Two Men, Two Prayers

Luke 18:9-14

I don’t think that anyone enjoys being around someone with an air of superiority, someone who thinks that they are so much better than others.  And what’s even worse than an ordinary pompous person, is one who is “religious” on top of it!  Many churches have their share of self-righteous people.  They are very unpleasant to be around.  Even God doesn’t like that type of behavior and attitude.  In our Gospel reading this week, Jesus teaches us a very important lesson, one that we can all learn from.

As our Scripture begins, Jesus told His audience another short parable.  Here He wanted to teach us a lesson about the spiritual danger of self-righteousness and thinking that oneself is better than others (vs. 9).   This parable is a rebuke to spiritual pride, along with a call to having genuine humility before God.  As Jesus would have looked around at the crowd He would have seen many who were self-righteous, especially in the Pharisees, who were filled with false confidence in their own morality and religious performances.

Jesus proceeded to describe two men who went to the Temple to pray (vs. 10).  Perhaps He had seen two exactly like them during one of His many visits to the Temple.  One of these men was a Pharisee, a very respected member of a Jewish sect who strictly observed the Old Testament Law, along with all of the religious traditions.  The other man was a tax collector.  Just like today, no one particularly cares for tax collectors.  However at that time they were especially hated by the Jewish people because they were looked on as collaborators with the hated Roman Empire, and a vast majority of them were also cheats.

As these two men entered the Temple there was a marked difference in their attitude and in their prayer (vs. 11-13).  The Pharisee stood front and center and prayed to himself, thanking God that he was so much better than other people, listing off several sins that he felt he had never done, and then even telling God how much better a man he was than that tax collector behind him.  His prayer was very self-centered as he boasted of all of his works, and comparing himself with others.  The Pharisee did not come to pray to God.  He came to talk about himself.  He did not once thank God for His mercy, grace, or forgiveness.

On the other hand, the tax collector humbly stood in the back, and kept his eyes down in prayer (vs. 13).  He knew his place before God.  Quietly in prayer to God, he smote his breast, acknowledging his sinfulness, and pleaded for God’s mercy.  The tax collector was sorry for his sins.  He had a heart of repentance.  Salvation begins with brokenness over sin, and a cry for God’s mercy, which is a posture that God will honor.

After a few minutes both men left the Temple, returning to their respective homes (vs. 14).  However, as Jesus specifically pointed out, they did not leave in the same condition.  Jesus told us that the tax collector returned justified.  His prayer was accepted by God.  He received forgiveness and God’s grace.  The Pharisee did not.  The Pharisee thought that by pointing out all of his good works and behavior he would impress God and receive His blessing.  He impressed himself, and many of the general population thought highly of the Pharisees.  However it did not impress God.  The tax collector’s humility and brokenness over his sins, his cries for God’s mercy reached His ears, and he was the one to receive God’s blessing.

The Bible clearly teaches us that it is not by our works that we receive salvation.  Many people falsely believe that all of their good works will earn them a spot in heaven, just like this Pharisee did.  However the Bible teaches us that we are justified by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:24).  God resists the proud, which unfortunately was the Pharisees attitude, but instead He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).  True righteousness is imputed to us through Jesus.  It is not earned by us.

Let us learn from the example of the two men who came into the Temple to pray.  Their attitude in the Temple made a big difference in their spiritual condition when they each left.  The Pharisee went home just the same as when he came - unrepentant and full of himself.  The tax collector went home forgiven by the Lord Jesus.  Let our attitude be that of this last man.

Paul's Final Words

II Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Let’s step back in time, back to ancient Rome in the year 65 AD.  We wander the city in search of one of several prisons, searching for one specific prisoner, the Apostle Paul.  He has been imprisoned before for his faith, yet always released.  However, this time it doesn’t look like he will be released, as Emperor Nero has ordered Christians to be executed.  Paul is held prisoner in the Mamertine Prison, in a dark, damp, underground prison cell, chained to the wall.  Each time he hears footsteps approaching, he doesn’t know if they come to lead him out to his impending execution.  While waiting, Paul writes one last letter to his son in the faith, Timothy.  Now that we are in the last chapter of that letter, we read his final words, his final testimony, and of his unwavering confidence in the Lord Jesus.

As we begin these final words of the Apostle Paul, we see that he knows that this is it, he won’t be leaving this prison alive (vs. 6).  He looks at his life as an offering to God, poured out in service to the Lord Jesus.  Paul wasn’t in a panic.  He viewed death not as a defeat, but as a departure.  Since the day of his conversion on the road to Damascus, some thirty or so years earlier, he had lived his life ready at all times to meet the Savior.  We, too, should live with readiness to meet the Lord.  We can face death with peace when our lives have been lived in obedience and faithfulness.

Paul looked back on his life of faith, and could testify that he had done all he could for the Lord (vs. 7).  His life was marked by spiritual warfare against the enemies of the Lord.  He had endured much hardship, but had finished the race God had set for him, and had kept the faith, not veering off into false doctrine.  The Christian life is not passive.  It is a fight, a race, and a stewardship.  We must guard the truth and persevere.  Keep a strong grip on Jesus, and then we can finish the race.  Keep the faith, and fight the good fight.  We can trust God to faithfully keep us.

Following Jesus is not easy, but there is a great reward for living righteously when facing temptation or hardship, the crown of righteousness.  Believers who pursue godliness and greatly desire Jesus’ return can look forward to that, and the life to come.  When we truly love Jesus’ return it will purify our walk (I John 3:2-3).  This verse rebukes worldly-mindedness, and encourages eternal perspectives.  God is a righteous Judge.  He sees and rewards faithfulness, even when others do not.

Paul then confided to Timothy a little of what happened at his trial, how those he might have counted on to defend him all deserted him and fled (vs. 16).  Paul was abandoned, which is a reminder that human support can fail, but God never does.  Faithfulness may mean standing alone.  Are we willing to stand for truth even if forsaken by friends or family?

Though friends or family may leave us, Jesus never abandons us.  He is faithful, and will never leave us (vs. 17).  Paul knew that he wasn’t really alone, as he acknowledged that Jesus was with him when everyone else fled (Hebrews 13:5-6).  Paul’s ultimate desire at his trial was not for his acquittal, but that the Gospel might be proclaimed.  In our trials, we must lean on the Lord’s strength, just as Paul did.  God will enable us to fulfill our calling, even when others fail us.

Paul’s final words here were not a promise of physical escape, but of spiritual preservation (vs. 18).  Paul expected martyrdom, yet he was still confident in eternal deliverance.  The knowledge that God is greater than anything Paul would ever face helped him to go through all the trials, imprisonments, beatings, torture, and confidently face his future.  God may not spare us from suffering, but He will preserve us from spiritual ruin, and bring us safely to heaven.  Paul ended with worship, which should remind us that all trials should lead to praise.

