Beware Of False Teachers

Colossians 2:6-10

Going through life, we have to be careful who we listen to, and what we believe from what we’re told.  That’s because we are frequently given the wrong information.  Sometimes that might not be such a big deal, like when we might be given the wrong date for a sale at our favorite store.  We might feel a little foolish when others find out that we believe some urban legend, but again no serious harm is done.  However, believing some things can cause us financial loss or even physical harm.  And as we will see in our Scripture today, following the words of the wrong people, and believing the wrong things they teach, can lead to spiritual ruin.

Today’s brief Scripture passage comes from St. Paul’s epistle to the Colossian church.  Let’s take a quick look at each verse, as we can learn much, and also receive help to not be led astray with false or heretical teaching.  Paul begins by instructing us that since we have received the Lord Jesus as our Savior, we need to be walking in the teachings He has given us (vs. 6).  The word “walk” here isn’t just talking about moving one’s feet.  It is the Greek word “peripateo”, which not only means to walk, but also to conduct one’s self or pass one’s life.  It is keeping company with someone on a shared journey.  We received Christ as our Savior by faith, and we continue our Christian walk by faith, too, not by works, or by rituals, nor with worldly wisdom.

As Paul continues on, he uses the picture or metaphor of both agriculture and architecture to make his point (vs. 7).  He told the believers in this church that they were “rooted” and “built up” in the Lord Jesus.  A tree, or most any other plant, needs strong roots to firmly keep it standing in the ground.  A building needs a good foundation to keep it from falling over.  So too, our faith needs to be grounded and built up in the Lord Jesus.  It needs to be established in sound doctrine, and not in any false teachings or cultural trends that false preachers try to spread.

Next, the Apostle gives us a strong warning that we need to be careful that we don’t get taken captive by any false preacher or teacher who brings the philosophies of the world and heretical teachings, and not the true message of the Lord Jesus (vs. 8).  This also aligns with concerns of those who twist Biblical passages and verses to fit their own particular narrative and false beliefs.  Paul warns to be careful not to fall prey to them, or to those who infiltrate the church with their secular ideologies.  This would include those who preach the “prosperity gospel”, that God wants everyone to be rich and healthy, and to get that way one needs to send them money.  It also includes the TV preachers who only preach warm and fuzzy, feel-good messages, ones that just boost the listeners self-esteem and never mention sin or salvation.  We need to refuse to listen to ungodly advice or the false philosophies so popular in our world, nor follow their worldly advice.

As we continue, we read an important verse that speaks of Jesus’ human and divine nature (vs. 9).  This verse proclaims that Jesus is fully God in bodily form.  This refutes the false and heretical teachings that have been around since the early days of the Church, and are still around today that deny the Incarnation of Jesus, and that say that He is not the Son of God, but was just a “good teacher”.  Verse 10 declares to us that believers are “complete” in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Once we have taken Jesus as our Savior, there is no need for anything extra to attain spiritual fullness.  The Lord Jesus is sufficient.

With the Lord Jesus as our Savior, His wisdom can give us direction if we come to Him in prayer.  His knowledge will give us instruction.  The Savior’s power is our protection, and His justice is our guarantee.  Jesus’ love is our comfort, His mercy is our solace, and His immutability or inability to change is our trust.  When we pray to God, seeking His power and love, we are asking for what He has already faithfully promised.  Because of that we can pray with certain confidence.

Paul warned the Colossian church to be on guard, and keep their eyes on the game.  We, like them, need to be careful not to be taken captive by false philosophies.  There are so many false teachers out there who want to entrap us in ways of thinking and living that are opposed to the Gospel.  Be vigilant against teachings that sound spiritual but are not rooted in Scripture.  Whether it is cultural or religious traditions, if they conflict with the Bible, they must be rejected.  It is imperative to test everything we hear or read by the Word of God alone.  Stop looking around to other beliefs and ways of life.  Everything we need is found in the Lord Jesus Christ!

God Magnifies His Word Above His Name

Psalm 138

How important to you is your name?  No one wants to see their name fall into bad repute, to be tarnished, or dragged through the mud of some bad scandal.  We tell our families to keep up the good reputation of the family name.  No one wants their name said with scorn or a snicker.  Instead, they want to be able to hold their head up with some degree of pride when their name is mentioned.  The Lord God is particular in how His Name is used.  One of the Ten Commandments is to not take the Lord’s Name in vain.  We are not to misuse His Name in any way, as it is that important and sacred.  With that in mind, would you think that He would put anything above His Name?  Let’s see what our Psalm for today has to say.

Psalm 138, a short psalm by King David, is filled with praise and trust in the Lord God.  He begins this hymn of praise by proclaiming that he will praise Him with his whole heart (vs 1).  When it comes to God, David does not do anything half-heartedly.  When it comes to praising Him, he gives it everything that he has.  There is nothing casual about David’s worship of God.  He has fully surrendered to Him.  Neither does the king hold back in his praise of Yahweh for fear of offending anyone who worships another pagan deity.  He knows those false gods are nothing, and he boldly sings before them praises to Yahweh, the one and only true God.  Like David, we should not be ashamed to give wholehearted worship to the Lord, nor should we feel that we have to listen to the world when it tells us that we should keep quiet about the Lord Jesus because “there are other religions in this world”.  David boldly proclaimed Yahweh before the pagans.

David continues by proclaiming he will worship the Lord towards His temple (vs. 2).  The great Temple in Jerusalem had not yet been built in David’s day.  His son and successor, King Solomon, would build the Temple.  However, Yahweh was worshiped in the Tabernacle, and had been since the days of Moses.  This was a temporary, transportable structure of curtains and poles, similar to a tent surrounded by a curtained courtyard.  David would worship God in His earthly dwelling.  He also praised God for His wonderful attributes, such as His loving kindness and His truth.  God is truth (John 14:6), and there is nothing false about Him, so we can fully trust in Him.  He also has loving mercy towards His children.

Next we read something that some might find surprising.  That is that the Lord’s Word, the Bible, is magnified or exalted above even His Name (vs. 2).   We know how much God honors His Name.  As mentioned above, honoring His Name is one of the Ten Commandments.  We pray to God in the Name of Jesus.  Satan and the demons must obey the Name of Jesus (Luke 10:17).  However, here we read that God exalts His Word, the Bible even above His Name, as revered as that is!  God’s Word is exalted even above His reputation.  This affirms the inspiration of the Scriptures.  Every word of Scripture is God-breathed and authoritative (II Timothy 3:16).

David continues on to say that there will be universal praise given to Yahweh (vs. 4-6).  All the kings of the earth will praise Him.  We certainly don’t see that today!  There are a number of rulers who violently oppose the worship of Jesus in their country.  And most others, though they grant freedom of religion, have absolutely no regard for Him in their own life.  However, there is coming a day when all rulers will acknowledge Jesus when He will reign over all, and all nations and rulers will bow before Him.  Yet as we see, though God is exalted, He is willing to care for the humble (vs. 6).

