Stars, Crows, and Cold Weather

Psalm 147

Today we wrap up the year 2024, and what better way than by taking a look at one psalm that proclaims the praises of God for His loving care over not only us, His Blood-bought children, but over all of His creation.  The unknown author of this psalm gives us a beautiful, descriptive picture of how the Lord cares for all that He created, and several good reasons to praise and thank Him.  Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that he saw to praise God.

The first thing that our psalmist gives to praise God for is that He builds up Jerusalem and gathers together His people (vs. 2).  God will always watch over His children, those who have come to Him through His Son, Jesus.  The world may cast them out and have no use for them, but God will gather them together as His chosen ones.

Next is a reason that should bring comfort to the hearts of many, and that is that the Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds (vs. 3).  Many of us at one time or another have been heart-broken, sorrowful, or depressed.  During these times we may feel that there is no one we can turn to, no one who understands or cares, and in some cases that may be true as far as actual people are concerned.  However, as we read here, there is Someone who we can turn to, Someone who will heal the wounds of our broken hearts and depression (Luke 4:18).  The Hebrew word for “heal” that is used here is “rapa”, which can mean “mend”.   When someone mends a torn garment, they hold it right in their hands closely so they can see what to sew up.  God does not hold at arm's length what is broken.  Instead He draws close and puts in His hands what has been torn apart.  Knowing this from first-hand experience, I know that this is a tremendous reason to praise the Lord!

Many of us enjoy looking at the stars at night.  It is estimated that there are one septillion stars in the universe.  That is the number 1 with 24 zeros behind it.  That is just a guess, though, as there is no possible way to actually count them.  However, God knows.  As a matter of fact, God has given each and every one of them a name (vs. 4).  We have given names to a few hundred stars, and astronomers have given alphanumeric “names” to several thousand more, but certainly nowhere near all of the stars.  God has, though, and He doesn’t forget or get them mixed up, either.  God does not forget even one bird, as He knows when even a single sparrow dies.  He knows exactly how many hairs are on your head each day (Matthew 10:29-31).

We’ll skip down to verse 9, where we see that God provides food for all creatures.  There are no ravens around where I live, but there are plenty of their cousins, the crows.  Last summer I moved out of the Chicago area, moving several hundred miles south, to an area that is surrounded by multiple thousands of acres of cornfields.   Crows do love corn, so I see dozens every day, and hear their cries.  Who provides for their food?  God does, as He does for every creature on earth.  We read in this psalm how He makes the clouds that bring the rain, which waters the earth, making the crops grow (vs. 8).

Dropping down a few more verses, we read how God provides the changes of seasons (vs. 16-18).  Our psalmist particularly highlights the winter season in these verses.  In another day we enter the month of January, the coldest month in my part of the country.  I will readily admit that I do not like winter or the cold, but we’ll look at these verses anyway!  They do proclaim the majesty of God and His creation.  After a night of snow fall, we can look outside and see the snow cover the ground like a large white woolen blanket.  He scatters the frost.  I have to admit that the frost on a window can look beautiful.  When it gets cold here in the Midwest, it really gets cold, and as our psalmist said, “who can stand before His cold?”

In my part of the country, hail (vs. 17) doesn’t happen in the winter, but usually in the late spring or summer, and is an indication of severe storms coming, but still a sign of God’s majesty.  When spring comes, God sends His Word, and the snow and ice melts (vs. 18).  The weather warms, the ice jams on the rivers melt, and the water flows.  There is nothing that I enjoy seeing more than the signs of spring coming, the departing cold and coming warmth!

These are just a few of the highlights from this psalm, just a few of the reasons we have to praise the Lord.  Like our psalmist did, we can look around our own life and find numerous reasons for which to praise Him.  Yes, it is good to sing praises to our God!

Beautiful Feet

Isaiah 52:7-10

Take a look at your feet.  Would you call them beautiful?  I sure wouldn’t!  Often we don’t think much about our feet until they start hurting.  We can get painful bunions and corns on our feet.  The nails are more difficult to maintain than our fingernails, and so often the skin can get dry and cracked.  After a long day they are tired and sore.  Thus, so often feet are not a pretty sight.  However, in our Scripture for today, the Prophet Isaiah shares with us that God calls some people’s feet beautiful.  Whose feet?  A fashion model or someone on the beach?   It’s not them.  Let’s look into our Scripture passage and see who can have beautiful feet.

This brief portion of Scripture in the middle of the 52nd chapter of Isaiah proclaims God’s salvation which is available to any and all from around the world who turn to Him.  But how are people from all around the world going to hear the message of God’s salvation, especially in the days of the Bible?  Today we have computers and the Internet that reach every corner of the world, but prior to its invention, and the invention of the television and radio a little over a hundred years ago, it was much more difficult to bring the Gospel to everyone.  It took an effort on the part of the believer who wanted to share the Gospel.

For centuries those who took the Gospel to others  had to go out, usually on foot, and physically travel to where their mission field was.  In the days of the Old Testament, the prophets traveled on foot across the Holy Land bringing God’s message.  Then in the New Testament days the Apostles and the early believers headed out to all parts of the world, usually on foot, bringing the Gospel message of Jesus and His salvation.  They traveled over hills and mountains, across rivers and oceans, across deserts and wilderness, and through forests and jungles bringing the Gospel to all different people groups.  Their feet would be worn out and tired, would get dusty, dirty, wet, and cold, and yet God called their feet beautiful (vs. 7).  They brought the good news of salvation, and they proclaimed the peace we can now have with God.  Just like the angels told the shepherds, those with beautiful feet bring glad tidings of good things.

These feet are beautiful in God’s eyes because they bring the Gospel to others, which has the power to transform lives, lives that were once trapped in sin but are now set free.  These feet bring the message that brings spiritual peace and joy to all those who accept it.  These beautiful feet bring those who tell the message that God reigns, that He is sovereign and is establishing His kingdom through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord also wants His people to be watchmen, watching in eager anticipation to proclaim the return of the Lord Jesus (vs. 8-10).  They are joyful because they know that God will fulfill His promises and restore His people.  The prophet Isaiah speaks about the restoration of Jerusalem in particular.  Jerusalem is the great city where David planned and his son Solomon built God’s holy Temple, and from where the Lord Jesus will set up His capital when He returns to earth.  Throughout multitudes of centuries the city of Jerusalem has not seen peace.  It has been laid waste several times, and seen the tears of God’s people.  However, now Jerusalem and her people can sing for joy, because when Jesus returns He will bring back the glory of His city.

As we come to the end of this Scripture passage, we read that God’s salvation is for “all the ends of the earth” (vs. 10).  The Gospel message of salvation through Jesus is for everyone.  Salvation is available to all nations and peoples throughout the world.