As we look back at Paul’s final words and testimony we see that God will reward those who finish well, so we need to make sure to keep on the course and guard the truth.  God will never forsake His children.  Others likely may, but we can trust Him when they fail us.  There is a crown that awaits all those that eagerly await Jesus’ return.  This should encourage us to be living for eternity, and not for this present time.  In every season of life, whether in good times, in trials, or in persecutions, we need to always glorify God.

Desiring God's Presence

Psalm 84

When we love someone, naturally we want to be with them as much as possible.  Depending on how romantic we are, we could say that our hearts are crying out to be with them!  When we love a certain place, we want to go there, too.  It may be to the mountains, to the seashore, or to the family farm.  In our psalm for this week, the psalmist describes how much he desires to be where God is, to be in His presence, and to be where He made His earthly dwelling in the Tabernacle.  Let’s look into our psalm.

Psalm 84 was written by the Sons of Korah.  As we have discussed before, these were Levites involved in Temple worship, who were descended from Korah, a man who rebelled against Moses, and thus against God’s prescribed order.  God’s judgment on Korah and others involved in his rebellion was the earth opening and swallowing them up alive (Numbers 16:1-35).  Korah’s descendants were not involved in the rebellion, but rather genuinely worshiped and served God in worship within the Tabernacle with a grateful heart.

Our psalmist loved God so much that he wished to always be where God was (vs. 1-4).  The tabernacle represented God’s dwelling place among His people on earth.  Though we know that God is everywhere, the Tabernacle, and later the Temple, was where the Jewish people in the Old Testament came to specifically worship Him.  This was where the psalmist wanted to be.  His love for God’s tabernacle reflected a heart that treasured communion with God.  He noted that even the birds desired to be close to God, where worship of Him was done.  As Christians, we should not only have a desire to attend church and worship services on a regular basis, but also desire and acknowledge the presence of God Himself in our lives.

The Temple, as we know, was located in Jerusalem.  Prior to the building of the Temple, the Tabernacle was located in Shiloh since the days of Joshua, which was about twenty miles north of Jerusalem.  On feast days and holy days, pilgrims would come there to worship.  Depending on how far they had to travel, this pilgrimage needed some degree of strength to accomplish, as they had to traverse some rough and wilderness terrain (vs. 5-7).

The “Valley of Baca” was a valley near Jerusalem that was dry and barren (vs. 6).  Its name means “valley of weeping”, and since it was a difficult place to travel through, the name was appropriate.  If one got their strength from the Lord, the dry valley would be like a spring of fresh, cool water.  Our trials become places of blessing when they are endured in faith.  God will transform our sorrows into springs of joy when we trust and have faith in Him.

The psalmist brings his prayers to the Lord (vs. 8-9).  Jesus is our Shield.  We are protected by Him, just as we would be behind a shield.  We can deflect the fiery darts of Satan, standing and declaring the powerful promises of God’s Word.  He shields us when the enemy plots his onslaughts against us.

Where would you rather spend your time, in a grand mansion, but it belongs to a wicked person, or in a small, humble church?  The psalmist said that he would rather be the doorman in God’s Temple rather than the tents (homes) of the wicked (vs. 10).  He preferred humble service in God’s house rather than worldly prestige.

God is both our sun (provider) and shield (protector) (vs. 11-12).  True joy and security are found in walking uprightly before God.  He withholds no good thing from those who live in obedience.  God’s promise to provide has a condition - it is given to those who walk uprightly.  If our needs aren’t being answered as we think they should, either God has a different plan, or something in our life may be a hindrance.  We could have unrepentant sin in our life.  God doesn’t reward sin.  Or there could be a discrepancy between our needs versus our wants.  God’s answer to prayer must fit with His goal of conforming us to the image of Jesus.

How about you?  Would you rather stay home, maybe get some extra sleep, or get up and go to church?  How much do you desire spending time with the Lord, reading His Word and in prayer, or would you rather be watching something on TV?  How deep is your love for Him?  Let your heart yearn for His presence more than earthly comforts.  Trust the Lord to carry you through the Valley of Baca, turning your hardships into spiritual springs.  Trust Him to be your sun and shield, your source and your defense.

The Drought

Jeremiah 14:1-10, 19-22

Natural disasters happen around the world all the time.  We hear about earthquakes in various parts of the world.  There are hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes here and there with great frequency.  Are all of these God’s anger and judgment upon the people in the areas where these disasters happened?  I will be quick to say - not all the time, that very frequently that is not the case.  However, sometimes God does send a natural disaster of one type or another to a certain part of the world in judgment, in order to get their attention, to seek to bring the people to Himself in repentance.  In our Scripture today, a message from the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord God had brought a drought on the land in judgment of the people of Judah.  Let’s look at what message that He had for the people.

As we open our Scripture, we read that the Lord gave Jeremiah a message regarding a drought that was happening in the land of Judah (vs. 1).  This wasn’t just a lack of rain for several weeks.  This was a major drought, and as we know, famine will quickly follow a major drought, particularly in the past when obtaining food and grain from other parts of the world was not really possible.  In a major drought, with a famine likely to follow if rain doesn’t come soon, people and their cattle, and other animals will begin to die.

Jeremiah observed what was happening around him (vs. 2-6).  The people and the land were mourning.  There has been no rain for so long.  People went to the wells and cisterns for water, but there was none there.  The ground had dried up, so the farmers could not plant or water their crops, and the wild animals were suffering.  This was a scene of a natural, physical disaster for the country, for both man and animal.

Jeremiah knew why this was happening, and he brought the message to the people.  This drought was a manifestation of God’s judgment for their persistent idolatry and rebellion.  God had revealed that their sin had reached a point where judgment was inevitable.  This was not just a random natural disaster, this was God’s divine chastisement for their sins.

There are times when God uses nature to execute His judgment upon people (Deuteronomy 28:1, 23-24).  When a nation turns from God, even the land bears the consequences.  The suffering of creation reflects the consequences of human sin (Romans 8:22).  We need to recognize that sin has tangible, societal effects.

As we continue, we read how the people of Judah seemingly repented of their sins.  However, God, who knows our hearts and minds, knew that this was only a superficial repentance.  The people outwardly acknowledged their sins, making a show of appealing to God’s Name and His covenants (vs. 7-10).  God responded that He knew that their repentance was insincere, that they “love to wander”, that they had not restrained their feet from following in the path of sin and idolatry, running after the false pagan gods of the nations around them.

The Bible teaches us that true repentance involves turning from our sin, not just giving a verbal confession (Proverbs 28:13).  God sees our heart, and knows if we are sincere or not.  He is not moved by empty words, but instead by genuine contrition (Psalm 51:17).  We need to examine whether our repentance is real, or if we are just going through some meaningless rituals.  Remember, God’s patience has limits when people’s sin is persistent and unrepented.

The prophet Jeremiah then turned to the Lord God in intercession for the nation of Judah and the people (vs. 19-22).  He pleaded with God, asking if He had utterly rejected the nation.  He appealed to the covenant God had made with their fathers, His past deliverances, and His glory.  Jeremiah doesn’t deny the people’s sins but he begs God for mercy.

