The design of God is that the family unit have a protector. A godly man's first allegiance is to His Creator. And then the responsible man protects his family. God prepared the man, Joseph, to be the guard for the greatest life ever born: the Savior, Jesus Christ.
Joseph's espoused wife, Mary, became pregnant. What was a godly man to do with that? Matthew Poole, in his commentary on the book of Matthew, says, "A kind and equitable man always presumeth the best, especially in a case where life is concerned." Joseph resolved to take the mildest course. However, as Poole continues in his commentary, "God will not leave so good a man long unresolved what to do." Joseph, thus became in this process, the man who would best fit the amazing role as the dad of God.
May I, also, learn from God's word that as we seek God, He will lead us. We are to wait. He will not leave us long in the dark. He is and will be our ultimate protector and Abba Father.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
The Mundane
God's Word!! It's everything for the believer's success here on earth. And when I say, "success", I'm not talking about man's idea of success, but God's mandate for success: His Glory. His will be done. His Kingdom come. On Earth, just like heaven. However, five minutes on earth gives evidence that each generation of believers has work to do.
God's word, as I've written in blogs past, is a treasure beyond measure. And if as a believer, you have not experienced this, you are not reading it. I have a growing grief as I watch the lives of believers who are not taking full advantage of this treasure. And it becomes evident in their lifestyles, as their problems multiply to their distress. And rather than growing to maturity and being a strength to other Christians, they stay babes, dependent on a burdened leadership in the church.
As Jesus talked privately to His disciples about end times, and the day and hour, He referenced Noah in Matthew 24:36-39. "They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until Noah entered the ark" and did not know the time until the flood came and took them all away. In John MacArthur's study notes for this passage, it says: "Jesus emphasis here is not so much on the extreme wickedness of Noah's day, but on the people's preoccupation with mundane matters of everyday life." They "were swept away unexpectedly in the midst of their daily activities."
We have, as believers, a great and wonderful responsibility to be a light in this present darkness. We need to be a voice of encouragement and warning to people, both believers and unbelievers, about what is really important. And how can we do this without the God-given fuel for the light we are to share. Jesus is the Light of the world. We learn this from the word He has given us to know and learn. We must not be so "preoccupied" with the "mundane matters" that we think we have no time to read and study the Word. It tells us that "He has given us everything we need for life and godliness". (2 Peter 1:3) We do not know the final day or final hour. May we be passionate to "make the most of every opportunity". (Ephesians 5:16)
God's word, as I've written in blogs past, is a treasure beyond measure. And if as a believer, you have not experienced this, you are not reading it. I have a growing grief as I watch the lives of believers who are not taking full advantage of this treasure. And it becomes evident in their lifestyles, as their problems multiply to their distress. And rather than growing to maturity and being a strength to other Christians, they stay babes, dependent on a burdened leadership in the church.
As Jesus talked privately to His disciples about end times, and the day and hour, He referenced Noah in Matthew 24:36-39. "They were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until Noah entered the ark" and did not know the time until the flood came and took them all away. In John MacArthur's study notes for this passage, it says: "Jesus emphasis here is not so much on the extreme wickedness of Noah's day, but on the people's preoccupation with mundane matters of everyday life." They "were swept away unexpectedly in the midst of their daily activities."
We have, as believers, a great and wonderful responsibility to be a light in this present darkness. We need to be a voice of encouragement and warning to people, both believers and unbelievers, about what is really important. And how can we do this without the God-given fuel for the light we are to share. Jesus is the Light of the world. We learn this from the word He has given us to know and learn. We must not be so "preoccupied" with the "mundane matters" that we think we have no time to read and study the Word. It tells us that "He has given us everything we need for life and godliness". (2 Peter 1:3) We do not know the final day or final hour. May we be passionate to "make the most of every opportunity". (Ephesians 5:16)
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Encouragement from Spurgeon
Though he is now with Christ, Charles Spurgeon continues to be a source of encouragement to me in my walk with the Lord. How amazing that the seekers that went before us and the love and grace of God in them continues to be used. His sermons are rich and always Christ exalting. And even in his compilation of devotions, Morning and Evening, a word here, a sentence there still speaks as the "cloud of witnesses" to us who still have breath, to help us in our weariness or weakness to "walk with perseverance the race marked out for us." Enjoy a few gems from recent devotions in October. May you be encouraged as well!