In closing, we need to share the good news of salvation with others, following the example of the messengers with beautiful feet.  In today’s world with all of the technology available, that doesn’t mean having to walk everywhere.  I have mobility difficulties, along with respiratory issues, and it is not easy for me to get around, but here I am, trying to spread the gospel message of Jesus and His Word through the internet, and I don’t need to leave my house.  When someone accepts Jesus as Savior and turns their life over to God, there is joy and praise in heaven, and should be with us, too.  Though our physical feet may not be so great, we can still have beautiful feet in God’s sight!

Greater Than The Angels

Hebrews 1:1-12

Earlier this week I wrote about angels.  Most people like angels, especially Christmas angels.  They decorate our Christmas tree, the cards we send, and some people even have them as outdoor Christmas decorations.  However, they are not, and should not be the focus of our Christmas celebrations.  The author of the Book of Hebrews states right from the beginning of his epistle how the Lord Jesus Christ is better than any angel, even the greatest of the archangels.  Let’s take a quick look at this Scripture that emphasizes the supremacy of Jesus Christ and His divine nature.

Throughout the days of the Old Testament Yahweh spoke to His people primarily through the prophets (vs. 1).  However, now in these days He speaks to us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 2).  Jesus is the final and complete revelation of God.  Jesus is over and above all things because He created all things.  He is God’s Son, the One who will inherit everything.  He is the Creator of the universe, of everything.  In Christ all things were made, and through Christ all things are sustained and held together.  He is truly God.  We can trust Him for all things.  We can depend on Him.

As the Scripture continues in verse 3 we read that Jesus is the image of the Father (Colossians 1:15).  He is the exact representation of God’s nature, and is both supreme and divine, as the Father is.  We cannot separate Jesus, the Son of God, from God Himself.  In Jesus, the glory of God came to dwell among us, taking on our flesh and becoming one of us. The radiance of God’s glory came for all to see.

We read here that Jesus is superior to the angels.  As the author of Hebrews stated, God did not call any of the angels His Son, however as verse 5 states, He did call Jesus His Son, with quotations from Psalm 2:7 and II Samuel 7:14.  Angels were created to worship God, not the other way around, and we are to worship Him, too, not worshiping angels nor ourselves (vs. 6).  The angels were created to minister to God and to His children (Psalm 104:4).  The command for all angels to worship Jesus further emphasizes His divinity and worthiness for worship.  However in verses 8-9 we read that to the Lord Jesus, God gave a throne and a scepter of righteousness (Psalm 45:6-7).  Jesus is to be worshiped as God.

There are some groups and denominations who believe that Jesus is a created being, and that possibly later He achieved a degree of divinity.  That false belief is not supported anywhere in the Bible, and as we read in verse 10 the Lord Jesus was there at the very beginning of creation, and it was He who created the earth and all things (Psalm 102:25-27; Colossians 1:15-17).  This creation will eventually wear away, but not the Lord Jesus.  He was from eternity past and will remain for all eternity in the future (vs. 11-12).

God the Father sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to earth to be the only true sacrifice for our sins.  His sacrificial death and resurrection is the only means of salvation for humanity.  He is now exalted at the right hand of God the Father, as the Father has given Jesus all authority and honor, superior to all creation, including the angels.  As we read here, His throne is eternal, His nature unchanging, and His rule is in righteousness.

In closing, as we end this week of Christmas, let us be sure to acknowledge and worship Jesus as the supreme revelation of God, and the ruler of all creation.  Have you trusted in the Lord Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection for your salvation?  If not, do not let another day pass without doing so!  Let us all live lives that reflect Jesus’ righteousness and justice.

The Gift of Praise

Psalm 97

At Christmas time we often think of gifts, both getting them and giving them to others.  How about giving a gift to the Lord Jesus, as this day is a celebration of His birth?  But what kind of gift can we actually give the Lord?  We can’t go to a store, pick out something nice, and then send it to Him.  If we’re already saved, and have already given our hearts and lives to Him, what else can we give?  One thing that we can give, something which is always appropriate, especially at Christmas, is a gift of praise.  Our psalm for this Christmas week is one of praise to the Lord, celebrating His reign, and His righteous judgment over the earth.

As Psalm 97 begins, the author calls for the whole earth to rejoice and be glad in the Lord and the fact that He reigns over the whole earth (vs. 1).  Contrary to what many felt during the days of the Old Testament, Yahweh is not just the God of the people of Israel.  Instead, He is God over the whole earth, and for all people everywhere.  His arms are opened to people of every nation.  His reign is a source of joy and confidence for all believers everywhere.

We then turn to a look at the majesty of God’s throne and throne room (vs. 2).   Though we often think of God surrounded by light, which He is, here He is also described as being surrounded by darkness, along with clouds.  Both darkness and light hide Him from our view (I Timothy 6:16).  Because we are lost in sin, we cannot see God.  We cannot come to Him on our own.  However, because of His grace, God came to us as a babe in Bethlehem.  God has called us out of darkness and into His light (I Peter 2:9).  As children of Light we are to reflect His light.

God’s throne or reign is set upon certain principles or foundations, those being both righteousness and justice (vs. 2).  This highlights God’s moral perfection and His commitment to upholding justice, a justice that will be both righteous and fair.

We also see that fire and lightning are present in Yahweh’s throne room (vs. 3-4). This fire and lightning are so powerful that they can melt mountains.  This gives us a picture of God’s immense power and majesty, and reminds us of His majestic presence and His ability to overcome any adversary.  We all have enemies of some sort, including kings and other rulers.  Some of these enemies are nothing to worry about, but some are powerful and can harm us.  God, though, does not need to worry about anyone that tries to come against Him.  The fire that surrounds His throne room will burn up anyone who opposes Him.

Our psalmist continues by condemning anyone who worships false idols (vs. 7).   When it is revealed that there is only one God, Yahweh, these idol worshipers will be put to shame.   At that time those who love the Lord and refuse and reject evil will be awarded joy and deliverance (vs. 8-10).  As God’s children, we are to love what God loves, and hate what He hates.  Rather than hating evil, though, today too many want to play with evil, keeping it nearby, and making excuses for it.  We cannot manage evil on our own.  Instead, it will manage us.  We must instead turn away from evil (Psalm 37:27), and commit our lives to following the Lord, rejoicing and giving Him thanks (vs. 12).

In closing, we can know that we can bring our gifts of praise and rejoicing to the Lord, knowing that He reigns supreme over all of creation.  With this knowledge we should strive to live in accordance with God’s standards of righteousness and justice, knowing that He has immense power and majesty, and that He can deliver and protect us from any evil.  Worship the one true God, Yahweh, and reject all forms of idolatry, remaining faithful to Jesus alone.

