He Wants to Comfort Youby Max Lucado My child’s feelings are hurt. I tell her she’s special. My child is injured. I do whatever it takes to make her feel better.
My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero. I’m not a superstar. I’m not unusual. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.
And after I help, I don’t charge a fee. I don’t ask for a favor in return. When my child cries, I don’t tell her to buck up, act tough, and keep a stiff upper lip. Nor do I consult a list and ask her why she is still scraping the same elbow or waking me up again.
I’m not a prophet, nor the son of one, but something tells me that in the whole scheme of things the tender moments described above are infinitely more valuable than anything I do in front of a computer screen or congregation. Something tells me that the moments of comfort I give my child are a small price to pay for the joy of someday seeing my daughter do for her daughter what her dad did for her.
Moments of comfort from a parent. As a father, I can tell you they are the sweetest moments in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.
If all of that is true, if I know that one of the privileges of fatherhood is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?
Why do I think he wouldn’t want to hear about my problems? (“They are puny compared to people starving in India.”)
Why do I think he is too busy for me? (“He’s got a whole universe to worry about.”)
Why do I think he’s tired of hearing the same old stuff?
Why do I think he groans when he sees me coming?
My child is afraid. I won’t go to sleep until she is secure.
I’m not a hero. I’m not a superstar. I’m not unusual. I’m a parent. When a child hurts, a parent does what comes naturally. He helps.
And after I help, I don’t charge a fee. I don’t ask for a favor in return. When my child cries, I don’t tell her to buck up, act tough, and keep a stiff upper lip. Nor do I consult a list and ask her why she is still scraping the same elbow or waking me up again.
I’m not a prophet, nor the son of one, but something tells me that in the whole scheme of things the tender moments described above are infinitely more valuable than anything I do in front of a computer screen or congregation. Something tells me that the moments of comfort I give my child are a small price to pay for the joy of someday seeing my daughter do for her daughter what her dad did for her.
Moments of comfort from a parent. As a father, I can tell you they are the sweetest moments in my day. They come naturally. They come willingly. They come joyfully.
If all of that is true, if I know that one of the privileges of fatherhood is to comfort a child, then why am I so reluctant to let my heavenly Father comfort me?
Why do I think he wouldn’t want to hear about my problems? (“They are puny compared to people starving in India.”)
Why do I think he is too busy for me? (“He’s got a whole universe to worry about.”)
Why do I think he’s tired of hearing the same old stuff?
Why do I think he groans when he sees me coming?
Lessons from Amos: Seek the Lord
“But seek not Bethel. . . . Seek the LORD, and ye shall live.” (Amos 5:5-6)
Bethel had a long history with Israel. Abraham camped near Bethel when he first entered the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:8) and “called on the name of the LORD” at Bethel when he returned from Egypt (Genesis 13:3-4). Jacob’s dream of the ladder took place at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-12, 19), and later it was there his name was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:9-15).
Later, however, Bethel became Bethaven, the “House of Idols” (Hosea 4:15), after Jeroboam I established a temple to the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-33). And much later, Assyria, after the destruction of Israel, left false priests at Bethel to corrupt the land (2 Kings 17:27-34). The place became a substitute for the person of God.
The danger comes when God becomes fixed to a place or an event where there is more concern for property than people. The kind of place (one’s denomination) substitutes theology for truth, or the experience gives more credence to intuition than inspiration. Worship of place or event supersedes the worship of God. Both substitutes will produce error.
The admonition of Amos is to “seek the LORD” (Amos 5:6). The promise is that if we seek the Lord, we “shall live.” We will not find God in a place but in a person (Acts 4:12). We cannot find God in a campaign but in a commitment (Matthew 6:33). We surely will not find God in promises from men but in power from God (2 Peter 1:4). HMM III
“But seek not Bethel. . . . Seek the LORD, and ye shall live.” (Amos 5:5-6)
Bethel had a long history with Israel. Abraham camped near Bethel when he first entered the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:8) and “called on the name of the LORD” at Bethel when he returned from Egypt (Genesis 13:3-4). Jacob’s dream of the ladder took place at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-12, 19), and later it was there his name was changed to Israel (Genesis 35:9-15).
Later, however, Bethel became Bethaven, the “House of Idols” (Hosea 4:15), after Jeroboam I established a temple to the golden calf (1 Kings 12:28-33). And much later, Assyria, after the destruction of Israel, left false priests at Bethel to corrupt the land (2 Kings 17:27-34). The place became a substitute for the person of God.
The danger comes when God becomes fixed to a place or an event where there is more concern for property than people. The kind of place (one’s denomination) substitutes theology for truth, or the experience gives more credence to intuition than inspiration. Worship of place or event supersedes the worship of God. Both substitutes will produce error.
The admonition of Amos is to “seek the LORD” (Amos 5:6). The promise is that if we seek the Lord, we “shall live.” We will not find God in a place but in a person (Acts 4:12). We cannot find God in a campaign but in a commitment (Matthew 6:33). We surely will not find God in promises from men but in power from God (2 Peter 1:4). HMM III
Lessons from Amos: Walking with God
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
Amos was a prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II (son of Joash), who ruled the northern 10 tribes of Israel from 825 to 784 BC (2 Kings 14:23). Some 100 years earlier, Jeroboam I (son of Nebat) had led a rebellion against the son of Solomon and started the northern nation of Israel (1 Kings 12). In order to keep his people from returning to Jerusalem, Jeroboam I “made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 12:30; 16:26; etc.) by developing a “new” religion centered on an image of a golden calf, with idol temples in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-29).
Those northern tribes never returned to the worship of Jehovah but “sinned against the LORD,” and Israel “feared other gods” (2 Kings 17:7). The list of their sins is long and grievous in God’s sight.
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)
Amos was a prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II (son of Joash), who ruled the northern 10 tribes of Israel from 825 to 784 BC (2 Kings 14:23). Some 100 years earlier, Jeroboam I (son of Nebat) had led a rebellion against the son of Solomon and started the northern nation of Israel (1 Kings 12). In order to keep his people from returning to Jerusalem, Jeroboam I “made Israel to sin” (1 Kings 12:30; 16:26; etc.) by developing a “new” religion centered on an image of a golden calf, with idol temples in Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-29).
Those northern tribes never returned to the worship of Jehovah but “sinned against the LORD,” and Israel “feared other gods” (2 Kings 17:7). The list of their sins is long and grievous in God’s sight.
