Faithful

Our refrigerator has water and ice dispensers in the door, but don’t try to use them without asking. I’ll tell you that the water doesn’t work, and I’ll tell you whether Beloved Husband has put ice in the holder. Neither work automatically. Same with our friend’s refrigerator. The water dispenses, but not the ice.

My son-in-law was without the use of his vehicle for a few days. The water pump wasn’t working. He used his wife’s car to go to and from work; she used ours when she needed to run an errand. It helps to have a spare available.

Same with a spare tire – very handy to have on hand when a tire fails. Blowout, slow leak, worn treads. Somewhere along the line, replacement is necessary.

Another replacement for us recently was a hot water heater. Ours ceased providing hot water on a consistent basis – sometimes hot, sometimes not. The last straw was when we were faced with hot wiring and a small flashing fire.

All of the above failed. They ceased to faithfully function properly. None of them made that decision, it was simply a mechanical failure of a manufactured item. None of them decided it was too hard to do nor did they have something else to do.

So why, then, are people no more faithful than these goods? Why is it they can explain away not attending services at the church that accepted their membership request.

Each of them walked down the aisle, took a welcoming hand and requested membership in the church to which they belong. The phrase that comes to mind is they attend enough to show interest, but not enough to get involved.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV)

We need to know our fellow worshippers in order to provoke love and good works. That’s something that cannot be done at a distance.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20 KJV)

While we do have the Holy Spirit with us at all times, all places, there is a special promise for when we gather in His name. Neglect the gathering? For what reasons?

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42 KJV)

The disciples went daily to the temple, daily taught and preached Christ, but they also met on the first day of the week. Would we have stayed through Paul’s sermon?

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7 KJV)

If so, why can’t we spend an hour in church on Sunday morning? Return for another hour on Sunday night? Why aren’t we interested in Wednesday teaching and prayer services?

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10 KJV)

Just and Unjust

We were on our way home from a June vacation in Colorado, moving through the center of the Texas panhandle. The skies were partly cloudy when I saw the rain ahead of us. Past what you see in the photo, the shower stopped as quickly as it started. The first verse that came to mind was:

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (Matthew 5:45 KJV)

Not that I knew of either person under that short shower. In fact, that land might not have held a structure of any kind. Neighbors there were scarce.

Jesus’ words were part of the Sermon on the Mount. People often think of this sermon being given to the multitude, sitting on the side of a mountain, with Jesus above them on a hillside. I ask you to again look at the first few verses. In fact, pick up the last verse of the previous chapter, too:

And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan. And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, (Matthew 4:25 - 5:2 KJV)

What I envision is Jesus going up into a mountain and his disciples came. Not the multitudes. It is to those called to His service that hear how followers should live.

After the “Be Attitudes”, visions of salt, light and explanation of the law, He speaks of our enemies, defining their treatment.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:43-44 KJV)

Peter carried the message away with him that day and wrote of it later.

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9 KJV)

Do we? The way to be certain is to place that person on a prayer list. If there is someone specifically identifiable as an enemy, that harbors hate, Christ Himself requires that we pray for them.

What would that prayer be? Vengeance? Nope, that belongs to the Lord. The simplest is to pray that God will hold them in His hand. That God’s will be done in their lives. That God will soften their hearts and they will come to know His love.

What better way for a person to change? What a blessed way for us to have a part in that change.

Disorderly

Many diseases display physical symptoms. Some symptoms appear to be more than one disease. Beloved Husband’s hands were obviously shaking as though he were losing muscular control. The first thought was that this was a symptom of Parkinson’s, a progressive disease.

Instead of worrying about was it was and what would come next, a trip to Dr. Mac got us an appointment with a gentleman who appeared to be Marcus Welby. Honestly! For those of you too young to recognize the name, sorry. Tall, slender, tailor-fitted suited, a sculptured head of white hair, a demeanor designed to acknowledge ability and provide assurance.

A few tests and a diagnosis that has proven true – BET (Benign Essential Tremors.) There is no cure, but the progression is very slow and there is medication that helps.

There are symptoms displayed in other things that require attention. A leaking faucet let’s us know attention is required. The scratch of metal-to-metal bears investigation. A fragrance of heated wiring sends us looking for the source. These are all symptoms.

Paul describes a symptom in his epistle.

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6 KJV)

He’s not talking about the unsaved. He’s not talking about a family member. He’s talking about the Christian sitting in the pew at church.

Disorderly covers a multitude of possibilities.

Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary states these disorderly brethren do not “ ,,, govern themselves according to the rules of Christianity, nor agreeably to their profession of religion; not according to the precepts delivered by the apostle, which they had received, and pretended to pay a regard to. Note, It is required of those who have received the gospel, and who profess a subjection to it, that they live according to the gospel. If they do not, they are to be counted disorderly persons.”

The sad thing is that this has applied to my own life. There have been times I did not live according to the gospel. I did not attend church regularly. I did not speak of my faith to others. Both of those are expected of Christians. I lied. That is not expected of Christians, no matter how “white” the lie might have been. Revelation 21:8 does not omit the white lies of convenience.