Angels

Luke 2:8-14

When we read the Nativity account in the Bible, or sing the cherished Christmas carols, one important character is the angels.  We love the Christmas angels.  They are on the Christmas cards we send, my ceramic Nativity set has an angel, and many people put either a star or an angel at the top of their Christmas tree.   Angels are often a popular subject with the world at large, too.  Touched By An Angel and Highway to Heaven were popular TV shows in the past that featured angels intervening in lives to help people.  How much of popular beliefs about angels is accurate?  Here at Christmas time let’s look at what the Bible says about angels, and see what we can learn.

First of all, what exactly are angels?  Angels are spiritual and heavenly beings.  They are a separate creation than man.  No one, including children, become angels when they die.  Some people like to say that when a beloved relative, such as their mother, or a little child dies that they are now angels in heaven.  That is a false, unbiblical teaching.  People do not become angels when they die.  If they are saved then their soul goes to heaven, later to be joined by their resurrected body.  Angels are a completely separate creation.

Angels are ministering spirits who minister, or help and assist believers (Hebrews 1:14).  As we read in the Scriptures, angels have ranks of hierarchy, each with a different role.  We see these mentioned in Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16.  There is no real description of what these ranks are.  There are four other types of angels that we know a little bit more about, and we’ll look a little closer at them.  The first one, possibly the most popular with the general public, is the Guardian Angel.  These are angels who are assigned to protect and guide an individual.  Though not specifically named in Scripture, there are at least two references made to something like a guardian angel.  One is Matthew 18:10 where Jesus speaks of children’s assigned angels, and in Acts 12:15, where we read of Peter’s angel.

Another important rank of angel is that of Archangel.  We have names for three of these archangels - Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (one mentioned in the Apocryphal Book of Tobit).  These three have interacted directly with people.  The Archangel Gabriel has communicated God’s will with humans.  He brought messages to Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist, and to the Virgin Mary about the birth of Jesus  (Luke 1:11-38).  He also appeared to Daniel to explain his visions (Daniel 8:15-26; 9:21-27).  Michael is a powerful archangel who battles Satan.  He is chief of angels and archangels.  We read of his battles against Satan in Revelation 12:7-12 and Jude 1:9.  Michael is shown in the Book of Daniel as a protector of the people of Israel.  Christians view him as guardian of the Church and the leader of the angelic army of God.  Raphael is mentioned in the Apocryphal Book of Tobit where he guides and protects Tobit on his journey.

We see mentioned in Scripture the angelic beings of the Cherubim.  They are a high-ranking heavenly being.  They are first mentioned in the Book of Genesis when God placed cherubim with flaming swords to guard the entrance to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24).  In Ezekiel 1:4-28 we read a description of a very other-worldly creature which the prophet later identifies as cherubim (Ezekiel 10:20).  There are two cherubs guarding the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:17-22).  They represent God’s holiness and power.  They also, at times, provide some sort of vehicle for God (Psalm 18:10).  There has been a false tradition of showing cherubs as chubby little “baby angels”, however that is not biblical.  What we read in the Bible of cherubim is definitely not little baby angels!

One other angelic being we can take a quick look at are the Seraphim.  They are another high-ranking order of angelic being.  The Scripture describes a seraph as having six wings, and can take the form or features of creatures we are familiar with here on earth (Isaiah 6:1-8; Revelation 4:6-8).  One duty the seraphim have is to guard the throne of God, crying “Holy, Holy, Holy!”

In closing, as we read our Scripture passage from the Gospel of Luke, we read that one honored angel had the privilege to bring the good news of the birth of the Savior to a group of humble shepherds that night on the fields outside of Bethlehem.  As soon as the angel gave his message, the sky was filled with a multitude of angelic beings singing praises to God.  What a sight that must have been to behold!  A sight that I’m sure the shepherds never forgot, as they never forgot the moment they first saw the Savior, lying in a manger.

Names and Titles

Isaiah 9:6-7

Many parents take special care when selecting the name of their child.  Often the child is named after their parent, grandparent, or some other favorite relative or friend.  If that isn’t the case, then they take into consideration what the name means, besides just how it sounds, hoping the child might personify some part of that meaning.  No one wants to pick a name that means “village idiot” or “fat and ugly”.   As the child grows older, often they are given nicknames.  Sometimes they are shortened forms of a longer name, and other times the nickname comes from some characteristic they have.

The Lord Jesus was given His Name from the angel Gabriel when the angel appeared to His mother Mary (Luke 1:31), and also when an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream about the child (Matthew 1:20-21).  The name Jesus means “God saves”, which is exactly what He does, He saves us from our sins and eternal separation from God.  However, there are some other names that have been given to Jesus, several of which are in our Scripture for today.

The prophet Isaiah gave numerous prophecies pertaining to the Lord Jesus, several regarding His birth, and our Scripture passage highlights some names that were given to the Messiah centuries before His birth.  As our Scripture opens, Isaiah foretold that the Savior would come as a child, born into this world (vs. 6).  As the prophet said, this Child was given to us, a gift from God to mankind, bringing the gift of salvation to all who accepted Him (John 3:16).

Then follows several names or titles that are given to the Messiah.  Each of these has significant meaning.  The first is “Wonderful”.  This comes from the Hebrew word “pele”, which means wonder and marvel.  This is something that is full of wonder, something that causes us to marvel.  God’s act of redemption by sending His only begotten Son is something wonderful and marvelous!

Jesus was also given the name of “Counselor”.  A counselor is a special person who gives specific advice in areas they are trained in.  A president or prime minister will have several counselors who advise them in areas of defense, economics, etc.  People go to counselors for mental health problems, or for help and advice with their marriage.  There are counselors at schools and some places of employment.  Jesus is the best Counselor we could ever have, and we can and should go to Him for help all the time, as He is the source of wisdom and guidance.

The next name and title is “Mighty God”.  This name affirms the deity of Jesus, recognizing Him as God Incarnate.  Many people thought that the Messiah would be an ordinary person whom God would raise up to deliver the people of Israel from the Romans and any other power who dominated them.  However, Jesus is God, divine, the second Person of the Trinity.

Continuing with the names given to Jesus in this Scripture, we have “Everlasting Father”.   Here He is called the Everlasting Father, and earlier in the verse He was called a Son.  Jesus Himself stated that “I and My Father are one.” (John 10:30).  He shares the same divine nature and essence with God the Father, from all eternity past and forward.  And as a loving father, He cares for His people.

The last name and title given here is “Prince of Peace”.  Jesus was born as our Prince of Peace.  The word “peace” is “shalom” in Hebrew, and it means well-being, flourishing, and wholeness.  Because sin had made us enemies of God, Jesus made possible peace with God (Romans 5:1).  He brings peace between God and humanity through His sacrificial death and resurrection.  Sin has broken human relationships, but Jesus has made possible peace with others.