- They “did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD” (2 Kings 17:9).
- Israel set up “images and groves in every high hill” (2 Kings 17:10).
- They “wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger” (2 Kings 17:11).
- They “worshipped all the host of heaven” (2 Kings 17:16).
- They “used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger” (2 Kings 17:17).
- They “feared the LORD, and served their own gods” (2 Kings 17:33).
Amos was commissioned in those dark years to openly confront the nation to “walk” in “agreement” with the God they professed to worship. Hypocrisy is at the core of the judgment and warnings that God recorded for us in the little book of Amos. We must learn the lessons or suffer the same judgment. HMM III
The Call to Serve Philippians 2:7-9
When it comes to serving in the church, people rarely request positions where they will go unnoticed. They usually ask to be involved in a place of leadership.
Now, there is nothing wrong with heading a committee. But God calls us to have a servant's heart: He desires that our motive be to glorify Him, not ourselves.
Over the years, I've had many conversations with young men studying at seminary. Countless times, they share the desire to lead a sizable church. And those who are called to a small congregation frequently struggle with feelings of insignificance.
My encouragement to them is this: In His great love, God places us where He wants us to serve, and every task we undertake should be given our all, whether there's one person listening or a multitude. We ultimately serve Jesus, and He is not concerned with the recognition we receive. He desires our obedience and our best effort. This is true not just for pastors but for all believers.
There are many reasons the Lord calls us to serve. First, He rids us of pride and selfishness, allowing our focus to be on Him. Second, we proclaim our love for Christ through our care for one another. Third, God tests and purifies our hearts through service.
How do you define success? A common response is "achieving predetermined goals." Scripture's definition, however, is different. The Lord desires that we discover His plan, obey, and become all that He intended. In other words, for success in the biblical sense, God sets the goals.
When it comes to serving in the church, people rarely request positions where they will go unnoticed. They usually ask to be involved in a place of leadership.
Now, there is nothing wrong with heading a committee. But God calls us to have a servant's heart: He desires that our motive be to glorify Him, not ourselves.
Over the years, I've had many conversations with young men studying at seminary. Countless times, they share the desire to lead a sizable church. And those who are called to a small congregation frequently struggle with feelings of insignificance.
How do you define success? A common response is "achieving predetermined goals." Scripture's definition, however, is different. The Lord desires that we discover His plan, obey, and become all that He intended. In other words, for success in the biblical sense, God sets the goals.
Problems Have a Purpose Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.
Psalm 50:15 NLT
God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems. My dying dad in West Texas.
The last three years of his life were scarred by ALS. The disease took him from a healthy mechanic to a bedbound paralytic. He lost his voice and his muscles, but he never lost his faith. Visitors noticed. Not so much in what he said but more in what he didn’t say. Never outwardly angry or bitter, Jack Lucado suffered stately.
His faith led one man to seek a like faith. After the funeral this man sought me out and told me. Because of my dad’s example, he became a Jesus follower.
Did God orchestrate my father’s illness for that very reason? Knowing the value he places on one soul, I wouldn’t be surprised. And imagining the splendor of heaven, I know my father’s not complaining.
A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward.
Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God. . . .
Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end—the glory of God.
—from It’s Not About Me
A True Servant
John 13:1-15
Do you equate success with wealth, acclaim, and power? If we measured by these standards, then Jesus, who was rejected by His community and didn't even have a house of His own, was a failure. But, of course, we know that's not the case. So God must use something other than these worldly goals to define success. In fact, Scripture is clear that Jesus Christ is our example--we should strive to be like Him.
So, what exactly was our Savior's mission? In today's passage, we see the answer through His actions: He came to serve. The disciples, wanting recognition and reward, were arguing about who'd be the greatest in heaven. In contrast, Jesus took off His outer garment and performed the task of the lowliest servant: He washed the dirty feet of His followers. The next day, Almighty God was crucified by His own creation. In allowing this, He offered salvation to all--even those who nailed Him to a cross.
Jesus deserved glory but chose sacrifice and pain. And He asks that we follow His example of service. With the exception of Judas, His disciples obeyed. In fact, they all faced great difficulty and most died brutal deaths because of their faith. But they willingly walked the path of humility because of what Jesus had taught them: "The last shall be first, and the first last" (Matt. 20:16).
How do you spend your resources and time? And which topics dominate your thoughts and conversation? These are a few indicators of the driving goals in your life. You may long for worldly recognition, but God has a higher calling for His children. Ask Him to foster a servant's attitude in your heart.
Psalm 50:15 NLT
God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems. My dying dad in West Texas.
The last three years of his life were scarred by ALS. The disease took him from a healthy mechanic to a bedbound paralytic. He lost his voice and his muscles, but he never lost his faith. Visitors noticed. Not so much in what he said but more in what he didn’t say. Never outwardly angry or bitter, Jack Lucado suffered stately.
His faith led one man to seek a like faith. After the funeral this man sought me out and told me. Because of my dad’s example, he became a Jesus follower.
Did God orchestrate my father’s illness for that very reason? Knowing the value he places on one soul, I wouldn’t be surprised. And imagining the splendor of heaven, I know my father’s not complaining.
A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward.
Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God. . . .
Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end—the glory of God.
—from It’s Not About Me
A True Servant
John 13:1-15
Do you equate success with wealth, acclaim, and power? If we measured by these standards, then Jesus, who was rejected by His community and didn't even have a house of His own, was a failure. But, of course, we know that's not the case. So God must use something other than these worldly goals to define success. In fact, Scripture is clear that Jesus Christ is our example--we should strive to be like Him.
So, what exactly was our Savior's mission? In today's passage, we see the answer through His actions: He came to serve. The disciples, wanting recognition and reward, were arguing about who'd be the greatest in heaven. In contrast, Jesus took off His outer garment and performed the task of the lowliest servant: He washed the dirty feet of His followers. The next day, Almighty God was crucified by His own creation. In allowing this, He offered salvation to all--even those who nailed Him to a cross.
How do you spend your resources and time? And which topics dominate your thoughts and conversation? These are a few indicators of the driving goals in your life. You may long for worldly recognition, but God has a higher calling for His children. Ask Him to foster a servant's attitude in your heart.
