Being a follower of God has never been easy. Abraham was afraid for his life because of how beautiful his wife was, and so, he lied about their relationship (Genesis 20). Joseph maintained his integrity and resisted temptation but still wound up in prison and was left there for two years after he should have been released (Genesis 41:1). Job was faithful and righteous, but Satan was allowed to test him to the max, and then, he was accused of evil and unrepentant sin. Israel escaped Egyptian bondage, and after three days found no water (Exodus 15:22-23). The prophets of God were hidden in caves during the time of Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 18:4). The people Jesus came to save betrayed Him, and one of His close followers betrayed Him, too. The book of Acts details a number of times Christians were arrested, beaten, threatened and even martyred. The apostle Paul had his own list of times he experienced various dangers (2 Corinthians 11:24ff). Life is not always going to be fair or easy, so when the tough times come, how much are we willing to trust God (Romans 8:18)?

[Editor’s Note: The statement and sentiment of the three Jewish youths facing a fiery furnace ought to be demonstrated in the lives of Christians today. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar… our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up’” (Daniel 3:16-18 NKJV). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]

Thomas Baxley

A while back I was doing some reading in the writings of Solomon, especially the book of Ecclesiastes and, judging from the things he talks about, I was reminded of a Country/Western song entitled “Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places.”  I don’t remember who performed it, but that’s immaterial anyway.  So, if you’ll bear with me for a few minutes, hopefully I can explain my connection between that song and the writings of Solomon.

You know, when you think about it, probably no one on earth was more blessed by God in material ways than our man Solomon.  If you recall, he was extremely wealthy to the degree that God said that he would surpass all other kings before and after him in wealth and power.   (1 Kings 3)   Basically, Solomon would be the greatest and wealthiest king to ever be on earth.

But, if you recall, Solomon did not ask God for wealth.  He asked Him for “wisdom” and “an understanding heart.” Because of Solomon’s attitude, God did bless him with “wisdom,” but then added all the other blessings to it.  Solomon became known worldwide for his “wisdom” and his great wealth.  So much so that the Queen of Sheba heard about him and had to come see for herself.  She did so and left saying that all the greatness she heard about didn’t make up even half of what she’d heard.  Sort of like saying that the things she’d heard didn’t come close to the real truth of his glory.

I think that it’s hard for folks today to comprehend the true greatness of Solomon, especially when you include the other parts of his life such as his political power with the other nations of his world.  But, I think that we can look at his life and understand that he could have anything on earth that he desired and from his writings, it appears that he pretty much desired everything and got everything.

Several times he says that “I got me” and then mentions whatever the thing was that he got.  Let’s look at some of them.  He “got” himself a lot of things that he thought would make him happy.  Things like “great works,” and “great houses.”  He says that he made himself “gardens, vineyards and orchards.”  He created “pools of water.”  He “got” many “servants and maidens” and great herds of livestock.  Above all of that, he “got” tons of “gold and silver.”  He had numerous entertainers to amuse him.  And he said, “So I was great..” in the ownership of all the pleasures of earth.

We also know that he amassed a great number of women in his life.  The Bible says that he “loved many strange women” (1Kgs. 11:1) and it makes me wonder how the word “strange” applies here.  According to Strong’s it can mean either “foreigner” or “outlandish” so you take your pick.

My point is, from the totality of the things he had and the things he “got” it seems that he wasn’t happy.  He said that all of this was just “vanity,” meaning they were “unsatisfactory” or “transitory.”  And that’s my tie-in to the song – he was looking for love in all the wrong places.

What, with all his wealth, power and, especially wisdom, he was simply searching in “all the wrong places.”  Everything he tried, and according to him, he pretty much tried it all, he couldn’t find any earthly “thing” that would satisfy him.  Sort of like the “highs & lows” of life.  It would work for a while, then didn’t last.  A new garden, a new house, a new wife, would be OK for a time, but then the “low” would come and he’d have to try something else.

Well, what did all of these attempts at gaining earthly pleasure bring him?  They brought him to the realization that they were all “vanity.”  Basically, “worthless.”  But, they also brought him to the point that he wrote the following passage.  “The conclusion, when all has been heard is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.  For God will bring every act to judgement, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.”  (Eccl. 12:13-14)

When we read that passage we can see that Solomon’s “wisdom” won out over all the other blessings of his life.  All of his wealth and substance was worthless in the end.  But, his “wisdom” allowed him to understand that there are three things most important in a person’s life: “Fear God” – “keep (obey) His commandments” & understand justice will be administered at the end.

“Fear God.”  If one doesn’t “fear” (reverence) God then all other sins just fall in line.  I direct your attention to what Paul writes in Rom. 1:21-22 and I think you’ll see the evidence of what I just said. “For although they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Claiming to be wise, they became fools.”

“Obedience:” Solomon serves as a prime example of someone not following his own wisdom.  That’s why he can look back over his life and tells us, don’t do the things I did, obey God because that’s the only thing that counts in the end.  Because justice follows immediately.  We’ll be judged according to what we’ve done and not by what we have accrued in life.

We seemingly have a large portion of society today that scoffs at God.  That have made power and material things foremost in their lives.  Just remember the lesson we learn from Solomon and to “look in the right places” for the love of God.

Ron Covey

A recent email came to me regarding prayers for our brethren in Ukraine. Christians, as well as all others in that region, are in a detrimental situation as Russia invaded their land. The images of war are unsettling, unnerving and show us just how fragile peace and harmony in life can be. While we are praying for Ukraine’s safety and protection, especially those of the household of faith, there are spiritual lessons to be learned from war.

War Is Destructive!