The prophecy of Isaiah continues in verse 7.  It speaks of an everlasting kingdom established by the Messiah.  This is a fulfilment of God’s promise to David that his throne would be established forever through Jesus.  His reign will be characterized by justice and righteous judgment.  God is committed to fulfilling His promises and bringing about His redemptive plan.

In closing, as we celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus, we can meditate on these names and titles given to Him, recognizing and worshiping Him as the divine Messiah.  We can trust God to fulfill all of His promises to us, and live in peace and righteousness.

Fiery Preacher

Luke 3:7-18

We don’t see too many “fire and brimstone” preachers today.  Preachers and evangelists who bring messages on judgment, hell, and repentance seem like something from a bygone era, a past century, and would not seem to fit in too many churches today.  They certainly wouldn’t be too popular with most people.  People in churches today want to only hear about God’s love, and His acceptance of themselves just the way they are.  Pastors who would give a “fire and brimstone” sermon today might even be asked to start changing their message or start looking for another job.  However, what do we find in the third chapter of Luke’s Gospel, just a few verses past the Christmas narrative?  This is the account of John the Baptist, a very important figure in the New Testament, one whose whole ministry, in addition to being the forerunner of Jesus the Messiah, was a message of repentance and judgment.  We read a similar account in Matthew 3:1-12.

Our Gospel verses for today, just days before Christmas, don't seem too Christmassy.  John the Baptist was commissioned by God from before his birth to prepare people for the coming Messiah, and that preparation included repentance and turning one’s life around in the direction towards God.  John the Baptist didn’t worry about what people thought of his messages.  He didn’t cater to people’s feelings.  He didn’t preach what the people wanted to hear, he preached what they needed to hear, and that was a message of repentance to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.  John didn’t worry about offending people, as he called out some folks in his preaching, calling them a brood of vipers, a whole nest of poisonous snakes to be avoided! (vs. 7).  If they are going to sit there smugly in their pews in church on Sunday, thinking that they are perfectly fine, that God loves them just as they are, then they need to show forth fruit of their good lives (vs. 8-9).

John the Baptist, and his message of preparing for the coming of Jesus, figures prominently during Advent, the weeks in the Church calendar prior to Christmas.  We are called as believers to have genuine repentance in our lives, a complete turning away from sin, and a commitment to live a life that bears good fruit.  John warns that those who refuse to repent, who feel that they don’t need that, there is judgment coming.  He used the image of an ax cutting down a tree and throwing it in a fire (vs. 9).  Some of the folks said to John that God wouldn’t judge them because they were descended from Abraham.  We see similar smugness today with people thinking they are free from judgment because of their heritage, their wealth, where they live, etc.  John proclaimed that was not so.  This shows the urgency of repentance and the reality of God’s impending judgment.

What are we supposed to do?  That was the question the crowds had for John the Baptist.  After they repented of their sins, what were they to do to show that they were living lives of righteousness, and were showing good fruits of repentance?  John responded by telling them to change their ways, be generous, be fair, treat others kindly (vs. 10-14).  This is not saying in any way that salvation is dependent upon our works.  Works do not save us.  Only faith does (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However, works are a sign that there is genuine faith (Ephesians 2:10).  If there isn’t any good fruit, then there is probably no root.

As our Scripture continues, John humbly acknowledged that he was not the Messiah, and pointed to the One who was mightier, the Lord Jesus (vs. 15-16).  He also warned that the Messiah was coming with judgment, as well (vs. 17).  John used the image of a farmer in his day, using a winnowing fork to separate the wheat from the chaff.  This would picture the final judgment, where God will separate the righteous for heaven from the wicked and unsafe who will face eternal punishment.

In closing, as we come to the end of the season of Advent, with Christmas just days away, we need to examine our lives, repent of all known sin, and produce fruit that reflects a transformed heart.  Believers and followers of the Lord Jesus should be striving to live in a way that honors Him, and that reflects our faith.  Knowing the reality of a coming day of judgment, we should be motivated to live faithfully for the Savior, and share the message of repentance and salvation with others.

Stinking Thinking

Philippians 4:8-9

Have you ever heard of “stinking thinking”, and have you ever been caught doing that?  Stinking thinking is having negative and bad thoughts, ones that lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. If we find that we are frequently getting stuck in a stinking thinking pattern, we need to find a way to get out, otherwise we might start to become seriously depressed.  When I was growing up, many people read Dale Carnegie’s positive thinking books and listened to Norman Vincent Peale’s talk, two positive thinking leaders.  However, they are not the only ones who have the answers.  Many centuries earlier than those two, God gave us a solution right in His Word.

As the Apostle Paul comes towards the end of his epistle to the church in Philippi, he gives them some instructions on living a victorious Christian life, such as making rejoicing a part of our daily life, and praying instead of being anxious.  Then right in the middle of the fourth and final chapter, Paul instructs us on what to center our mind and thoughts on.  We are to focus our thoughts on things that are true, noble, just, things that are pure, lovely, and of a good report.  We are to think of virtuous things, and things that are praiseworthy.  We are to think of the things that Paul taught, so things that are from the Word of God.  When we do, then God will bless us with His peace, and not those stinking thinking thoughts.

Perhaps you have heard the saying “you are what you eat”.  To some degree that is true.  However it is even more true that we are what we think.   Someone who is constantly thinking negative thoughts will be a pessimistic person.  The optimistic person will keep thoughts more in line with our Scripture verses of today.

Our thoughts control what kind of day we will have, and ultimately our life.  If we feed our mind with negative thoughts, that’s what our day will be like.  However, if we feed our mind good and positive thoughts, that is what type of day we are more likely to have, as well.

What we allow into our mind greatly impacts our thinking.  Properly programming our mind can protect us from the devil’s traps.  If we are taking into our mind a lot of things that are at odds with what the Bible says, with God wants, our mental filter for straining out impurities will be under attack.  That is why we need to be careful with what we read and look at on the Internet, what we watch on TV and with streaming, and what we listen to.  Many parents are careful with what they let their children view, but are they taking the same care with what they are feeding their minds?

Our brain is wired to strengthen what we focus on.  If we focus on the negative we see only the negative, and those thoughts will grow stronger.  However if we focus on Jesus, that will grow, and our thoughts and life will be clear.  If our thoughts are negative, or sin-filled ones that tempt us to sin, or are thoughts that try to tear ourselves or others down, we need to replace them.  It is impossible to have two opposing thoughts continually in the mind at the same time.  One of those thoughts has to go.  We must turn our thoughts away from that of the devil, and instead put it on to what is of God.

