A warming fire and the warming of God’s word

Posted on February 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on A warming fire and the warming of God’s word

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Since the beginning of winter, my hometown, much like the rest of the nation, has experienced a colder than normal winter.  With temperatures dipping into the single digits and at times, below zero, many people have found the comfort of a warming fire.  In fact, for those of us that do not have fireplaces, there are electric heaters that give the appearance of a fireplace that can be placed in any room.  Just the appearance of a warm fire can warm the heart and mind on even the coldest of winter days.

This morning, as I was reading my daily devotional, I began to think of how the Bible is for Christians – just as the fire warms the body, God’s word should warm your soul.  David, the great king and psalmist, wrote, This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me (Psalms 119:50); when we are in trials, tribulations, and the difficulties of life, we should feel the comforting of the soul that reading the Bible can bring. For the believer, there should never be a spiritual night or desert so cold that the Bible cannot warm us and remind us of the presence of our heavenly Father. I know that often times in my own life when trials and temptations seem to get harder than I can possibly bear, I struggle to remember that the word of the Lord is there to comfort me, to guide me, and to set me on a firm foundation.  Again, David wrote in Psalms, As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him (Psalms 18:30). There is a comfort in knowing that God is there to defend us, to protect us, if we simply trust him.

Towards the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he mentioned that once he left, his disciples would still be comforted; But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). As Christians, we also have this Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  I know in my own life I have felt the most peace when I have diligently sought after God’s will for my life through his word.  The psalmist and man after God’s own heart, David, also found comfort during times of distress from the word of God: This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me (Psalms 119:50). There is a comfort in knowing that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1). There is a special peace in knowing that God is there to comfort us – even in the quiet moments when we study the Bible.  Just as a hot fire in a fireplace brings enjoyment to a chilled body, God’s word brings joy to the soul. It should not surprise us that we can find comfort in the Bible; just as with our fleshly bodies, we find comfort in the things that we love. As a Christian, my spirit craves and loves spiritual purity and the holiness of God.  It should not be any surprise that even David felt that way, Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it (Psalms 119:140).  For the true believer there is real comfort in reading God’s word.

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What do you bring to your church family?

Posted on January 27, 2014 by | Comments Off on What do you bring to your church family?

DSCF1062Everyone of us possesses some sort of talent or gift.  If you stop and think for a moment, I am sure you can think of someone who seems gifted with the ability to organize anything.  There are some who have the ability to repair anything. There are others who are gifted with compassion while yet others have the talents to sing, play the piano, or maybe even write songs.  Some even possess talents and traits that makes them well-suited for certain tasks, like entertaining children, decorating the church, or even visiting sick or elderly church members.  The apostle Paul compared the local assembly of believers to a body as he wrote, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many (II Corinthians 12:12-14).

As a Christian and the member of a local assembly of believers, each of us brings something to the body and just as each part of the body has a function and purpose, each believer has a role that only they are able to fulfill.  Continuing with the example of the body, the apostle Paul wrote, If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular (II Corinthians 12:15-27).

This passage by the apostle Paul is profound in its description on how the local New Testament church is to work. As a local body of believers, each member has a specific function they are supposed to do; unfortunately too many people are not aware that they should use their talents and gifts to support the local ministry.  Now some will undoubtedly say that there is no direct commandment to use our talents within the local church and will also say that anyone that tells a Christian that they must do so is a legalist – someone who believes that it is other than free will that compels us to serve in the local body. No man who is married would tell you that they do not have to do anything to stay married; however, if he is wise and wants to keep his wife happy, he will willingly choose to do things that he knows makes her happy.  The same should be said about Christians – we should do the things that we know that makes God happy not because we have to, but because we want to as a way to keep our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ in its proper perspective.

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Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Christian Responsibility, Our place within the local church

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Older Christians: are you willing to be a mentor?

Posted on January 23, 2014 by | Comments Off on Older Christians: are you willing to be a mentor?

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Just as the Lord used the everyday activities of a potter to teach Jeremiah, God still speaks to us through the Bible and through the remembering of scripture at what first appears to be strange times. This morning, while I was going through the various emails, I came across one from a faculty member of the college I work at that encouraged us to tell students of the college’s tutoring center, the hours it is open, and the help available to students in a variety of subjects.  The email went so far to explain that the tutoring and mentoring program was designed to help and encourage students to reach their academic potential in an environment that was comfortable and supportive of their needs.

During my office hours, I began to think about the wisdom behind the mentoring and tutoring program that the college has in place.  I then began to think about how within the various writings of the apostle Paul he calls the older and more mature Christian to do the same thing.  In Paul’s letter to Titus, he wrote, But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you (Titus 2:1-8). Paul is telling Titus, and future Christians through the preservation of this particular letter, that spiritually mature Christians are to mentor and teach younger Christians.

When I was a younger Christian, there were lots of things that I did not understand (please do not misunderstand me,I still do not know or understand everything about the Christian faith).  Not having the benefit of growing up in a biblically based home, I didn’t know a lot about my newfound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  As a young Christian, I didn’t know the importance of reading my Bible each day, taking time to pray for my needs and others, or even regular church attendance.  As I have matured, and have learned about what it means to be a Christian, I have also begun to understand that as an older Christian, I do have responsibilities: Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.  And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more (Luke 12:43-48).

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Posted in Chrisitian Philosophy, Christian Responsibility, Our relationships with other Christians

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