THE BIRDS KNOW!

Friday, January 31, 2020

THE BIRDS KNOW!

Matt 6:26

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

           Groundhog Day is just two days from today and yet I already know it will be Spring soon. A little birdie told me! Actually an entire back yard full of robins sent out tweets. I first saw two and thought it was an advance team to check things out but, no, it was the whole family. Robins! A sure sign of Spring.

           God was busily feeding them. The soft earth loosened by rain and cool temperatures provided the worms these early birds were seeking. They chirped their hallelujah’s in grateful praise then cocked their head to one side to listen for the wiggling of the next morsel.

           The Robins seemed completely unflustered by the drama of the world. I couldn’t tell the Democrats from the Republicans. None were socialists because all were busy working. They seemed unaware that anyone was trying to make America great again. It was already great and God had made it so.

           Their faith in the promises and processes of God did not seem in any way strained. As far as I could tell not one robin seemed concerned about anything. God had brought them to their summer place and had, once again, abundantly provided.

           So, we are urged to behold the fowls. The Greek emblepo means “to observe so as to discern clearly.”  Once we have observed God providing, shouldn’t we simply trust His provision?

Loving Lord, thank you for the reminder that you are faithful. Hitherto thou hast brought me – and thou wilt safely lead me home. AMEN

MAKE IT CLEAR AND PLAIN!

Thursday, January 30, 2020

MAKE IT CLEAR AND PLAIN!

1 Cor 2:4-5

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1 Cor 3:1

3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Did Paul “talk down” to the Corinthians? According to one source, “The great apostle Paul was born as Saul, A.D. 1-5 in Tarsus in Cilicia, a province in the southeastern corner of modern-day Turkey.

He was of Benjamite lineage and Hebrew ancestry. His parents were Pharisees - fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses - who sought to protect their children from “contamination” from the Gentiles (non Jews).”

According to Acts 22:3,  he was educated in the school of Gamaliel. He could both read and write Greek as well as his native language. We would consider him, today, highly educated. Yet Paul adjusted his message and presentation to his hearers.

If you were writing a love letter, how would you do it? Would you write it on the finest of paper with majestic pen? Would you perfume it with the finest fragrance so that your beloved could sense your love? Hallmark had, as its slogan, “When you care enough to send the very best.” Yet the most wonderful love notes I have ever received were written on paper napkins from the school cafeteria!

1 Cor 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Lord, let me learn as much as possible so that I might make the message plain. AMEN

GIVE THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE!

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

GIVE THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE!

2 Tim 2:1-2

2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

           Both First and Second Timothy were written from an older sage to a younger apprentice. Both seemed to understand the relationship, and now Paul urges Timothy to gradually become that older mentor. The idea is that truth and tradition might be passed along unchanged. Merriam-Webster says that a mentor is: a trusted counselor or guide; a tutor or coach.

           Becoming a mentor presumes that you know something and that you have experience. There is also the presumption that you have accomplished something worthy of copying. There must have been something very attractive about Jesus to make Peter, James and John to leave their fishing careers to follow this itinerant preacher.

           Becoming a student presumes that you do NOT know yet but that you are eager to learn. There was no challenge from young Timothy either of the truth or the traditions. At the end of the day Timothy wanted to be like Paul. Immediately, Paul a warning to Timothy because there would be “hardness” to endure and options to filter through the net of reason.

2 Tim 2:3-4

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

           Today you know something that needs to be taught to another. Be a good teacher! You may also still be a student. Study hard! Learn both the truths and the traditions! There will be time to be innovative, but for now learn the basics. There will be times of hardness. There will always be choices to make. Choose wisely.

Dear Lord, I know so much and yet so very little. Let me be a good teacher and a faithful student. AMEN