“I will love them freely.” Hosea 14:4
This is a death blow to all sorts of fitness. “Lord, but my heart is hard!” “I will love you freely.” “But, Lord, I do not feel my need of Christ as I wish.” “I do not love you because you feel your need. I will love you freely.” There are no conditions; the covenant of grace has no conditionality whatsoever!
“He shall take of Mine and shall show it to you.” John 16:15
We are too thirsty, too fain to crawl to the water brook. A soldier is wounded in battle; it is of little use for him to know that there are those who can bind up wounds and medicines to ease pain. He must be carried. (Like the paralytic through the roof.) The Spirit of truth takes the things of Jesus and applies them to us. If you labor under deep distress, the Father does not give you promises to make you drag up your heavy buckets from the well in your weakened state. He has written them in His word and will write them on your heart. He will manifest His love to you and by His blessed Spirit, dispel your cares and troubles. Glorious gospel! Which provides everything for the helpless, which draw nigh to us when we cannot reach after it—brings us grace before we seek for grace.
“He began to wash the disciple’s feet.” John 13:5
What condescending patience when the Savior, with much long sufferings bear the oft recurring follies of His wayward disciples; day by day, hour by hour, washing away multiplied transgressions of His erring yet beloved child. To dry up a flood of rebellion is something marvelous, but to endure the constant dripping of repeated offenses, to bear with a perpetual trying of patience, this is Divine indeed!!
“For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us and shall be with us forever.” 2 John 2
The truth of God, once entered into the human heart and subdue it—NO power can dislodge! We entertain it not as a guest but the master of the house. Let us war with error—let us love and spread the truth!”
Ruth 2:3
God is very good to those who trust in Him and often surprises them with unlooked for blessings. Chance is banished from the faith of Christians, for they see the hand of God in everything! This is a weary world when Jesus is away! We would do without the sun and the moon than without Him!! But how divinely fair all things become in the glory of His presence.
Monday, August 6, 2018
Dull Scholars
Jesus came, as I posted last, on "an errand of disinterested love." As mentioned, He pined for souls, His love was full of mercy and grace. Yet His love was a lonely love. He was alone. You may say, "well He had His disciples."
Let's think a moment about them: "dull scholars; learned slowly; what they learned, they forgot; what they remembered, they did not practice; what they practiced one time, belied at another. They were miserable comforters. When Jesus was with them, His was a lonely life." (As I read that list, I see me in every phrase. It's good to be reminded that growth may continue.)
"The world was a wilderness to Him." We see what looked like little progress in the thousands of people He taught, when we see how rejected He was at Calvary. Yet His love enabled Him to bear the burden and complete the work of salvation to all those who come to Him to be saved.
"A father in a house of many little children cannot tell his babies his griefs. He looks down with joy that their toys will comfort them and their little prattle will not be broken in upon his great grief." Jesus griefs will never be known to us completely but those we can read about in His word must be our daily desire. That our love grow more and more in depth of insight and that we will not allow ourselves to step on the floor in the morning without expressing to Him our grateful praise. Let us not continue like "dull scholars"! Let us progress and may we never reject or forsake such great love.
Let's think a moment about them: "dull scholars; learned slowly; what they learned, they forgot; what they remembered, they did not practice; what they practiced one time, belied at another. They were miserable comforters. When Jesus was with them, His was a lonely life." (As I read that list, I see me in every phrase. It's good to be reminded that growth may continue.)
"The world was a wilderness to Him." We see what looked like little progress in the thousands of people He taught, when we see how rejected He was at Calvary. Yet His love enabled Him to bear the burden and complete the work of salvation to all those who come to Him to be saved.
"A father in a house of many little children cannot tell his babies his griefs. He looks down with joy that their toys will comfort them and their little prattle will not be broken in upon his great grief." Jesus griefs will never be known to us completely but those we can read about in His word must be our daily desire. That our love grow more and more in depth of insight and that we will not allow ourselves to step on the floor in the morning without expressing to Him our grateful praise. Let us not continue like "dull scholars"! Let us progress and may we never reject or forsake such great love.