We Will Serve the Lord
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)
As Joshua’s death approached, he gathered the people around him for a final address and challenge. “Fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served” (v. 14), he exhorted as he reviewed the history of God’s provision for Israel. Indeed, God was worthy of their service in light of all He had done for them. Speaking on behalf of the Lord, Joshua used the divine pronoun “I” no less than 17 times in the previous 11 verses, in a majestic listing of His work on their behalf.
There seems to be a twist of irony in Joshua’s words. Even though the people adamantly maintained, “Therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God” (v. 18), Joshua evidently knew they had already decided not to follow God. He did not offer them a choice between the true God and false gods, he offered them a choice between sets of false gods—those “on the other side of the flood” (i.e., the Euphrates River), or those “in Egypt” (v. 14), or “the gods of the Amorites.” None can compare, obviously, to the Lord.
Joshua’s point is still applicable today. Man must worship; he must have a god. One may recognize his god as an actual “god”—an idol to be openly worshipped. Many times today, however, the god is that of human reason, science, evolution, or humanism, and worship is performed unwittingly. Our duty in witnessing includes helping the unsaved to make a knowledgeable choice, pointing out the consequences of their choice of gods. Such a comparison should drive one to the same decision as Joshua’s: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” JDM
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)
As Joshua’s death approached, he gathered the people around him for a final address and challenge. “Fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served” (v. 14), he exhorted as he reviewed the history of God’s provision for Israel. Indeed, God was worthy of their service in light of all He had done for them. Speaking on behalf of the Lord, Joshua used the divine pronoun “I” no less than 17 times in the previous 11 verses, in a majestic listing of His work on their behalf.
There seems to be a twist of irony in Joshua’s words. Even though the people adamantly maintained, “Therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God” (v. 18), Joshua evidently knew they had already decided not to follow God. He did not offer them a choice between the true God and false gods, he offered them a choice between sets of false gods—those “on the other side of the flood” (i.e., the Euphrates River), or those “in Egypt” (v. 14), or “the gods of the Amorites.” None can compare, obviously, to the Lord.
Joshua’s point is still applicable today. Man must worship; he must have a god. One may recognize his god as an actual “god”—an idol to be openly worshipped. Many times today, however, the god is that of human reason, science, evolution, or humanism, and worship is performed unwittingly. Our duty in witnessing includes helping the unsaved to make a knowledgeable choice, pointing out the consequences of their choice of gods. Such a comparison should drive one to the same decision as Joshua’s: “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” JDM
God's Loving Pursuitby Max Lucado "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." ~~ Psalm 23:6
Dare we envision a God who follows us? Who pursues us? Who chases us? Who tracks us down and wins us over? Who follows us with "goodness and mercy" all the days of our lives?
Isn't this the kind of God described in the Bible? A God who follows us?
Moses can tell you about it. He was forty years in the desert when he looked over his shoulder and saw a bush blazing. God had followed him into the wilderness.
Jonah can tell you about it. He was a fugitive on a boat when he looked over his shoulder and saw clouds brewing. God had followed him onto the ocean.
The disciples of Jesus knew the feeling of being followed by God. They were rain soaked and shivering when they looked over their shoulders and saw Jesus walking toward them. God had followed them into the storm.
John the Apostle was banished on Patmos when he looked over his shoulder and saw the skies begin to open. God had followed him into his exile.
Lazarus was three days dead in a sealed tomb when he heard a voice, lifted his head, and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing. God had followed him into death.
Peter had denied his Lord and gone back to fishing when he heard his name and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus cooking breakfast. God had followed him in spite of his failure.
World Without End
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)
This beautiful Old Testament promise has been appropriated by Paul (1 Corinthians 2:9) and applied to the New Testament believer guided by the indwelling Spirit of God. It looks forward to the ages to come when all those “things which God hath prepared for them that love him” will be given in their fullness.
It is noteworthy that both “the beginning of the world” in our text (Isaiah 64:4) and “world without end” (45:17) are translations of the same Hebrew word, olam, which means essentially “indefinitely long ago” or even “eternity.” Thus, the wonderful plan God has prepared for His people, to be implemented and enjoyed in eternity future, was formulated by Him in eternity past.
We were then chosen “in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). He had even planned our redemption from sin through His Son, “with the precious blood of Christ, . . . Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:19-20).
We may not, in this life, really comprehend with our minds such marvelous things, but we who “wait for him” can believe them with rejoicing in our hearts, for “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Thus, we can unite with thankful and understanding hearts in Paul’s great doxology: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21). HMM
Lavish Grace
Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Worry is falling short on faith. Impatience is falling short on kindness. The critical spirit falls short on love.
So, how often do you sin, hmm… in an hour? For the sake of discussion, let’s say ten times an hour. Ten sins an hour, times sixteen waking hours, times 365 days a year, times the average life span of 74 years. I’m rounding the total off to 4,300,000 sins per person! How do you plan to pay God for your 4.3 million sin increments? You’re swimming in an ocean of debt.
But God pardons the zillion sins of selfish humanity. He forgives sixty million sin-filled days. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be. And He did it by the grace of Jesus Christ.
What a scene will occur at the sounding of the Lord’s trumpet! The “dead in Christ” will emerge from their resting places all over the earth and soar into the sky; these saints’ resurrected bodies will reunite with their spirits, which will have been residing in heaven with Jesus. Close behind them will follow believers who haven’t yet departed this life—at that moment, they’ll miraculously be changed as they are “caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
The description sounds extraordinary, but in fact, the plan is practical. We’re going to need a body with which to enjoy the new heaven and new earth that Jesus is preparing for His followers. However, earthly flesh and bones will not do. They age, break, and succumb to sin. So God promised to transform our humble structures into glorious bodies like the one Christ had after His resurrection. Common temptations and limitations will be gone. In addition, our physical substance will be altered so that we are not restricted by time and space. Remember, Jesus didn’t bother with doors (John 20:19)! Our new bodies will be suited for the environment where we are to dwell forever—an ageless eternity in which all of our needs are perfectly met.
Each believer will still be him- or herself. Friends and family long separated will recognize one another; our personalities will be unchanged, except that we’ll be absolutely sinless. At last, you and I will be the persons that God intends for us to be. And we’ll be housed in a body fashioned like that of Christ—perfect, sinless, and complete.
Dare we envision a God who follows us? Who pursues us? Who chases us? Who tracks us down and wins us over? Who follows us with "goodness and mercy" all the days of our lives?
Isn't this the kind of God described in the Bible? A God who follows us?