David reminds us that there will be times when we go through trouble (vs. 7).  He doesn’t say that there may be times we go through trouble, he states it as a matter of fact, we will face those times.  But when we do, God will deliver us.  No matter what our circumstances are, no matter how insurmountable the odds, God promises to save us in the very middle of our trouble.

As David comes to the end of his psalm, he states that God will perfect that which concerns him (vs. 8).  God finishes what He starts.  This echoes Philippians 1:6.  He is faithful to complete His work in us.  God has a purpose for our life, and He will fulfill that purpose.  If we have entrusted our life to Him, we can rest in His promise to take care of us.

In closing, we see several important things that David has shared with us in his psalm.  We learned that God’s Word is supreme.  It is magnified even above His Name.  David also shared how important it is to be bold in our public worship of Yahweh.  Even in the presence of opposition, we need to stand firm.  Then David reminds us that though He will be exalted by all rulers, God cares for the humble.  Finally we can trust that God will fulfill His purpose in our lives.

An Intercessor

Genesis 18:20-33

How willing are you to intercede for people you know are sinful and wicked?  Are you willing to go before God in prayer, interceding on their behalf, to in a respectful way try to bargain with Him for His mercy for them, knowing that they are wicked sinners?  Most of us would rather sit in the judgment seat, calling for condemnation, especially if they are accused of something terrible.  We would not be trying to bargain with God on their behalf.  In our Scripture today we look at an episode in the life of Abraham, where he does just that.  Let’s see what God’s Word says.

Right prior to our Scripture, Abraham had just had some visitors to his residence, which he found to be the Lord and two of His angels.  When they left, Abraham walked with them for a short while, and the Lord decided He would share with him what He planned on doing shortly.  This showed that Abraham had a very close, personal relationship with God.  He wasn’t the type of believer who just said a quick, memorized prayer-poem before he went to bed.  He was God’s friend (James 2:23), and as such, God would not keep this secret from him.

As they walked, He revealed to Abraham that He was going to bring judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah because of their grave sin and depravity (vs. 20).  These cities have long had a deep rebellion against God and His ways.  Before passing judgment, though, God would give them one last look-over to see exactly how wicked they were (vs 21).  Though God is omniscient, and knows everything, His going down to investigate shows that His justice is never arbitrary.  It is deliberate and righteous.  The two angels left God and Abraham and traveled down into Sodom, and what they found is further described in Genesis 19.

It was at this moment that Abraham stepped in as a great intercessor.  First, he knew that his nephew Lot and his family had been residing in Sodom for a while.  He knew that, though Lot was a believer, his spiritual life had greatly fallen into the pit since he had moved there.  Still, Abraham did not want them to suffer in the judgment with the rest of the city.  He also did not want anyone else who had not participated in any of the grievous sins of the city to perish, either.  Abraham stood before the Lord and began to pray, to intercede on behalf of the innocent people in those cities.

Though historians and Bible scholars do not know for certain exactly how many people lived in Sodom and Gomorrah at this time, Abraham started at the number fifty, and asked God to spare the cities if fifty righteous people could be found (vs 23-26).  He appealed to God’s justice.  He knew that God would not ever condemn the righteous along with the wicked.  God agreed.  He would not destroy the place if fifty were found.  Abraham continued and worked his prayer and intercession all the way down to ten people.  If just ten were found, would God spare the place?  The answer from God was yes, if just ten are found it would be spared (vs. 27-32).

Abraham was both bold and humble.  He boldly came before God to plead for the righteous, people whom, aside from Lot and family, he didn’t even know.  He knew the wickedness of the place, which is why he never joined Lot in residing there.  However, he cared about others, and would come before God to pray for them.  Abraham, though, was also humble.  He wasn’t proud, nor prayed with presumption.  He knew that he was but dust and ashes before God (vs. 27).  Yet, because he knew God’s character was one of love and mercy, he interceded on behalf of Lot and others.

After Abraham’s prayer, God ended the conversation, not in anger, but in sovereign decision (vs. 33)  As we later see in the next chapter of Genesis, Abraham’s intercession did not save Sodom.  Ten righteous people in the cities could not be found.  However, this did reveal that God was willing to spare them for the sake of ten if they could have been found.

What can we learn from this Scripture passage?  First, we see that God is just.  He does not punish the righteous with the wicked.  His judgments are always fair and holy.  We also see that God is merciful.  He was willing to spare an entire city filled with evil and wickedness just for the sake of ten righteous people if they could have been found, which unfortunately they weren’t.

Very importantly we see the importance of intercessory prayer.  Like Abraham, we today are called to stand in the gap, pleading for mercy for others.  Like the prophet Ezekiel said centuries later, God is looking for people to stand in the gap with prayer for others (Ezekiel 22:30).  This world has only gotten worse since the days of Abraham or even Ezekiel.  Abraham gave us an example that believers must pray and plead with God on behalf of the lost.  Will you do that?  Will you stand in the gap and pray for God’s mercy on an evil and wicked world today?

Misplaced Priorities

Luke 10:38-42

In addition to the twelve apostles, and the other disciples that followed Him throughout His ministry, Jesus had a number of friends who believed in Him, and helped to supply His needs.  Among these were Mary, and her sister Martha, and their brother Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.  Our Scripture today tells the account of one event in their relationship with Jesus, one that only the evangelist Luke records.  Let’s see what happened that day with Jesus.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in the village of Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem.  Jesus and His disciples would frequently visit there when they were in Jerusalem, their home being a place they could rest, away from the crowds.  The three were good hosts, and their home was a place where Jesus felt welcomed, loved, and cared for.

As we look into our Scripture from Luke’s Gospel, we read of one visit of Jesus to this home.  As Jesus and the disciples relaxed in the main room of the house, Martha was scurrying around, trying to prepare a meal, get the extra plates and glasses out, set out some snacks, straightening things around the house, etc.  She was probably getting somewhat flustered and stressed out.  Meanwhile, her sister Mary was sitting on the floor at Jesus’ feet, listening intently to what He was saying to the group (vs. 38-39).  She was not worried at that moment what the house looked like, or whether they would have the perfect dinner a little later.  Instead, what was important to her at that moment was the words Jesus was speaking, and being in His presence.  No matter how much noise Martha was making in the kitchen, rattling around with pots and pans, and probably heavy sighing to get Mary’s attention for help, Mary’s attention was glued on Jesus.

Finally Martha’s patience broke, and she came into the room, interrupting Jesus, and complained to Him that her sister wasn’t helping, that He didn’t seem to care about that, and that she was doing all the work by herself! (vs. 40).  However, instead of getting the response she was hoping for, that Jesus would scold Mary and make her help, Jesus gently scolded Martha for being so worried about things that weren’t that important.  What Mary chose to do, listening to Him, “that good part”, was what was important (vs. 41-42).  The priority of personal devotion to Jesus is more important than even well-intentioned service.

Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus’ feet shows a believer’s highest calling, that of personal communion with Jesus through His Word.  Martha’s busyness, even though she meant well, shows how even ministry can become a distraction away from Him.  Because of her misplaced priorities, Martha soon became filled with anxiety and worry, things no one wants in their life.

As we look closer into Jesus’ interactions with the two sisters, we see that He wasn’t scolding Martha for her service or hospitality.  Service is good, but only when it flows from a heart grounded in worship and truth.  Hospitality is commendable, but it must not replace worship.  Martha welcomed Jesus physically, but Mary welcomed Him spiritually.  Misplaced priorities can lead to a spiritual imbalance in our life, and even to resentment.  Because of Martha putting priority on getting a meal together, instead of listening to Jesus’ Words like Mary was, she was soon frustrated.  This led her to finally bring a complaint, not only against Mary, but subtly against Jesus, Himself (vs. 40).

Jesus knew that Martha was anxious and overwhelmed.  He reminded her that the spiritual peace she really needed would come, not from doing more, but from abiding in Him (John 15:5).  Jesus told her, and tells us today, as well, that the supreme priority is fellowship with Him.  Mary’s choice was the eternal one, and it would not be taken away from her.  Time spent in God’s Word and in prayer has lasting spiritual value.  Mary followed the first and greatest commandment, that of loving God with all her heart, soul, and mind.

Many Christians today make the mistake of Martha, they let their ministry replace a close and personal time with God.  Service to the church and community is good, but if we neglect personal devotion, the service becomes hollow.  Like Mary, we need to prioritize our quiet time with Jesus, guarding our time for Bible study and prayer.  That is the “good part” that fuels our Christian life.

If both sisters had done what they should, and sat at Jesus’ feet, learning from Him, they would have been spiritually fed.  True, there wouldn’t have been a gourmet meal later.  It may have ended up being a buffet style “make your own sandwiches” type meal, but in the long run that would have been better.  Jesus would not have minded.  To have fellowship with Jesus, we may have to leave some things undone.  Our greatest need is to spend time with Him.

Reconciled With God

Colossians 1:21-29

Many people can point to a time in their life when they had a relationship with someone go bad.  Perhaps it was with a spouse, maybe a friend, or a neighbor.  Sometimes that relationship even completely broke up.  The marriage ended in a divorce, or the friendship was completely severed.  Sometimes this happens in the political world between two nations.  When marriages, friendships, or other relationships start to go bad or even break apart, a third party is often needed to try and repair it, and bring the two back together.  There is a relationship that everyone has had severed, and that is our relationship with God.  Ever since the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, mankind’s relationship with God was broken.  Who can repair that?  Is there any hope for a reconciliation?  As we look into our Scripture for today, we will find an answer.

Mankind’s close and loving relationship with God was severed and destroyed when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit.  From that time forward we have been alienated from God, following our own sinful path, further and further away from Him.  Any attempts of our own to reconcile with God failed miserably, for we all have sinned, whether Jewish and worshiping Yahweh, the true God, or the Gentiles following their false pagan idols (Romans 3:23).   We need a third party to bring about a reconciliation.  God, Himself, gave us that Person in His Son, Jesus Christ.  This is the message that Paul spoke of in this epistle.  We can be reconciled with God, and transformed through His Son, Jesus.

As our Scripture begins in verse 21, Paul points out our past condition with God.  We were all alienated from Him .  We weren’t just alienated, our sinful behavior was actually hostile to Him.  Mankind without a relationship with God through Jesus, is not merely sick, but they are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1).  Paul wrote about this in his epistle to the Colossian Church.  They used to be in a bad position before God.  They were alienated before Him, and lived as His enemies.  This was reinforced by wrong thinking and evil behavior.  We were all like this.

However, God provided a solution through His Son, Jesus.  Our reconciliation was made possible through His death on the cross for our sins (vs. 22).  Those who put their faith and trust in Him are no longer enemies, but have been reconciled through His Blood.  Jesus died to present us to God as holy and without blemish or accusation.  Paul proceeded to instruct the believers that they need to continue in the faith (vs. 23).  We can do that by remaining steadfast - loyal, dedicated, and unwavering.  We also need to stay grounded in God’s Word, the Bible.

Paul continued by saying how he rejoiced in the suffering he was going through for the Lord Jesus and His Church (vs. 24-25).  He valued eternal fruit over temporary earthly comfort.  In verse 24 Paul was not saying that the redemption that Jesus provided was incomplete.  He knew that the Church is the Body of Christ.  When the Church suffers, Jesus also suffers.  When Paul (called Saul at that time) persecuted the Church in his earlier days, Jesus said that Paul was persecuting Him (Acts 9:4).  Now, as a believer, Paul’s suffering was part of the tribulation that must occur before the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness.  Paul shared in the sufferings of Jesus by enduring persecution for the sake of the Church.

As this Scripture continues, Paul spoke about a mystery which had now been revealed (vs. 26-27).  That mystery which was revealed is “Christ in you, the hope of glory”.  This mystery is not mystical knowledge, but the glorious truth that Gentiles are included in God’s redemptive plan (Ephesians 3:6).  The hope of glory is that Christ indwelling the believer is the guarantee of future glorification.  Because of the finished work of the cross, we are now one with Jesus and co-heirs of His glorious inheritance (Romans 8:16-17).

What a blessed truth, knowing that the Son of God dwells inside of us!  The One who holds the authority over all of the power of the enemy lives inside of us.  God’s presence is inside of us and so is His power to deliver us and set us free from every bondage.

Paul then stated the goal of his ministry (vs. 28-29).  Paul sought to warn and teach everyone about the Lord Jesus and coming judgment.  His goal was to present to God every believer mature in their faith in Jesus.

As we close let us remember that as believers, God abides in us (I John 4:15).  No other religion or philosophy can make such a claim.  No other movement implies the living presence of its founder in his followers.  Muhammad does not indwell Muslims.  Buddha does not inhabit Buddhists.  However, genuine Christians have the Lord Jesus abiding within us.  Let us rejoice in the fact that Jesus has reconciled us to God and now dwells in us, and then live our lives in accordance with that knowledge and truth, letting our lights shine so as to draw others to Him, as well.

Characteristics Of A Godly Believer

Psalm 15

How can you tell if a person is a real big fan of a certain sport, perhaps of baseball?  Well, he’s likely going to attend a lot of games.  He will have a lot of sports channels on his TV, and watch as many games as he can.  He’s likely to own some memorabilia, too. How about someone who is fascinated by the 1960’s or 70’s?  Again, they likely listen to the music from those decades, own many dvd collections of TV series from then, own some of the popular games, and perhaps even vintage clothing from that era.  We can usually tell these people by observing them.  The same should be true with a Christian who is living in a close relationship in the presence of the Lord.  We should be able to observe certain things.  King David highlighted some of these characteristics in our psalm for this week.