Our thoughts greatly influence our successes, our failures, and our choices.  They also affect our relationships with others and with the Lord.  Which would you rather be around - a positive, upbeat, and joyful person, or one that is always negative, discouraged, and pessimistic?  Most would prefer the former person rather than the latter one.  Also, if we have a negative outlook on life, then it follows that our view of God will shift that way, too, and our prayer life and relationship with the Lord will weaken.

In closing, bad, negative, and sinful thoughts are like weeds that need to be pulled out.  Instead, let’s plant thoughts that are true, noble, just, ones that are pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy.  That is the way to have a better day, and live a life that is blessed by the Lord.

Safety And Security

Psalm 61

Many people feel that these are rather frightening, scary times we live in.  Some people might wish they could just hide away from everything.  If you did have to genuinely hide from a strong, powerful, dangerous enemy, where would you go?  Is there anyone who you could turn to for help in keeping you safe?   There were several periods in David’s life where he was hunted like a hunter goes after a deer and he needed a safe and protected shelter.  He needed help, and who could he trust to turn to?  Psalm 61 gives us his answer.

When we are in trouble we need someone that we can trust who will help us.  Many have found out that these trustworthy people are few and far between.  So who can we call on?  David found that he could trust in the Lord, and so it was He whom he called upon (vs. 1-2).  No matter where he was, David knew he could call upon Yahweh, even from the ends of the earth, and He would hear and respond.

When we need to flee from danger, where can we find a safe place?  Not every place is safe and secure.  David prayed to the Lord that He would lead him to a high rock.  The area south and southwest of ancient Israel was a rocky wilderness.  These rocks held many places to hide in.  David prayed for a rock that was higher than himself.  He wanted something higher, bigger, and stronger than himself to trust in.  We have that in the Lord Jesus.  He is the Rock, the Rock of our salvation (I Corinthians 10:4; Psalm 89:26).

Another place that people, particularly in the past, used to hide in are strong towers.  In villages of the past, there were often brick or stone towers where access to higher floors were only obtained by a ladder, often a rope ladder, that was pulled up behind those seeking safety.  That way enemies from below could not get up, and they were protected.  The Lord Jesus is our strong tower, as well (vs. 3).  When we seek spiritual help from Jesus, when we hide our souls in Him, we are safe from the attacks of Satan.  When we seek refuge in His protection, Jesus is that tower around us.  He is a safe place and a strong fortress where our enemies cannot reach us.  We cannot effectively be a safe place for ourselves.

David mentions a third place of safety, however it is not one that we usually think of as a place that we can flee to, and that is shelter under some wings (vs. 4).  Have you ever seen an adult bird protect their young under their wings?  I know that a mother hen will shelter her chicks under her wings, along with many other birds, including eagles.  I have seen this first-hand with Canadian geese which are very familiar throughout Illinois, the state I live in.  No one dares bother baby goslings when adult Canadian geese are around, as they ferociously protect their babies.  God protects His children just as fiercely.  The wings of God Himself are our shield.

In the second half of the psalm, David attests his confidence that God has heard his prayers, and that he can faithfully trust in His promises (vs. 5).  He also proclaims that he will faithfully keep his vows to the Lord, and praise Him throughout his life (vs. 8).

As we close, let’s take one more look at Yahweh Misqabbi - the Lord our High Tower.  We can run safely to Him when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances.  The Lord does more than just provide a hiding place.  In the High Tower we are lifted high above the darts of temptations, trials, slander, separation, and sickness.  We are hidden in the Name of Yahweh Misqabbi, secure from all harm.  There is safety in His presence, and security in His Name!

God Sings Over You

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Most of us can say that there has been at least one time in our life when we messed things up, got into trouble of some sort or other, or made some big mistakes.  Often these mess-ups or mistakes angered some people, particularly if what we did was due to wrong or sinful behavior on our part.  It can be painful for us if the one who is angry is a loved one or someone we respect, especially if they remain angry and the relationship is damaged.  However, if or when that relationship is restored and forgiven, and we can see their smile upon us again, what joy we have!  This is the picture that we see in our Scripture today.

Our Scripture passage is taken from the Book of Zephaniah, an Old Testament prophet.  Not a whole lot is known about Zephaniah.  He ministered to the people of the Kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Josiah who reigned from 640-609 BC.  Zephaniah was a great-great grandson of King Hezekiah, so a distant relative of King Josiah.  Over the past several centuries the people of Judah had swung back and forth from faithful worship of Yahweh while under good kings, to worshiping pagan idols under the bad kings.  Yahweh was angry with the people for their spiritual unfaithfulness, particularly during the reign of King Manasseh, Josiah’s grandfather.  Because of this they were going to face judgment, some of which Zephaniah speaks of in the first 2 ½ chapters of his short book.

The people of the Kingdom of Judah had messed up badly and made some terrible mistakes in their welcome, acceptance, and worship of pagan gods, just like their sister the Kingdom of Israel had, which brought about their downfall.  Now the Prophet Zephaniah, along with his contemporaries like Jeremiah, brought God’s message of judgment.  Would the Lord ever forgive them?  Would his anger remain forever?

When we’ve made some really serious mistakes that put relationships we value at risk, when we’ve messed up badly, we aren’t likely to go around singing.  We’re more likely to cry.  Yet as our Scripture passage begins, the prophet tells the people to sing and shout for joy (vs. 14).  They can be glad because there is coming a day when the Lord will forgive them, when He will cast out the nations that He used in judgment against them (vs. 15).

Zephaniah continues his message, saying that the Lord will rejoice over His people (vs. 17).  This includes not just the people of Israel, but everyone who is in a saving relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.  We have all fallen into sin at various times and need God’s forgiveness.  Zephaniah assures us that God will forgive.  He is our Father, and just as a human parent will lovingly calm and quiet a fretting and upset child, and will hold them on their lap, singing them lullabies, so the Lord God does with us, as Zephaniah testifies.

God is singing because He rejoices over His children, delights in them, and feels joy over them.  God’s love is not based on our changing moods.  His love for us never wavers.  It is steadfast, unchanging, and totally reliable.  The Lord delights in us, just as a parent singing to a newborn baby.

His love for us is stronger than anything that would try and come against us (vs. 18-20).  We need to know how big and strong God is.  No matter the size of the problem in our life or the life of a loved one, God is bigger.  Even when our catastrophes result from our own rebellion, if we are believers in His Son Jesus, God still comes to our rescue.  Whatever troubles overtake us, whatever evils, Jesus is with us.  No matter how alone we feel, our strong Savior is with us.  No matter what fears ravage us, our God assures us that He is by our side.

In closing, many of us have been brought up and taught that God is a very stern, humorless, frowning deity.  However, Zephaniah teaches us here in the middle of our Scripture passage that we have a Heavenly Father who is joyful.  We serve a God who saves us from eternal death, and then prepares a place in heaven for us to celebrate with Him for all eternity.