These disorderly people also are described in another verse.

For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. (2 Thessalonians 3:11 KJV)

That’s not confined to ladies, dear gentlemen. And there are remedies when the diagnosis is confirmed.

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 KJV)

Don’t ignore the disorderly – even within ourselves. Take time to study this third chapter with some commentaries, while looking into our own eyes before removing motes from others.

(Wikipedia Commons: Gustave Doré - Miguel de Cervantes - Don Quixote - Part 1 - Chapter 1 - Plate 1

"A world of disorderly notions, picked out of his books, crowded into his imagination".)

Daily

If you’ve been visiting here for even a few times, you’ve found quite a few Bible verses. I truly love God’s word. Both of them – the Word as described in John 1:1 and His word as given to us in the Holy Bible. But how do we really apply these verses – and Christ – in our daily lives? So I decided to take a look at what the Bible has to say about daily. The first time I found the word it related to Israelites in Egypt working without straw:

And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw. (Exodus 5:13 KJV)

I was struck by Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, even though the material to do so was not available.

Can we do this each day in our own lives? Does God expect us to continue fulfilling our own work day by day when supplies are lacking? Some of the other ‘daily’ verses come to mind as to how we should accomplish our daily tasks.

Praising God for each and every day in our lives, no matter what it brings is a great start.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psalms 68:19 KJV)

Ask for His mercy and learn from those who asked for and received it.

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. (Psalms 86:3-4 KJV)

Christ gave us the prayer to take care of our daily needs,

Give us this day our daily bread. (Matthew 6:11 KJV)

And, He gave us the example of daily carrying burdens.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23 KJV)

Each day, He taught in His Father’s house.

And he taught daily in the temple. (Luke 19:47a KJV)

His followers took this example to heart, being in His Father’s house daily (not just on Sunday mornings, thank you!)

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. (Acts 5:42 KJV)

And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily. (Acts 16:5 KJV)

As His words and works were received, they were studied daily.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)

So I read my Bible with daily prayer, I attend services supporting my church, speak of His love and publish in accordance with His word, then go about fulfilling my daily tasks.

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 KJV)

Hearts

Do you know anyone who is hard hearted? How about someone soft hearted? I venture to say that you can point to both – and in some ways, it could be the same person.

God was speaking to His chosen people through Ezekiel when He said:

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20 KJV)

It was important enough to repeat:

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:25-27 KJV)

God spoke through Paul on this same subject:

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV)

One of our church teachers gave Jesus’ example of the Parable of the Sower, likening the ground to our hearts. Stony ground equaled the hardened hearts that are easily offended by the word of God. Their hearts have built up a selfishly protective shield. The word is heard, received with joy but when it comes to giving up their selfishness, their heart hardens further.

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. (Matthew 13:20-21 KJV)

It’s the soft heart, prepared to serve others, which brings forth fruit.

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23 KJV)

Our hearts are very important to the Lord.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21 KJV)

I want mine to be with Him. I know that all the stony pieces must be gone in order for Him to mold me to His will. Just as the potter forming clay is impeded by any stony particles, the pieces of selfishness remaining in my heart must be removed.

I am so grateful to God that I do not have to remove them myself. He is capable of providing the cleansing.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)

(Today's graphic is detail from an internet background, edited, cropped and color enhanced.)

Heirs

(Triangle of Love (TM) see end of post)

My husband’s birth parents, through a series of circumstances, eventually relinquished their parental rights. He and a brother were adopted, becoming part of a completely different family.

Adam and Eve accomplished a similar severing with their Father, terminating their rights to live God’s original plan, creating enmity instead.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. (Genesis 3:15 KJV)

Christ changed that. Only in the New Testament do we find adoption, and find it to the highest order.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:14-16 KJV)

That never ceases to amaze me. God as our Father, by His choice, in His time.

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:4-7 KJV)

God planned, ordained and predestined this adoption process from the beginning.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4 KJV)

Before the foundation of the world, He planned the adoption process.

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:4-7 KJV)

So, what do we get from this adoption?

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17 KJV)

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:7 KJV)

A note on the Triangle of Love (TM)

I found the above symbol first as a tattoo.

Searching for why it was a symbol of adoption, I found this graphic on the blog of an adoptive Mom. I also discovered that it was the Trade Mark for The Gladney Center for Adoption.

"Triangle of Love jewelry is a touching symbol of adoption. A triangle intertwined with a heart symbolizes the birth family, the child, and the adoptive family joined together by love, as equal partners in the adoption experience. " Their jewelry selection is available online.

Psalms

When the world is telling us there is nothing good, when it says things are falling apart, it’s time to spent a bit of reading and prayer in Psalms.

From the first we’re told to meditate on the Lord’s law.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalms 1:1-2 KJV)

Not on His promises, not on what He can do for us, but meditate on what He expects from us. Give Him what is due.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. (Psalms 96:8 KJV)

Come to Him rejoicing.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice (Psalms 96:11-12 KJV)

We are expected to give thanks in all things as we praise Him.