Moses can tell you about it. He was forty years in the desert when he looked over his shoulder and saw a bush blazing. God had followed him into the wilderness.
Jonah can tell you about it. He was a fugitive on a boat when he looked over his shoulder and saw clouds brewing. God had followed him onto the ocean.
The disciples of Jesus knew the feeling of being followed by God. They were rain soaked and shivering when they looked over their shoulders and saw Jesus walking toward them. God had followed them into the storm.
John the Apostle was banished on Patmos when he looked over his shoulder and saw the skies begin to open. God had followed him into his exile.
Lazarus was three days dead in a sealed tomb when he heard a voice, lifted his head, and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing. God had followed him into death.
Peter had denied his Lord and gone back to fishing when he heard his name and looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus cooking breakfast. God had followed him in spite of his failure.
World Without End
“For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)
This beautiful Old Testament promise has been appropriated by Paul (1 Corinthians 2:9) and applied to the New Testament believer guided by the indwelling Spirit of God. It looks forward to the ages to come when all those “things which God hath prepared for them that love him” will be given in their fullness.
It is noteworthy that both “the beginning of the world” in our text (Isaiah 64:4) and “world without end” (45:17) are translations of the same Hebrew word, olam, which means essentially “indefinitely long ago” or even “eternity.” Thus, the wonderful plan God has prepared for His people, to be implemented and enjoyed in eternity future, was formulated by Him in eternity past.
We were then chosen “in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). He had even planned our redemption from sin through His Son, “with the precious blood of Christ, . . . Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:19-20).
We may not, in this life, really comprehend with our minds such marvelous things, but we who “wait for him” can believe them with rejoicing in our hearts, for “God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Thus, we can unite with thankful and understanding hearts in Paul’s great doxology: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen” (Ephesians 3:21). HMM
Lavish Grace
Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Worry is falling short on faith. Impatience is falling short on kindness. The critical spirit falls short on love.
So, how often do you sin, hmm… in an hour? For the sake of discussion, let’s say ten times an hour. Ten sins an hour, times sixteen waking hours, times 365 days a year, times the average life span of 74 years. I’m rounding the total off to 4,300,000 sins per person! How do you plan to pay God for your 4.3 million sin increments? You’re swimming in an ocean of debt.
But God pardons the zillion sins of selfish humanity. He forgives sixty million sin-filled days. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be. And He did it by the grace of Jesus Christ.
Resurrection: Our New Body
2 Corinthians 5:1-10What a scene will occur at the sounding of the Lord’s trumpet! The “dead in Christ” will emerge from their resting places all over the earth and soar into the sky; these saints’ resurrected bodies will reunite with their spirits, which will have been residing in heaven with Jesus. Close behind them will follow believers who haven’t yet departed this life—at that moment, they’ll miraculously be changed as they are “caught up . . . to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Each believer will still be him- or herself. Friends and family long separated will recognize one another; our personalities will be unchanged, except that we’ll be absolutely sinless. At last, you and I will be the persons that God intends for us to be. And we’ll be housed in a body fashioned like that of Christ—perfect, sinless, and complete.
Let Him Help You with That - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.-1 Peter 5:7
The other day one of my grandkids asked me whether there were more stars in the sky than sand on the shore.
"I really don't know," I said. But here's what I do know: the Bible says that God's thoughts toward us are greater than the sand of the sea (see Psalm 139:18).
Have you ever picked up a handful of sand and just let it pour through your hand for a moment? God's thoughts about us are greater than all those grains of sand. God thinks about us. He cares about us.
And as Jesus said, "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32 NKJV). He is our King, which speaks of the sovereignty of God. This simply means that God is in control. He's in control of our lives, and nothing catches Him by surprise. It may catch you by surprise, but not Him.
And if it's a concern to you, then it's also a concern to Him. In Psalm 119, David wrote of the Lord, "Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans" (verse 91 NLT).
With this in mind, we need to cast our cares on God. This is something we need to do daily. It may even be something we need to do hourly, because sometimes we give something to God and then take it right back.
There are times in our lives when we have to keep coming to the Lord again and again, depending on what we're facing in the given moment. God is saying, "Let me help you with that. Let me carry that thing you're carrying. Give it to me."
"Give all your worries and cares to God," says 1 Peter 5:7, "for he cares about you" (NLT).
How Not to Sink - by Greg Laurie -
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.-Romans 8:29
When we take our eyes off Jesus and allow our minds and hearts to be filled with doubt, fear, and anxiety, we can start to sink.
So when that happens, here's what we need to do: Cry out to Jesus. That's what Peter did after he stepped out of the boat and started walking across the water to Jesus. And by the way, there's nothing wrong with crying out to the Lord.
What is in us that makes us say, "I can fix this. I can get through this. I can control this"?
Actually, we can't. We need to call out to the Lord.
Some might say that's a sign of weakness, but I think it's a sign of intelligence. In fact, I think it's a sign of stupidity when we think we don't need God's help.
The Bible tells us that "immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, 'O you of little faith, why did you doubt?'" (Matthew 14:31 NKJV).
Sometimes people critique Peter because he was so outspoken. But the New Testament gives a lot of ink to Peter. He made many statements, far more than any of the others mentioned in the Gospels.
Also, Peter is the only one who had the courage to actually try walking on water. Not only that, he did really well at first. So let's give him some credit.
Like Peter, we can do wonderful things when we're looking to Jesus-seemingly impossible things. But when we take our eyes off Him, we'll start sinking.
Are you sinking right now? Do fear and anxiety and worry fill your thoughts? You need to call out to the Lord. If you will call out to Him, He will reach out and rescue you. But you have to ask for His help and call on His name.
The Ways and Works of God
�He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.� (Psalm 103:7)
We have a distinct privilege, as believers, to know something of the �acts� of God. Scripture records many instances where He performed even miraculous deeds on behalf of His children.
There is perhaps a greater privilege�that of reflecting on His �ways,� as well. �Ways,� in this context, may be understood as God�s actions and behaviors that reflect His underlying character, resulting in His �acts.� Understanding His �ways� may not always be possible, �for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts� (Isaiah 55:9), but nevertheless we are admonished to try and even pattern our own ways after His.
The people of Israel who had special knowledge of the �acts� of God were told to �walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you� (Deuteronomy 5:33). But, �oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!� (Psalm 81:13). �There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death� (Proverbs 14:12).
The New Testament echoes this same teaching: �Your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest� (Hebrews 3:9-11).