Preparing For Jesus

Luke 3:1-6

We are a little over half-way through the Christian season of Advent now, that period in the Christian calendar that prepares us for the holy day of Christmas, the day when we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, into the world as our Savior.  A lot of emphasis is placed on preparing, not just preparing by decorating the house, shopping for presents, and planning menus, but preparing our hearts for the Lord Jesus.  In our Scripture today we read of an important figure in the Gospels, John the Baptist, who called people at the time to prepare for the beginning of the ministry of Jesus and the salvation that He brings to all.  Let’s look at this short passage and see its message.

This Scripture passage comes from Luke’s Gospel.  Luke was a very meticulous recorder of facts and details, and as he introduces John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, he makes sure that he lets the readers know the historical context of when this all took place (vs. 1-2).  First, Luke says that it was in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar as emperor of the Roman Empire.  Tiberius reigned from September 17, 14 AD to March 16, 37 AD., so this would place the time sometime between September of 29 AD to September of 30 AD.  Luke also clarifies that Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea (26-36 AD).

Luke also mentions three other localized rulers - Herod Antipas who was tetrarch (something like a governor or petty king) over Galilee; his brother Philip who was tetrarch over an area north of Galilee which included parts of present-day Lebanon and Syria; and Lysanias as the tetrarch over the area around Mt. Hermon, north of Galilee.  Caiaphas was the high priest.  While his father-in-law Annas had been deposed by Rome, he was still extremely influential, almost like a co-high priest.   Luke did his homework to let everyone know when this happened, and that it wasn’t just a fairy tale or legend.

After Luke set the political and religious time-line, he turned his attention to the man who was called to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, that being John the Baptist (vs. 2-3).  John centered his ministry in and around the area of the Jordan River, east of Jerusalem, not that far from the city, as many Pharisees came from there to keep their eyes on him.  John the Baptist preached a message of repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  He knew that the Messiah’s appearance was imminent, and that people needed to prepare their hearts for Him.

Repentance is an important prerequisite for forgiveness.  It is more than just saying “I’m sorry.”  It involves a complete 180 degree change in thought, attitude, and action.  To be truly repentant one must turn their back on sin and turn towards God’s ways and His forgiveness.  When someone was baptized by John, it symbolized a public declaration of repentance and a commitment to a transformed life.

Luke continues by declaring that John the Baptist was a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies of a forerunner to the Messiah, one who would come and prepare the way for Him (vs. 4-6).  Luke quotes from Isaiah 40:3-4 and from Isaiah 52:10.  John the Baptist was a voice calling out in the wilderness, as that is where his ministry took place, and he called for people to prepare their lives for God, repenting of sin, as symbolized in these passages as valleys, mountains, crooked, and rough paths.

John the Baptist called for all people to repent - rich, poor, all ages, whether supposedly “good” or notorious sinners, both Jewish and Gentiles alike.  Salvation is available to all who repent and believe in the Gospel.

Just as John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus’ first coming, believers today are called to prepare their hearts and lives for Christ’s return.  Repentance is central to the Christian faith.  We need to examine our lives, repent of all known sin, and seek God’s forgiveness.  Then, as a response of God’s forgiveness, we are called to proclaim the Good News of salvation and encourage others to turn to God.

Completing His Work On You

Philippians 1:1-11

Did you ever know someone who started a project, but never completed it?  Most of us know people like that, and perhaps you are even someone with that tendency.  They might start a project in their favorite hobby, or maybe a fix-up project with the house, maybe plans to start a garden, but after a little bit they stop.  Maybe they get bored, lose their enthusiasm, or run out of needed materials, and all work stops, they just give up.  That has happened to many people.  Would that ever happen with God?  Does He ever just give up on something?  That is one of several things that the Apostle Paul speaks about in our Scripture passage today.

Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi was written by the apostle while he was imprisoned for his faith.  Despite the rough treatment he had experienced in the city, the flogging, overnight jailing, and then being run out of town, the love Paul had for the church he started there is evident.  He begins his letter to the believers in Philippi with a prayer that they receive God’s grace and peace (vs. 2).  Grace and peace are two great heritages of the Christian.  These are two things we can always have, no matter what our circumstances.  Grace is all of God’s power, all of His love, all of His beauty available for us.  It is all that God is, and offers to us.  Peace is freedom from anxiety, fear, and worry.  Grace - God at work in our life.  Peace - A sense of security and trust.  These ought to mark Christians all the time.

Paul continues on by telling the Philippians that he thanks God for them (vs. 3).  Even though he and his companion Silas were falsely arrested in that city, illegally beaten with rods, and then thrown into stocks in a prison cell (Acts 16:20-24), he remembers his time there with love for these brothers and sisters in Christ.  Paul knew that the believers there were facing persecution, just as he did while there, ending with him and his group being told to leave town.  He kept them in his prayers each day that they would remain strong in their faith, just as they had from the first day they believed (vs. 4-5).

The apostle had entrusted these believers to the Lord when he left town.  They had entrusted their souls into His hands when they accepted Jesus as Savior.  Was it all in vain because of the persecution?  Was God going to drop the ball?  Did He only carry them so far, and then quit?  Or would He think that they were just too rotten and give up on them?  Paul knew that wasn’t the case.  He was confident in the Lord, that He began a good work in the Philippians, and He would complete it fully.  He would carry it through to the end (vs. 6).  They would not be an incomplete project sitting in the back of God’s closet.

There will always be enemies who try to thwart God’s work.  We will face people who hate the faith we have, and who may come against us, and we will always have to deal with the attacks of Satan and his minions, but God is in control.  God will make all things, including our life, beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  He is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28).  God does not panic.  He does not stop, but nor does He hurry.  He is always present, working in our lives.  We can remain calm trusting that God is present with us.  Even during uncertain times, God is continually working for our good.  That is why Paul could write a letter filled with such joy, even while sitting in a dark, damp, and dirty prison cell.

Our Scripture ends with the apostle Paul praying that the Philippians be filled with God’s love, knowledge, discernment, that they be sincere, be filled with righteousness, and without offense (vs. 9-11).  If we love God, and then love others, we will regularly look for ways to honor Him, and will work to do the right thing.  That is what the Philippians did, which pleased Paul, and of course, pleased God.

In closing I wish to point out that a measure of discernment is important for every Christian to have and to utilize.  A Christian without discernment is like a submarine in a harbor without radar or a periscope, or like a full jet trying to land in a dense fog without instruments or a radio.  They may have lots of good intentions, but then comes disaster!  Let us make an effort to show forth the fruits of the Spirit in our lives, and trust that no matter how much we mess up, Jesus will continue His work in us until He returns.

