THE BEST LABOR DAY!

 

Monday, September 7, 2020

 

THE BEST LABOR DAY!

 

Rev 14:13

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

 

           Today is Labor Day in America. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.

 

           Believers look forward to a day in which they will rest from their labors. Our text says, “and their works do follow them.” Here the original language animates the believer’s labors and sees them as companions escorting them to heaven. It is a serious thought that we can’t distance ourselves from our deeds whether they be good or evil.

 

Prov 20:11

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

 

Dear Lord, let my deeds confirm my claim to Christianity. Let me not labor in a way that causes confusion between my deeds and my character. AMEN

THE GOD OF HOPE!

 

Sunday, September 6, 2020

 

THE GOD OF HOPE!

 

Rom 15:13

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

           Paul, writing to the Romans, offers multiple views of God. In Romans 15:5, He is the God of patience and consolation. The patience is His and the consolation is ours! Here the word “consolation” is paraklesis and is the same word that is translated “comforter” when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in John 14:16. The word is made more powerful by the use of a definite article making it “THE consolation.” Consolation is in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

           He is the God of peace in Romans 15:33 and the word “peace” is eirene and indicates both quietness and prosperity. It also is preceded by a definite article which makes it “THE peace.” Peace, both quietness and prosperity, is in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

           In our text this morning, He is the God of hope. Here hope is elpis (el-pece’) and means both expectation and confidence. Once again it is forcefully preceded by a definite article. The hope that we have in eternity is an expectant hope. It is like an “expectant” mother large with child. She is confident of delivery but uncertain of the date! Many signs, both visible and known only to her, assure her that her hope is well founded.

 

Dear Father, all around we see signs and evidence of your soon coming. Inside us also there is a confidence that our hope is well founded. Thank you Lord, that our hope, our peace and our consolation is firmly grounded in your person. AMEN

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!

 

Saturday, September 5, 2020

 

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!

 

Eccl 1:14-15

14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.

 

Fourteen times in the book of Ecclesiastes Solomon concludes that “all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Solomon looked around and concluded that everything was futile and empty, a chasing after the wind. He doesn’t sound like the kind of guy you would want to be around!

 

Solomon said that which is crooked could not be made straight and the things that are broken could not be numbered. Cynicism may have good cause these days, but it is a carrier of spiritual paralysis. The cynic soon becomes ineffective at ministering to others because he has lost hope and has become self-focused. He has become a bitter and brittle gripe who is always finding a fly in his soup. He feels short-changed, exploited and passed over. 

 

So how can we avoid the cancer of cynicism in our life? Let me offer a few suggestions.

 

Ø Become involved in ministering to others. This will change your focus away from yourself and give you a more balanced perspective. There is nothing more healing to your own wounds than bandaging those of another.

Ø Stop complaining about missed opportunities. Look for new ones.

Ø Don’t yield to the temptation to stop doing what is right.

Ø Do what you can and then leave the rest to God.

Ø Mentor and encourage someone of the next generation. They will take your place whether you like it or not. They may as well benefit from some of the things you have learned the hard way! Be warned, however, that they will not listen carefully.

Ø Don’t allow unresolved conflicts to remain. Apologize if you have done wrong. Forgive if you have been wronged. Practice reconciliation at every opportunity.

Ø Don’t fret about anything but pray about everything.

 

We are all headed for the “rocking chair.” We will sit there sullen and alone or we will be visited by a line of those who admire our peace and seek our advice. It all depends upon how we manage to live under the circumstances.

 

Dear Lord, please spare me from becoming sullen and bitter. Let me function firmly and positively even though the circumstances of life may be hard. Let me be an encouragement to someone else today. AMEN