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"If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up" (Daniel 3:17-18)
Everyone has undoubtedly heard the term "drawing a line in the sand," beloved. This phrase speaks descriptively of one who takes a stand on an issue and refuses to back down from it or cross it in violation of his conscience. As Christians today, we are often called upon to "draw a line in the sand" and take a stand for what is right.
In the familiar account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, we find three servants of God who definitely drew their own line in the sand! Given the ultimatum to either bow down and worship an idolatrous image in Babylon or to suffer the wrath of the king, they made their position clear in a way that left everyone present, including Nebuchadnezzar, with no doubt whatsoever about where they stood. And it is in their example that we find wonderful lessons for those lines in the sand that we at times are called upon to draw today.
Note first that in responding to the king of Babylon, they showed him the courtesy and respect his position deserved. The problem with far too many "lines in the sand" today, beloved, is that they lack the loving attitude which every believer ought to present. Very simply, we do not have to be mean-spirited in taking a stand for Jesus Christ! The three Hebrew servants of Jehovah were not and we must not be today either.
Note next that they made clear that their trust was in God's "ability" and not in His actions. As I heard one preacher describe it, they "left room for God to be God." Imagine how embarrassed they would have been had they declared that God would never allow them to be cast into the furnace! They chose not to presume upon God's actions, but rather to trust in His ability. God may just have a different plan than the one you are imagining, beloved! Leave room for Him to "be God" in your life.
Note also that they exhibited to those present an unswerving resolve as to what they would and would not do. Leaving room for God to be God - "even if He does not" - they declared to the king that they would absolutely not bow down in obedience to to a wrongful edict and worship a false god. We simply cannot ever put a price-tag on our commitment to Jesus Christ, beloved! Our faithfulness must become for us a "non-negotiable" issue.
And though they went into the furnace as threatened, God did a work in and through them that was far greater than if He had simply kept them from the furnace in the first place. The king recanted, admitted his error, and declared Jehovah to be "the Most High God." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego had drawn a loving line in the sand and God honored their devotion and used their faithfulness to bring Himself great glory.
In every generation, beloved, lines in the sand will have to be drawn. Perhaps you have some experience already with drawing them. But how we draw them and whom we honor in doing so is of paramount importance! Draw loving lines, beloved. God will work through you as He did through them.
Ron
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Wonderful Work of the Word!
"And all the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them" (Nehemiah 8:12)
The book of Nehemiah has rightly been called the book of "revival," beloved! In the example of the children of Israel and the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem we find glorious principles of personal revival that work in and through our lives today.
What is so vital for us to see is what the attitude of those returned Jews was to the Word of God. In the first verse of this eighth chapter we discover that the people "asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses." They revered the truth of God so much that they wanted to have it read and taught to them. And as it was read to them, they stood in respect for it as the truth of God.
Not only did they ask for it, however, but when it was read they were attentive to it. They listened intently as Ezra the scribe read to them for hours. Why is it that we have such difficulty today listening to a Sunday morning sermon that is certainly far shorter in duration than what the children of Israel gladly heard that day? I fear that it is often because we do not truly revere the Word of God and its place in our lives!
Then, as they listened carefully, they studied and understood what they had heard. The Levites sat them down in groups and methodically explained the meaning of what was read to them. As they were taught, their hearts were opened by God's Spirit and they understood.
Once they came to understand God's truth for their lives, they hearts were pierced through and they felt sorrow for their sins and disobedience. Guilt and shame flooded over them all and they began to weep publicly in response to the moving of God's Spirit.
It was at this point that Nehemiah spoke those words now so well known and repeated by so many believers today. Urging them to replace their sorrow with joy over the reality of heartfelt repentance, he declared to them: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (v.10). That was a great day, a holy day, a day for national rejoicing and celebration. They had heard God's Word and it had changed their lives! Is that what happens to you in church today, beloved? If not, why not?
Nehemiah sent them away with instructions to reach out to others who had nothing and to share their abundance with them. Thus, all had equal reason to celebrate and worship the goodness of God together as His restored people. What a picture of how the church of Jesus Christ ought to be ministering and worshiping today!
Ron
The book of Nehemiah has rightly been called the book of "revival," beloved! In the example of the children of Israel and the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem we find glorious principles of personal revival that work in and through our lives today.
What is so vital for us to see is what the attitude of those returned Jews was to the Word of God. In the first verse of this eighth chapter we discover that the people "asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses." They revered the truth of God so much that they wanted to have it read and taught to them. And as it was read to them, they stood in respect for it as the truth of God.
Not only did they ask for it, however, but when it was read they were attentive to it. They listened intently as Ezra the scribe read to them for hours. Why is it that we have such difficulty today listening to a Sunday morning sermon that is certainly far shorter in duration than what the children of Israel gladly heard that day? I fear that it is often because we do not truly revere the Word of God and its place in our lives!