A Godly Home And Nation

Psalm 127

When a couple decides to marry and establish a new family they don’t usually want or even plan for an end to their marriage and family.  The same would go for when a new community is established.  No one looks for failure to happen.  Our Scripture today from the Book of Psalms gives us an answer to this problem.  Since we wish to avoid the failure of a marriage or of a city, a country, or any type of community, we can look to God’s answer in this Psalm.

Psalm 127 is one of only two psalms that King Solomon wrote that are included in the Bible.  It is also one of fifteen “Songs of Ascent”, which were a group of generally shorter psalms written to be sung by pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem.  Since Jerusalem has a higher elevation than its surrounding environs, the pilgrims were climbing higher, or ascending, as they journeyed to the city and the Temple.

Our psalm begins with the statement that “unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (vs. 1).    The Hebrew word for “house” here is “bayit”, which can mean both a structure built and used as a dwelling, or a household, a family.  Both definitions of “house” would be fitting here.  God’s Word is telling us that if we want our family firmly established, one that will both last and get along well together, it needs to be built on Him and His Word.  The Lord Jesus needs to be a “member” of the family if it is to be well-established.

The second half of this brief psalm tells of the blessings of children, which is quite often what follows a wedding and establishing of a household or family.  Again, if we wish to see our family prosper and have the blessings of the Lord upon it, and especially if children follow, it needs to be established in the Lord.  It should be the desire and prayer of every Christian parent that their children will one day, preferably earlier in their life, that they will be saved.  A more certain way of this happening is if they are instructed and taught from an early age the truths of the Bible.  However, if within the family and household there is nothing but fighting and squabbling, if it is a dysfunctional family, that is what the child will learn.

As believers, we should have a godly desire to train our children to use their talents and gifts to do what is right, and to live by the ways of the Lord.  A parent is responsible for the direction of their children.  A child, like an arrow, is incapable of directing himself (vs 4).  It is the responsibility of parents to direct the early lives of their children.  No Christian parent should ever follow the ungodly philosophy of “letting the child decide for themselves when they are older” what religious beliefs they should have, if any.  That is like wildly shooting an arrow blindly out into the air and hoping that it will hit the target.  It’s not likely to happen.  When we shoot an arrow, we aim for the bull’s eye, and that is what we should be doing with our children, aiming them for the Lord Jesus.

As for the actual structure of a house, there is nothing wrong with praying over it, whether one is moving into a brand new building, or one that has stood for decades.  Many Christians pray over each and every room of their home when they move in, and periodically afterwards, and that is a good practice to help keep Satan and his minions from getting a foothold.

A nation, city, or any other type of community will also be blessed if they are established in the Lord and the godly principles found in His Word.  If they aren’t, if they cast God’s Word behind them, they cannot expect His blessings, and their endeavors in the long-term will be in vain.  When our country took God’s Word out of our schools and in society in general, it has been a slow downward slide since then.

Unless the Lord is an active participant in all we do, our efforts will be in vain.  A relationship with God, based on obedience to His Word, must be the defining mental, emotional, and spiritual guide for every decision if the home or the nation expects to stand firm.  The Lord Himself should be the center of our home.

Dwelling In The Past

Haggai 2:1-9

As I get older I sometimes find myself looking back to the days of the past, the days of my childhood, now a good sixty years ago.  I’m not alone.  Many older folks look back to the past, missing some of the things from “the good old days”, when life was simpler, TV and movies were more wholesome and not trying to push an agenda, when children could play outside without their parents worrying themselves sick.  Looking back too much can sometimes lead to discouragement about the present.  This is what happened to some of the people of Israel in our Scripture for today, which the Prophet Haggai spoke about.

Not much is known about the Prophet Haggai, other than that he ministered to the Jewish people following their return to their homeland after the Babylonian captivity.  His book was written around 520 BC, and was written with the purpose of encouraging the people to continue with the work that the Lord had called them to.  When the Jewish people began to return to the Promised Land, in addition to rebuilding Jerusalem and the wall around that city, they started to rebuild the Temple which had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.  However, people from the neighboring nations started to harass them, and they eventually became discouraged and stopped the building of the Temple.  For several years the partially built Temple stood idle.

It was to this situation that the Prophet Haggai spoke.  As our Scripture opens, Haggai came to Zerubbabel, the Governor of Judah, to Joshua, the High Priest, and to the people, and spoke of their need to resume the work of rebuilding the Temple.  It wasn’t just the harassment coming from unbelieving, pagan people that had discouraged them.  It was also the memories of the glories of the former building, the magnificence of Solomon’s Temple (vs. 1-3).  What they were building was nothing in comparison to the former Temple, and many did not feel like continuing.

Haggai brought words of encouragement to not give up.  True, some of them were older, and had memories of seeing Solomon’s Temple before the armies of Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the city, including the Temple.  What they were building seemed like nothing compared to that.  The Lord spoke His Word to the people through His prophet, and told them to be strong, to continue their work, as He was with them (vs. 4-5).

We. too, might get discouraged as we remember back to how things “used to be”.  More people attended church back in past decades, back when we were younger.  People had more respect for the Lord, even among the unchurched and unsaved.  Believers could speak a bit more freely about the Lord and His Word back in previous years then they can now.  Thus some have become discouraged and feel like giving up the work.  The Lord says, though, to not give up.  We don’t have a Temple to build, but we still have His work to do, to spread the message of Jesus.  Be strong, for He is with us.

Haggai had one more message to bring the people about their work in rebuilding the Temple.  They may have been discouraged that this building was not nearly as grand and magnificent looking as Solomon’s, however the prophet wanted to encourage them with God’s promise that this Temple that they were building would be even greater due to one particular reason.  God would fill this second Temple with even greater glory, as the Desire of All Nations would come here (vs. 6-9).  That, of course, is a reference to the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.  During His earthly life, Jesus would enter the Second Temple on numerous occasions.  Solomon’s Temple may have been architecturally much grander and more magnificent than the Second Temple, however, Jesus never set foot there.

It’s alright to look back to former times once in a while.  However, we should never stay there in our minds, and give up on today.  God has a work for us to do today.  Lamenting over how supposedly great things were in the past is fruitless.  Don’t get so focused on the past, like the Israelites in Haggai’s day were, that we miss what God is doing in the present.  The past is a reminder that God has been faithful, and should never be a trap that keeps us from participating in His present and future work.