First, it is important to note that this psalm is not a list of works that will assure us of heaven.  One does not get to heaven by performing certain religious rituals or works, or by doing a lot of good deeds.  This psalm gives a description of the righteous person whose life is abiding in God’s presence.

The first characteristic that David gives us of a person who is living righteously in God’s presence is that they walk uprightly (vs. 2).  They live a consistent lifestyle of integrity.  They have strong moral principles and are honest.  They are morally upright people, and actively obey what God says in His Word.  They are also scrupulously truthful.  When they tell you something, you don’t have to wonder whether their words are the truth, an exaggeration, or a lie.  You know it’s the truth!  True believers will live out their faith with integrity and truth.

Verse 3 continues by describing this person as one who watches what they say, and will neither do evil nor take up a reproach against their neighbor.  Spending time gossiping and slandering others, either behind their back or to their face, is not compatible with a godly person.  They will not willingly do anything evil to their neighbor, nor try to stir up strife with them, or do anything dishonorable.  A person of integrity refuses to join in such behavior.  Instead they show love and restraint in speech and action.

Another characteristic that this psalm of King David describes is that the godly believer with integrity will be careful about who they associate with (vs. 4).  They do not want to associate with nor be around a person who continually practices or participates in sinful behavior.  They consider such a one as vile.  They can discern that such a person will have a negative impact in their life and their work for the Lord, so they choose to not develop a close association with them (I Corinthians 15:33).  Instead they honor other fellow believers, those who fear the Lord.  Because we tend to emulate those with whom we spend time with, we need to have more Christ-like friends.

We also read in this verse that the godly, righteous believer will swear to their own hurt (vs. 4).  When they make a promise to someone, they will keep it, even if it is inconvenient to do so.  They will not change their word when once given.  They do what they promise, even when it is difficult.  We need to follow through on our commitments, even when it hurts.  Our word should be our bond.

Verse 5 continues with more characteristics of this godly person who abides in God’s presence.  Another one is that they don’t lend money with usury, which is a more antiquated word for charging interest on a loan.  Banks and other lending institutions do, but when a Christian lends money to a needy fellow believer they should not ask it back with interest.  We should help others generously and unselfishly, and not exploit their hardship.  This believer should also not take a bribe against the innocent, especially if they are in some type of legal or political profession.  They will not pervert justice for gain.

To develop this lifestyle of one who consistently abides in God’s presence we must formulate beliefs that are based upon Scripture.  We must also continually submit to the Lord Jesus.  We must also make it a habit to develop relationships with godly people and avoid people who follow the ways of the world.

As mentioned before, these characteristics are not a means of salvation, these are not something that we do in order to be saved.  Instead, they are fruits that should be evident in a sanctified life.  This psalm is also a call to live a life of separation.  A godly Christian will reject the worldly values of unbelievers, and instead honor those who fear the Lord.  As we see, God values truthfulness, justice, and faithfulness in every area of our life.  As a Christian, we should live in such a way that when people think of honesty and integrity, they will think of us.

Nothing Is Impossible With God

Genesis 18:1-15

What would you think if you woke up tomorrow and heard the news that actress Sophia Loren was pregnant?  What?!?!  That’s impossible!  You’d quickly check online to see how old she is, and find out that she is 90 years old.  Well, that’s impossible, you’d think.  No 90 year old woman can have a baby.  That is almost always the case.  I say almost, as that impossible event did happen, as we will read in our Scripture today.

As our Scripture opens, we find an elderly Abraham (he was 100 at the time), sitting in the shade of a terebinth tree.  As he sat there, he saw three men approach him.  In Biblical days, hospitality was of paramount importance.  This didn’t just apply to friends or relatives, but also especially to strangers.  It didn’t matter that Abraham did not know these men, he was a kind and generous host.  He immediately gave orders to have a meal prepared, and invited the men to join him in the shade (vs. 1-5).

Regardless of the fact that hospitality was important and expected by everyone in that culture, Abraham was eager to serve.  He did not know yet who these visitors were, and we will get to that in a moment, but his actions would mirror the New Testament call to serve others as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24).  As believers, we are called to serve others without hesitation, even if it might be inconvenient for us.  Our faith should express itself in action, just like Abraham’s did, by showing hospitality, a readiness to serve, and honoring others.  We, like Abraham, may find ourselves entertaining angels without knowing (Hebrews 13:2).

As the four men sat and ate the meal that Sarah, Abraham’s wife had prepared, the three guests asked where she was.  Another custom in Old Testament days was that men and women ate separately in formal settings or with strangers present, as in this occasion.  Then one of the men said to Abraham that at this time the next year she would have born him a son (vs 9-10).  It was at this time that Abraham probably came to realize that this was the Lord God in a human form, along with two angels, who had visited him.  Such an occurrence is called a Theophany.  A Theophany is a visible manifestation of God, often as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ.  This would become fully apparent a little later on when Abraham and these men would take a walk to view the city of Sodom in the distance (Genesis 18:16-21).

One of the visitors, who we now know was the Lord, promised Abraham that he would have a son within the year.  Sarah, who was in the nearby tent, overheard this comment, and laughed quietly to herself (vs. 10-12).  She knew that she was 90, and had long since, by several decades, passed the age to bear a child.  Also, she knew that this promise had been made to her and Abraham several times before, and nothing had happened so far, so why would this promise be any different (Genesis 12:7; Genesis 15:4-5; Genesis 17:15-19).  She had been barren all of her life, and now was 90 years old.  This would be impossible, so Sarah quietly laughed at this comment.

Much to her embarrassment, though, the Lord heard her quiet laughter, and asked Abraham why his wife was laughing at that promise.  He asked them both whether anything is too hard for the Lord to accomplish (vs. 13-14).  Sarah, embarrassed and afraid at being called out on this, denied laughing, but the Lord wouldn’t let her get away with it, and said no, that she had indeed laughed (vs. 15).

As Christians, we can know for certain that God’s promises are sure, even when humanly impossible.  He is omnipotent and also faithful.  Something that is humanly impossible, like a 90 year old woman naturally becoming pregnant, is no problem with the Lord.  He has all power to override any physical laws such as that.  The Lord is also faithful.  He made the promise to Abraham, and He is faithful to keep it.  The delay showed that this child was from God, not just by nature.

As we look at this miraculous and wonderful event in the lives of Abraham and Sarah, we can know and believe that truly, nothing is impossible for God.  When we face impossible circumstances in our life God invites us to trust Him fully, and anchor our hope in His Word.  Faith often requires trusting beyond what we can see or understand, as Abraham and Sarah saw.  Nothing is too hard for the Lord, and this truth should fuel our faith and obedience to Him.

The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

When we hear or read about an accident with injuries, a victim of a mugging, or some natural disaster with many injuries, we often hear about some “good Samaritans” who step in and help where they can.  Sometimes these individuals are even given special commendations.  Where did that term come from?  Christians who are familiar with the Scriptures know the background of that term.  However today, with so many people having never read even part of the Bible, they may know that it refers to someone who comes to the aid of a stranger, but have no idea where the term originated.  Let’s look at our Scripture today about the Good Samaritan, learn the background, and also learn some other lessons from this parable.