Most objective observers can clearly see that Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation. Simply because of who the Ukrainians are and because of who Russia is, destructive war was inevitable. For simply being in Ukraine, people are being uprooted, maimed, killed and emotionally changed forever. Many will likely flee to other countries to sojourn in places that are not their homes. Spiritually, the application is valid. Simply because of who we are as Christians and who the devil is as our enemy, we are in a daily spiritual war that is devastatingly destructive as well. Sometimes God’s people ask, “Why me?” We must understand that darkness hates light (1 John 3:19-20) and, as such, Christians are always at battle with spiritual wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). We are not home as we fight this daily battle here on planet Earth (1 Peter 2:11-12). Our home is in Heaven (Colossians 3:1-3), and this place of sojourn is merely a battlefield to defend the Master’s cause (Matthew 28:18-20). Sadly, we must understand that this spiritual battle, like physical battles, brings destruction. There will be casualties, and we all will suffer some degree of pain and hurt. Yet, our spiritual battle is a battle we must fight despite the destruction we face!

War Is Illustrative!

The war in Ukraine illustrates the fact that war brings out both the best and the worst in people. Stories of bravery and heroism stir our hearts as we hear of the valiant efforts to defend liberty and justice by the Ukrainians. Yet, a dictator’s brutal attempts to gain territory and conquer a nation sickens us. Spiritually, the same holds true as well. As we defend the faith (Jude 3), it thrills our souls to hear of others in all parts of this world who are doing the same. It encourages us in the battle as we know that there are others, just like us, who are fighting this war, too (1 Peter 5:9). However, sadly, we also hear of some soldiers who have given up and quit. We are repulsed when we hear of soldiers turning away from the manual on warfare (2 Timothy 2:18). We are repulsed when we see a soldier stop fighting, and even worse, when soldiers flee to the other side and join forces with the enemy.

War Is Collaborative!

Ukraine has no chance of victory unless it collaborates with others who support it in the fight. The forces against them are great, and therefore, Ukraine must learn to fight against its dictatorial enemy by all being on the same page and following the same plan to defend freedom. There is but one agenda in Ukraine right now – to defend freedom! What an illustration spiritually speaking as well! Christianity will never prevail against its roaring enemy (1 Peter 5:8) unless Christians all join together and have one goal and one agenda – to defend freedom in Christ! Politics, opinions, diseases, personal agendas, ignorance or anything else that often separates us must be laid aside for the battle to lead to victory! Christians have but one agenda – to glorify the Captain and win the war for our immortal souls (Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Timothy 4:6-8). Remember, there is just one letter placement of difference between united and untied, but the eternal difference is much more!

Cowards do not stand and fight, but brave soldiers carry the battle (Revelation 21:7-8). It is high time that brave soldiers of the cross take up arms and engage our enemy with faith and with truth to be victorious. Our spiritual battle is a battle for eternity, for your children and mine, for our neighbors and loved ones, and yes, even for our own souls as well. As we face our adversary head on, there will be times when we feel the battle is too great and the enemy is too strong, but our Captain reminds us daily, “…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4 NKJV). While our prayers ascend for those in Ukraine, we know that our brethren there will be victorious in the end. Their victory may not be in defending their soil but faithfully defending their souls! “These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

[Editor’s Note: Pray also for our Russian brethren who find themselves adversely affected, too – some even who have been or may be conscripted to fight against their wills in Ukraine. Don’t forget to mention in prayers brethren in other especially dangerous places in the world (e.g., in nations that have state gods such as in Hinduism or Buddhism, Islamic controlled countries and nations engaged in civil war or widespread unrest). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]

Rodney Nulph

Galatians 1:3-4 reads, “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age [“world” KJV], according to the will of our God and Father” (NKJV). To a greater or a lesser degree, every age since sin entered into the world has been a “present evil age.” However, there have been several occasions throughout history where sinfulness resulted in a tipping point with God, whereupon He exacted widespread retribution upon sinners. A tipping point is “the critical point in a situation, process, or system beyond which a significant and often unstoppable effect or change takes place” (“Tipping Point”). No one can deflect God’s wrath when He determines to react against an “evil age.”

Some Significant Historical
Tipping Points with God

A staggering percentage of 100% of humanity at the time – Adam and Eve – were banished from the Garden of Eden for their sin of disobedience (Genesis 3:23-24). Hundreds of years later, nearly 100% of humanity was killed in the universal flood of Noah’s days (Genesis 7:21-23). “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually… The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:5, 11). God, therefore, “condemned the world” (Hebrews 11:7), sparing only “eight souls” (1 Peter 3:20). The sin of homosexuality (Genesis 19; Jude 7), rampant in Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim (Deuteronomy 29:23), was “very grave” (Genesis 18:20) and reached a tipping point with God so that He destroyed those cities with “brimstone and fire” (Genesis 19:24-25).

Hundreds of years later, the Israelites traversed the Sinai peninsula and repeatedly reached a tipping point with God, whereupon He punished the nation again and again. Finally, God sentenced Israel to 40 years of wandering in that desolate place as a penalty until everyone – except Joshua and Caleb – 20 years and older who had departed Egypt died (Numbers 14:29-33). About two generations of families perished before God allowed a new generation to enter Canaan. Then, the whole period of the judges was a collection of tipping points with God because of sin, whereupon He permitted enemies of Israel to subdue it only to be freed later by a judge God raised up; a series of fifteen judges aptly denotes the rise and fall constantly over hundreds of years.