Watch For The Signs

Luke 21:25-31

Do you like cold weather, or are you more of a warm weather person?  Where I live the cold of winter has already come, and is likely to stay until some time in April.  We can tell that winter is coming a number of weeks ahead of the actual calendar date by the occasional chilly mornings, the leaves changing color and falling, then frost on the ground, and birds migrating.  Then winter arrives with the cold, ice, and snow.  There are similar noticeable hints that spring and then summer is on the way.  Springtime flowers slowly start to appear, migratory birds begin to return, and we have longer and warmer days.  And finally there are leaf buds on the trees.  We can tell that either spring and summer, or winter is coming by these signs.  If we weren’t paying attention, then these seasons could come upon us as a surprise.  There is something coming that is even more important and momentous than the coming of spring after a long, hard winter, and there will be signs of that event, too.  Are you alert to the signs, or will you be caught unaware?  Let’s look into our Scripture to see what this is.

During the last week of Jesus’ life here on earth, He spent the majority of His time in the vicinity of the Temple in Jerusalem teaching His disciples and all who would come to hear Him.  Some of the messages that He taught were about the End Times, and what will happen at the time of His return to earth then.  Jesus stated unequivocally that no one knows exactly when that day will be, but that there will be signs to indicate that the date is closely approaching, and for those alive then to not be caught unaware or unprepared.

One of the signs that will signal the impending return of the Lord Jesus was signs in the heavens and on earth (vs. 25-26).  There will be things that happen to the sun, moon, and stars in the sky.  What specifically happens, we are not told, but we can be sure that they will be noticeable enough that they cause fear in the hearts of many.  Jesus also said that there will be signs on earth.  Among them is a distress among nations.  We see plenty of that going on today, with words of aggression between countries tossed back and forth, and of course outright wars, killing, and destruction between nations.

Other signs here on earth that the Lord warned about are those with the sea and waves.  One thing that scientists and meteorologists have stated is that there has been an increase in hurricanes each year, along with an increase in the strength and destructive power of those hurricanes.  In the last few years the U.S. has had several very destructive hurricanes, including hurricanes that brought flooding and destruction way inland, far from the ocean shores.  There will be all sorts of natural disasters that will bring distress to people, along with societal upheaval, with riots, violent protests, death and destruction happening.  We have seen too much of that in the last several years, too.

As we read in our Scripture Jesus’ anticipated return will be a visible, powerful event (vs. 27).   He will return in bodily form, descending from the clouds with great glory.  Jesus warns us that these, and other signs that He spoke of in other Scripture passages, are signs heralding His imminent return.  He pointed out a fig tree, and other trees.  When we see the leaf buds begin to appear and start to open, we know that the warmer weather of late spring and summer is coming (vs. 28-31).  So when we see these things happen, we know Jesus’ return is coming.

Jesus’ overall message today is clear.  The Son of God is Lord over all things.  Just as death could not keep Him in its grip, neither can anything in this world prevent God from fulfilling His good purposes for His people.  Jesus gave us a warning.  Final judgment will be a reality.  He will return as Judge over all.  All who ever lived will either find their redemption in Jesus, or face God’s judgment.

As believers, we need to be watchful, staying alert and watching for these signs, and being ready for when Jesus does return.  Despite the distressing events that will be coming, we do not need to fall into a state of panic, despair, or worry.  We can take comfort in the promise of redemption, and His coming kingdom.  Let us remain steadfast in our faith, trusting in God’s plan and His timing.

Words Of Encouragement

I Thessalonians 3:9-13

A newborn baby needs help for quite a while after being born.  When we bring the little one home, we certainly don’t expect them to run outside and join the neighborhood children in a game of backyard baseball, nor do we expect them to sit down and read Shakespeare and write a 20-page essay on what they read.  They need the help, love, and support of their mother, father, and other members of their family.  The same is true for spiritually newborn children of God.  They need spiritual love, support, and care from their spiritual family, helping them to grow in the Lord.  This is what the Apostle Paul sought to give the young, new believers in Thessalonica, as we see in his epistles to that church.  Let’s look at one brief passage from his first letter to that church.

The church in Thessalonica had a very difficult beginning, as we read in Acts 17:1-10.  At the end of Acts 16, the missionaries Paul and Silas had been run out of Philippi by their enemies, after establishing a church there.  Once in Thessalonica, they began to tell people about salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus, and several people were saved, and began a new church.  However, within a matter of weeks, those who opposed the Gospel, both Jews and Gentiles, began to bring more persecution, and Paul and Silas needed to flee for their lives again, leaving the new church behind.

A short while later Paul sent these new believers a letter of encouragement, and our Scripture comes from the middle of this letter.  These believers in Thessalonica were brand new Christians when Paul and Silas had to flee the city for safety, just babies in Christ.  Perhaps when they fled, Paul left some of his companions there to help instruct these new believers.  Now Paul sent this letter to express his love and gratitude to these new fellow believers, and to let them know of his prayers.

As we read here, Paul wanted these believers to know the deep gratitude he had to God for them, and the joy he had as he heard of their spiritual growth, despite the persecution and hostility they experienced, both from Jews and Gentiles in the city (vs. 9).  How do we feel when we see or hear of a new Christian’s spiritual growth, maybe in spite of their own personal hardships?  All too often spiritually older Christians have little concern for those new in the faith, other than perhaps to think critically of them if they aren’t immediately “super-Christians”.  Paul, though, was so grateful for them, and was filled with joy.

This led him to keep them in his prayers each day (vs. 10).  He prayed that they would grow in the faith, and he also prayed that he might one day be able to return to Thessalonica.  Prayer for new believers is important, as well as leaders guiding and nurturing the faith of their congregations.  Again, how well are us spiritually older believers following Paul’s example?

As Paul continued, he stated again his deep desire to come see the believers in Thessalonica again (vs. 11).   He prayed that this would be the will of God, and sought His direction to be able to reunite with them.  Paul knew that seeking God’s will and guidance in everything was important, including something as desirous as his wish to see them again.  He didn’t just up and take a trip to see them unless he knew that was in the center of God’s will.  We, too, should know that God is sovereign, and seek His guidance in all aspects of our life, trusting in His perfect timing and plan.

In verse 12 we read of Paul’s prayer that the Thessalonian believers would grow in love for one another, and also for all people in general.  He wished for their love for others would increase and overflow. Love is a fundamental Christian virtue, and Paul wanted this church to grow in love, and to reflect the love of Jesus to others.  Do our churches show that love to both newcomers and those who have been attending for a while?  A church that supports and cares for one another will both draw the unsaved to them, and also show long-time members that they matter, too.

As our Scripture comes to a close, Paul reminded them of the imminence of Jesus’ return (vs. 13).  Paul didn’t know, and we don’t know, exactly when He will return.  It could be today, next week, next year, or many more years down the road.  He told the Thessalonians, and tells us now, that we need to be living blameless and holy lives, striving for moral purity and integrity before God.  Let’s be sure that we are living in a way that honors the Lord Jesus, so that when He does return, we will be ready and not ashamed.