Then, as they listened carefully, they studied and understood what they had heard. The Levites sat them down in groups and methodically explained the meaning of what was read to them. As they were taught, their hearts were opened by God's Spirit and they understood.
Once they came to understand God's truth for their lives, they hearts were pierced through and they felt sorrow for their sins and disobedience. Guilt and shame flooded over them all and they began to weep publicly in response to the moving of God's Spirit.
It was at this point that Nehemiah spoke those words now so well known and repeated by so many believers today. Urging them to replace their sorrow with joy over the reality of heartfelt repentance, he declared to them: "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (v.10). That was a great day, a holy day, a day for national rejoicing and celebration. They had heard God's Word and it had changed their lives! Is that what happens to you in church today, beloved? If not, why not?
Nehemiah sent them away with instructions to reach out to others who had nothing and to share their abundance with them. Thus, all had equal reason to celebrate and worship the goodness of God together as His restored people. What a picture of how the church of Jesus Christ ought to be ministering and worshiping today!
Ron
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Push 'em to the Front!
"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor" (Romans 12:10)
As human beings, no one usually has to urge us to "grab the spotlight," beloved! We love the "center ring" of man's attention, the place of prominence in the public eye. As we used to say to each other in high school whenever a buddy wanted to cut in line at lunch - "After me, you're first!"
The problem for us as Christians, however, is that such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the attitude that is to typify those who are members of God's eternal family. Note in the latter half of this verse of Scripture that the Apostle Paul urged believers of his day to "give preference" to one another, and not preference through gritted teeth, but rather preference in honor! The Greek verb proegeomai (pro-ay-geh'-om-ahee) means literally "lead forward" or "go before" in the sense of taking the lead in something. Now I know what you are thinking! You are saying to yourself, "Didn't he just say that the family of God stands opposed to such an attitude?" And you are right, I did! But Paul's use of this word here, beloved, carries the meaning of leading by example.
But in what precisely are we to lead the way or lead by example? The descriptive phrase "in honor" answers that question for us. The Greek noun time (tee-may') can mean "honor" or "respect" or "reverence" or even "esteem." We are, thus, to take the lead in honoring every other follower of Jesus Christ. That is precisely what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the saints in Philippi:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves" (2:3)
The apostle's thought here is that, instead of grabbing the preeminence ourselves, we are to push others toward the spotlight by recognizing and commending their worth to others. As someone much wiser than me once said, beloved, the humble Christian does not think poorly of himself in his relationships with others because he does not think of himself at all!
If you would serve other believers effectively, then, consider them as more important than yourself and look for ways to commend them to others. Look for the activity of the Holy Spirit in them and "push" them toward the front. Devote yourself to their spiritual growth and maturity and encourage them in their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot imagine what God can and will do with the church in which such an attitude takes over!
Ron
As human beings, no one usually has to urge us to "grab the spotlight," beloved! We love the "center ring" of man's attention, the place of prominence in the public eye. As we used to say to each other in high school whenever a buddy wanted to cut in line at lunch - "After me, you're first!"
The problem for us as Christians, however, is that such an attitude is diametrically opposed to the attitude that is to typify those who are members of God's eternal family. Note in the latter half of this verse of Scripture that the Apostle Paul urged believers of his day to "give preference" to one another, and not preference through gritted teeth, but rather preference in honor! The Greek verb proegeomai (pro-ay-geh'-om-ahee) means literally "lead forward" or "go before" in the sense of taking the lead in something. Now I know what you are thinking! You are saying to yourself, "Didn't he just say that the family of God stands opposed to such an attitude?" And you are right, I did! But Paul's use of this word here, beloved, carries the meaning of leading by example.
But in what precisely are we to lead the way or lead by example? The descriptive phrase "in honor" answers that question for us. The Greek noun time (tee-may') can mean "honor" or "respect" or "reverence" or even "esteem." We are, thus, to take the lead in honoring every other follower of Jesus Christ. That is precisely what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the saints in Philippi:
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves" (2:3)
The apostle's thought here is that, instead of grabbing the preeminence ourselves, we are to push others toward the spotlight by recognizing and commending their worth to others. As someone much wiser than me once said, beloved, the humble Christian does not think poorly of himself in his relationships with others because he does not think of himself at all!
If you would serve other believers effectively, then, consider them as more important than yourself and look for ways to commend them to others. Look for the activity of the Holy Spirit in them and "push" them toward the front. Devote yourself to their spiritual growth and maturity and encourage them in their walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. You cannot imagine what God can and will do with the church in which such an attitude takes over!
Ron
Thursday, October 28, 2010
A Delightful Deposit with Divine Dividends!
