A while back I posted a thought from something I heard from Paul Washer. The basic premise of the thought was this: God is not supposed to be First, as if something else could compete for Him at that position but fall into second.
Well, I heard someone say recently, as I have heard said many times, that God is to be first, then usually the family follows second, then ministry, then maybe your profession, etc. I now get what I, and Paul Washer, were saying. God is not supposed to be first, followed by my wife and children second. God is not supposed to be first, and my ministry next.
God is supposed to be my first and last. I never am to leave off of God to then care to my family. I am never to leave off of God to take care of my ministry or my secular profession. My soul is to follow hard after God.
Objection: So then you should neglect your family, ministry and profession and sit around all day thinking on God.
Of course that is silly. I do not neglect my family, because God says, Love your wife. He says to bring up my children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As I am following hard after God, I find that I MUST care for my family. God says to show compassion on people, to take care of the household of faith, to work diligently on whatsoever my hand finds to do. As I have Him as my first and last, I will do those things for Him.
We are supposed to do all of these things for His name's sake - even bringing a cup of cold water to a child in the name of Jesus, for the glory of God.
I'm starting to get it!
Just a thought.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Be Thankful When He Assumes Power
Last night I was reading in Revelation 11. Verses 15-17 read:
In my limited knowledge of prophecy, I assume this is about the time of Christ's Second Coming to Earth at the end of the tribulation, when He sets up His physical kingdom on Earth. This is when "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." Christ sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem and rules with a rod of iron.
What I want to consider today is the elders' reaction to this event. They first of all fall on their faces and worship God. Proper response! But then they say, Thanks. They recognize God as being He which was and is and is to come, but they say, Thanks, for what He did: "thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned."
When I first thought on this, I was reminded of Jesus' model prayer for His disciples: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The final answer to that prayer request is found here in Revelation 11. However, there is practical application for us today.
First of all, we recognize, and it is obvious, that God's will is not always accomplished on Earth. Otherwise, people, and especially His people, would have no more sin. At the same time, we see numerous examples in the Bible of God intervening in the affairs of men. He asserts, and He 'takes to Himself His great power' to accomplish His purposes. When He does that, it is a taste of what He will do in Revelation 11. Our response to this 'interference' ought to be:...
Secondly, when a Christian walks in the Spirit and not in the flesh, then the Christian is ruled completely by God. He is reigning in their lives. Again, our response ought to be:...
Thanks.
The elders' reaction to God's taking control was, Thanks. When we are totally trusting God and His sovereignty, then whenever we see Him intervening in the situation, or whenever we see Him shewing himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him, our reactions ought to be falling on our faces, worshipping, and saying, Thanks.
Just a thought...
And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (16) And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, (17) Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
In my limited knowledge of prophecy, I assume this is about the time of Christ's Second Coming to Earth at the end of the tribulation, when He sets up His physical kingdom on Earth. This is when "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." Christ sits on the throne of David in Jerusalem and rules with a rod of iron.
What I want to consider today is the elders' reaction to this event. They first of all fall on their faces and worship God. Proper response! But then they say, Thanks. They recognize God as being He which was and is and is to come, but they say, Thanks, for what He did: "thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned."
When I first thought on this, I was reminded of Jesus' model prayer for His disciples: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The final answer to that prayer request is found here in Revelation 11. However, there is practical application for us today.
First of all, we recognize, and it is obvious, that God's will is not always accomplished on Earth. Otherwise, people, and especially His people, would have no more sin. At the same time, we see numerous examples in the Bible of God intervening in the affairs of men. He asserts, and He 'takes to Himself His great power' to accomplish His purposes. When He does that, it is a taste of what He will do in Revelation 11. Our response to this 'interference' ought to be:...
Secondly, when a Christian walks in the Spirit and not in the flesh, then the Christian is ruled completely by God. He is reigning in their lives. Again, our response ought to be:...
Thanks.
