As I spoke on Sunday, Psalm 119 is a wonderful expression of the love that one individual has for the Word of God. We were able to get through the first 11 verses of this in the time that we had, but I wanted to highlight a few others in the psalm that make me think.
Verse 13 - Do we take the time to actually talk to other people about the Word of God? Have we made it such a "personal" and "devotional" experience that we forget that it is to be shared? We need to talk about God's Word!
verse 23 - Even when people are against us, is the Word of God more important to us than what they are saying about us? This is especially challenging as a pastor sometimes!
Verse 28 - Do we allow the Scriptures to be a source of help in our grief? Do we turn to all others places that we think might help and then go to God's Word or do we go to God's Word first?
Verse 34 - I am here reminded that the purpose of the Word of God is again to change my behavior. Do I ask God to help me understand that I might change? I think that far too often it is too easy to use God's Word as a bully to change the behavior of others, but how often do I look into my own behavior and see what God wants me to change?
And there is more. This psalm is a treasure trove of material for giving me a better appreciation for the written Word of God!
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
The Start of Another School Year
This one goes out to all of the students out there. Be you in elementary or Junior High, High School or college, I hope that this will encourage you today. You have a purpose in life. Right now. Your purpose is right now. I think that often we are bad as adults, and as churches, by making it seem as though life begins in your twenties. It is true that you should probably wait at least that long to consider yourself an adult. It is true that your maturity level is such that for the most part adulthood brings growth in a way that you may not be able to see yet. But that does not mean that we should all just sit back and watch you become an adult. You have a purpose. God has put you in your family, in your school, in your job (if you have one) on purpose. You have the responsibility of bearing His name wherever you go and so your purpose is simple - represent Christ well.
This is something that is given to you at the moment of salvation. When Christ redeems you - you are literally bought at the price of His blood. And at that moment, no matter what your age, your life has a purpose renewed. The purpose for which you were created - to glorify God - is once again enabled in you. No longer do you live for self, you live for God. You do not live to please others, you live to God. And in this newness of life you have one restored purpose - to glorify God.
It is interesting that God does not put very many limits on this purpose. He does not tell us that we must achieve a level of obedience before we start glorifying God. Nor does he call us to do this once we have attained maturity in Christ. Nor does he say that we only have to do this if all the others around are doing the same. We are called to live for Christ. So if you are in Second Grade, or this is your final year of High School - if you belong to Christ - your purpose is to glorify God. Glorify God in your speech, in your homework, in your test taking, in your interactions with teachers, in your interactions with your parents and siblings, in your work, in your play, in your thoughts. In whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. (Col 3:17)
This is something that is given to you at the moment of salvation. When Christ redeems you - you are literally bought at the price of His blood. And at that moment, no matter what your age, your life has a purpose renewed. The purpose for which you were created - to glorify God - is once again enabled in you. No longer do you live for self, you live for God. You do not live to please others, you live to God. And in this newness of life you have one restored purpose - to glorify God.
It is interesting that God does not put very many limits on this purpose. He does not tell us that we must achieve a level of obedience before we start glorifying God. Nor does he call us to do this once we have attained maturity in Christ. Nor does he say that we only have to do this if all the others around are doing the same. We are called to live for Christ. So if you are in Second Grade, or this is your final year of High School - if you belong to Christ - your purpose is to glorify God. Glorify God in your speech, in your homework, in your test taking, in your interactions with teachers, in your interactions with your parents and siblings, in your work, in your play, in your thoughts. In whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. (Col 3:17)
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
The Meaning of Work
So often we get to Labor Day and we celebrate because we do not have to work! Many of us view work with a little bit (or perhaps a lot) of disdain. If we could have it our way, we might do away with work altogether. After all the "non-work" fun that we can have seems to be more enjoyable than the paycheck we are attempting to earn. And were it not for the paycheck, most of us might not work at all!
It might surprise you that the Scriptures have a rather unique and different view of work. I will not go into the full detail as it would take far too long, but let us suffice to say that it was challenging to me when I started to think about the subject and study it.
Take for instance the beginning when things were perfect and man walked and talked in perfect harmony with God and creation. Have you considered that in this Edenic state, Adam had work to do. There is the command to be fruitful and multiply. There is the command to subdue the earth. There was to be a demonstrated rule over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moved along the ground. Admittedly, this work was unhindered by the difficulty of sin, but it was work none-the-less. There was still the work of picking the ripened fruit to eat and of the harvest. There was the God-given work of naming the animals. There was work to do!
Fast forward a bit to the book of Exodus and the giving of the ten commands at the base of Mount Sinai. Notice verse 9 of chapter 20 of the book of Exodus and realize that part of the law was to do your work within the 6 days of the week and leave the 7th day for rest - the Sabbath Day. Work was a commanded part of the will of God and then the rest was to be all the more meaningful because of the work that was being done.
Consider the command of Paul in the book of 2 Thessalonians to those who were simply waiting for Jesus to come back by sitting at home and being totally passive. In verse 10-13 he commands them to work in a quiet fashion and to provide for their own bread.
I could also talk about the Proverbs, the Gospels and many more, but I will end with the end. After the consummation of all things, in Revelation 22 we are free from the curse, free from sin, and God will be on the throne and it says that "His bond-servants will serve Him." Even in the newly created heaven and earth we will have work to do.
The Scriptures are clear that being human involves doing the work that humans are created to do. Namely this is to bring honor and glory to God. It is to provide for oneself and ones family. We must not make work divided into secular work and sacred work. The missionary and the garbage man are called to the same purpose - to do what they do to the glory of God.
So when you go to work next, remember you are there not for man, but to bring honor and glory to God in that which He has given you to do!
It might surprise you that the Scriptures have a rather unique and different view of work. I will not go into the full detail as it would take far too long, but let us suffice to say that it was challenging to me when I started to think about the subject and study it.
Take for instance the beginning when things were perfect and man walked and talked in perfect harmony with God and creation. Have you considered that in this Edenic state, Adam had work to do. There is the command to be fruitful and multiply. There is the command to subdue the earth. There was to be a demonstrated rule over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moved along the ground. Admittedly, this work was unhindered by the difficulty of sin, but it was work none-the-less. There was still the work of picking the ripened fruit to eat and of the harvest. There was the God-given work of naming the animals. There was work to do!
Fast forward a bit to the book of Exodus and the giving of the ten commands at the base of Mount Sinai. Notice verse 9 of chapter 20 of the book of Exodus and realize that part of the law was to do your work within the 6 days of the week and leave the 7th day for rest - the Sabbath Day. Work was a commanded part of the will of God and then the rest was to be all the more meaningful because of the work that was being done.
Consider the command of Paul in the book of 2 Thessalonians to those who were simply waiting for Jesus to come back by sitting at home and being totally passive. In verse 10-13 he commands them to work in a quiet fashion and to provide for their own bread.
I could also talk about the Proverbs, the Gospels and many more, but I will end with the end. After the consummation of all things, in Revelation 22 we are free from the curse, free from sin, and God will be on the throne and it says that "His bond-servants will serve Him." Even in the newly created heaven and earth we will have work to do.
The Scriptures are clear that being human involves doing the work that humans are created to do. Namely this is to bring honor and glory to God. It is to provide for oneself and ones family. We must not make work divided into secular work and sacred work. The missionary and the garbage man are called to the same purpose - to do what they do to the glory of God.
So when you go to work next, remember you are there not for man, but to bring honor and glory to God in that which He has given you to do!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)