Tag Archives: Ezekiel

No shortage of worldly advice

Posted on February 18, 2014 by | Comments Off on No shortage of worldly advice

dear-abbyIt never fails. If you ask advice from your family and friends on how to handle a problem, a crisis, or just a difficult situation, most of the advice you will get is based on a worldly understanding of the problem and not focused on giving thoughtful, spirit led and soul-stirring advice. In fact, there are several places in the Bible where the extent and commonality of worldly advice is truly demonstrated.

Within the story of Job, his wife offers him the worldly advice of Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die (Job 2:9b). Even Job, in his day, acknowledged the worldview of seeking godly counsel when he told his friends, What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me (Job 15:21). While he was in the middle of a trial by the hands of Satan, he had enough wisdom to realize that neither his wife or his friends were providing Godly advise, but were offering what he correctly called “the counsel of the wicked.”

Now do not misunderstand, not everyone that provides us advice is wicked; however, their advice must be weighed against what the Bible tells us. I would not count Job’s wife as a wicked woman, however, her advice was wicked—it called for Job to curse God and wait for judgment. To curse God would be a sin, and the wages of sin is death; after this, the judgment of God (reference Job 2:9, Romans 6:23, and Hebrews 9:27). What terrible advice to tell someone to willfully sin and await the judgment of God!

Just as Job’s wife probably loved him deeply and wanted to see him out of pain and suffering, many of our family and friends, some saved, some not, also take no pleasure in seeing us endure pain, hardships, trials, and confusion. Often they are quick to offer up solutions to our problems. I think of the story of Sarah, the wife of Abraham, and her understanding of God’s promise and the customs of ancient Mesopotamian society. She knew she was past the age of bearing children, but rather than to wait upon God and to see what He had planned, she told Abraham, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai (Genesis 16:2). There can be no doubt that Sarah loved Abraham and she wanted to bear him an heir, the son of promise, but based on her own understanding of their situation, she offered advice that can be considered as the “counsel of the wicked.” God warns us to Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Even the prophet Jeremiah added that The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9). If those who are truly walking in the faith can offer us bad advice, what makes us think that the world’s advice will be any better?

In truthfulness, we cannot expect the lost world—whether it be family or close friends—to be able to offer godly and spirit led advice either. David, the psalmist and King of Israel, penned the words, Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful (Psalms 1:1) as both a warning and promise to us as we seek to find meaning in the trials and obstacles we face. When we take advice that is founded on the common worldview and not centered on a God-ward worldview, we are inviting even more difficulty into our lives.

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The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 4)

Posted on February 11, 2014 by | Comments Off on The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 4)

A Bible studyThe devotional for today is not only a continuation of the one that began last week, but is the final devotional of this series about the phrase take heed.  As mentioned before, this series began as a part of my daily Bible study routine. While doing my daily reading, the phrase seemed to jump off the page at me.  I began to study that phrase and discovered there are only fifteen times, as listed by the Thompson Chain Topics Bible, that the phrase is used in the entire Bible; all fifteen are in the New Testament.  In this instance, the words, take heed, mean to pay attention to our conduct or the way we act.  I might need to add a note that I use the Authorized King James version for all my devotions and personal readings, so if you are using another version, you might not see that phrase in the verses that I highlight in this series of devotions. For a recap of the first twelve verses containing this phrase, please see The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 3).

These last three verses were all penned under the hands of Paul and Peter, the ones most directly responsible for developing character of the local New Testament church.  The first two, by the apostle Paul, focus on those who have been called into the ministry; the verse by the apostle Peter, is similar to the previous verses mentioned because it is applicable to all Christians, regardless if they are serving in the ministry or an active member within the body of Christ.

