Thou Doest Faithfully

 “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;” (3 John 1:5)

As our oldest son grew, he was required to wear corrective braces on his legs. The braces helped to support his legs and correct his walk. Without them he would be in a wheelchair. 

In this epistle written by John, Gaius is called a wellbeloved brother and fellow believer in the Lord. He has a wonderful testimony of believing the TRUTH and walking in the TRUTH. Like my son’s braces, the TRUTH strengthened his stand and corrected his walk.

What was the proof?

Vs. 4, Gaius walked according to the Word of God.

Vs. 5, Gaius served faithfully in the Church of God.

Vs. 6, Gaius gave cheerfully to support the people and the work of God.

Anyone could observe the difference it made when our son wore his braces and quite honestly it was much easier on his mother and I when he did. There is an obvious and tremendous difference when a man puts on Christ! He believes the truth and he walks in the truth. 

The truth has the same results in the believer as it did in Gaius. A faithful life of personal holiness, a faithful life of serving God with others, and a faithful life of giving for the ministry. Like Gaius, every man wearing TRUTH becomes a beloved brother and a fellow helper.

Do you have your “braces” on?

Without them you become a Diothrephes. (Vs. 9)

Walking in the Dark

 “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.” (1 John 2:10-11)

Once as a child, I awoke in the night and in my half-state of slumber and in the darkness of my room I could find neither the light switch or the door. I remember beginning to panic as I stumbled around the room; lost in a place that I knew so well. My father heard the commotion and simply reached in through the doorway and guided me out. I had become confused in the dark. 

The Scripture states that a man “abides” either in the light or he is in the darkness. What is it that determines where a man abides? It is not what he says, his intellect, his prosperity, or his position. The determining factor is love and hate.

A man that loves his brother walks in the light and is in less danger of stumbling. For the path ahead is clearly illuminated before him. He is assured of the way and is confident in his steps. In the light he enjoys fellowship with the Father and the Father’s children. 

A man that hates his brother has many occasions for stumbling. He is in great danger of falling. Hatred has confused his direction and bitterness has blinded his eyes. He simply does not know where he is going.

It is the Father that reaches into the darkness and leads the stumbling brother into the light. As the confused man yields to the Father’s hand, he will find himself loving more and hating less.

I Thought Wrong

“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.” (Psalms 50:21)

Today, Psalm 50 captivated my attention and I was compelled to read it again and again. Verse 1 begins, “The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken...(vs.7), Hear, O my people, and I will speak.”

God testifies against His people and gives a list of their offenses. He rebukes them for their hypocrisy, their neglect of God’s Word, and their participation in wickedness. They are warned of His judgment unless they repent.

Among the many offenses listed there is one that stands out. The great error of God’s people is they thought wrong, “thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself.” They had the audacity to think, God is like me! God likes what I like. God loves who I love. God hates who I hate. Whatever I do, that is what God would do. They misinterpreted God’s gracious silence for God’s participation. 

They thought wrong. 

This awful perversion of thinking corrupts the heart and mind of man. It is a cancerous pride that concludes, God is like me. Believer, God loves us but God is not
like us! Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and our ways are not God’s ways. God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways. To think for one minute that God is like me...is to think wrong.

God will never become like us but we are called to become like Him. It is only through His Word and the power of the Holy Spirit that we are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

How’s your thinking?

Daily Routines

 

DAILY

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (Proverbs 8:34)

Life is made up of daily routines and repetitions. There are some chores and activities that we do almost every day of our lives. Like a good habit they are done over and over again.

Some daily routines are our preferences and if they were missed for a day or two we would be hurt none the less for it. Some daily routines are essential and our health and well-being greatly depend on it. Daily routines like; eating a balanced meal, taking medications, or going for walk.

The children of Israel, while wondering in the wilderness for 40 years, had one such daily routine. They were required to daily gather manna or they didn’t eat. Their well-being depended on a daily routine. 

There is a daily routine required for man in order to be blessed. The Scripture says that it is to hear the Words of Wisdom. It is to daily watch at her gates and to daily wait at the posts of her doors for instruction.

The child of God longing for God’s blessings, dailyattends to God’s Holy Word. Daily the child of God approaches His throne anticipating His Word, waiting for His instruction. For His Word is like manna. It is essential for life and from it is found God’s favor.

Child of God never grow weary of daily devotions, they are an essential daily routine.

 

Destroy and Deliver

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Hebrews 2:14-15)

What is man that he should glory in his flesh? What is man that he should boast of his strength or wisdom? It is vanity to glory in flesh that is subject to bondage. It is arrogance to boast in flesh held captive by sin. This flesh is neither man’s glory or his strength. This sinful flesh is man’s captor and his condemnation. 

But the Word was made flesh. Jesus being made lower than the angels became a partaker of flesh and blood to deliver man from his captor and his condemnation. This MAN did not become a king of nations, he became a suffering Savior. 

The Word was made flesh to destroy. What generals would call a miserable failure became the greatest victory of all time! Jesus Christ in His death destroyed him that had the power of death. Satan’s doom is forever sealed. His resurrection declared that death had no more sting and the grave had no more victory. He holds in His nail-pierced hands the keys of hell and of death.