These final verses show us that even when God has brought His judgment, His mercy can still be sought.  However, it must be on His terms.  The prophet showed us a model of intercessory prayer, but even he could not override God’s judgment (Jeremiah 15:1).   We too can pray for our respective nation, but also remembering that revival begins with our own personal repentance.  God’s mercy is available, but that does not negate His holiness.

In closing, we must remember that God will not tolerate sin indefinitely.  His judgments are righteous and purposeful.  When we cry out to God for His mercy, our repentance requires a change of heart and behavior, not just mere words.  Intercessory prayer is powerful, but it must be aligned with God’s will and truth.  We can trust that even in judgment, God is working to bring people to Himself, however don’t presume upon God’s mercy while still continuing in sin.

Persistent Prayer

Luke 18:1-8

We live in a world that wants instant gratification.  We’re hungry and we want something to eat, so we pop something in the microwave, and in a couple of minutes we have a piping hot meal.  We have drive-through restaurants where we order something, and drive a few feet and it’s waiting for us in a bag.  Not that long ago when a movie came out, one had to wait for it to come to the movie theater near you, and then you had to go out to that theater to see it.  Now the movies are streamed instantly right to your house whenever you want to see it.  We’re not happy and get impatient if we don’t get what we want right away, and then we give up.  If the line is too long at McDonald’s we drive away in frustration.  If something isn’t available right away, we throw our hands up with impatience and give up.  Jesus told a brief parable about the need to be persistent, that sometimes we might need to wait a while, and to not give up with impatience.

Have you ever prayed about something, something that you knew wasn’t clearly against the will of God, and then when you didn’t receive some sort of answer right away, you just gave up praying about it?  Many Christians have.  Jesus addressed this parable for just this reason.  In our Scripture today Jesus began by telling us that we need to always pray, and not to ever lose heart (vs. 1).  Prayer is not optional for believers.  If you carry the name of Christian, you should be spending at least some time in prayer.  In times of discouragement, believers must persevere in prayer rather than give up.  The Apostle Paul said that we should never stop praying (I Thessalonians 5:17).  That doesn’t mean that every waking moment we are on our knees in prayer.  Instead our life can be a constant conversation with God.

Jesus proceeded to give a parable about a widow who was being unfairly treated by someone, and she sought a judge to receive justice in her case (vs. 2-5).  The judge was ignoring her entreaties.  He was a person who didn’t seem to care about people, or what was right or wrong, which is unfortunately the case with many people today.  Instead of just giving up, the widow kept coming back, and coming back, and coming back again.  She didn’t give up.  Finally the judge was getting worn out with her persistence, and decided the only way to get her off his back was to see that she got the justice she was pleading for.

Jesus is teaching us here that we need to be like the widow and bring our petitions before God persistently, even when the rest of the world seems unjust.  God is not annoyed by our prayers.  He delights in our persistence because it reflects faith.  If even an unrighteous judge responded to persistence, how much more will a righteous God respond to His beloved children! (vs. 6-7).  Unlike the unjust judge, God is perfectly just and attentive to His people.  He will act in His perfect timing to avenge His people (Romans 12:19).

Prayer can bring about many mighty things from the hand of God, and can turn any situation around.  Prayer helps us get into the presence of God, and remain there continually.  It is not a means of coercing God to do what we want.  It is a process of recognizing His power and plan for our lives.  In prayer we yield our lives and circumstances to the Lord, and trust Him to act in His time and in His way.

A key part to prayer is persistence.  Never give up.  God loves to see us blessed.  If we don’t see an answer, keep praying.  God is not reluctant to answer prayer.  He is working things in our life in order to give us the very best, and wants us to get even closer to Him in the meantime.

Jesus ended His parable with the statement wondering if He will find any genuine faith on earth when He returns (vs. 8).  Will He find persistent, believing prayer?  In the last days faith may grow cold.  Believers must remain steadfast, trusting God even when answers to prayer seem delayed.  We cannot please God if we do not have any faith in Him (Hebrews 11:6).

As we close we need to determine in our life that we will keep on praying even when answers seem delayed.  God is not ignoring you.  He is working in ways we may not see.  Be like the widow in the parable by being bold, persistent, and unwavering.  Your faith honors God.  Pray with confidence.  He will answer.  God is willing and waiting.  Pray and pray again.  In a world growing cold, be found faithful when Jesus returns.

The Inspired Word of God

II Timothy 3:14-4:5

We’ve been reading through the Apostle Paul’s second letter to his spiritual son Timothy.  Paul knew that Timothy, a very reserved young man, would need a lot of encouragement to continue on in his calling to preach and bring the Gospel to the lost in the area he was ministering in.  In addition, Timothy needed to combat false doctrine and growing apostasy which was already beginning to spread in the early Church.  Let’s see what we can learn as we finish the third chapter and begin the fourth.

The early Christian Church was only a couple of decades old, yet already Satan was attacking it with false doctrine and teachings.  Already some believers, or those who made a show of believing, were falling into the trap of apostasy.  Thus, Paul urged Timothy that it was very important for him to continue to teach sound and true doctrines, the teachings from God’s Word that he had learned since his childhood (vs. 14-15).  Timothy had been raised by his believing mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (II Timothy 1:5). They had carefully taught him the Bible from early childhood, and he knew the authority of God’s Word.  It is important for Christians to teach their children the Bible from as early an age as they can understand it.  Then, as we grow older, we need to cling to those truths that we have been taught, especially with the levels of deception and false teachings that abound today.

Next, we come to a verse that is filled with doctrinal truth (vs. 16).  This verse teaches us the verbal, absolute truth of God’s Word, the Bible.  Every word of Scripture is inspired, God-breathed.  We must treat the entire Bible, every chapter and every verse, as authoritative.  There can be no picking and choosing about what one should believe and follow or not.  Too many denominations today have fallen away from sound teaching because they pick and choose what to believe and accept.  They don’t like this or that in the Bible so they figuratively just cut it out.  They feel that this or that teaching in the Bible doesn’t fit in with the world today, so they just toss it out.  However, all Scripture is inspired by God and is His Word, whether it fits with society today or not, and whether they like it or not.

The Scripture will teach us God’s doctrine, what is right.  It will also give us reproof, teaching us when we are wrong.  God’s Word will give us correction, showing us how to get right with the Lord when we’ve done wrong, and it gives us instruction in righteousness, which if we follow and obey, will help us stay on the right path.  As Christians, we need to follow those who defend the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible.  If your pastor or your church does not, that is not the church you should be attending.  Instead, God tells us here to reject modernist or liberal views that question Biblical authority.

Paul reminds Timothy that it is God’s Word that completely equips him and us (vs.17).  We will grow spiritually in the Lord the more we read and study His Word, and not from emotional experiences or by seeking after worldly wisdom.