The background to Jesus’ parable begins when a lawyer approached Jesus, asking him about eternal life, trying to trick Him.  Depending on His answer, perhaps the lawyer could get Jesus in an even more bad standing with the Jewish religious leaders.  Jesus asked him what the Law of Moses said.  The lawyer answered by saying to love God and your neighbor as yourself.  Jesus then responded back by saying that if this lawyer fully followed those commandments, he would have eternal life (vs. 25-28).  This was not saying, by any means, that works would get anyone into heaven.  He exposed the impossibility of perfectly fulfilling the Law.  There isn’t anyone who has never broken any of God’s laws.  Eternal life is not earned by works, but received by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

The lawyer then, knowing that he had never fully kept either of these commands, tried to justify himself before Jesus, and asked exactly who his neighbor would be.  That set the stage for Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus told of a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho.  Though not a long journey (about 18 miles), it was often a dangerous one.  In that short distance one goes from an elevation of 2,600 feet above sea level in Jerusalem to 800 feet below sea level in Jericho, a drop of 3,400 feet.  In that rugged terrain there were many spots where bandits and thugs could hide themselves, and frequently travelers would get attacked.  That’s what happened to this fellow, and he was left on the side of the road to die (vs. 30).

Shortly after this unfortunate attack on the man, first a priest, and a bit later a Levite, came by and saw the man.  The priest just glanced at him and continued on.  The Levite (one who was a caretaker of the Temple, performed music in the Temple, and assisted the priests), walked over to the seriously injured man to get a closer look, but then also left (vs. 31-32).  Despite their religious positions, they had no compassion on the man.  Their actions showed that religious status does not guarantee any righteousness.  Jesus was revealing here that the Old Testament Law cannot save or sanctify anyone.  It only reveals sin (Romans 3:20).

Some time later a Samaritan came by.  To get the full impact of this parable, we need to understand the relationship between Jewish people and Samaritans.  The Jewish people considered the Samaritans a mixture of breeding, part Jewish and part pagan, which occurred at the time of the Assyrian conquest of the northern Kingdom of Israel.  They believed that their religious traditions were also corrupted.  Thus, both Jews and Samaritans despised each other.  When this Samaritan came upon the gravely injured Jewish man, we would think that he, too, would just pass by.  Why help someone who despised oneself, and who one also despised?  Yet that’s not what happened.  This Samaritan had compassion on the man.  He cleaned and bandaged his wounds as best he could, then placed him upon his donkey and brought him to an inn.  There he paid for a room for him and instructed the innkeeper to care for him and put it on his bill (vs. 33-35).

Think of any two groups of people, either today or in the past, who have viciously hated each other, people of different races, tribes, or nationalities.  Would one from one group go to such an effort to help an injured man of the other group?  This wasn’t just one stranger helping another stranger.  These were two vowed enemies!  Yet the Samaritan had immense compassion.  He showed sacrificial love by tending to the man and paying for his care.

The Samaritan’s actions mirror Jesus Christ’s mercy towards sinners.  He is a type of Christ - despised, yet compassionate; rejected, yet redeeming.  Jesus, like the Samaritan, rescues us when we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-5).

Jesus finished by asking the lawyer who was the one who was the true neighbor? (vs. 36-37).  Was it the priest or Levite (today we could say the pastor or priest, and the deacon or choir member).  They should have been the ones to help, but didn’t.  Instead it was the despised Samaritan.  (When the lawyer answered, he couldn’t even say the word “Samaritan”).  True believers, those justified by faith, are called to reflect Jesus Christ’s love in action (James 2:14-17).   Jesus told this lawyer and the rest of the people, including us, to go and do likewise.  

A Pattern To Pray For Others

Colossians 1:1-14

Sometimes as Christians we may feel led to pray for another believer, however we don’t know what to pray about for them.  Just praying “God bless Ed or Lillian” doesn’t seem enough.  You want a stronger prayer.  Our Scripture passage today from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossian church gives us some things that we can pray for when we pray for other believers.  In this passage we see some things Paul prayed for these Colossian believers.  Let’s see what these are.

The Book of Colossians is one of Paul’s “prison epistles”, one of several letters he wrote while imprisoned in Rome.  This epistle was written to affirm the Christians in Colossae, along with all Christians, in their faith.  It was written to encourage their spiritual growth and to combat false teachings by exalting the Lord Jesus.

Before Paul explained to the Colossian believers how he was praying for them, he briefly affirmed his apostleship (vs. 1-2).  There were some people who opposed Paul and his ministry, and they traveled around to many of the churches he had either founded or ministered to, claiming that he was not a genuine apostle or had an approved ministry.   However, Paul attested that he was not commissioned as an apostle by any human, but by Jesus Himself, by divine authority of the will of God.  This happened when the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, calling him both to salvation and service in His Kingdom.

Paul then continued by telling the Colossian church that he kept each and every one of them in his prayers.  All prayers should begin by giving thanks to the Lord, and this Paul did.  He told the Colossians that he thanked the Lord for their faith, their love, and their hope (vs. 3-5).  These folks had accepted Jesus as their Savior.  Many had come from a Jewish background, while others from a pagan Gentile background, but now they had faith and trust in Jesus, for which Paul was thankful.  He also was thankful for the love that they had for each other, and for their hope in all God had promised, especially eternal life.  Faith, love, and hope should be a hallmark of genuine Christian life (I Corinthians 13:13).

Paul was also thankful that the Colossian believers were bearing fruit for the Lord, that the Gospel of Jesus was increasing in their area and then spreading further (vs. 6-8).  When at a loss to know how to pray for other believers, we can begin by giving thanks for their faith, their salvation, and pray that they have love for others and are bearing fruit for the Kingdom.

As we continue further, we see several other things that Paul prayed for with the Colossian church.  Paul did not cease to pray for them (vs 9).  They were in his daily prayers.  He first mentioned that they are filled with a knowledge of God’s will in their life, having wisdom and understanding.  We need to know God’s plan for our life.  This requires discernment to distinguish His Voice from our own notions.  He also prayed that their Christian walk, their behavior, would be such as would please God (vs. 10).  Our lives should be patterned after Jesus, with a goal of glorifying Him.

Again Paul prayed that they bear fruit in every good work (vs. 10).  We should not be so wrapped up in our own life, but be contributing to others lives, and bearing fruit for God’s Kingdom.  We were not saved to just keep a seat warm every Sunday morning.  Paul prayed that they would increase in the knowledge of God.  We do that by reading His Word, the Bible, and then applying what we read to our lives.  He prayed that they were strengthened in their faith through God’s power, that they remain steadfast in their faith (vs. 11).  This is only done through the power of the Holy Spirit.  They also needed patience and long suffering as they faced the trials ahead.  Believers need that today, as well.  Finally, Paul prayed that they would be thankful to the Lord, joyously giving thanks for all that He has done, with gratitude (vs. 12).