Moses, an eyewitness to the many magnificent works of God on behalf of Israel, went beyond and discerned the �ways� of God, as our text teaches. Surely, he chose the better way. JDM
�He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.� (Psalm 103:7)
We have a distinct privilege, as believers, to know something of the �acts� of God. Scripture records many instances where He performed even miraculous deeds on behalf of His children.
There is perhaps a greater privilege�that of reflecting on His �ways,� as well. �Ways,� in this context, may be understood as God�s actions and behaviors that reflect His underlying character, resulting in His �acts.� Understanding His �ways� may not always be possible, �for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts� (Isaiah 55:9), but nevertheless we are admonished to try and even pattern our own ways after His.
The people of Israel who had special knowledge of the �acts� of God were told to �walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you� (Deuteronomy 5:33). But, �oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!� (Psalm 81:13). �There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death� (Proverbs 14:12).
The New Testament echoes this same teaching: �Your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest� (Hebrews 3:9-11).
Moses, an eyewitness to the many magnificent works of God on behalf of Israel, went beyond and discerned the �ways� of God, as our text teaches. Surely, he chose the better way. JDM
Wounded Parents Wounded Children Jeremiah 32:17-19
So often when we deal with difficult people, it's easy to form judgments about them based on their behavior or attitudes. But have you ever stopped to wonder what has made that person so disagreeable or foolish? When the Bible says God "repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children" (v. 18), it is speaking about generational cycles of sin. Unless someone in the family line makes a deliberate choice to change, sinful and dysfunctional behavior will be passed from parent to child for many generations.
This is really just a confirmation of the principle of sowing and reaping. We pass down standards for conduct and character traits that we received from our parents. If we are unwilling to change our sinful habits and attitudes, they will very likely find their way into our children's lives.
Lessons from Amos: Don't Enter Gilgal
�But [do not] . . . enter into Gilgal . . . for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity.� (Amos 5:5)
Gilgal was the place of new beginnings. Twelve memorial stones from the Jordan were set up at Gilgal after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 4:3). The nation was circumcised there in preparation for their possession of the land (Joshua 5:5). The Passover was celebrated (Joshua 5:10), and the miraculous manna ceased (Joshua 5:12). The victorious campaign in the hill country of Judea extending to Kadesh-barnea and Gaza was conducted from Gilgal (Joshua 10:15). The great battle at the waters of Merom was conducted from Gilgal (Joshua 10:43; 11:5). Saul was crowned Israel�s first king at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:15).
Yet, the activity at Gilgal began to obscure the Word of God. Saul compromised and sacrificed at Gilgal to try to gain God�s blessing. His desire for political favor resulted in direct disobedience to God.
A zeal for �righteous action� without obedience can result in evil. Jephthah�s foolish vow and subsequent bad leadership led to a horrible slaughter (Judges 11�12). Micah�s selfish desire for a personal priest led to terrible apostasy (Judges 17�18). A Levite�s false zeal for revenge led Israel into civil war (Judges 19�21).
When activity substitutes for holiness, the cause starts to justify the activity. Activity then becomes necessary to preserve the cause, and dedication to the activity is equated with loyalty and holiness. In many cases, preservation of a memorable event overrides biblical truth. We don�t need �activity� at Gilgal as much as we need �abiding� in Christ. The �branches� need the �vine� (John 15). HMM III
The Greenhouse of the Heartby Max Lucado
Proverbs 4:23 advises us, �Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.� Think of your heart as a greenhouse and consider your thoughts as seed. We must be selective about the seeds we allow to come into the greenhouse.
To have a pure heart, we must submit all thoughts to the authority of Christ. You see, your mind is the doorway to your heart. The Holy Spirit stands with you on the threshold, helping you manage and filter the thoughts that try to enter. If Jesus agrees with the thought, then let it in. If not, kick it out. How do you know if Jesus agrees or disagrees? You open your Bible. Armed with the opinion of Christ and the sword of the Spirit, guard the doorway of your heart. The more selective you are about seeds, the more delighted you will be with the crop.
The Missionary Question
Romans 10:11-15
At every missions conference hosted by my church, I give God the same message I've been repeating since my early 20s: "I'm available, Lord. I'll go to foreign fields if you say so." Until He tells me to pack my bags, I'm going to keep on sending others to work among unbelievers in distant and even remote lands.
Paul asked a series of rhetorical questions in Romans 10 that can be summed up like this: How will the world hear about Jesus if you do nothing? God uses Christians to spread the word that His salvation plan is available to all. He put us in families and communities and nations so we will mingle and share what we know. But some believers are called to carry the gospel farther than others. Those who stay behind are to offer prayer and resources for those who travel.
Stressing and Obsessing - by Greg Laurie -
So often when we deal with difficult people, it's easy to form judgments about them based on their behavior or attitudes. But have you ever stopped to wonder what has made that person so disagreeable or foolish? When the Bible says God "repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children" (v. 18), it is speaking about generational cycles of sin. Unless someone in the family line makes a deliberate choice to change, sinful and dysfunctional behavior will be passed from parent to child for many generations.
This is really just a confirmation of the principle of sowing and reaping. We pass down standards for conduct and character traits that we received from our parents. If we are unwilling to change our sinful habits and attitudes, they will very likely find their way into our children's lives.
Lessons from Amos: Don't Enter Gilgal
�But [do not] . . . enter into Gilgal . . . for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity.� (Amos 5:5)
Gilgal was the place of new beginnings. Twelve memorial stones from the Jordan were set up at Gilgal after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River (Joshua 4:3). The nation was circumcised there in preparation for their possession of the land (Joshua 5:5). The Passover was celebrated (Joshua 5:10), and the miraculous manna ceased (Joshua 5:12). The victorious campaign in the hill country of Judea extending to Kadesh-barnea and Gaza was conducted from Gilgal (Joshua 10:15). The great battle at the waters of Merom was conducted from Gilgal (Joshua 10:43; 11:5). Saul was crowned Israel�s first king at Gilgal (1 Samuel 11:15).
Yet, the activity at Gilgal began to obscure the Word of God. Saul compromised and sacrificed at Gilgal to try to gain God�s blessing. His desire for political favor resulted in direct disobedience to God.