We now come to where the Apostle Paul renews for Timothy a charge to continue to preach God’s Word (vs. 1-5).  This is a serious calling for the young man Timothy, and for us, as well.  We are accountable to God Himself for the work we do for Him.  The central charge that is given is to preach God’s Word at all times, “in season and out of season” (vs. 2).  We are to preach God’s Word, not ours or others opinions, stories, or the popular trends or philosophies of today.

We should be doing this faithfully and consistently, whether it is popular with the world or not.  This might sometimes include reproving or rebuking some people, or giving them exhortations.  These are not easy tasks, but require both courage and clarity.  This also runs counter to the churches who want to be more of an entertainment venue, more of a rock concert than a Gospel message.   Or to the churches who choose to only bring “seeker-sensitive” messages, or the warm and fuzzy “feel-good” messages that never mention sin but instead tell the people to “be the best ‘you’ that you can be”.

We are in a time of doctrinal apostasy now, where people prefer ear-tickling messages over God’s Gospel (vs. 3-4).  We must guard against compromise and be discerning about what we hear and what we teach.  Far too many preachers give their congregations what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.  Thus we need to be vigilant, enduring hardship, and faithfully bringing God’s Word, and not man’s, to the lost (vs 5).

This is a tough message, but one that is important.  Sound doctrine must be upheld, and we need to prioritize God’s truth over what is currently popular.  Many will turn from the Bible to instead follow what society says is right, but we must remain faithful.  This passage is a call to remain anchored in the Word of God, especially as deception and apostasy increase.  Our orders are clear: preach God’s Word, endure affliction, and finish well.

God Never Sleeps

Psalm 121

When someone is supposed to be on guard duty, it is vitally important that they not fall asleep.  If you’re supposed to be protecting something important or valuable, you need to be awake and alert.  Just this past Sunday some criminals were able to get into the Louvre and steal the French Crown Jewels.  Obviously some guards were “asleep on the job”.  If you have your valuables somewhere, you want that place watched around the clock, and the guards wide awake.  When our children are away, we want the security to be alert where they are at.  No one wants to find that those who were supposed to be watching their child were asleep!  There is Someone who is always watching over us, and who will never fall asleep while on duty!  We read about Him in our psalm for this week.

Our psalm for the week is Psalm 121, one of the “Songs of Ascent”, which are Psalms 120-134).  These were generally sung by pilgrims who were going to Jerusalem to celebrate one of several holy days.  The theme of this particular psalm is that God is constantly protecting and caring for His people, and it encourages us to trust in His care, especially in times of uncertainty or danger, which we all go through at various times throughout our life.

As the pilgrims would hike closer and closer to Jerusalem, they would see the many hills that surrounded the holy capital city (vs. 1-2).  Those hills would be both beautiful and also ominous.  They were beautiful because it signaled that they were closer to their destination, the Temple in Jerusalem.  However, frequently in the hills bandits would often lurk, waiting for pilgrims to pass by so they could jump on them and rob them of their belongings.  There could also be wild animals prowling around which could be dangerous.  Where would their help come from?  Those in their group would be just as vulnerable.  We need to seek our help from the Lord.  In times of trouble, we must look beyond earthly sources, and fix our eyes on the Lord.  He, alone, is omnipotent.  The One who made all things is fully capable of sustaining and protecting His people.  We can trust in His power and sovereignty.

We read next how God so very carefully watches over us (vs. 3-4).  He will never fall asleep while on the job!  God’s protection is constant and unwavering.  It is only human nature to get weary and tired.  It’s unfortunate, but sometimes those who are supposed to be guarding us or our valuables might fall asleep.  However, God is divine, not human, and He never grows weary (Isaiah 40:28).  He is always alert.  We can safely rest because He never does.  Just as God kept Israel, He keeps all those who have put their faith and trust in Him.  Yahweh is the Keeper of His people!

As the psalmist continues, he refers to Yahweh as our keeper and our shade (vs. 5).  As our Keeper, He is personally involved in our life, certainly not a distant and uninvolved God that some believe.  Yahweh is also our shade.  When our way grows weary we long for a nice shady place to sit and rest, and that is what He provides for us.  The Hebrew word used here for shade is “sel”, which can also be translated as a shadow.  One thing about our shadow is, we can never escape from it.  Our shadow always follows us, and is right there beside us, no matter where we go.  We can run as fast as we can, but our shadow is right at our heels, right beside us.  God is always that close to us.  Yahweh is not distant.  He is at our right hand, ready to shield and sustain us (Psalm 16:8).

God’s protection of us is round the clock, both day and night (vs. 6).  Again, as mentioned earlier, our human protectors will grow weary and tired.  They cannot last all day, every day, but God can.  He will keep us safe both from the dangers of the day, and also those of the night.  Whether facing visible dangers or unseen fears, God’s care encompasses every moment (Psalm 91:5-6).

God not only watches over us physically, but He also protects our soul (vs. 7-8).  Once we have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, we are His, and we are His forever.  Our souls are safe.  Nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8:38-39).  No evil can ultimately harm our soul.  God is our eternal refuge.  God’s protection is both present and eternal.  He guards every aspect of our journey through life.

As we look back over this brief psalm, we can rejoice in the fact that God never sleeps.  He is always awake and always alert.  We can trust our life and that of our loved ones into His ever-vigilant care.  He will never be distracted and let some danger get by Him without His notice. When anxiety creeps in, remember that God never sleeps.  He is always watching over you!

Wrestling With God

Genesis 32:3-8, 22-30

Do you enjoy watching wrestling, whether it be genuine, Olympic-style wrestling, or WWE wrestling, which is sports entertainment?  In these matches, whether the genuine competitions, or the sports entertainment events which are usually choreographed, the two competitors are usually equally matched.  They don’t put a huge, hulking man against a skinny, 100 pound weakling.  However, none of these wrestlers, even the biggest and best in either type, have ever wrestled against God.  There was a man, though, who actually did wrestle with God, and he didn’t come away defeated, either.  We read about this in our Old Testament Scripture from this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer.

Our Scripture begins with Jacob having left the upper Mesopotamian area he had been living in for the past twenty or so years with his wives and many children.  He was going to be meeting his fraternal twin brother, Esau, who he hadn’t seen in over two decades.  If you remember, when they were last together Jacob had schemed to cheat Esau out of his birthright, and then the paternal blessing from their father Isaac, and Esau had vowed to kill him.  Now Esau was coming with a great number of men with him, and Jacob was afraid.  He divided his family into groups, so that if Esau attacked one, the others might escape with their lives (vs. 3-8).  Jacob knew that he was not the same man he was over twenty years earlier.  He had gone through some rough times, especially at the hands of his father-in-law Laban, and he had matured from the man he was when he left his family.  Jacob desired a peaceful reconciliation with his brother Esau.