An Errand of Disinterested Love
I wrote some notes down recently and have no idea where I read them. But they are too good not to be shared. So whoever wrote what I am about to share, whether dead or alive, and whatever century you are from, I praise God for the insight He has given you. Timeless truths are always a welcome encouragement to me.
People, trying to be religious in their own way "may fancy they are honoring Christ by their misconceptions. But Christ is never honored by that which is not true!" Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." No one!!
"Unbelievers live merrily in the haunts of vice, hear blasphemy without horror, view lust without disgust, look on robbery or murder without abhorrence." But those "religious" deceived mentioned above feel safe in their "misconceptions" while mistaking their way to hell. And the truth of the matter, whether they reject Christ or make up their own way, both groups are under the bondage of sin. And the truth of the matter is that even those who have bowed down to Christ, though on the road of sanctification, still deal with the burden of sin. "We do not start (be startled) at sin like Jesus; do not tremble at the sinners doom as Jesus." "There is none righteous; no not one."
Jesus came to save all who live under the bondage. "He could see sin where we cannot see; feel the heinousness as we cannot. Our Lord Jesus exercised His legal right and seeing us sold into bondage and our inheritance taken from us came forward to redeem both us and our lost estate. His zeal against sin was tempered with His love for souls. Jesus love pined within Him because men did not know their own mercies and rejected their own salvation. It was a hard thing to come on an errand of disinterested love."
To reject that love, to ignore it is a "suicidal rejection of grace". Let us think. Let us consider, "how great a love the Father has lavished on us." Come to Christ. Love Him. Know Him. Grow in Him. Know, too, that "we love Him because He first loved us."
People, trying to be religious in their own way "may fancy they are honoring Christ by their misconceptions. But Christ is never honored by that which is not true!" Jesus said, "I am the way the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me." No one!!
"Unbelievers live merrily in the haunts of vice, hear blasphemy without horror, view lust without disgust, look on robbery or murder without abhorrence." But those "religious" deceived mentioned above feel safe in their "misconceptions" while mistaking their way to hell. And the truth of the matter, whether they reject Christ or make up their own way, both groups are under the bondage of sin. And the truth of the matter is that even those who have bowed down to Christ, though on the road of sanctification, still deal with the burden of sin. "We do not start (be startled) at sin like Jesus; do not tremble at the sinners doom as Jesus." "There is none righteous; no not one."
Jesus came to save all who live under the bondage. "He could see sin where we cannot see; feel the heinousness as we cannot. Our Lord Jesus exercised His legal right and seeing us sold into bondage and our inheritance taken from us came forward to redeem both us and our lost estate. His zeal against sin was tempered with His love for souls. Jesus love pined within Him because men did not know their own mercies and rejected their own salvation. It was a hard thing to come on an errand of disinterested love."
To reject that love, to ignore it is a "suicidal rejection of grace". Let us think. Let us consider, "how great a love the Father has lavished on us." Come to Christ. Love Him. Know Him. Grow in Him. Know, too, that "we love Him because He first loved us."
Monday, April 16, 2018
"The Peoples"
Our pastor reminded us Sunday that our only purpose, the one most important purpose is fruit for God. We must be all about sharing Christ with a needy world, "the peoples". The urgency of that great purpose is expressed throughout scripture in so many ways from beginning to the end. God's purpose for Israel was always to live out His character and represent Him to a world in need. They were to bring to the lost the message of His great love.
The book of Esther, though there is no mention of God, is clearly a book that shouts His sovereign purpose. In chapter eight of the book, there is much rejoicing among the Jews living in Susa because of the reversal of the the King's edict to annihilate them. But through fasting and prayer, came deliverance. (And we know that prayer was to God and deliverance came from God.) The resulting effect: "And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them."