There was not a great improvement after the establishment of the monarchy in Israel, but following the division of the Israelites into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah, greater tipping points with God occurred. Almighty God allowed the Assyrian kingdom to overthrow Israel because of its sins, chief of which was idolatry (2 Kings 17:5-12, 23). Later, God permitted the Babylonians to overthrow Judah also because, like the northern kingdom, the southern kingdom also practiced idolatry (2 Kings 24-25; 1 Chronicles 9:1; Zephaniah 1:4). This initiated the 70 years of captivity for Judah that God’s prophets had forewarned would occur unless the nation repented and turned back to God (Jeremiah 25:1-12; 29:10). God’s chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6-7; 14:2) became as much a part of an evil age as the balance of ungodly humanity.

The Present Evil Age

Some Christians muse from time to time that one reason that Almighty God may delay the destruction of planet Earth preceding Final Judgment (2 Peter 3:7) is because of the large number of New Testament Christians today; after all, the Lord agreed to Abraham’s bargaining not to destroy Sodom if there were ten righteous persons living in it (Genesis 18:32). Is it possible that the children of God constitute one reason that stalls the inevitable fiery end of the world and Final Judgment? Of course, the apostle Peter penned that the “longsuffering” of God – extending time for sinners to repent (2 Peter 3:9) – explains why God has not already brought about the destruction of the created universe. Nevertheless, the world and time itself will end, as well as Final Judgment must happen – without warning and when we do not expect it (2 Peter 3:10). Consequently, the children of God need to always be ready (Matthew 24:36-44; 2 Peter 3:11).

No godly person would deny the obvious debauchery characteristic of the “present evil age” in which we live today. Sins are hardly “secret” today (Psalm 90:8), no matter how despicable they may be. Moreover, even the vilest sinners who are guilty of disgraceful deeds are not the least embarrassed. “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down, says the Lord” (Jeremiah 6:15).

Homosexuality’s pride parades, defenders of abortion from protesters to world leaders, gross immodesty, pornography, shacking up “and the like” (Galatians 5:19-21; cf., 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 21:8) represent clearly noticeable specimens of “this present evil age.” Unfortunately, Christians and the Lord’s church are not immune to the prevalent immorality typical of the ungodly world all around us. Besides all this, lawbreakers abound in every degree, including the more violent offenses of robbery, assault, murder and wars. Hardly can we imagine that the wickedness and violence for which God deluged the world (Genesis 6-8) were any worse than the same in “this present evil age.” There are, though, more than eight souls – Noah and his family – today worshipping and serving Almighty God. There are more than ten souls worshipping and serving God than there were in Sodom.

Living in the World
but Not of the World

The word “age” (NKJV) or “world” (KJV) in Galatians 1:4 is translated from the Greek aion, which means “…properly, an age… by implication, the world” (Biblesoft’s). “These words [Galatians 1:4] cannot mean created nature, or the earth and its productions, nor even wicked men. The former we shall need while we live, the latter we cannot avoid…” (Adam Clarke’s). Though the children of God have no choice but to live amidst wicked humanity, they are called upon by God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ to distinguish themselves from impenitent sinners. Regrettably, however, many Christians do the same things as ungodly people and somehow suppose that God will ultimately overlook their willful sins. “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. …do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:1-3). Willfully practicing sin dispenses with the only redemption available – Jesus Christ. “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a [any other or an] sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26).

Christians ought to be different from unrighteous and worldly people, often including family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers and acquaintances. We are God’s “special” (NKJV) or “peculiar people” (KJV) (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). Jesus noted the contrast between the children of God and children of the world. “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14-16). Imitating Jesus distinguishes Christians from the ungodly and worldly people surrounding us at every turn.

Our Lord used the Greek word kosmos, translated “world” in these passages. Kosmos is used in the same ways we used the word “world,” sometimes referring to the planet on which we live and at other times referring to humanity. Jesus referred to ungodly humanity in contrast to God’s “special” or “peculiar people.” However, Christians can only be and remain “special” and “peculiar” as long as they do not assimilate into the world. “…Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).

Sadly, many Christians have developed a spiritually unhealthy relationship with the world, about which an inspired half-brother of Jesus warned. “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity [hatred] with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). The apostle John, likewise, cautioned Christians about worldliness. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Conclusion

Christians once, before their conversion, many times were among the most committed and diligent sinners, but they were “washed,” “sanctified” and “justified.”

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Christians are not who they were formerly.

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

Indeed, we live in a “present evil age,” but faithful Christians live their lives noticeably differently from the world around them – not trying to be different but attempting to emulate the model Christian depicted in the New Testament. Christians don’t do some of the things the world does; neither do they go some of the places that ungodly people frequent. True Christians don’t talk like the world around them. The children of God have a completely unique worldview that has as its goal a heavenly, forever home. “Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1 Peter 4:4 KJV). That unique worldview, though, indirectly condemns the world around us (Hebrews 11:7), to which the world pushes back. “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). If the ungodly world hasn’t pushed you around at all, it may not even know that you profess to be a Christian! Is there enough evidence to convict you of being a Christian?

Historically, the children of God often became as much a part of an evil age as the balance of ungodly humanity, and the same observation may be applicable to many churches of Christ in our time, too. Are you and I different from the world around us, or do we admire and approve of sinfulness (e.g., drinking and reveling, Galatians 5:21; fornication; adultery; immodesty; indecent language; pornography, Matthew 5:28; etc.). “Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32 NKJV).

The world around us is motivated and animated by Satan. “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” (2 Corinthians 4:4). Who is motivating and animating you – Satan or Jesus? “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5).

Works Cited

Adam Clarke’s Commentary. Electronic Database. Seattle: Biblesoft, 2006.

Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Electronic Database. Seattle: Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, 2010.

“Tipping point.” Merriam-Webster.com. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster. <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tipping%20point.> 27 Jun. 2022.

Louis Rushmore

“As he passed by, he saw a man” (John 9:1 ESV).