As this passage of Scripture ends, Paul reminds the Colossians that God had delivered them from the power of darkness, and transferred them into the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus (vs 13-14).  We’ve all seen in movies, and maybe have even heard of cases in real life, where someone who is being held captive by an enemy or criminal is rescued.  Salvation is a divine rescue.  Before we were saved we were held captive by Satan.  However when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus, and personally accepted His Blood shed on the cross for our behalf, we have his redemption and forgiveness of sins.  We are no longer under Satan’s dominion, but are citizens of God’s Kingdom, redeemed by His Blood.

When we pray for others, in addition to praying for some specific needs they may have, such as their health, job, or family, we can incorporate some of the things that Paul prayed here for the Colossians.  Rather than just praying “God bless John or Maxine”, let’s follow Paul’s pattern of prayer for our friends.

God Will Not Leave Us Ashamed

Psalm 25:1-11

Have you ever had someone that you were counting on, depending on to help or come to your aid, and then they never showed up, never helped you as promised?  Perhaps you had boasted or bragged to some others about how great this friend of yours was, who was going to help.  But now there is nothing, and you feel ashamed or embarrassed.  “Where’s this wonderful friend of yours?  I thought you said that he would come to help you.  Well, where is he?  He doesn’t seem so great now, does he?” are comments these people tell you.  Our psalm today speaks of a similar type of situation.  Let’s see what we can learn from this portion of God’s Word.

Psalm 25 is a psalm that was written by King David.  It was possibly written later in his life, perhaps during the time of his son’s rebellion, as David mentioned the “sins of his youth”.  Regardless of when he wrote it, he knew he needed God’s help to get through some troubles he was going through, so he cried out to Him (vs. 1).  David also knew that his enemies were watching.  They were watching him closely, and knew that David always prayed to the Lord.  David did not want to feel ashamed or embarrassed that he had depended and counted on God for help, and then God did not come through.  He felt that would make God look bad in the eyes of his enemies.  Thus he prayed that God would come through for him, not just for his own sake, but also for the sake of His own reputation (vs. 2-3).

When troubles and trials come our way, who do we look to for help?  Who can we trust?   Our success or failure often depends on who we place our trust in.  David knew this well, as he had spent many years of his life in one sort of trouble or another, and here we read that he put his trust in Yahweh.  He put his full confidence in God’s character and promises.  This was spiritual warfare, as so many of our trials are as well, and we can trust the Lord to vindicate us and not allow the enemy, whether Satan or worldly opposition, to triumph.

David was waiting on the Lord for a response from Him for some type of help in his moment of need (vs. 3).  How often have we prayed for God’s help, and nothing seems to happen, we receive no word or sign of help, and we give up?  David might have gotten a little anxious now and then, but he never gave up hope.  We need to wait patiently, with faith and obedience.  Those who are faithful will be honored, while the rebellious will be ashamed.

When we go through difficult times or serious trials, it is important who we turn to for advice or help.  David knew to turn to the Lord and not from any worldly wisdom (vs. 4-5).  On his own he didn’t know where to go or what to do.  He needed God to show him the way ahead, so he prayed for God’s direction.  When we pray for direction like David did, God will always show us the path ahead.  David sought for instruction and guidance from God, and not the world because he knew that God’s guidance is truth.  We need God’s guidance all through the day as we face the challenges of life.  We can find that truth in God’s Word, which is truth (John 17:17), and not in the varying cultural trends of the day.  David looked to God for direction.  His heart’s desire was to wait for God with dependent faith throughout the entire day.  It is impossible to exercise trust in God if we fail to wait upon Him for guidance and direction.

David knew that he could depend on Yahweh for any help he needed.  He knew that God’s character, His mercy and loving- kindness, is eternal (vs. 6).  In our own struggles, it is futile to depend on our own merits or those of anyone else.  Instead we need to appeal to God’s unchanging nature.  He also knew that he needed to keep a clean record before the Lord, free from all known sin (vs. 7).  He acknowledged his past and sought forgiveness from all sins.  True repentance includes confession and forsaking sin (Proverbs 28:13),  When we do, God has promised He will forgive (I John 1:9).

God promises to teach and guide the penitent and the meek (vs. 8-9).  Meekness is strength under control.  It is someone who is willing to submit to the authority of God.  If we are all puffed up with our own self-importance, God will not guide us.  Proud people don’t care for His guidance anyway, and usually don’t ask for His forgiveness.  Humility is essential to receive the Lord’s help and guidance.

In closing this segment of the psalm, David acknowledged that following the paths of God and not his own will bring him mercy and truth.  This is only the case for those who walk in obedience to Him.  Blessings come through faithfulness to the Lord.  Some of God’s paths for us are rough and rugged.  Others are tedious and boring.  However, all are filled with His love and faithfulness.  The path He chooses for us may have obstacles, but He will lead us.  God’s path is best for us, and when we trust Him, we can depend on Him to come through for us.

God's Word Is Very Near

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

As we all know, communication is very important in any relationship, whether it is between a husband and wife, a boss and his employees, a teacher and her students, or two friends.  Both parties need to know what each other wants or needs.  If they don’t, then problems can arise.  Mankind has a relationship with God, and it is important in that relationship to know what He wants and expects of us.  Sometimes people don’t make it clear what they want or expect from others.  How about with God?  Does He make it clear to us?  Can we easily find out what He wants?  Our Scripture today from the Book of Deuteronomy will give us an answer.  Let’s take a look.

The Book of Deuteronomy was written by Moses shortly before the people of Israel were going to go in and take possession of the land that the Lord had promised them and their fathers, going back to the time of Abraham.  The book was mainly a recap of a lot of the laws given by the Lord during their forty years of wandering through the wilderness.  Our passage is one from towards the end of the book.  Moses had called upon the people to repent of their sins and return to the Lord.  Now he emphasizes that God desires to bless the people, but His blessings are contingent on their obedience to His commandments.  They will only receive these blessings if they follow and obey what He says (vs. 9-10).

Now that they were going to enter the Promised Land, some of the people might have been a bit concerned about their daily provisions.  They knew that the daily supply of manna was not going to continue there, nor the pillar of cloud and of fire to lead them.  They also knew that Moses would not be with them, as he was well over a hundred years old.  Would God really bless them there?  The Lord promised the people here that He would bless them, both materially and spiritually, but only if they returned to a close and obedient relationship with Him.  God delights in blessing His people, but they must be obedient to His commands.  Obedience brings blessings.  This is not in any way a preaching of the prosperity gospel, which is a false gospel.  This is showing covenantal faithfulness.

As we read verse 10, the first word in that verse is the word “if”.   That word “if” here is very important.  These blessings that the Lord promises to give are conditional.  He will give them if we listen to what He says, and then obey Him.  We obey, and then God blesses us.  The Lord also desires that we turn to Him with all of our heart and soul.  God wants our obedience to Him, our love for Him, to be wholehearted, not just ritualistic and going through the motions.  The Lord wants our hearts and lives to be transformed because of our relationship with Him.  He doesn’t want just outward compliance and a robotic following of His commands.