It was only natural for Jacob to feel fear, knowing that a group of 400 men were approaching with Esau.  However, he was not remembering God’s promise to him, made many years earlier in Bethel, where He promised that He would give the land of Canaan to him and his descendants (Genesis 28:13-15).  Jacob was not fully trusting God.  Instead, he was letting fear rule his mind and actions.  Fear does not come from God (II Timothy 1:7).  When fear arrives, remember God’s promises to us throughout Scripture, and put our full trust in Him to direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Later that evening Jacob went out alone, possibly to pray and meditate by himself.  It was at this time that Scripture says he met a Man, and the two began to wrestle.  This continued throughout the night (vs. 22-24).  This was not just an ordinary man that Jacob met at night, nor was this an angel.  This was a Theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Hosea 12:3-5).  The wrestling between the two was both physical and spiritual.  Jacob was wrestling to receive a blessing from God, while God was wrestling for Jacob to completely surrender himself to Him.

God will often meet us when we are alone, in solitude and in prayer.  That is when He can get our attention.  We won’t be physically wrestling with God, like Jacob did.  However, we can wrestle with Him in prayer.  That is not an act of rebellion.  It is the struggle of a soul being broken and remade.  Sometimes God must wrestle us into submission before He can bless us, like He did with Jacob here.  Also, sometimes we may have a burden on our soul, something that is not obviously outside of God’s will, something so heavy that we bring it to God, and “wrestle” with Him in prayer, not letting go until we receive His answer.  Often this is prayer for the salvation of a loved one.  We “pray through”, we do not let go until we receive God’s blessing (vs. 26).

God touched the socket of Jacob’s hip, putting his hip out of joint (vs. 25).  He could have ended the struggle instantly, but God allowed the wrestling to continue for Jacob’s sake.  His limp would be a lifelong reminder for him to always be dependent upon God, to cling to Him in faith.  Sometimes God will give us a type of “limp” in our life, too.  It might be painful, but it is better to limp in God’s will than to run in our own.

After this wrestling match, God changed Jacob’s name (vs. 27-28).  The name “Jacob” meant “supplanter”, which had a negative connotation to it.  It was here that God gave him the name “Israel”, which means “a prince with God”.  This is a new identity, rooted in divine grace.  God gave Jacob a new name, and when we come to Jesus in salvation, accepting Him as our personal Savior, He gives us a new nature (II Corinthians 5:17), a new identity in Him.

As we look back over this one life-changing night in Jacob’s life, do we see ourselves in any aspect?  Are we filled with fear over some impending storm clouds on our horizon, as Jacob was?  If so, we need to remember that this fear is not from God, it is from the devil, and we don’t want to accept anything from him!  Remember the promises that God has given us in His Word, and start claiming them in our life.  And just as Jacob did, hang on to God in prayer.  Persevering in prayer is a mark of true faith (Luke 18:1-8).  Cling to God in prayer, even when He might seem distant. 

The One Who Was Thankful

Luke 17:11-19

One thing that a good parent will teach their children early on is to say “Thank you” to others when they receive something, or if something nice or an act of kindness is done for them.  When they are young, the parent will prompt them, telling them, “Say thank you” until it is a habit that becomes ingrained in them.  Yet, we still see so many people, both young and old, who never say thank you to anyone for anything.  Are they ungrateful?  Do they have such a sense of entitlement that they feel that everything is owed to them, nothing should be withheld from them?  Or were they just never taught proper manners?  In today’s Scripture from the Gospel of Luke, we read of ten men who were given a most special gift, and what their reactions were.

As we begin our Scripture, Jesus was traveling from the region of Galilee in the north down to Jerusalem in the south.  To get there He needed to pass through the area of Samaria.  A good ways off of the road was a group of ten lepers.  Nine were Jewish men, and one was a Samaritan man.  Due to the uncleanness of the disease, and how contagious it was, the Law said they had to keep away from the community.  As they saw that Jesus was passing by, the group called out to Him to have mercy on them (vs. 11-13).  They wanted to be healed.  They wanted to return to their family, their loved ones and friends, and to the community.  Being banished from one’s family, even if one was in a leper group as these were, was not pleasant.

Throughout the Bible leprosy was also a picture of sin.  Sin, like leprosy, is corrupting.  Like the disease, it is isolating, and sin is also incurable by man.  These men, like all lepers needed to be, were physically separated from others, just as sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2).  These men knew that they were lepers, which is why they asked for healing.  We must recognize our spiritual uncleanness before we can receive cleansing and forgiveness.  Just as these men called out to Jesus for His mercy, true salvation begins with a cry for God’s mercy (Romans 10:13).

Jesus immediately responded to these men’s cries, and He told them to go to the priests to show them they had been cured of their disease (vs. 14).  This was in accordance with the Levitical law (Leviticus 14:2-3), which required a priest to verify healing.  Their healing came to them after they obeyed Jesus and started to go on their way.  Their healing took an act of faith.  They could have looked down at themselves and seen that they weren’t healed yet, and decided not to go until they were healed.  However, they set forth to go to the priest, demonstrating an act of faith, and their healing came.  Faith obeys even when the outcome isn’t visible yet (Hebrews 11:1).

As we continue reading that when one of the ten men saw that he was healed, he turned around and went back to Jesus to thank Him (vs 15-16).  Only one returned to thank Jesus, and this one was a Samaritan, one who was despised by the Jews, a foreigner.  This man had a grateful heart.  Jesus had just healed him, given him his life back.  He would now be able to return home to his family, and he was overwhelmed with gratitude to Jesus for what He had done for him.  Gratitude is the mark of a heart truly touched by grace.

Jesus then asked where the other nine men were.  They, too, had been cleansed and healed.  Couldn’t they have been bothered to give thanks?  However, only one came back to thank God, and he was a “stranger”, a Samaritan, a foreigner (vs. 17-18).   Jesus deserved their thankfulness.  He deserves our thankfulness, as well.  The nine others received physical healing, but they missed the spiritual fellowship.  It was only the Samaritan who glorified God.  Many receive blessings from God, but they fail to worship the Giver.  Ingratitude or being unthankful is a spiritual blindness that robs God of glory.

The Lord Jesus then told this man to go on his way, as his faith made him whole (vs. 19).  The Greek word used here for “whole” is “sozo”, which means to bring spiritual salvation.  This man received more than just physical healing.  He also received eternal life.  That was something that the others missed out on then, as they had no gratitude to God.

How thankful are we, whether to others or to God, for what we receive?  Being thankful for our many blessings should be a daily practice.  The nine who showed no gratitude missed out on the Lord’s blessing and salvation.  All of them were healed physically, but only the one who came back to give thanks to Jesus was made spiritually whole.  Let’s remember to always give thanks to the Lord for all that He has done for us, and not be like the nine who forgot.