A zeal for �righteous action� without obedience can result in evil. Jephthah�s foolish vow and subsequent bad leadership led to a horrible slaughter (Judges 11�12). Micah�s selfish desire for a personal priest led to terrible apostasy (Judges 17�18). A Levite�s false zeal for revenge led Israel into civil war (Judges 19�21).
When activity substitutes for holiness, the cause starts to justify the activity. Activity then becomes necessary to preserve the cause, and dedication to the activity is equated with loyalty and holiness. In many cases, preservation of a memorable event overrides biblical truth. We don�t need �activity� at Gilgal as much as we need �abiding� in Christ. The �branches� need the �vine� (John 15). HMM III
The Greenhouse of the Heartby Max Lucado
Proverbs 4:23 advises us, �Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.� Think of your heart as a greenhouse and consider your thoughts as seed. We must be selective about the seeds we allow to come into the greenhouse.
To have a pure heart, we must submit all thoughts to the authority of Christ. You see, your mind is the doorway to your heart. The Holy Spirit stands with you on the threshold, helping you manage and filter the thoughts that try to enter. If Jesus agrees with the thought, then let it in. If not, kick it out. How do you know if Jesus agrees or disagrees? You open your Bible. Armed with the opinion of Christ and the sword of the Spirit, guard the doorway of your heart. The more selective you are about seeds, the more delighted you will be with the crop.
The Missionary Question
Romans 10:11-15
At every missions conference hosted by my church, I give God the same message I've been repeating since my early 20s: "I'm available, Lord. I'll go to foreign fields if you say so." Until He tells me to pack my bags, I'm going to keep on sending others to work among unbelievers in distant and even remote lands.
Paul asked a series of rhetorical questions in Romans 10 that can be summed up like this: How will the world hear about Jesus if you do nothing? God uses Christians to spread the word that His salvation plan is available to all. He put us in families and communities and nations so we will mingle and share what we know. But some believers are called to carry the gospel farther than others. Those who stay behind are to offer prayer and resources for those who travel.
Stressing and Obsessing - by Greg Laurie -
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?-Matthew 6:25
People today are dying for cool selfies, and it's becoming a problem. We're continually seeing articles about another person who fell to his or her death getting that last great shot. Or others will Photoshop themselves because they want to look a certain way.
We'll think so much about how we look, but Jesus said we aren't to be obsessed with these things. In the Sermon on the Mount He said, "Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are" (Matthew 6:28-29 NLT).
Jesus was not saying that we shouldn't think about these things. He's saying that we shouldn't get stressed about it. In other words, "Why do you stress so much about the way you look? Why do you get so concerned about your wardrobe?"
A few verses earlier, He used another illustration: birds. In verse 26 Jesus said, "Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?" (NLT). The birds gather their food every day. They do their due diligence. But have you ever seen a stressed-out bird?
We have a heavenly Father who promises to take care of us. And if He takes care of little birds, then will He not take care of us as well?
However, we also can go too far the other way. Some people need to give a little more thought to their appearance. Jesus is not saying that we shouldn't think about the way we look. Rather, He is telling us not to be obsessed with these things-especially at the expense of spiritual things.
Lessons from Amos: Don't Pass Through Beersheba
�But . . . pass not to Beersheba.� (Amos 5:5)
Beersheba (well of the �sevens�) became a location of some importance in Israel�s early history. Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman who bore Ishmael, was rescued by God at Beersheba (Genesis 21:14-19). Abraham improved the well at Beersheba and settled there, built a grove, and �called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God� (Genesis 21:33). It was at Beersheba that Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-4).
Beersheba figured prominently in the life of Israel. Isaac made a covenant with the Philistines there, repaired the well, and lived at Beersheba for many years (Genesis 26:17-33). Historically, Beersheba is best known for the political oaths ceremoniously confirmed there with the secular nations around Israel.
At Beersheba, truth later became equated with tradition. Substituting the wisdom and traditions of man (Mark 7:3-13) or the world�s logic (Colossians 2:8) for truth can be very dangerous.
�But . . . pass not to Beersheba.� (Amos 5:5)
Beersheba (well of the �sevens�) became a location of some importance in Israel�s early history. Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman who bore Ishmael, was rescued by God at Beersheba (Genesis 21:14-19). Abraham improved the well at Beersheba and settled there, built a grove, and �called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God� (Genesis 21:33). It was at Beersheba that Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-4).
Beersheba figured prominently in the life of Israel. Isaac made a covenant with the Philistines there, repaired the well, and lived at Beersheba for many years (Genesis 26:17-33). Historically, Beersheba is best known for the political oaths ceremoniously confirmed there with the secular nations around Israel.
At Beersheba, truth later became equated with tradition. Substituting the wisdom and traditions of man (Mark 7:3-13) or the world�s logic (Colossians 2:8) for truth can be very dangerous.
- God looks forward not backward. Historical places and events are lessons not laws.
- God wants obedience not activity. Past victories are to be praises not patterns.
- God demands truth not compromise. Successful negotiations are directives not doctrines.
�Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph� (Amos 5:14-15). HMM III
A Tale of Two Trees by Max Lucado Formless masses. Floating. Disconnected.
Divine artist. Earthly dream.
Light! Sun rays piercing through jungle trees. Sunsets volcanic with explosions of gold. Soft sheets of moonlight soothing a weary ocean.
Beings! Snorting. Flying. Splashing. Bleating. Gnawing. Clawing. Digging.
Sound! Horse's hoof beats. Cawing crows. Hyena laughter. Cannoning thunder. Chirping chicks. Rat-tat-tatting rain.
Nothingness converted.
Then silence � as an unseen Sculptor molds mud and dust. Lions motionlessly watching. Sparrows perched, peering downward. Clouds hovering. Inquisitive kangaroos. Curious caribou. Snooping centipedes.
"What's he making?"
"An animal?"
Giraffes peeking through leaves. Squirrels chattering gossip. Pausing. Wondering. Gibbering.
"A mountain?"
A sudden breeze, surprisingly warm, whistles through the leaves scattering dust from the lifeless form. And with the breath of fresh air comes the difference. Winging on the warm wind is his image. Laughter is laid in the sculpted cheeks. A reservoir of tears is stored in the soul. A sprinkling of twinkle for the eyes. Poetry for the spirit. Logic. Loyalty. Like leaves on an autumn breeze, they float and land and are absorbed. His gifts become a part of him.
His Majesty smiles at his image. "It is good."
The eyes open.
Oneness. Creator and created walking on the river bank. Laughter. Purity. Innocent joy. Life unending.
