. Actually the verses above refer not to our current time but to events during the last half of the seven year tribulation period.

Isa 13:10-11

10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

          Yesterday we saw video of a meteorite exploding across the Russian sky damaging buildings and injuring more than a thousand people. Is this a sign of the end? Then we all waited to see if an asteroid the size of a football field would impact earth. Was this a sign of the end?

          There are two very wrong ways to view the cataclysmic events of our time. First, we can simply ignore their prophetic significance concluding that these are simply natural anomalies. Second, we can scurry to pack our spiritual bags for our heavenly journey. A position somewhere in the middle is always wise. The next prophetic event is the rapture of the saints.

Matt 24:40-42

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

          If you are not a believer then certainly current events would be ample motivation to prepare by trusting Christ as your savior. If you are a believer then you need to know that you may suddenly be caught away to meet Him in the air. Yes, I know how weird all this sounds to the non-religious folks but frankly we live in a pretty weird world already. I only mention these things because the Bible does.

Lord, let me not be afraid of the terror of the times. Let me trust that you do all things well. AMEN

PLEASE DON’T GO!

PLEASE DON’T GO!

Matt 16:21-23

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

          It is not easy for us to grasp the oppression that was practiced upon the people by the religious elite of that day. They walked about in royal robes and added tax upon tax while working hand in hand with the oppressive Romans. Jesus rightly advised his followers to listen to their teaching but to shun copying their behavior.

          The scriptures at hand indicate either an end of the beginning or the beginning of the end. Jesus began and kept on teaching his disciples that immediately ahead was trouble. The very people who represented God to the people would perpetrate unthinkable cruelty upon the Son of God. Jesus would be killed and that is all that Peter could grasp. We wonder if he even heard the last part of the message – “and be raised again the third day.”

          What a burning rebuke it was to hear Jesus call Peter “Satan!” I am sure that Peter’s only motivation was the preservation of his Master but his resistance to God’s clear plan was devilish. Confusion and wonder filled Peter’s mind. He was not thinking spiritually but was thinking naturally.

          If we stand before our freshly tilled garden with seeds in our hand we are faced with a decision and a choice. If we look at the seeds with a desire to keep them we will have no harvest. We must sacrifice them to the ground so that death might produce life.

          Thomas Jefferson, a great man, nevertheless could not accept the miraculous elements in Scripture. He edited his own special version of the Bible in which all references to the supernatural were deleted. Jefferson, in editing the Gospels, confined himself solely to the moral teachings of Jesus. The closing words of Jefferson's Bible are these: "There laid they Jesus and rolled a great stone at the mouth of the sepulchre and departed." Thank God that is not the way the story really ends! --James S. Hewett

Dear Lord, Peter begged you not to go. I beg you now to return. AMEN

JESUS IS MY VALENTINE!

JESUS IS MY VALENTINE!

Song 8:7

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. [All the stuff in a man’s house would not equal the value of love.]

          Today is Saint Valentine’s Day. This day commemorates the martyrdom of Valentinus, a priest during the rule of Claudius II. Under Claudius, Rome was engaged in wars on many fronts and Claudius suspended weddings and marriages because he thought his soldiers would be distracted by romance and family. He needed strong soldiers who had no attachment to wife and children.

          Valentine secretly and illegally performed weddings in violation of the emperor’s ban. He was eventually discovered and placed in prison. While in prison he sent letters to his friends asking them to pray for his release. He was executed on the 14^th of February in the year 269 or 270. He is remembered on this day as one who encouraged love.

                There is another martyr who was pretty keen on love. His name is Jesus and He died loving you with an unquenchable love. A river of blood could not quench His love and the Bible asks the question: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Mark 8:36-37 Jesus is my Valentine. His love letter is the Bible.

          C. S. Lewis said: If God is love, he is, by definition, something more than mere kindness. And it appears, from all the records, that though he has often rebuked us and condemned us, he has never regarded us with contempt. He has paid us the intolerable compliment of loving us, in the deepest, most tragic, most inexorable sense.

Dear Lord, thank you for loving me with an everlasting and self-sacrificing love. AMEN

YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART!

YOU GOTTA HAVE HEART!

2 Tim 3:1-5

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

          The last thing I need to do is to offend some of my more orthodox readers. I have Catholics, Presbyterians, and a couple of Anglicans who read these daily devotions. To those friends let me say that I do not intend any insult in the following paragraphs. My point, at the end, should be clear.

          The other day a dear friend gave me a copy of the Rosary prayers. I found them interesting. Later I was reading some of the prayers in the Book of Common Prayer of the Anglican church. I found them beautiful and was surprised at how closely they adhered to orthodox Christian doctrine. The key, I think, is for the reader to truly mean the words he reads – or prays.

          As a Biblicist and Baptist, it is essential to me that my faith have “heart.” While we must not surrender to emotionalism, we are emotional people. I can’t imagine viewing the crucifixion with a yawn or responding to the bloody absolution of my many sins with a “ho hum.” Shouts of Amen and Praise the Lord seem appropriate.

          David, in his prayer of confession, begged God not to remove His Holy Spirit (Psalm 51:11). Jesus quoted David as he hung on the cross and sensed that God the Father had withdrawn His presence when the sun refused to shine on so ghastly a scene.

Ps 22:1

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

Matt 27:46

46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

There is an old hymn with a strange title that speaks to our topic today.

How Tedious and Tasteless the hours…

How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see!
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flow’rs,
Have all lost their sweetness to me.
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay;
But when I am happy in Him
December’s as pleasant as May.

Content with beholding His face,
My all to His pleasure resigned;
No changes of season or place,
Would make any change in my mind.
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear;
And prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

Dear Lord, religion without heart is like a mouthful of sand. Let we who love you sense your sweet presence in our lives today. AMEN

AND AFTERWARD!

AND AFTERWARD!

Ps 73:24

24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Ps 32:8

8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

          The life of the believer is not a series of accidental happenings. We are children of the Most High God and we are called to a glorious purpose. While we have freedom of choice in the decisions we make, God leads us along and guides the events of our lives to accomplish His goals for us. Roadblocks, detours and potholes are actually guides. The Word of God is our roadmap and our destination is sure.

          Much of my life has already been spent and I can see His loving hand guiding me all along the way. I thrill at what he has yet in store for me. I am more settled now than ever before and yet more restless. It is a conflict I have learned to accept as normal for me. My gifts and my calling are more acceptable to me and I have left off trying to accomplish someone else’s dreams. This is the backward look

          Our text offers a forward look. It says: “and afterward!” Ah! Afterward! I take that to mean the end of life. Like Stephen when he was being stoned, I expect to see Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand. I shall see angels waiting to congratulate me on finishing my course. I look forward to seeing loved ones gone before and I shall receive an inheritance that does not fade away. Afterward! This is the forward look.

Mark 9:2-4

2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

Dear Lord, thank you for daily counsel and guidance but most of all, thank you for a bright “afterward!” AMEN