It is not difficult to recruit people to go on a mission trip to Nepal. Everyone knows about “The Rooftop of the World,” the home of much of the Himalaya Mountains. We are all fascinated by mountains, and that fascination increases exponentially when Mt. Everest and other Himalayan peaks enter into the discussion. The scenery is awesome, the sense of adventure overwhelming. One returns from a visit to such places with a tremendous feeling of accomplishment.

But there is much more to this remote, densely populated nation than magnificent vistas. More than 30 million people inhabit its approximately 57,000 square miles (roughly 1/3 larger than the state of Tennessee). More than 90% of the population claim Hinduism or Buddhism as their religious faith. Taken together, these constitute the world’s largest current polytheistic and idolatrous religion. In the New Testament Paul spoke of his joy over those who turned “from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). He regarded them as having escaped bondage to enjoy freedom in Christ Jesus.

The great commission given by Jesus to his followers challenges us to focus our vision. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Some scholars suggest a proper application of Jesus’ words is “As you go …” That suggests that evangelism is not only a purposed activity requiring a special itinerary, but something that Christians are alert to do wherever they are and whenever opportunities arise.

As Jesus traveled through Galilee, Samaria, and Judea he constantly met and interacted with people. On one occasion his attention was directed to something inanimate: “his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple” (Matthew 24:1). He responded to the effect that these were only temporary. “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (Matthew 24:2). It was barely more than forty years later that the Roman army fulfilled his prophecy in the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70 A.D. Jesus’ attention was almost exclusively upon people, whom he came “to seek and to save” (Luke 19:10).

Buildings erected by humans, beautiful forests, even immense mountain ranges are all material and destructible. God promises, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:10).

All that God has created will be done away with except for human souls. “So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:42). The mountains we treasure will not last. The people we teach and bring to faith will live eternally. Let us look at more than beautiful scenery – let us see those who are longing for truth and help them to know and believe in Jesus.

by Michael Brooks

A Parallel Revolution

In poor health and unable to attend a celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson penned his final letter. Reflecting upon their bold rebellion he wrote, “May it be to the world, what I believe it will be, the signal of arousing men to burst the chains under which monkish ignorance and superstition had persuaded them to bind themselves, and to assume the blessing and security of self-government.”

With remarkable similarities the Restoration Movement of the 1800’s paralleled the American Revolution. In seeking the truth of God’s word religious leaders of the same era burst the chains of spiritual ignorance that bound them. They cast off a clergy system of synods and presbyteries to assume the blessing of self-government by the scriptures. Their spiritual revolution became a signal to the world that God’s Word alone should rule and instruct men (2 Tm.3:16).

In Jeffersonian tones Thomas Campbell wrote in 1809, “We are persuaded that it is high time for us not only to think, but also to act, to see with our own eyes, and to take all our measures directly and immediately from the Divine standard.” With such words these men returned to the freedom of God’s word.

-Dennis Doughty

Made for man

“And he said to them,’The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath’” (Mark 2:27, NKJV).

On one trip into the mountains of Nepal to preach among the villages, we took a Nepali cook who was a practicing Buddhist. Over the course of the two weeks we traveled, we spoke to him several times about his religion and about the Gospel. One comment he made has stayed with me. “I am tired of the priests’ extravagant demands – for everything there must be a sacrifice and I must always pay.”

His attitude and experience are by no means unique, nor are they restricted to any one religion. Many have fled from the apparent greed of religionists who seem to place their doctrines, practices, and institutions above every other need of humanity. It is easy to argue that for many faiths, man seems to have been made to serve the religion, not vice versa.

When Jesus healed on the Sabbath, Jewish leaders were offended (Mark 3:1-6). Similarly, when the disciples picked grain from the stalks on a Sabbath day, and ate on their way through the fields, the Pharisees accused them of violating one of the Ten Commandments (Mark 2:23-26).

That prompted the Lord’s response that man was not created to observe the Sabbath. Rather the Sabbath day was declared holy for the benefit of man. Presumably God in his wisdom saw man’s need for respite from his labors and provided a weekly “day off” in order to meet that need.

It is so easy for us to lose sight of that priority. Religion is not enslavement. It is not designed to be a hardship to already burdened humanity. We have enough problems without God loading us down with troublesome obligations. And God is neither vain nor in need of our service (Acts 17:24-25). He has nothing to gain by placing odious duties upon those who come to him.

Christian faith is about meeting the needs of sinful humanity. God gives us comfort through our prayers, songs, and study (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Jesus came to save sinners, not to condemn them (Luke 19:10). The church is designed to build its members up, not to break them down through excessive demands (Ephesians 4:11-16). Its worship, though it is praise offered to God, also serves to edify all those who are in the congregation (1 Corinthians 14:1-5). The works which Christians do in the name of God are expressions of gratitude for his grace (Ephesians 2:8-10).

When one asks questions like, “Do I have to go to Church every Sunday?” he or she is missing the whole point. Our relationship with God is a great privilege by which we are blessed. True Christianity makes life easier, not harder. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

His invitation to suffering mankind is very plain on this point: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30).

When we perceive God’s will as overly demanding or impossible to obey, we have grossly misunderstood him. He wants us to have a good life (1 Timothy 2:2-3), at peace with him and with one another. His laws were designed for our benefit. They are a great blessing for which we should be grateful (read Psalm 119).

Michael Brooks

Life gives us many problems.  Some believe Christians are not as afflicted as others, but this is not the case.  The difference between Christians and the world is as night and day. Christians have the avenue of prayer to His throne, to address their deepest worries, concerns and heartaches.   Never think Christians are exempt from troubles.  Far from it.