Then the tree.
The struggle. The snake. The lie. The enticement. Heart torn, lured. Soul drawn to pleasure, to independence, to importance. Inner agony. Whose will?
The choice. Death of innocence. Entrance of death. The fall.
Tear stains mingling with fruit-stains.
...
The Quest.
Divine artist. Earthly dream.
Light! Sun rays piercing through jungle trees. Sunsets volcanic with explosions of gold. Soft sheets of moonlight soothing a weary ocean.
Beings! Snorting. Flying. Splashing. Bleating. Gnawing. Clawing. Digging.
Sound! Horse's hoof beats. Cawing crows. Hyena laughter. Cannoning thunder. Chirping chicks. Rat-tat-tatting rain.
Nothingness converted.
Then silence � as an unseen Sculptor molds mud and dust. Lions motionlessly watching. Sparrows perched, peering downward. Clouds hovering. Inquisitive kangaroos. Curious caribou. Snooping centipedes.
"What's he making?"
"An animal?"
Giraffes peeking through leaves. Squirrels chattering gossip. Pausing. Wondering. Gibbering.
"A mountain?"
A sudden breeze, surprisingly warm, whistles through the leaves scattering dust from the lifeless form. And with the breath of fresh air comes the difference. Winging on the warm wind is his image. Laughter is laid in the sculpted cheeks. A reservoir of tears is stored in the soul. A sprinkling of twinkle for the eyes. Poetry for the spirit. Logic. Loyalty. Like leaves on an autumn breeze, they float and land and are absorbed. His gifts become a part of him.
His Majesty smiles at his image. "It is good."
The eyes open.
Oneness. Creator and created walking on the river bank. Laughter. Purity. Innocent joy. Life unending.
Then the tree.
The struggle. The snake. The lie. The enticement. Heart torn, lured. Soul drawn to pleasure, to independence, to importance. Inner agony. Whose will?
The choice. Death of innocence. Entrance of death. The fall.
Tear stains mingling with fruit-stains.
...
The Quest.
When He Shall Appear
�And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.� (1 John 2:28)
There are many glorious promises associated with the great promise that Christ Himself shall once again appear in person here on planet Earth. For example, Paul says: �When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory� (Colossians 3:4).
Similarly, the apostle Peter promises: �And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away� (1 Peter 5:4). The writer of Hebrews first reminds us of His former appearance on Earth: �But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself� (Hebrews 9:26). Then the promise is: �Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation� (v. 28).
Perhaps the most wonderful promise associated with His second appearing is given through John: �Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure� (1 John 3:2-3).
Therefore, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory; we shall receive an unfading crown of glory; we shall be like Him, and without sin unto salvation. These promises even now constitute an incentive for each believer to purify himself even as He is pure.
But there is also the sobering warning in our text associated with the soon-coming time when He shall appear. We should abide in Him (that is, continue in Him, hour after hour), careful that whatever we do, wherever we go, we are in no danger of being ashamed before Him when He shall appear! HMM
�And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.� (1 John 2:28)
There are many glorious promises associated with the great promise that Christ Himself shall once again appear in person here on planet Earth. For example, Paul says: �When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory� (Colossians 3:4).
Similarly, the apostle Peter promises: �And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away� (1 Peter 5:4). The writer of Hebrews first reminds us of His former appearance on Earth: �But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself� (Hebrews 9:26). Then the promise is: �Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation� (v. 28).
Perhaps the most wonderful promise associated with His second appearing is given through John: �Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure� (1 John 3:2-3).
Therefore, when He shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory; we shall receive an unfading crown of glory; we shall be like Him, and without sin unto salvation. These promises even now constitute an incentive for each believer to purify himself even as He is pure.
But there is also the sobering warning in our text associated with the soon-coming time when He shall appear. We should abide in Him (that is, continue in Him, hour after hour), careful that whatever we do, wherever we go, we are in no danger of being ashamed before Him when He shall appear! HMM
Skipping Services? Consider Carefully
After a long week of work, Fred arrives home early Friday evening and drags himself inside. He is looking forward to the Sabbath and the extended rest God allows us to enjoy on His day. He smells something delicious cooking on the stove, and the mere thought of good food shared with his family begins to ease the tension in his shoulders. He kisses his wife, and after catching up on their respective days, he heads to the bedroom to change into more comfortable clothes.
After dinner, he considers calling his friend out on the West Coast, but at the last minute, he remembers the difference in time zones. He decides to wait an hour or so to let his friend eat and relax a bit. He can read or talk to the kids in the meantime. More than an hour later�closer to two�he dials up his buddy, and they video-chat for a long while, catching up on weeks of news. Fred glances at the clock, noting that it is well after 11 PM. He signs off and heads to bed. When he turns out the light, it is almost midnight.
He wakes long past his accustomed hour of rising. The family eats a leisurely brunch, and once finished, they have an hour or so before they need to begin getting ready for church services. Fred heads out to the back porch with his Bible and spends much of his time watching the hummingbirds flitting about between his and his neighbor's feeders. He considers how spectacular God's creation is and wishes he had more time to study it.
His wife pops her head out the back door, reminding him that he needs to get into the shower immediately if they want to make it to church on time. He downs the rest of his cold coffee and slowly makes his way inside. Work had been so exhausting, and now he has to go to church! Attending church really saps my energy, he thinks. He has already committed to helping a buddy get his old clunker running again on Sunday morning, and in the afternoon, the whole family would get together at his brother's house across town. On Monday, another tough week of work would start bright and early.
Fred realizes that thinking about it all is only making him more tired. He finds his wife in the bedroom rummaging through her closet for a dress to wear and tells her that he has decided to stay home from church today. He says, "I'm so glad God gives us a day of rest each week!"
Have we ever experienced a thought-process like Fred's? Do we find ourselves thinking like him more frequently? If so, we need to recall and consider a few principles from Scripture.
The idea of the seventh-day Sabbath being a day of rest originates in Genesis 2:1-3:
Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
In Exodus 20:11, within the Sabbath commandment, Moses repeats God's sanctification of the seventh day as the day in which He "rested" from His creative labors. God does not need rest, and the word shābat, used in the Genesis account, reflects this, as it more accurately means "to stop" or "to cease." Rest, however, is the normal consequence of a human being ceasing his work, as seen in Exodus 20:11, which uses n�ach, a more precise word meaning "to rest."