A Dedicated Soldier for Christ

II Timothy 2:3-15

When someone wants to really, really achieve a goal in their life, they try not to let anything distract them from achieving that.  They will dedicate every spare moment to do whatever it takes to reach that goal, whether it is some athletic endeavor, musical or artistic perfection, or whatever it is.  Often these pursuits require wholehearted dedication, and if one isn’t willing to put forth that effort, they won’t achieve the goal.  In our Scripture for today, continuing on in St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, we read of the Apostle’s encouragement of his young protegee to be dedicated to his spiritual calling in just such a way.  Let’s see what we can learn for our own lives from this message.

As we read, Paul gives us the example of being a good soldier (vs. 3-4).  The soldiers he had in mind, of course, were the Roman soldiers, and their life was not an easy one by any means.  The discipline for a Roman soldier was quite strict and severe.  A good Roman soldier endured hardship, and was well-disciplined.  As Christians, we are soldiers in the army of Christ.  Separation from worldly entanglements is essential for our service for Jesus (I John 2:15-17).  Like those Roman soldiers, we must avoid things that hinder our obedience to God.  Our warfare is not a physical one, but instead is a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-12).  The real enemy that we fight is the powers of darkness, very much in power and active in the world today.  We are not called to comfort, but to combat, and like a soldier, we must be disciplined, loyal, and ready to suffer for Jesus’ sake (Philippians 1:29).

The next example Paul used was that of an athlete (vs. 5).  In order to be good at any sport, one must practice.  One won’t be awarded any medals unless one follows the rules and practices.  The rewards that we get for our service to Jesus are conditional on obedience to His Word (I Corinthians 3:13-15).  We must serve Him according to Scripture, not our personal preferences.

In the next several verses (vs. 8-10), Paul makes reference to the suffering that he is going through for the Gospel.  This Epistle was written while he was imprisoned in Rome for preaching the Gospel of Jesus, possibly shortly before his execution.  The resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day is central to the Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4).  He wanted Timothy to be sure to keep that central in his teachings.  Christ’s victory over death is our hope and our message.  Though Paul was tied in chains in a wretched dungeon prison, he knew that the Gospel message wasn’t chained.  God’s Word is unstoppable.  It can prosper and flourish, even when His servants are persecuted.  We should not let opposition or even persecution discourage us, as God’s truth will continue on.

Paul inserted here an early Christian poem or saying.  It might possibly have even been an early Christian hymn (vs. 11-13).  The Apostle verified the truth of these verses about our union with Jesus.  Faithfulness will lead to reward, however denial will lead to a loss of reward, though not of salvation if one is genuinely saved.  Even when we falter, Jesus remains faithful.  God is faithful in all that He does (Deuteronomy 7:9).  No matter what happens in life, we can hold on to this truth.  God will never break His promises.  He will do what He says He will do.  We need to be faithful to Jesus.  Faithfulness to God is a fruit of the Spirit, and it increases as we draw closer to Him.

Paul wraps up this section by reminding believers to be faithful and true to God’s Word in our doctrine (vs. 14-15).  He urged Timothy not to waste time in anything that would distract one from sound doctrine and edification, such as arguments over words, or for him to not waste time in getting involved in theological rabbit trails.  Instead, we are to focus on Biblical truth that builds up and glorifies the Lord Jesus.  We need to be a diligent student of God’s Word.

The Christian life is a battle, one that we are in against the forces of evil and darkness.  As a good soldier for Christ, we must remember to avoid worldly entanglements as we live to please Him.  Our sword is the Word of God, and we need to follow that, not current popular philosophical trends, and instead be a diligent, approved worker.

Straying Off Course

Psalm 106

When traveling by boat or plane there are no roads to travel on to get from one place to another, so it is important for the navigator to chart an accurate course.  If one is off by even just one degree, you can miss your desired destination by many miles.  Not only is care needed to chart that course correctly, but it is also very important to stay on that course, and not veer off in any direction.  Laxness in staying on track can end up taking you far from where you want to be.  Charting a correct course is important, not only when traveling by boat or plane, but it is also done in a sense with corporations, with organizations, even within families and personally.  If they have a desired goal they want to achieve, it is important that they stay on track if they want to accomplish that.  In our psalm for today, we read of the nation of Israel having a goal they wanted to achieve, a path that they wanted to remain on.  Were they successful, or did they stray off course?  Let’s look at our psalm.

After the people of Israel left Egypt, they made a covenant with Yahweh, that they would be His people, and He would be their God.  They promised that they would obey His laws, and worship only Him.  That was their promise, that was the goal, the path they wanted and chose to follow.  Would they be successful, or would they stray off course?  As we read through Psalm 106, we quickly see that this is a psalm of confession.  It is a psalm that reviews the nation’s past, recounting numerous times where they strayed off course and into sin.  This psalm is a national confession of Israel’s repeated sins, and also of God’s enduring mercy.  The unknown author of our psalm sought to lead God’s people, both then and now, to repentance and also praise by remembering their failures and God’s faithfulness.

The psalmist begins our psalm with a call to praise and to acknowledge God’s mercy (vs. 1-5).  Two very important characteristics of Yahweh are His goodness and His mercy.  Everything He does is good.  There is no spot or stain of evil, wickedness, or even meanness in Him.  Yahweh is also merciful.  As sinful humans, we deserve His wrath and punishment.  However, mercy withholds what we deserve.  As mentioned, Psalm 106 is a psalm of confession, and confession should always begin with words of worship to the Lord.

Next, the psalmist confesses the sins of the nation (vs. 6-7).  Though he, himself, may not have fallen into these specific sins, though he may have remained faithful in his worship of only Yahweh, he confesses the sins of Israel, the nation.  We see this also with some others in the Old Testament, such as Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.  Though not every person in the nation fell into pagan idolatry, many did, and  the nation as a whole did.  Sin is not just personal - it affects the whole community.  If there is to be revival in the land, it is essential that godly Christians confess both personal and communal sins, sins of the community, the church, and of the nation.

The bulk of the remainder of this rather long psalm recounts multiple episodes where the people of Israel really strayed off the course, off of the path that had been set for them by Moses when they left Egypt.  Each time they swerved away off the path.  Let’s quickly look at some of these.  The psalmist recounts first in verses 7-12 the rebellion of the people at the Red Sea.  This was when they approached the shores of the Red Sea, and were afraid of the approaching Egyptians, so they lashed out at Moses and God (Exodus 14:11-12).  However, God in His mercy, opened the waters of the sea for them to pass, despite their faithlessness.

In verses 13-15 the people complained to God about their diet and lack of water (Exodus 15:24; Numbers 11:4).  And yet the Lord provided for them the whole time they were in the wilderness.  We read in verses 16-18 of the rebellion that some led against Moses and Aaron.  God judged those rebels as we read in Numbers 16.  When the people arrived at Mt. Horeb (Mt. Sinai) they fell into idolatry and made the golden calf to worship (vs. 19-23).  We read of this in Exodus 32:1-14, and it is through the intercession of Moses that God turns away His wrath.  In verses 24-27 they were not satisfied with the looks of the Promised Land (Numbers 14:1-4) which led to their wandering in the wilderness for forty years.  Verses 28-31 recount an incident of blatant sin, which the actions of Phineas brought an end to the judgment of (Numbers 25:6-9).  The people of Israel’s rebellion and complaining even affected Moses at the waters of Meribah (vs. 32-33), which we read of in Numbers 20:3-13.