As Moses continued, he told the people that these commandments, that God’s Word, was not something so mysterious or difficult to find and read (vs. 11-14).  The Lord has revealed to us very plainly in His Word, the Bible, exactly what He wants from us, along with all of His blessings, especially salvation.  It is not some mystical enigma that only a few people might understand if they go into some sort of a trance, like a lot of the pagan religions.  Everything that God wants and needs for us to know for salvation and His blessings are revealed and written down in the Bible, and is accessible for anyone to read.  It is available to all who seek it.

When we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior, and are in a saving relationship with Him, God has promised that He will write His Word in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).  The Apostle Paul quotes verse 14 in his Epistle to the Romans (Romans 10:8).  God’s Word is right there for anyone, anywhere to access.  It has been translated into hundreds of languages.  It is easily accessed on computers online.  It is recorded for those who cannot see, to listen to its words.  One does not need some magical formula to read God’s own Words in the Bible, nor do they need to climb on top of some sacred mountain, or perform some special feats like in pagan religions.

If we repent, the Lord will accept us, and make us His children.  He will show us what He wants through His Word, which is near to us and knowable.  We need to study God’s Word, the Bible every day, and then obey, not just outwardly, but with our whole heart.  We can trust God’s promises in the Bible, as He delights to bless us when we obey.  Finally, verse 14 says that God’s Word is in our mouth and in our heart.  It is in our mouth for a reason, and that is that we should share it with others.  God’s Word is something we should be sharing with others, as it is the Good News of salvation!

Laborers In The Harvest

Luke 10:1-12, 16-20

Are you ready for your big assignment?  Our boss or teacher may ask this, and some of our classmates or co-workers may answer with a hearty “Yes!”.  They can’t wait to get started.  Others may be a bit more hesitant.  However, if our leader has properly trained us, and we’ve been willing, attentive learners, and if they give us all the equipment and instructions necessary, we should not have to fear.  Our Scripture today from the Gospel of Luke tells of a big assignment that Jesus gave a group of His disciples.  Let’s take a look at what that assignment was, His instructions, and what the results were.

Many people think that Jesus just had His twelve disciples, and that was it, that the rest of the people were just an occasional audience for His parables, or witnesses to His miracles.  That is not the case.  Jesus did have His close inner circle of twelve disciples, who are named in the Gospels.  However, He also had a large number of other disciples, many of whom followed Him almost daily throughout the duration of His ministry.  It was from this larger group that Jesus picked out seventy who He gave a big assignment to do for Him.  This assignment was to go out through Galilee and Judah into the various villages that Jesus intended to eventually visit, and bring His message ahead of His visit (vs. 1).

Jesus had some very specific instructions for these disciples which He gave them before they set out.  One was that they were to go out in pairs.  There are several practical reasons for this.  One would naturally be for safety.  Another would be for companionship and moral support for each other.  Not every place would be so welcoming, and a companion would help keep discouragement at bay, and also keep them accountable to following the true message of Jesus.  They were also to travel light, not carrying a lot of extra baggage (vs. 4).  No extra clothing, or a lot of money.  They were to be totally dependent on God for His provisions, along with the hospitality of those they visited.

The instruction to not greet anyone on the road (vs. 4) might seem a bit rude, but one must understand the culture of the day and location.  A “greeting” in Biblical times could take a long time.  It wasn’t just a quick “hello”, but would often include offers of hospitality and refreshment, which could take hours.  If a disciple stopped with every greeting it could easily take days to get to their destination.  Jesus’ message of salvation is urgent, and there is no time to waste.

When they arrived at the village they were going to minister in, the disciples were to stay in the house that offered them hospitality and offer a blessing upon it (vs. 5-6).  They were not seek out a better place, better accommodations that might have a comfier bed or better food (vs. 7-8).  They were to be content and grateful for what they received.. While there the disciples were to bring Jesus’ message of salvation to the people, along with healing the sick and casting out demons (vs. 9).

Jesus warned that not everyone would be receptive.  There would be some places that would not receive them, but would instead cast them out (vs. 11-12).  To such people, Jesus instructed His disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a symbolic gesture against them.  This was a symbolic act of judgment, declaring that even the dust of a rejecting city is defiled.  Sodom’s sin was grievous, yet rejecting Jesus’ messengers is worse.  This underscores the gravity of rejecting the Gospel truth.  As we read in verse 16, Jesus equates the disciples' message with His own.  To insult believers is to insult God.  To reject the disciples is to reject Jesus, and rejecting Jesus is rejecting God!

When the disciples returned, they excitedly told Jesus that even the demons obeyed when they used the Name of Jesus (vs. 17).  When the Lord rebuked demonic forces, they were forced to obey.  Jesus gave His disciples  authority over these spirits, and to us as well.  Jesus repeated that believers do, indeed, have authority over the enemy in His Name (vs. 19), but what is more important is that they have eternal security, their names are written in heaven (vs. 20).

Christians today are also given this assignment, to go forth and bring the Gospel to the lost, to those who have never heard, or never paid attention to the message of Jesus.  We, too, have the power to invoke the Name of Jesus to overcome evil that may come against us. When we pray, we draw upon the strength of the Lord to claim victory over the evil one.

This was a large and tough assignment that the disciples, and us, too, have been given.  Jesus told us to pray for more help (vs. 2).  There is more work than workers who are willing to go.  We need to pray for more Christians to be willing to go out with us to bring His message.  This is a very urgent message, and we need to remember that we are like lambs being sent among wolves.  The world does not like believers who are serious about their faith, and they certainly do not like our message.  But remember, Jesus is with us, and we can rejoice because our reward will be great!

Sow What You Want To Reap

Galatians 6:1-10

I think that most of us know the laws of sowing and reaping, that whatever type of seed you plant, that is what is going to grow.  If you plant a watermelon seed, you are going to get a watermelon, not corn.  If you plant an acorn, you are going to get an oak, not a rose bush.  This isn’t just true with gardening, as it also holds true for our life, as well.  What we sow in our life is what we will reap later on.  Our Scripture today has two lessons that it teaches.  One is about sowing and reaping, and there is another lesson, as well.  Let’s look at what God teaches in His Word.

As our Scripture begins, the Apostle Paul was coming to the end of his letter to the Galatian believers.  He had two final thoughts, final teachings he wished to impart.  The first was the need for spiritual restoration of believers who had fallen into any type of sin (vs. 1).  Now we know that everyone sins now and then, some people more than others, and this includes Christians.  Ideally a Christian who has committed a sin is to confess and repent from that sin right away.  When we do, our fellowship with God and other believers remains intact.  Sometimes, though, it takes another person to come along and point out to the brother or sister where they are in fault.  Sometimes they either don’t see that fault, or they willfully don’t want to acknowledge it.  A godly fellow believer needs to take them aside and gently, with prayer and a great deal of love and compassion, speak to them about the sin they are in.