The Word was made flesh to deliver. Jesus Christ tasted death for every man that He might deliver every man from the bondage and condemnation of sinful flesh! All that are in bondage only need to turn to Him and believe! 

“He that believeth on HIM is not condemned...”

Set Apart

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” (Psalms 4:3)

Hear the words of the Psalmist beloved, the LORD hath set you apart for Himself; your secret place is under His special protection. Satan assails you with his hatred and fiery darts of temptation but you hath the LORD set apart for himself. Ungodly men hate and despise you, they would turn your glory to shame but you are the LORD’s and He will hear you when you call. Stand in awe, and sin not for you are loved and protected by the Father. No enemy is able to pluck you out of His hand. 

The child of God is favored by the grace of God. Never think for a moment that you are forgotten or forsaken for the LORD hath set you apart for himself; you are under His special favor. You hath He chosen and made a royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar people. You are His; purchased by the blood of His Son, separated to Him by faith, and sealed by the Holy Spirit, until the day of redemption. You are the LORD’s, commune with your own heart and rejoice, for you bear His image, and your name is engraved in His Book.

Believer, knowing that the LORD has set you apart for Himself changes everything. He has brought you into His presence, He has favored you with His graces, and He has made you to dwell in safety. Put your trust in Him and abandon your all upon His altar.

No Greater Love

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13)

We are a blessed nation, a favored people, benefactors of liberty and freedom granted to us by the endeavoring service and selfless sacrifice of the patriots who have gone before us. I stand here this morning free because brave men and women stood where I have not gone.

I have not donned the warrior’s uniform or laced the boots of the military but because a soldier has, I am clothed with the garments of liberty and stand on the shores of opportunity.

I have not lifted the sword, fired the musket, or shot the artillery but because a soldier has, I am girded with freedom and blessed with their gallantry.

I have not crossed the bloody battle field or stormed the beaches of tragedy but because a soldier has, I have crossed the fruited plans, and seen the purple mountains majesty.

I have not heard the thunder of war or seen the bombs exploding in air but because a soldier has, I have heard the bells of freedom ring and seen the glory of the setting sun.

I have not heard the clash of arms or seen the battered or the torn but because a soldier has, I have heard the song of the whippoorwill and the cry of the new born.

I have not spent a night in a fox hole, crept in muddy trenches, or sought refuge behind tattered sandbags but because a soldier has,  I have slept under the stars of America, ran along her rivers, and stood tall in her fields of clover.

I have not smelled the bitter odor of war or the foul stench of death but because a soldier has, I have smelled the scented blossoms in the spring and the fresh morning air has been my breath. 

I have not faced a bitter enemy, or experienced his treacherous attack but because a soldier has, I have felt the love of family and the tender embrace of a wedded lover.

I have not felt the sting of powder in my eyes or the blunt force of shrapnel embedded in my body but because a soldier has, I have felt the rain on my face and the softness of the autumn leaves all around me. 

I have not held a dying soldier, sobbed with a wounded brother, or carried a fallen G.I. but because a soldier has, I seen the birth of my children, I have laughed with their mother, and I have been carried by the benevolence of another.

I have not swayed in the bowels of a ship, been shook in the cockpit of a plane, or been jostled in the interior of a tank but because a soldier has, I have laid my head in the fresh cut hay, relaxed in the evening breeze, and curled up next to the one I love.

I have not been captured by the enemy, tortured by an adversary or imprisoned without being guilty but because a soldier has, I have been loved and cherished. I have enjoyed the companionship of friends, the loyalty of my family.

I have not bleed on foreign soil, suffered loss in the air or the sea. I have not given the ultimate sacrifice but because a soldier has, I will stand with the brave and defend the land of the free. 

I have not been stained with blood, or covered with an American flag. A white solitary cross is not poised over my head. Nor do the tears of a mother or the sobs of a widow wet the ground over where I am laid but because  a soldier has, I am an American, the old rugged cross is my emblem, and the red, white, and blue stands for my freedom.

And I have not felt the jagged strands of the soldier’s whip or been humiliated with his bitter scorn. I have not experienced his angry blows or the injury of the crown of thorns, but because the Saviour has, I have felt the hands of mercy and been delivered from sin’s raging storm.

I have not been pierced in my hands and in my feet or have I been hung on a wooden cross wounded and beat. I have not been a guiltless lamb made vile, wicked and sin, lead to the slaughter and then forsaken; but because the Saviour has, I am washed in His blood, covered by His grace and wondrously born again. 

I have not been pierced in my side, wrapped in grave clothes or laid in a tomb; but because the Saviour has, I am  promised everlasting life, new garments, and in His mansion a room. 

I have not returned from the clutches of the grave, conquered the sting of death and or paid the wages of sin but because the Saviour has, I am promised a glorious body, no more tears, and to be like Him.

I have not gone where they have gone or given what they have given but because a soldier and the Savior has, I have received no greater love and I am forgiven.