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (Psalms 100:3-4 KJV)

Why?

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. (Psalms 26:7 KJV)

His works truly are wondrous.

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. (Psalms 75:1 KJV)

We hear why God leads us.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalms 23:3 KJV)

Not for our sake, for we have sinned against Him. His love for us is for His sake.

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. (Psalms 25:7 KJV)

What better reason to follow Him could there be?

For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. (Psalms 31:3 KJV)

(The photo was forwarded in an unattributed e-mail. Awesome shot!)

Praying and Waiting

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24 KJV)

One of the things we Christians hope for is answered prayer. Even when it appears to be overwhelming for us, we pray. And, we wait.

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:25 KJV)

We’ve had good teachers when it comes to prayer. The Bible has example after example of people who sought their Lord for specific prayers. There are similarities in them – acknowledgement of God’s ability, our lack, our need and the bending to His will with thanksgiving. Even when we do not know what to ask, how to ask or when we are afraid to ask, He tells us to ask for anything (Philippians 4:6 KJV)

When we do, we have incomparable help:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26 KJV)

We have an unmatched intercessor. God Himself, as only the Comforter could, maketh intercession for us. The Creator who so loved us that He gave His Son (John 3:16 KJV) provides the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7 KJV). He knows what we need to accomplish His will, and He provides it to us.

And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27 KJV)

Before we see God’s answer, we have faith that the outcome will be within His will for our lives, for that is part of our petition. There are conditions on things working together for good:

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28 KJV)

So, we pray and we wait, knowing that once we have come to the realization that:

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalms 27:1 KJV)

We can also:

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalms 27:14 KJV)

Forgive Offenses

Unless one of us has reached perfection (she laughed), we have been offended in some manner -- by a comment, action, choice, behavior or a myriad of other methods. Holding on to the offense does not contribute to happiness. It also separates us from the offender and from our Lord.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25 KJV)

In most cases, the incident was not specifically aimed, but was casual, almost a hit-and-run that would have gone unnoticed, except for the source or the timing. It may have been received out of context or the offender was having a bad day and didn't realize the tone of a message sent.

Sometimes clarification is a good idea. If that can't be done quickly, don't think about. Seriously -- move on to other thoughts, pure thoughts, or what-if scenarios in our minds will reinforce the unintended offense.

However, sometimes the offender had a purpose -- the offense was meant. That's when prayer is about the only thing that will help. The strength to forgive and forget is available through our Lord. He mentions it specifically:

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:21-22 KJV)

He mentions our forgiving several times in just a few verses:

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. .... For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15 KJV)

But what if you were really, really, hurt by someone who knew better?

Sorry, the rules don’t change. Forgiveness is available to us, and is to be passed on. We may speak to the offender:

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (Luke 17:3-4 KJV)

Of course, when we go to rebuke him, we must also remember:

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15 KJV)

Paul wrote that forgiveness helps the offender, too:

So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. (2 Corinthians 2:7 KJV)

Paul tells us there is another reason for forgiving:

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV)

Nicodemus and Paul

Nicodemus and Paul had some common background items. Both were Jews, living in Jerusalem, religious leaders and Pharisees. Both were interested in Christ. For Nicodemus’ interest, check out the third chapter of John, which includes:

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. (John 3:1-2 KJV)

Nicodemus did not come in the light of day. But he supported Jesus more than once – John 7:45-51 during the Feast of the Tabernacles and again after the crucifixion, John 19:39-40. He did come to the light of the world to find out more about Him and did not persecute Him. Paul did not come to Jesus, he persecuted those who did. He supported the death of Christians before they had been given that name.

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:57-59 KJV)

If you were choosing a preacher for your church, at this point, which would you choose?

Isn’t it wonderful that God knew the right man for the job? Instead of protecting Christians from Paul’s persecution, He changed Paul.

Paul’s importance to God’s plan is evident in his conversion experience. Back in Esther, Mordecai told her:

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14 KJV)

Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) when he saw Jesus and was struck blind for three days. Now, no matter how you look at it, that’s an attention getter!!

Peter, James and John walked with Jesus for three years. They saw miracles, transfiguration and the resurrected Christ. Their work with the church is documented, their letters to the churches included in the New Testament, but none matched the output of Paul’s letters, on mission journeys and in prison.

Could Nicodemus have done as well? Why in the world would we care, much less ask? They were called for different reasons. We have many more like Nicodemus in our churches than we do Pauls – and that’s a good thing. Our churches need workers who will come to Christ and learn from Him. We need workers who will speak out for Him. We need people who would go so far as to prepare a grave, when others were either too sad, or in hiding.

Just as members of Christ’s church are parts of the body, Paul tells us:

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:14-18 KJV)

Nicodemus or Paul? Both are needed. Serve where called.

(Nickodemus With Jesus from Wikimedia Commons)