Unfortunately, this is rarely done in churches today, not because there are few who continue in ongoing sin, but because others are too afraid to be labeled as “judging”.  Perhaps a believer has fallen into adultery and in an ongoing affair.  Speaking to the sinner about that is not judging, as everyone knows adultery is a sin, but no one wants to say anything.  Paul here instructs the church that a godly believer is to seek to restore the fallen one.  The key phrase here is to “restore”, not to condemn them if they are repentant.  This is to be done with gentleness, with meekness and humility, being careful that they not fall into sin themselves.  Confrontation in love and humility is constructive, not destructive.

Lest anyone continue to say that we are not to judge, there are other Scriptures that back this up - Matthew 18:15 and James 5:19-20.  Jesus loved and accepted people, but He also confronted people when they were wrong.  We see this when He boldly and openly confronted Simon, a Pharisee who had invited Jesus to dinner (Luke 7:36-50).  He never glossed over people’s sins.  Jesus loved them enough to confront them.  Genuine love dares to confront and correct.

The second teaching of St. Paul in this Scripture passage is that of sowing and reaping (vs. 7-8).  Some people think that their behavior and lifestyle will never generate judgment from God.  They’ve been living their sinful ways for years, and nothing has happened.  However, they are wrong.  God promises that they will eventually reap what they sow.  In the same manner, godly believers who have toiled and toiled for the Lord year after year, sometimes feel that God has not taken any notice of them.  Likewise, they will eventually reap what they sow, too.  There are some seeds that sprout very quickly after planting, and others that take a long, long time.  Paul encourages us to not grow weary, because we will eventually reap God’s blessings, even if we see nothing right away (vs. 9).

God’s justice is immutable.  What we sow in our life, whether spiritually or carnally, will yield eternal consequences.  Whatever we sow will produce its own kind (Genesis 1:11).  We need to turn away from earthly pursuits, and instead sow into the Kingdom of God.  Don’t sow seeds of corruption.  Instead, sow seeds that will reap eternal life.

We cannot rebel against God and not reap the fruit of that choice later.  We also cannot obey God without eventually receiving blessings.  We plant seeds and they determine the kind of crop we will harvest in the future.  Plant carnality and sin, and that is what we eventually reap.  Plant for God and His Kingdom, and we reap His blessings, if not in this life, definitely in the next.  Don’t become weary or give up hope.  Our choices in life are important, and our blessings will come.

In closing, ask yourself what you want to reap.  A gardener will be selective of the seeds he plants.  We need to be, as well.  Do you want to reap the results of a life of sin?  If that is what you plant in your life, that is what you will get.  We cannot fool God and plant sin, and get blessings.  It is only when we plant with God and eternity in mind that we will reap those blessings.  Remember, sow what you want to reap.

Give A Testimony For God

Psalm 66

Have you ever given a personal testimony to a group of people about what the Lord has done for you?  Perhaps at a church prayer meeting there is the opportunity to speak up.  Maybe after announcements are made during Sunday worship the pastor or priest might ask if anyone has something to say or share, you are able to stand up and share a testimony for the Lord, something that He has done for you or your family.  Today’s psalm is one of giving praise and public testimony for what God has done, both for the psalmist personally, and what He has done for the nation, as well.

Psalm 66 was written by an unknown psalmist, but one who wanted to give public testimony, praise, and worship, both for what the Lord had done for the nation of Israel, and also for what He had done for himself, as well.  As the psalm opens, the psalmist gives a call for people to worship the Lord, and bring Him praise (vs 1-4).  This call to worship went out, not just to his own people, the nation of Israel, but also to the whole world, the Gentile nations as well.  This aligns with many verses throughout the Old Testament where Scripture states that the Gentile nations will come to worship Yahweh.  It also anticipates the millennial reign of Jesus Christ when all nations will worship Him (Zechariah 14:16).  As believers, we should be the ones leading in joyful praise of our Savior.

Next the psalmist focuses on giving public praise and testimony of what the Lord has done for the nation as a whole (vs. 5-7).  The Lord God had done so many things for them, that there was no way he could list them all, so he spoke of the greatest one.  If one asked the people of Israel what was the greatest thing that God had done for them, most would probably speak of His deliverance of them from slavery in Egypt, and His parting of the Red Sea for them to cross and escape the armies of the Egyptians.  This is the miracle that the psalmist highlighted in his testimony.

Over the years many have said that the miracle of the parting of the waters of the Red Sea for the Hebrew people to cross on dry ground did not happen, and that it was just some allegorical message of encouragement in difficult times, but never literally happened.  That is not so.  God’s works are not allegorical.  They are real, historical events that demonstrate His intervention in human affairs.  This miraculous event that the psalmist spoke of was a literal miracle that the Lord gave His people, affirming His power and faithfulness to them.  We can take hope and comfort from that, that as the Lord delivered His people then, He will also deliver all those who trust in His Son in their time of need.

The psalmist continued to give testimony of how the Lord is faithful during the times that we go through trials and periods of refinement (vs. 8-12).  We learn as we read through the Bible, that trials are part of God’s refining process.  We learn to trust in God and His love and care for us as we go through various trials and tribulations.  God also uses these as a means to refine us, clear out the bad habits and sins out of our life, just as silver and gold is refined by going through the fire.  It may be a difficult process and hurt, but if we allow God to do His work, and trust in Him, we will come out the better for it, just like that bar of gold or silver.

The psalmist next turns to his own personal life.  First he gives personal worship to the Lord (vs. 13-15).  He also recounts how he will keep the vows that he made to God.  Perhaps during a very difficult and trying time, maybe one of those periods of refinement mentioned earlier, the psalmist made a promise, a vow to the Lord.  Now he wants to keep that vow, and brings his sacrifices to the Temple, showing his gratitude and obedience.  Today we don’t make animal sacrifices to God, but we can offer spiritual sacrifices to Him, sacrifices of praise, service, and holy living (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15).

The psalmist continues to give his personal testimony (vs. 16-20).  One verse here that many should be familiar with is verse 18 where we are warned that keeping unconfessed sin in our heart and life will hinder our prayers to the Lord.  When a believer has unconfessed sins, God will not respond to their prayers.  Before coming to God in prayer, we need to take a good, thorough look in our heart, and sincerely confess and repent of any known sin.  When we have done that, we can then pray with full confidence that God hears our prayers.

In closing we see that there are many opportunities and occasions for giving a public testimony for the Lord.  The Scriptures are full of accounts of the Lord intervening and working in the lives of His people.  And these are not just made up tales to make us think He’s a great God.  These are genuine, real accounts showing that He is a great God!  We should look in our own past and reflect on past deliverances to help strengthen our faith in our present trials.  Make sure we have examined our heart for any unconfessed sins in order to maintain full fellowship with the Lord.  Finally, be sure to share your testimony to encourage others and to bring glory to Jesus!