Troubles come to us when we least expect them, and some lessons are very hard to learn.  Sometimes the problems seem insurmountable, but for the faithful child of God, we are only a prayer away to seek His help and comfort.  When we have passed through these afflictions, we to can then say as the psalmist:    E.L.

“It is good for me that I have been afflicted;  that I might learn Thy statutes.”    Psalm 119:71

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.”      Psalm 46:1

“Because it’s only when you’re tested you truly discover who you are.  And it’s only when you’re tested you discover who you can be.  The person you want to be does exist, somewhere on the other side of hard work and faith, and belief and beyond the heartache and fear of what life has.”      ~ Unknown

“Here are some time proven remedies for handling trouble when it comes:

Pray to God.   If we want Him close, pray and draw near to Him; then He will draw near to us.  He has promised.

Let us accept misfortune as a proving period from which we emerge bigger and stronger than ever.

Take our mind off our distresses by giving thanks to God.  Tell of His wondrous works.  It will surprise us to see what God has done.

Hold to the blessed promise that God can hide us in time of trouble and can set our feet on a rock.

Never lose confidence in the eventual winning of integrity and righteousness, which – with God’s help – can preserve us.  Troubles may force a detour and a delay, but they make the destination all the sweeter when we arrive.

Sometimes we reach the point where all human answers fail and all our resources collapse.  Then the only thing left is to turn the misfortune over to God, and say to him, “My times are in Thy hand.  And this is victory.”     ~ Leroy Brownlow

“The Lord gets His best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction.”     ~ Spurgeon

Eileen Light

Catherine Michaels was her name. She was a lonely, elderly, Christian widow who lived on my newspaper route when I was a boy. It was my practice when I delivered the newspaper to hand-deliver her paper and talk with her for a few moments to break the monotony of her day.

One day when I delivered her paper, she informed me that she was moving to California to live with her daughter. She thanked me for my visits, told me how much they meant to her, and tearfully told me that this would be the last time we would speak to each other in this life.

As I left her home that day, I said “Goodbye,” and when I did, she sternly told me to come back in her house. I didn’t know what I had done or if I had offended her. Then she explained. She said that she was not going to allow “goodbye” to be our final words.  She said that Christians will be together throughout eternity. Then she said, “You can say, ‘See you later,’ but you can’t say ‘goodbye.'”

So, as I left her house that day, I said, “See you later,” and these were the last words I ever spoke to her. I also left her house that day with a permanent impression on my mind of a truth I would never forget.

There are many reasons to be a Christian, but never having to say, “goodbye” must be one of the more compelling ones. What do you think? Give it some thought.

by Steve Higginbotham

What do we make of our experiences?

I suspect if we were to share stories about our experiences, the details might differ, however common traits would emerge. Here’s a few examples of what I have seen.

• As a lady walked toward a spiritist center, a seasoned missionary asked her, “Why are you attending tonight?” She said, “The last time my husband was unemployed I went to the spiritist center. The next day he got a job. I am going, so that tomorrow my husband will have a job.”
• An atheist, viewing that he was living his life on the edge of oblivion, described treasuring each moment. He concluded that living with this heightened intensity provided a superior life to what theism offered.
• Standing on my front doorstep, the truck driver admitted that he did not go to church. However, he quickly followed this up by claiming that he felt his relationship with God was good because life was going well and he was a basically good guy.
• Feeling like she was at the end of her rope, she decided to attend a faith-based meeting that began with worship. Because she found hope and encouragement, she concluded everything about this group aligned with God’s will.

Although these stories differ, they share a common characteristic. In each case, people navigated life by believing their experiences revealed truth. In other words, if something seemed to work, it must be good and true. Perhaps one expression of this impulse is captured in those old lyrics, “It can’t be wrong when it feels so right.”

What do we make of our experiences? If something works, do we regard it as true?

Hmm.  Because of what I read in scripture, I have concluded that our experiences do not provide us with reliable compasses. Consider for instance Jesus’ statement how God expresses his love toward all people. “He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:43).

Should the unrighteous conclude that because the sun rises on them and they enjoy rain that their ways are right? Does experiencing blessings mean that the universe approves?

Scripture puts it even more bluntly in Deuteronomy 13:1-13. God warned Israel against embracing ideas just because they worked. If an idea contravened God’s word calling God’s people to chart another path, it was to be rejected regardless of its success.

In fact, God announced that sometimes he would allow what was false to succeed in order to “know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him” (Deuteronomy 13:3,4).

In general terms, our experiences can often be helpful. Touch a hot stove; it burns. Learn the lesson to not touch it again. However, scripture reveals that our experiences are not the gold standard for truth. If we want a reliable source for navigating life, we need to digest and then live out God’s word.

“Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path” (Psalm 119:106).

Barry Newton

Delving deeper into faith

What is faith? This probably sounds like a silly question – but only if we have given it no thought because we assume we fully understand it. Consider one small sampling of the evidence.

In the second and third centuries before Christ, Jewish scholars translated their Hebrew Bible into Greek. We call their work the Septuagint. Interesting questions might be: When they used the Greek word pistis (faith), what Hebrew words and ideas were they trying to convey? Was their understanding of faith broader, the same or narrower than ours? Take a look.