After entering the promised land the people continued to fall into deliberate sin and pagan idolatry (vs 34-43).  Spiritual compromise will always lead to moral collapse.  Throughout the Old Testament we read of repeated cycles of judgment and then God’s mercy.  All of these historical accounts are literal events that demonstrate the consequences of sin and the necessity of obedience.  God’s holiness demands judgment, but His mercy provides deliverance.

As we come to the end of this lengthy psalm we read the psalmist’s final pleas and his praise (vs. 44-48).  God will hear the prayers of the repentant.  His compassion flows from His character.  No matter how far one has fallen into sin, God’s mercy is available.  When we cry out to Him in faith and repentance, He will guide us to get back on track, on to the correct path.  In closing, let us confess and forsake our sins each day so we do not stray away from Yahweh.  Trust in His mercy, as He will restore those who repent.  There is always hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Goodness Coming From Tragedy

Ruth 1:1-22

After a tragedy hits, whether it is a personal or family tragedy, or a larger one, we sometimes might hear someone pray for God to bring something good out of what happened.  We might wonder what possible good could ever come from this?  They just lost their home and every belonging in a fire, or they just lost their pension due to crooks in their former company, or several people in their family died in an accident.  What good could possibly happen?  Our Old Testament reading this week describes a devastating tragedy that happened to one woman.  Can God lift her out of this and bring good back into her life?  Let’s look and see.

The Book of Ruth is a short book of only four chapters, nestled between the Book of Judges and the Books of Samuel, and it takes place during the time of the judges, a time when the people of Israel swayed back and forth between obeying God and then worshiping pagan gods.  During times of disobedience, the Lord would often send enemy nations to conquer parts of the land for a while, or He would send crop failure to bring famine, or a drought.  As we begin reading our Scripture, we see that there was a famine.  It got so bad that a gentleman named Elimelech felt the need to take his wife and two sons and leave their home of Bethlehem and travel into the foreign country of Moab, which was not affected by this famine (vs. 1-2).  He seems to have settled right in among his Moabite neighbors, despite their being pagans and enemies of both Israel and Yahweh, as he got wives for his sons from among them.  However, while there Elimelech died, and then his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion also died.  That left a destitute widow Naomi and her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah (vs. 3-5).

This is a tragic situation that Naomi finds herself in now.  She was an older woman in a foreign country, now a widow with no husband or son to care for her.  In those days a woman couldn’t just go out and get a job.  Women were dependent on their husbands to care for them, and if he died hopefully she had a son to take her in.  Sometimes a son-in-law might, but without any of them, a widow would be left to beg in order to survive.  Would God bring good out of this?  Naomi heard the famine was over, so she decided to return to her hometown, and maybe some relatives might have pity on her and take her in (vs. 6-7).  As she leaves, Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to return to their families.  They were Moabites and pagans, and Israel was no place for them.  However, Ruth refused to go.  She had come to faith in Yahweh, and would not leave the mother-in-law she loves to some unknown fate (vs. 8-18).

Let’s look at the decisions that have been made so far in this narrative.  Elimelech made the decision to flee to a pagan country rather than trusting in Yahweh.  God had warned his people against joining with the pagan nations around them.  Yes, perhaps Elimelech had felt at the time that he had no choice, as there was a famine in the land.  However, that decision was not one of faith, but of pragmatism, and a believer needs to trust in God no matter what is happening in life.  When we face hardships, we need to trust in God’s provision, rather than looking to a worldly solution.

Elimelech and Naomi had also decided to take pagan women as wives for their sons.  God had specifically warned against this (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).  Sometimes we justify marrying an unsaved person by saying that we might lead that unsaved person to the Lord, but more often than not, that does not happen.  Fortunately for Naomi, her one daughter-in-law Ruth, a loving and caring young woman, did turn to Yahweh with her whole heart!   God brought good out of that wrong decision to marry their sons to unsaved women, as Ruth came to saving faith.

Naomi’s life and witness were influential in bringing Ruth to salvation.  When Naomi decided to return to her people, she had urged both Ruth and Orpah to return to their Moabite families.  Ruth, now a believer, did not want to go back to a pagan culture and life.  She chose to stay with Naomi, and Naomi’s God.  Her faith was a true one, and was marked by forsaking her old life and embracing God’s people and promises.  Yahweh was not only for the Israelites.  If a foreigner, a Gentile like Ruth the Moabitess, came to Him in faith, He would accept them, too.

When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, she told her friends and family to no longer call her Naomi, a name which means “good” or “pleasant".   Instead she told them to call her Mara, which means “bitter”, as she felt that God had dealt bitterly with her.  She was choosing at that time to only see the tragedy in her life.  Yet God was going to bring good out of this.  If she would have chosen to look at the good, she would have remembered that Ruth had come with her.  If you read further in the book you will see how Ruth goes to work in the farm fields to earn a living for her and Naomi, thus saving them both from ruin.  Naomi didn’t have to do that herself, which she would have if Ruth hadn’t come.  Later when Ruth makes a good marriage, she brings Naomi into her new family, too.  Ruth loved her, and would not abandon her.  That was another goodness the Lord blessed her with.  She got to be, in a sense, a grandmother to Ruth’s children, which was another blessing for her.

The greatest goodness and blessing that the Lord brought from this tragedy was that Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David, and thus also in the family line of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus, who would redeem all mankind from their sins.  Without the choices that were made, and without this tragedy happening, none of that would have happened.  Even in seasons of loss and uncertainty, God is quietly weaving redemption into the story.  God can, and does, bring good out of tragedy.

Mustard Seed Faith

Luke 17:5-10

Sometimes just a little can go a long way.  A gifted sculptor can take just a couple of pieces of what we might think is junk and craft a work of art.  My daughter and I often watch those cooking competition shows.  A talented chef can be given just a small box with a few ingredients and by the end of the show come up with a marvelous meal.  In our Gospel reading for today, Jesus tells us how if we have just a little of something, we can accomplish great things.  Let’s take a look.

Earlier in chapter 17, Jesus had been instructing the disciples about forgiveness, and how we need to forgive someone, even if they keep sinning against us seven times a day.  Seven times!!  That can seem rather overwhelming, so the disciples responded by asking Jesus to increase their faith (vs. 5).  Jesus answered them by teaching that if one has faith the size of a tiny mustard seed, one could say to the mulberry tree which was next to Him, to be pulled up and thrown into the sea, and it would be done (vs. 6).