"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)
Think with me about the last time you stopped by the drive-through window at the bank, beloved, and made a deposit into your account. You were helping to secure your financial situation with that deposit, right? I mean, how long would you last if you only withdrew but never deposited?
Why is it, then, that such a reality of life can be so blatantly obvious to us in the physical realm, but not in the spiritual realm? The psalmist writes here about our need to "delight" ourselves in the Lord. The Hebrew word chephets is rich with meaning! It refers to anything that is "dainty" to the point of being exquisite. When applied figuratively to one's relationship with God, it reveals how precious to us that relationship must become. It must become to us the exquisite delight of our hearts! Albert Barnes, the 19th century Presbyterian pastor and theologian, described it this way:
"The meaning here is, that we should seek our happiness in God - in his being, his perfections, his friendship, his love" (Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms, Volume I, p. 319)
For us to "delight" ourselves in the Lord, then, is for Him to become to us the grand treasure of our lives. And as our highest treasure, we will make His standard of righteousness our own. We will not chafe under His sovereign rule over our lives, but will love what He loves, want what He wants, and pursue His heart's desire for our good. Such yielding of ourselves to Him will be the "delightful deposits" that we place gladly under His control!
And what will the outcome be? This verse of Scripture is what is known as an "apodosis," a word from Greek that speaks of a "giving back." When we meet a condition, God gives back in return. In other words, there will be divine dividends! But how can God possibly make such a lavish promise to us, beloved? Are we not, after all, still prone to selfishness in living? To pledge to give to us the desires of our hearts is a sweeping promise, indeed! Listen to what Barnes went on to say about such dividends in that same passage:
"The fact that you seek your happiness in him will regulate your desires, so that you will be disposed to ask only those things which it will be proper for him to grant; and the fact that you do find your happiness in him will be a reason why he will grant your desires"
God knows that, when we truly "delight" ourselves in Him in living from day to day, we will naturally seek only those things that will bring honor and glory to His name. To ask selfishly is to not be delighting ourselves in Him at all! Thus, the dividends fit the deposits, beloved, and the result is that God is glorified and we are enriched spiritually.
Is your delight in the Lord today? I sure hope so! Only as we each determine to "deposit" our lives for His glory will we truly show our world that He is our delightful treasure. And only as He is our delightful treasure will we know the divine dividends that only God can give.
Ron
Think with me about the last time you stopped by the drive-through window at the bank, beloved, and made a deposit into your account. You were helping to secure your financial situation with that deposit, right? I mean, how long would you last if you only withdrew but never deposited?
Why is it, then, that such a reality of life can be so blatantly obvious to us in the physical realm, but not in the spiritual realm? The psalmist writes here about our need to "delight" ourselves in the Lord. The Hebrew word chephets is rich with meaning! It refers to anything that is "dainty" to the point of being exquisite. When applied figuratively to one's relationship with God, it reveals how precious to us that relationship must become. It must become to us the exquisite delight of our hearts! Albert Barnes, the 19th century Presbyterian pastor and theologian, described it this way:
"The meaning here is, that we should seek our happiness in God - in his being, his perfections, his friendship, his love" (Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms, Volume I, p. 319)
For us to "delight" ourselves in the Lord, then, is for Him to become to us the grand treasure of our lives. And as our highest treasure, we will make His standard of righteousness our own. We will not chafe under His sovereign rule over our lives, but will love what He loves, want what He wants, and pursue His heart's desire for our good. Such yielding of ourselves to Him will be the "delightful deposits" that we place gladly under His control!
And what will the outcome be? This verse of Scripture is what is known as an "apodosis," a word from Greek that speaks of a "giving back." When we meet a condition, God gives back in return. In other words, there will be divine dividends! But how can God possibly make such a lavish promise to us, beloved? Are we not, after all, still prone to selfishness in living? To pledge to give to us the desires of our hearts is a sweeping promise, indeed! Listen to what Barnes went on to say about such dividends in that same passage:
"The fact that you seek your happiness in him will regulate your desires, so that you will be disposed to ask only those things which it will be proper for him to grant; and the fact that you do find your happiness in him will be a reason why he will grant your desires"
God knows that, when we truly "delight" ourselves in Him in living from day to day, we will naturally seek only those things that will bring honor and glory to His name. To ask selfishly is to not be delighting ourselves in Him at all! Thus, the dividends fit the deposits, beloved, and the result is that God is glorified and we are enriched spiritually.
Is your delight in the Lord today? I sure hope so! Only as we each determine to "deposit" our lives for His glory will we truly show our world that He is our delightful treasure. And only as He is our delightful treasure will we know the divine dividends that only God can give.