Here is a list of the Hebrew words whose concepts the Septuagint translators chose to render into Greek by using pistis:

‘emun – trusting, faithfulness: Deuteronomy 32:20; Proverbs 13:17

‘emunah –  faithfulness, trust and truth because it is reliable as something that is firm and steadfast: 1 Samuel 26:23; Psalm 33:4; Proverbs 12:17,22; 2 Kings 12:15; 1 Chronicles 9:31; 2 Chronicles 31:15; 34:12; Jeremiah 5:1; Hosea 2:20; Habakkuk 2:4

‘amanah – faith, support.  Hence, a sure or reliable covenant: Nehemiah 9:38

‘emet – firmness, faithfulness: Proverbs 3:3

‘aman – made sure. Hence, if something is not made sure then it fails: Jeremiah 15:18

When the Septuagint translators encountered Hebrew words conveying trustworthiness and faithfulness, they chose to use the Greek word pistis to convey these ideas. It would appear their core understanding of pistis revolved around the idea of something or someone being reliable, embodying trustworthiness or exemplifying faithfulness through actions.

What is intriguing about their usage of faith is that its core idea was not limited to being an inner conviction or belief. Rather, their notion of faith revolved around being reliable – which could also be seen through action.

How does such an understanding compare with our ideas about faith? Can our view of faith embrace action or is it limited to the realm of inner convictions and beliefs?

Were they wrong to use faith in this way? Does the New Testament usage of faith also encompass faith as action? If our understanding of faith limits it to being a confident belief, are we in agreement with how the New Testament’s uses faith?

If we assume that faith means just believing, we will obtain a message from the New Testament. However, will this entail comprehending the authors’ intending meaning and hence achieve an author-centered understanding? Or will it merely be an echo of our own assumptions, thus confining us to a reader-centered understanding?

It has been said that unexamined assumptions are the most dangerous ones. The reason for this is assumptions wield tremendous power influencing our lives. Unexamined assumptions thus wield that power without us realizing we are being controlled by them.

Barry Newton

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself (John 12:32 ESV).

God desires to draw us to himself. As a host invites guests to a party (Luke 14:16-24), and as a shepherd leads his sheep (John 10:1-4), God invites us to join him in the kingdom and to follow Jesus through a life of personal growth and Divine glory.

We may be inexorably drawn to that which is beautiful, to that which is unique, to that which is lovely. While Jesus is all of that and more, God desires to draw us to the crucified Jesus. The drawing power Jesus refers to is his death upon the cross (John 12:33).

If we are to come to Jesus, we must be drawn to him. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.” (John 6:45a). But that drawing is not some mysterious power, it is through the teaching of the Father (John 6:45), which is revealed in the gospel (1 Corinthians 2:6-16; Ephesians 3:1-13; Romans 1:16).

As our presence is requested, our presence can be refused. We have the freedom to allow ourselves to be drawn or to demur. An invitation can be declined, an offer can be rejected (see Luke 13:34).

Though God has the power to force us, he will not. God does not drive men to himself. Being driven is a drudgery. No one enjoys being forced to go where they would not, nor being coerced to do that which they would not. Some, it seems, feel driven to God, not by their own free will but by external forces. They are driven to God because of family commitments, habit, peer pressure, a need to belong, or any number of reasons.

One’s whole heart cannot be given to God if they feel forced to be near him. The Jews rebelled under similar circumstances (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). God is not interested in just outward action, he desires the whole heart.

While being driven is a drudgery, being drawn is a delight. Jesus invites us to rest (Matthew 11:28-30). He offers rest from the never-ending pressures of the world, from sin (Psalm 38:4), and from burdens that weigh us down (Hebrews 12:1). In him and through him we have peace (Romans 5:1-2), and through a lifetime of service to him we have joy (John 15:1-11).

Give up being driven to God. All that you will find is bitterness in your heart. Allow his goodness to draw you to him. It is never too late to be drawn to Jesus. The cross is still inviting, the word is still convicting, and Jesus is still captivating.

Lee Parish

CHILDREN ARE A HERITAGE FROM THE LORD

Yes, parenthood changes everything.  But parenthood also changes with each baby.  Here, some of the ways having a second and third child differs from having your first (author unknown):

YOUR CLOTHES

1st baby:  You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.

2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.

3rd baby:  Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

THE BABY’S NAME

1st baby:  You pore over baby-name books and practice pronouncing and writing combinations of all your favorites.

2nd baby: Someone has to name his or her kid after your great-aunt Mavis, right?  It might as well be you.

3rd baby:  You open a name book, close your eyes, and see where your finger points.

PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH

1st baby:  You practice your breathing religiously.

2nd baby: You don’t bother practicing because you remember that last time, breathing didn’t do a thing.

3rd baby:  You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

THE LAYETTE

1st baby:  You pre-wash your newborn’s clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby’s little bureau.

2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.

3rd baby:  Boys can wear pink, can’t they?

WORRIES

1st baby:   At the first sign of distress – a whimper, a frown – you Pick up the baby.

2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to take your firstborn.

3rd baby:  You teach your 3-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

ACTIVITIES

1st baby:  You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.

2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.

3rd baby:  You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

GOING OUT

1st baby:  The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.

2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.

3rd baby:  You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

AT HOME

1st baby:  You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.

2nd baby: You spend a bit of every day watching to be sure your older child isn’t squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.

3rd baby:  You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Parenthood is quite a challenge.  But it is a blessing from God (though we sometimes have to keep reminding ourselves!).

“Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.” (Psa. 127:3-5)

Some quivers are larger than others, but there is no more awesome responsibility in all the world than the responsibility to instill within our children a love for God and His Word.  May all of you who are parents be blessed and encouraged as you raise your children in the Lord.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Make no mistake about it

I think I know what I need. That’s my first mistake. Then I work my fingers to the bone going after what I’m sure I need. That’s my second mistake. After that, the mistakes just keep multiplying.

David acted crazy before the Philistine chief Abimelech because he thought that was the solution to his danger (1 Samuel 21:10-15). It was a crazy strategy for what he thought he needed. Supposedly, it got him out of hot water. But did it?