When we pray to God, do we really have faith that He will answer?  Do we believe that He hears and will respond to our prayers, or are we just going through the motions with our prayers.  The mustard seed in this example that Jesus gave symbolizes genuine, living faith.  When we pray, we are not to trust in our own self-confidence, or get all worked up into a frenzy of emotionalism, but instead, we are to trust in God’s promises.  That is Who we are to have faith in.  Many of our problems can seemingly be as deep-rooted as a strong tree, and seem impossible to move.  However, having even mustard seed faith in Jesus can overcome even entrenched spiritual obstacles.

The size of one’s faith isn’t the most important thing.  Rather it is Who we have faith in.  If we have huge faith, but it’s in some other person, some humanistic philosophy, or a pagan deity, that will do us no good.  However, if we have just a little bit of faith, but it is in the Lord Jesus, that is all that will matter.

Jesus teaches us that faith is not about quantity, but about quality.  Even the smallest true faith, one that is rooted in God’s Word, is powerful.  One doesn’t need “more” faith.  What we need is real faith.  This faith comes to us by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17).  This faith is strengthened by obedience to God, by prayer, and by studying the Scriptures, not through emotional experiences.

The Lord Jesus then shifted to giving a brief, little parable about how a servant is to do his duty, referring to believers in service to God (vs. 7-10).  This short parable illustrates what our role before God is to be.  We are His servants, not entitled beneficiaries.  As what should be obvious to all, a servant should not expect to be praised for doing what is required of them.  They should simply obey their orders.  This actually goes against the modern mindset of entitlement that many people have for themselves and others.  As God’s Word says, obedience is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

How often do we forget our place before God!  Jesus reminds us here what that is.  A servant is supposed to serve.  It is not the master’s job to wait on the servant.  God is our Master and we are the servants.  We are creatures.  We are people much loved by God, but we are not God.  We have a Master who adopted us, who has made us to become children of God when we call upon Jesus.  However it is not something that is our due, something that God ought to be giving us.  It is what we have because of the love and mercy of Jesus (Mark 10:45).

We should be serving God out of gratitude, not for our own recognition, neither looking for reward or for applause.  These verses are a call to humility before God.  Our salvation is by grace, not through our own merit.  Our works do not earn favor from God.  They are the fruit of our faith, not the root.  Remember, God does not owe us anything, yet He graciously rewards faithfulness.  A true disciple will serve Him without expectation of reward.

As we look back on these short teachings that Jesus gave here, we learn that faith, even if it is small faith, if it is in the Lord God and not ourself or something else, it will be powerful.  Our faith can grow stronger through prayer and studying God’s Word, the Bible.  We can cultivate our faith by immersing ourselves in Scripture and trusting God’s promises.  We also learn here that believers are called to humble, faithful obedience.  We are unworthy servants.  Our obedience is our duty, not a basis for pride.  We exist to glorify God, not the other way around.

I Know Whom I Have Believed

II Timothy 1:1-14

Our New Testament reading for this week takes us into the book of II Timothy, which we will look at each week throughout the month of October.  Scripture contains two letters that the Apostle Paul wrote to his young protege, Timothy.  This second letter was written while Paul was in prison, shortly before he would be executed for his faith in the Lord Jesus.  Knowing that he would likely never see Timothy again, Paul gave him some godly guidance and encouragement.

Paul began this letter like he did most letters, either to various churches or to other people, with affirming his divine, apostolic calling (vs. 1).  He then proceeded to bless Timothy with the blessing that he also frequently gave to other churches, that of grace, mercy, and peace (vs 2).  Grace - something that God gives us that we do not deserve, all of the riches of Christ, including that of salvation.  Mercy - God withholding from us the punishment that we do deserve.  Peace - a gift from God that is an inner tranquility that surpasses human understanding, even in the middle of difficult circumstances.

Paul stated that he served God with a pure conscience (vs. 3).  He was not trying to imply that he felt he never sinned.  He knew that he, like all of us, sinned every day.  However, he made sure that when he became aware of any sins, he took care of them by confessing and repenting of them with God right away.  He did not let sins pile up in his conscience.  At any given time, Paul knew that his conscience before God would be pure.  We, too, should never let sins pile up in our conscience, but instead confess to God every day, maybe several times a day, so that we can have a pure conscience.

The Apostle also reminded Timothy of his godly heritage (vs. 5).  Both his grandmother and mother were believers, and as a young boy they had imparted godly teaching to him.  Be thankful to the Lord if you, too, have a godly heritage, and we all need to be sure that we are passing on a similar godly heritage to our children and grandchildren, just like Lois and Eunice.

God has given to every believer at least one spiritual gift (vs. 6).  Paul encouraged Timothy to stir up the gift that God had given him.  The Greek word that Paul used for “stir up” is “anazopyreo” which implies to kindle or to be fanning into a flame.  If you’ve ever started a fire in a fireplace or a camp fire, you know that the tiny flame you start with will need to be fanned into a bigger flame, to get the full fire going.  Paul didn’t want the gift that God had blessed Timothy with to go out like a tiny spark, but instead to be fanned into a full flame.  Like Timothy we need to keep our spiritual gifts stirred up into a full flame, too.

Timothy was a fairly young man, certainly under the age of forty, when Paul wrote this letter to him.  He was said to have been a more reserved and timid man, certainly not of an extroverted nature.  It is even possible that he might have had periodic anxiety.  Paul gave Timothy some words of encouragement in vs. 7.  He reminded the young man that fear is not from God.  Instead, He gives us power or spiritual boldness, love shown in selfless service to others, and a sound mind or disciplined thinking.  God doesn’t want us to live with ongoing anxiety.  Worry can become deeply ingrained in the way we think.  Anxiety takes our eyes off our omnipotent, loving heavenly Father, and focuses our attention on our circumstances.  These words of Paul are especially encouraging when we face opposition to our work for the Lord, or when we get discouraged.

When opposition comes, and it will as we serve the Lord, Paul encouraged Timothy to not shrink back in shame when he might face suffering (vs. 8).  Paul was not ashamed of anything he had suffered, and was suffering now as he sat in a wretched prison cell.  He had trust and faith in God (vs. 12).  Paul had a deep and strong relationship with the Lord Jesus, not just merely intellectual knowledge of doctrine, but a personal relationship.  He had committed his life to Him, and knew, truly believed, that God would keep him until the day that he would see Jesus face to face.

Paul encouraged Timothy to cling to “sound words” or doctrinal purity, protecting the Gospel message from false doctrines and heresies that were already creeping into the Church (vs 13-14).  We, too, need to be careful that the Gospel message we believe in is pure, and not corrupted by any of the myriads of false teachings that are in the world today.

As we close, let’s be sure that we aren’t letting our spiritual gifts lie dormant in us.  Rekindle them in service to the Lord Jesus.  Let’s also be sure that we are investing in the next generation with our children and grandchildren, or any other young person we have more than a passing contact with.  Speak boldly for Jesus, even when it costs you, and know that you can trust God with your future.  He is faithful to keep what you commit to Him.