Ron
Thursday, October 21, 2010
When God's Books Are Opened
"And books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds" (Revelation 20:12b)
We all know only too well what is meant when we hear that some high-level corporate figure has been caught "juggling the books," don't we, beloved? It means that someone has been embezzling from the company and has readjusted the financial records to make it look as if all is well.
Did you know that the Bible teaches us about God's "books," beloved? Oh, yes! God not only keeps books, but He keeps them meticulously! In the case of His books, however, God is not recording financial profit and loss by the calendar quarter, but rather the deeds of unsaved mankind by the occurrence. The books about which the Apostle John has written here are God's own perfectly accurate record of every thought, word, and deed of every unsaved person who has ever lived. You see, at that awesome "white throne" judgment of God (found described in this passage) sinners will be judged according to the perfect standard of God's own holiness. And the outcome of that judgment for every man is already known:
"For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
God's divine justice requires payment for every person's sins, for every occurrence of any person who has "fallen short of the glory of God." And the penalty for having fallen short in this life will on that day be eternal destruction in the lake of fire (2 Thessalonians 1:9). God's "books" are always right, beloved, and they cannot and will not be "juggled" to any man's benefit!
But John also stated in this verse that "another book was opened," what is known as the book of life. This book contains all of the names of the citizens of heaven, all of those men and women and boys and girls who will have been purchased by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Very simply, those who have the most to fear on that day will not have to worry about what is in that book, but rather by what is not. John declares emphatically that if any man's name is not found written in the book of life, he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
So what do these "books" have to do with each other, the ones containing the detailed account of our living and the one containing the names of earth's redeemed? Hear God's justice, beloved! The records in the former will prove conclusively, as God's Word says of us, that we are all sinners and stand condemned before holy God. And the latter, the book of life, will bear evidence to the fact that we chose never to turn in genuine sorrow and repentance to the only One who could save us so as to receive God's mercy and His forgiveness. Perhaps the most chilling words of all will be spoken on that day by Jesus Himself when, in response to the claims of alleged goodness by some, He will declare forever: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23).
Is your name recorded in the book of life, beloved? Have you in faith turned to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, for eternal cleansing and for life everlasting? If so, then what is written in the books of man's sinful deeds has been washed away by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. You stand in Christ as one of His forgiven and will know only God's eternal love and acceptance. If your name is not there, however, I urge you not to count on any moral or religious "juggling" that you may attempt to do, but rather come to the only One who can save you from sin and its penalty for all eternity.
Ron
We all know only too well what is meant when we hear that some high-level corporate figure has been caught "juggling the books," don't we, beloved? It means that someone has been embezzling from the company and has readjusted the financial records to make it look as if all is well.
Did you know that the Bible teaches us about God's "books," beloved? Oh, yes! God not only keeps books, but He keeps them meticulously! In the case of His books, however, God is not recording financial profit and loss by the calendar quarter, but rather the deeds of unsaved mankind by the occurrence. The books about which the Apostle John has written here are God's own perfectly accurate record of every thought, word, and deed of every unsaved person who has ever lived. You see, at that awesome "white throne" judgment of God (found described in this passage) sinners will be judged according to the perfect standard of God's own holiness. And the outcome of that judgment for every man is already known:
"For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23)
God's divine justice requires payment for every person's sins, for every occurrence of any person who has "fallen short of the glory of God." And the penalty for having fallen short in this life will on that day be eternal destruction in the lake of fire (2 Thessalonians 1:9). God's "books" are always right, beloved, and they cannot and will not be "juggled" to any man's benefit!
But John also stated in this verse that "another book was opened," what is known as the book of life. This book contains all of the names of the citizens of heaven, all of those men and women and boys and girls who will have been purchased by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Very simply, those who have the most to fear on that day will not have to worry about what is in that book, but rather by what is not. John declares emphatically that if any man's name is not found written in the book of life, he will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
So what do these "books" have to do with each other, the ones containing the detailed account of our living and the one containing the names of earth's redeemed? Hear God's justice, beloved! The records in the former will prove conclusively, as God's Word says of us, that we are all sinners and stand condemned before holy God. And the latter, the book of life, will bear evidence to the fact that we chose never to turn in genuine sorrow and repentance to the only One who could save us so as to receive God's mercy and His forgiveness. Perhaps the most chilling words of all will be spoken on that day by Jesus Himself when, in response to the claims of alleged goodness by some, He will declare forever: "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew 7:23).
Is your name recorded in the book of life, beloved? Have you in faith turned to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, for eternal cleansing and for life everlasting? If so, then what is written in the books of man's sinful deeds has been washed away by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. You stand in Christ as one of His forgiven and will know only God's eternal love and acceptance. If your name is not there, however, I urge you not to count on any moral or religious "juggling" that you may attempt to do, but rather come to the only One who can save you from sin and its penalty for all eternity.
Ron
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