In Joshua 2:8-14, Rahab, an unbeliever, declares, "...the fear of you has fallen upon us..." She knew how her people viewed God's people and she sought sanctuary with this people of God. And begged for the salvation of her family as well. And in Matthew, Rahab is mentioned in the lineage of the Savior. When God saves, He changes the inward man and uses Him to further that purpose.
In Exodus 15:13-18, we hear Moses and the people of Israel sing praise to God after His remarkable deliverance. "Who is like you, O LORD...? You led in steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed; You guided them by Your strength to Your holy abode. The peoples have heard; they tremble... the chiefs are dismayed...trembling seizes the leaders...all the inhabitants have melted away...terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of Your arm, they are still as a stone till Your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased."
As Christians, our purpose is to live lives that are living testimonies of the One true God. May we study to show ourselves approved, workmen that are not ashamed. May our redeemed state cause guilt and fear to weary souls in need of true peace that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. May "the peoples" hear and declare themselves to a merciful God Who is ready to save them. The "fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom".
The book of Esther, though there is no mention of God, is clearly a book that shouts His sovereign purpose. In chapter eight of the book, there is much rejoicing among the Jews living in Susa because of the reversal of the the King's edict to annihilate them. But through fasting and prayer, came deliverance. (And we know that prayer was to God and deliverance came from God.) The resulting effect: "And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them."
In Joshua 2:8-14, Rahab, an unbeliever, declares, "...the fear of you has fallen upon us..." She knew how her people viewed God's people and she sought sanctuary with this people of God. And begged for the salvation of her family as well. And in Matthew, Rahab is mentioned in the lineage of the Savior. When God saves, He changes the inward man and uses Him to further that purpose.
In Exodus 15:13-18, we hear Moses and the people of Israel sing praise to God after His remarkable deliverance. "Who is like you, O LORD...? You led in steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed; You guided them by Your strength to Your holy abode. The peoples have heard; they tremble... the chiefs are dismayed...trembling seizes the leaders...all the inhabitants have melted away...terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of Your arm, they are still as a stone till Your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom you have purchased."
As Christians, our purpose is to live lives that are living testimonies of the One true God. May we study to show ourselves approved, workmen that are not ashamed. May our redeemed state cause guilt and fear to weary souls in need of true peace that only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ. May "the peoples" hear and declare themselves to a merciful God Who is ready to save them. The "fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom".
Friday, March 23, 2018
Out Of
Artaxerxes, whose heart was turned by God toward Ezra and the people of Israel, was a Persian king with great riches. In his decree to help the people of Israel, he generously gives whatever Ezra needs to fund the trip to Jerusalem.
When God moves a man's heart, He moves it "whole-heartedly"! Verse twenty states, "And whatever
else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury." The footnote in the Reformation Study Bible says, "The amounts involved are enormous but the Persian Empire is very wealthy."
Wow!! So God moved the heart of this very wealthy king who provided for Ezra's trip "out of" his treasures. I'm sure Ezra was wowed by King Artaxerxes riches supplied to him for the work of God! How much more should we be wowed by the supplies of the Creator of the Universe. Ephesians 3:16 says, "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being."
God is building His temple through us. "For we are the temple the living God." (2 Corinthians 6:16)
And "out of" His glorious riches He is giving us unlimited strength with His power to do what it takes to make our "temples" complete. I would say wow to that for I am wowing this same God Who has been doing this throughout history and continues to do that today and forever.
When God moves a man's heart, He moves it "whole-heartedly"! Verse twenty states, "And whatever
else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury." The footnote in the Reformation Study Bible says, "The amounts involved are enormous but the Persian Empire is very wealthy."
Wow!! So God moved the heart of this very wealthy king who provided for Ezra's trip "out of" his treasures. I'm sure Ezra was wowed by King Artaxerxes riches supplied to him for the work of God! How much more should we be wowed by the supplies of the Creator of the Universe. Ephesians 3:16 says, "I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being."
God is building His temple through us. "For we are the temple the living God." (2 Corinthians 6:16)
And "out of" His glorious riches He is giving us unlimited strength with His power to do what it takes to make our "temples" complete. I would say wow to that for I am wowing this same God Who has been doing this throughout history and continues to do that today and forever.
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