And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it (Colossians 4:17)

As a student of the Bible, it is important to realize that the letters written by the apostle Paul do contain verses that are either addressed to or mention certain people by name.  In this verse, addressed to an early Christian minister by the name of Archippus, Paul is instructing him to take heed – to pay attention to – the ministry where the Lord has called him into service. There are some that will say that these verses that are addressed to certain people are there because it is the only way to maintain the context of the letter.  While this is most certainly true, I also believe that there are no idle words in the Bible. There are no verses that simply are no longer applicable today.  I believe that every scripture in the Bible is there for a purpose; in fact, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

Although this verse was addressed particularly to Archippus, it is still applicable to anyone serving in the ministry today.  Regardless of the ministry it is, whether it’s the role of a pastor, missionary, evangelist, Sunday school teacher, or even nursery worker, there are obligations that any ministry requires to be a growing and practical ministry.  It means spending time in Bible study and in prayer to prepare to do the work that God has called you to do.  All Christians are called into some specific aspect of the ministry – particularly personal evangelism;

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee (I Timothy 4:16)

Again, this is another verse written to a specific person, Timothy, who had been called into the ministry and a young man who had mentored under the apostle Paul.  There is an interesting parallel in the Old Testament that fits along with Paul’s warning to Timothy: Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul (Ezekiel 33:9). Now what the apostle Paul is telling Timothy is this – as a man of God, as a pastor and preacher, he has an obligation to warn others of the consequences of sin.  He has an obligation to tell them the end results of sin.

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So, you really think God understands?

Posted on December 18, 2013 by | Comments Off on So, you really think God understands?

cross-shadow-on-manger-743969For quite some time I have questioned the increased secularization of Christmas – even among those that identify to be Christians.  Earlier this week, while picking up a few items from the local Wal-Mart, I overheard a conversation between the cashier and the customer in front of me.  Although both ladies were discussing their church’s women’s Bible study group, one said that with all the things she has going on with her family and in-laws, she really didn’t have time to attend the church functions.  Then what she said next really left me puzzled – “It’s not like I don’t regularly go to church; I’m just taking the week off because Christmas is about family and God understands…”

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard Christians justify their lack of attentiveness to the things of God with those words, “and God understands…” I have heard it used to justify lack of church attendance, worship, personal Bible reading time, or anything else that they do not have the sincerest desire or determination to do.  The apostle Paul wrote, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Romans 12:1); I often wonder how God sees our “God understands…” defense of our choice to forsake those things of God that are not convenient, that requires our best efforts and determination.  I often wonder if that excuse weighs out against God’s warning to man through the prophet Isaiah: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Still thinking about that conversation between the customer and the cashier, I wonder how anyone could get to the point – especially someone who openly talks about their church attendance and activities – where Christmas is no longer about observing and celebrating the birth of our Savior but about “family.”  Christmas has quit being an holy observance but has now become just another family get-together for many. Christmas is no longer regarded as a sacred and holy day as it once was but has become common, increasingly secular, and many Christians simply accept the demands placed on them by the humanist philosophy that seems to dominate Western civilization.  In fact, billboards have sprung up every Christmas holiday season since 1997 proudly offering a purely humanist viewpoint of Christmas with the demand that Christians must be tolerant of their viewpoint:

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Somehow, there are many Christians that have become willing to accept the ridicule and scorn against celebrating Christmas as a Christian observance and have adopted the humanist ideals that it is more about family and celebrating the season.  Unfortunately, on these Christians (and the humanists they follow) have become blind that the manger in Bethlehem was in the shadow of the cross on Golgotha.  Even at his birth, Jesus was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8c).  Without the cross there is no need for a manger; for the apostle Paul understood this quite well: And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:11-19).

While we celebrate Christmas with our families, it is not the family that should ever take center stage. By placing families as the main focus of Christmas, we are not only forsaking the intention behind the observance of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are making a holy observance into something common.  Within the Old Testament, there were some stern warnings on turning what was sacred and holy into something common or profane: And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the LORD (Leviticus 22:15). Although this verse is referring to the portion of the offerings that God had allotted for the support of the high priest of Israel, it is clear that this is a warning to keep the things of God pure and free from the contamination of sin. The prophet Ezekiel wrote: And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean (Ezekiel 44:23). When we claim that we set aside Christmas to worship the birth of Christ and we turn it into something else, we place ourselves under judgment: When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee (Deuteronomy 23:21). So my response to the customer at Wal-Mart, no, I do not think God understands, much less approves of, her decision.

Within the Jewish teachings, each holy day observance is to be done as a family; for orphans, widows, homeless, and poor, those that have are always to invite them to celebrate and observe the holy day within the love of a family.  Make no mistake about it, while Christmas is a time for celebration with our families, it is also time where the family comes together to observe the day that our Lord Jesus Christ – the Messiah – was born.  After all, without Christ there would be no Christmas.

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