Psalm 34 is a much beloved song of deliverance. The inscription reads, “Of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech, so that he drove him out, and he went away.”

In the old Beacon commentary series, W.T. Purkiser organized this psalm under four headings: Praise (vv. 1-6); provision (vv. 7-10), practice (vv. 11-14), protection (vv. 15-22). His alliterative outline is probably appropriate for a psalm whose structure is an acrostic using the Hebrew alphabet.

Purkiser’s headings give a hint as to why David’s psalm is so read and loved. It covers most all the bases of life’s challenges.

Let’s focus on the second heading, “Provision.” Here we have an echo of Psalm 23 and a foretaste of Matthew 6.

Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:9-10 ESV

Three things stand out here. First, who it is that has no lack. David describes them as his saints. God’s holy people. Pagans rush after the things of this world (Matthew 6:32). Even in creation there is suffering for an animal’s needs, but nothing lacks for God’s people.

Second, David uses two verbs to describe what God’s holy people do who have no lack: they fear God and they seek the Lord. They are synonymous terms, each with its own shade of meaning. Fear of God is the essence of man’s relationship with him. It is the daily dependence on the Lord, the constant consciousness of God as sovereign. Seeking the Lord is that active energy that puts God squarely in the center of thought and practice. He is the organizing principle of all we do.

Third, David makes a blanket statement about lacking no good thing that, at first glance, seems hard to reconcile with experience. Who among God’s people has never felt sharply a need in life? If we lack no good thing, why do we feel needy?

Several explanations may cover this.

First, I may not in fact be needy. Feelings often do not reflect reality. What I feel may not be my real situation. I sometimes think that I just have to have something, but after I get it, it doesn’t seem as important as when it was new and shiny behind the glass at the store.

Second, I may be confusing wants with needs. Twenty-first century needs have little to do with the basics. People often talk about first-world problems, due to our materialism, that people in poorer parts of the world can’t begin to imagine. The choices between Apple and Android aren’t earth-shaking.

Third, it may be necessary for me to feel the need in order to ask God to fulfill that need. Some things God gives us without our asking — no doubt about that. But others things he waits for us to ask. He has his wisdom in this. Perhaps he desires to create a greater sense of dependence and trust in our hearts.

The take-away from all this is that (a) God is good and provides for his own — we must be certain of this — and (b) if we are to be his holy people, we must fear him and seek him.

The Bridgeway commentary says, “The strongest and most successful flesh-hunting beasts do not always find enough food to satisfy them, but David never suffers a shortage of supplies. He fears God, and therefore God provides for him.”

This is a lesson for every child of God to learn. The Lord wants to be glorified in us, and he will provide all we need when we fear and seek him. For that I am thankful.

by A. A. Neale

There are several passages in scripture that I have heard close to a million times. Because of their popularity, I end up glossing over some potential greatness. Such was the case with Matthew 11:29. Contained within this verse is perhaps one of the greatest invitations from Jesus Himself. The Lord, while speaking to the disciples, told them to “take His yoke.” Shamefully, it was not until a few years ago that I realized He wasn’t talking about eggs. Breakfast wasn’t served in Matthew – that’s John’s gospel (John 21:12).

Being a city kid didn’t help my understanding of this text either. However, my brief time in Tennessee opened up my eyes to a culture I failed to recognize. A yoke is simply used to join two working animals together; thus creating synergy. One might logically think that this would double the efficiency of the work output. To my surprise, I learned that if two animals are yoked together, you normally get about 2.5x the power and sometimes even 3x. A true phenomenon of agriculture.

A single draft horse can pull about 8,000lbs (amazing in and of itself). If you yoke two draft horses together, you can likely pull about 24,000lbs. This serves as an incredible discovery that led to the institution of yoking animals together to maximize efficiency and lead to greater work .

Jesus invites His followers to “take His yoke.” A yoke is not made for one individual worker, but rather it’s made for two. It’d be quite the sight to see a work horse with a yoke and an absent partner. If anything, the yoke would turn into a burdensome obstacle instead of a tool of power. When we take His yoke, we lock ourselves securely next to the Christ; there’s no better place to be in this life than to be connected with Jesus.

This invitation is for the workers, those on the edge of burn-out, those who are being tossed around by the world, and those who seek company. Jesus promises “rest” for the soul when being yoked with Him. When you keep reading past this verse and on into chapter 12, you’ll see some religious leaders start whining and complaining about the disciples picking heads of wheat to eat on Sabbath. It serves as a perfect illustration for those who remain restless. The pharisees in this context were devoting themselves to finding fault in Jesus and His disciples. However, look how easily and efficiently Jesus defends His followers. They were reaping the benefits of being yoked to Christ almost immediately after His teaching.

Yoke yourself with Christ and find rest. Life is far more efficient when we are locked in close proximity of Jesus. He doesn’t expect you to do this alone, but He invites you to work alongside of Him. What a great opportunity presented before us!

Tyler King

One day, my daughter and I were sitting outside of a bank waiting on my wife, who was inside the bank, when an armored truck pulled up next to us. At the time, my daughter was probably four or five years old, so I thought I’d have a little fun with her.

I explained to my daughter what an armored truck was, and then said, “I think I’m going to go over there and bop one of those men on the head and take some of that money.” My daughter immediately told me that I shouldn’t do that, so I asked her, “Why not?” While this conversation occurred more than 25 years ago, I am still challenged by the profundity of my daughter’s response.  She said, “Daddy, you can’t take that money because that would make God sad.”

I was floored! I expected her to say something like, “Daddy, you can’t do that because you’ll get shot…get arrested…or go to jail,” but she cut through all those pragmatic, lesser reasons and offered the only one that really mattered, “Daddy, you can’t do that because that would make God sad.”