Rest, then, is an intrinsic component of Sabbath observance, but it is only part of what God intends that we do on His day. Leviticus 23:3 expands Sabbath activity: ". . . the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation." The addition of the words "a holy convocation" marks the Sabbath as a time of God's calling His people together for worship, so what we call attending church services should be a vital part of a Christian's regular Sabbath routine.
The prophet Isaiah preached during King Hezekiah's reign when the northern Kingdom of Israel was about to fall to Assyria. A significant part of Israel's (and Judah's) apostasy concerned their misuse of the Sabbath. Back in Exodus 31:12-17, God had made a covenant with them to remind them that the Sabbath acts as a sign that He sets them apart as His people. Their slackness on the Sabbath was a sure indication that they were forsaking God Himself. Thus, Isaiah 58:13 provides vital principles about Sabbath-keeping:
If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words. . . .
Simply put, our observance of the Sabbath should focus tightly on God. Though Jesus does say in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath," He means that He created it for man's benefit, and combined with Isaiah 58:13, we learn that we benefit the most when God, not ourselves and our supposed needs, stands at the center of the Sabbath.
The Sabbath service is one of the most essential benefits of the day. It is a formal meeting between God and His elect, an occasion when He can instruct them about His way of life. In turn, His people profit from their worshipful response to Him by heeding His teaching, singing praises to Him, and joining with their brethren in prayer.
In addition, the gathering of God's people permits the essential fellowship of believers, which the writer of Hebrews urges us not to abandon: ". . . not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). As an example to us, Jesus Himself habitually attended the service in the local synagogue each Sabbath (Luke 4:16).
There are good reasons not to attend Sabbath services from time to time. If an individual has a communicable illness, he should stay home so that, in love, he does not spread his sickness to others. No one expects a mother to attend church for several weeks after giving birth, but the father should do his best to represent the family at church in short order (see the principle of male representation in worship that can be derived from Deuteronomy 16:16). Sometimes car trouble or some other emergency like inclement weather makes getting to services difficult, and those who live hours away cannot be expected to make the trip every week.
However, skipping services for personal convenience or justifying it with a lame excuse should not characterize our Sabbath-keeping. Many remote brethren would love to fellowship every week with even a small group of God's people, so those members who live near other brethren should capitalize on the opportunity God has given them. He calls us to assemble on His holy day and expects to see us there out of love for Him and for our brethren�and frankly, for ourselves. How else will we receive the full benefit of God's gift of the Sabbath?
- Richard T. Ritenbaugh
The Kitchen: God's Abundant Tableby Max Lucado "Give us this day our daily bread�"
Your first step into the house of God was not to the kitchen but to the living room, where you were reminded of your adoption. "OurFather who is in heaven." You then studied the foundation of the house, where you pondered his permanence. "Our Father who is in heaven." Next you entered the observatory and marveled at his handiwork: "Our Father who is in heaven." In the chapel, you worshiped his holiness: "Hallowed be thy name." In the throne room, you touched the lowered scepter and prayed the greatest prayer, "Thy kingdom come." In the study, you submitted your desires to his and prayed, "Thy will be done." And all of heaven was silent as you placed your prayer in the furnace, saying, "on earth as it is in heaven."
Proper prayer follows such a path, revealing God to us before revealing our needs to God. (You might reread that one.) The purpose of prayer is not to change God, but to change us, and by the time we reach God's kitchen, we are changed people. Wasn't our heart warmed when we called him Father? Weren't our fears stilled when we contemplated his constancy? Weren't we amazed as we stared at the heavens?
Seeing his holiness caused us to confess our sin. Inviting his kingdom to come reminded us to stop building our own. Asking God for his will to be done placed our will in second place to his. And realizing that heaven pauses when we pray left us breathless in his presence.
By the time we step into the kitchen, we're renewed people! We've been comforted by our father, conformed by his nature, consumed by our creator, convicted by his character, constrained by his power, commissioned by our teacher, and compelled by his attention to our prayers.
The prayer's next three petitions encompass all of the concerns of our life. "This daily bread" addresses the present. "Forgive our sins" addresses the past. "Lead us not into temptation" speaks to the future. (The wonder of God's wisdom: how he can reduce all our needs to three simple statements.)
First he addresses our need for bread. The term means all of a person's physical needs. Martin Luther defined bread as "Everything necessary for the preservation of this life, including food, a healthy body, house, home, wife and children." This verse urges us to talk to God about the necessities of life. He may also give us the luxuries of life, but he certainly will grant the necessities.
Your first step into the house of God was not to the kitchen but to the living room, where you were reminded of your adoption. "OurFather who is in heaven." You then studied the foundation of the house, where you pondered his permanence. "Our Father who is in heaven." Next you entered the observatory and marveled at his handiwork: "Our Father who is in heaven." In the chapel, you worshiped his holiness: "Hallowed be thy name." In the throne room, you touched the lowered scepter and prayed the greatest prayer, "Thy kingdom come." In the study, you submitted your desires to his and prayed, "Thy will be done." And all of heaven was silent as you placed your prayer in the furnace, saying, "on earth as it is in heaven."
Proper prayer follows such a path, revealing God to us before revealing our needs to God. (You might reread that one.) The purpose of prayer is not to change God, but to change us, and by the time we reach God's kitchen, we are changed people. Wasn't our heart warmed when we called him Father? Weren't our fears stilled when we contemplated his constancy? Weren't we amazed as we stared at the heavens?
Seeing his holiness caused us to confess our sin. Inviting his kingdom to come reminded us to stop building our own. Asking God for his will to be done placed our will in second place to his. And realizing that heaven pauses when we pray left us breathless in his presence.
By the time we step into the kitchen, we're renewed people! We've been comforted by our father, conformed by his nature, consumed by our creator, convicted by his character, constrained by his power, commissioned by our teacher, and compelled by his attention to our prayers.
The prayer's next three petitions encompass all of the concerns of our life. "This daily bread" addresses the present. "Forgive our sins" addresses the past. "Lead us not into temptation" speaks to the future. (The wonder of God's wisdom: how he can reduce all our needs to three simple statements.)
First he addresses our need for bread. The term means all of a person's physical needs. Martin Luther defined bread as "Everything necessary for the preservation of this life, including food, a healthy body, house, home, wife and children." This verse urges us to talk to God about the necessities of life. He may also give us the luxuries of life, but he certainly will grant the necessities.
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