I hope that for as long as I live, I will never forget her response, and I will allow her answer to serve as a guide for all of my decisions. I hope the same for you, too.

by Steve Higginbotham
 

Making Plans

A financial planner observed that most folks spend more time planning their summer vacation than they devote to planning their most important lifetime goals. That is, without doubt, a sad but true fact. How can we hope to succeed in life without planning and goal-setting? If you want to be a successful student, businessman, politician, etc. – it takes planning!

Surely this same point can be made in regards to our spiritual service to God. In fact, it may be even truer in this particular realm. We might even say that some folks appear to spend more time planning what they will do after supper on a given night than they have ever spent charting their plans for serving God. It’s a sad situation, to be sure.

The problem is that we have gotten our priorities out of order. Notice what Jesus said: “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Where withall shall we be clothed?. . . for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:32,33)

Do you see it? Jesus said that we ought not to worry about the things that we most often do worry about. And, He said that we should give careful consideration to our spiritual work – putting it first in our lives.

Christian, are you making your plans to be faithful to God and to be active in His service? Have you spent any time lately planning about the things that are really most important?

– by Greg Gwin

It took Solomon seven years to build the temple for God. He began it in the fourth year of his reign and completed it in the eleventh year (1 Kings 6:37-38). He also built a palace for himself which took another thirteen years to build (1 Kings 7:1-12).

Once the temple and all the items to be used in the worship of God was completed, Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant to be placed in the inner sanctuary. Israel’s elders, tribal leaders, and all the men of Israel came to witness the transfer of the Ark to the temple.

Solomon then blessed the assembled Israelites and offered a prayer to God. The prayer is rather long as it is recorded in both the Kings and Chronicles, but there are themes which are worth our attention.

“O Lord, God of Israel, there is no god like you in heaven above or on earth below! You maintain covenantal loyalty to your servants who obey you with sincerity…Now, O Lord, God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, ‘You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.’” (1 Kings 8:23-25 NET)

There was no god like YHVH, the God of Israel! God had promised that the line of David would always have a king on the throne of Israel. But notice that there was a condition placed on this: provided that they were faithful to God and served him. Today there is no throne in the land of Israel. No descendant of David reigns on a physical throne. But there is one of the lineage of David who is reigning: Jesus the Messiah. His throne isn’t a physical one nor is his kingdom physical. He told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” This is the kingdom we are part of as Christians.

“God does not really live on the earth! Look, if the sky and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27)

The temple Solomon constructed, from its description, was a building of beauty with the walls covered with gold. It was impressive! But Solomon realized that it could not contain God. In fact, the earth cannot contain him nor any other part of Creation. The God we serve is so much greater than anything on the earth.

Solomon realized that having a temple would not keep the Israelite faithful to their God. He said, “The time will come when your people will sin against you (for there is no one who is sinless!) and you will be angry with them and deliver them over to their enemies” (1 Kings 8:46). He appealed to the people to be faithful but when they sinned to repent and come back to God, asking for forgiveness. The same is true today. We need to realize that we are not sinless and make sure we ask our Father in Heaven to forgive us.

Solomon realized that God was faithful. He said, “Not one of all the faithful promises he made through his servant Moses is left unfulfilled!” (1 Kings 8:56). Sadly, many today are looking for God to still restore a physical kingdom in Israel to fulfil his promises to Moses. Yet time and again in scripture we read that God fulfilled all his promises. Joshua was aware of it (Joshua 23:14) and we see Solomon emphasizing the same thing. God fulfilled all his promises to Israel.

May we learn the lessons that Solomon was trying to get his people to understand. “May he make us submissive, so we can follow all his instructions and obey the commandments, rules, and regulations he commanded our ancestors” (1 Kings 8:58).

Perhaps one of the most iconic sections of scripture is the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6. Through religious history, it has maintained its popularity among almost any theological circle. Some have taken it out of context while others have passed it off as outdated and irrelevant. Regardless of trends, this pericope is certainly an important area to study and meditate on. When giving instruction on prayer, Jesus gave this impeccable template. First He addresses the Father, acknowledges His will, anticipates His providence, and finally asks for spiritual well-being. However, there is one word within that prayer that particularly stands out to me; “daily.”

Notice how our Lord modeled this to be a regular practice; “give us this day, our daily bread.” It is in the middle of this incredible model that one can find the center piece of making this a continual process. We seem to push daily Bible reading all the time, but why keep the divine conversation one sided? One of the healthiest things we could ever do is have a good balance of prayer and study. Pray before you study. Study before you pray.

The Christ’s prayer can be divided into two sections based on the six imperatives found in the text. The first section includes the first three imperatives: holy, come, and done. These three indicate the nature of God in heaven. Notice how verses 9 and 10 are all about God; “Your name,” “your kingdom,” and “your will.” Jesus first shows the importance for one to calibrate themselves with God before proceeding to make personal request.

The next section of the prayer includes the second set of imperatives: give, forgive, and deliver (6:11-13). The prayer shifts and is now focusing on the prayeree. There is a great sense of dependance seen in these short verses. In the first section, Jesus calibrated His thought to the magnificence of God. Logically, it makes sense to then go before this great God to ask for daily fortune, divine forgiveness, and deliverance from evil. Significance can be seen in Jesus Himself realizing God as the only provider for these requests.

We require blessing on a daily basis; it’s what keeps us alive. Without creating our own dependency on God, we are shooting ourselves in the spiritual foot and digging our own graves. However, there is great joy to be found when the Holy God, King of kings, and Sustainer of life gives us an invitation to bring our hearts to His abode.

Tyler King