The elders' reaction to God's taking control was, Thanks. When we are totally trusting God and His sovereignty, then whenever we see Him intervening in the situation, or whenever we see Him shewing himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him, our reactions ought to be falling on our faces, worshipping, and saying, Thanks.
Just a thought...
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Then For What?
Proverbs 23:4 instructs us to not labor with the intent to be rich "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." My question is: If we are not supposed to be working for the purpose of getting rich, then what should be our purpose?
The riches will fly away as an eagle, but the treasure in heaven will last for ever. So, I guess the quick answer (quick post today) is that we are to labor for treasure in Heaven. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord, though it may be when done for riches. We are to labor to give to him that hath need...
Ok, got work to do!
Just a quick thought...
The riches will fly away as an eagle, but the treasure in heaven will last for ever. So, I guess the quick answer (quick post today) is that we are to labor for treasure in Heaven. Our labor is not in vain in the Lord, though it may be when done for riches. We are to labor to give to him that hath need...
Ok, got work to do!
Just a quick thought...
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
More Grace
With a title like that, I would expect to be reading a super-spiritual post. But, not really.
I missed Elizabeth's birthday last week, so I feel obligated to post about her: our second-born!
The title of the post comes from Elizabeth's middle name, Grace. And she is appropriately named, being a demonstration of God's grace to us. God has shown grace in many ways to all of us. He demonstrated grace by sending His Son to bear our sins on the tree. He demonstrated grace by giving us His word inspired and preserved for us in a language we can read. However, if you want to hear about Grace:
He demonstrated His grace through Elizabeth Grace by giving us a daughter that... get this... actually likes to clean!
She had a friend over last weekend for her birthday, and they made a list on the whiteboard of the different rooms they were going to go clean and in what order. Then they would get mad when little brothers came in and messed up their clean rooms!
My Elizabeth... she's one of those smart ones that always gets the answers right, and is always the first person done with tests... don't you hate people like that?
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!
Just a Birthday thought...
I missed Elizabeth's birthday last week, so I feel obligated to post about her: our second-born!
The title of the post comes from Elizabeth's middle name, Grace. And she is appropriately named, being a demonstration of God's grace to us. God has shown grace in many ways to all of us. He demonstrated grace by sending His Son to bear our sins on the tree. He demonstrated grace by giving us His word inspired and preserved for us in a language we can read. However, if you want to hear about Grace:
He demonstrated His grace through Elizabeth Grace by giving us a daughter that... get this... actually likes to clean!
She had a friend over last weekend for her birthday, and they made a list on the whiteboard of the different rooms they were going to go clean and in what order. Then they would get mad when little brothers came in and messed up their clean rooms!
My Elizabeth... she's one of those smart ones that always gets the answers right, and is always the first person done with tests... don't you hate people like that?
Anyway, Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!
Just a Birthday thought...
Monday, January 21, 2008
Sound Doctrine
Oops! I took the day off from work today, being a holiday and all, and now, at 2:00pm, I remembered that I have this blog thing... Anyway, for my post today, I will answer a comment that someone posted on my blog yesterday - though, it didn't seem to have anything to do with yesterday's post :) Anyway, the comment was:
Another way to word the question: Is it sin to teach something that is wrong - in ignorance?
My short answer: Yes, if it is presented as truth, and not as possibility.
My longer answer and explanation:
To say things that are not true would be bearing false witness. So, to teach falsehoods goes against God, and is sin. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
To break God's commandments ignorantly, is still sin, however it does not have the same punishment, therefore it is not considered to be as severe. Leviticus 4:2-3 teaches that breaking God's commandments, although ignorantly, still requires a sacrifice for sin. However, as with the case of ignorant homicide, the punishment is not death but rather confinement to a city of refuge.
I imagine that none of us have every single point of doctrine right. So, how can anyone teach anything at all if it would be sin to teach something that is wrong?
Well, first, I would suggest you start with teaching that which you are sure is right! I really think that much of the church today does not have a good handle on the principles of the doctrine of Christ, yet they are looking for the more ear-tickling things. This motivates the teacher to find more things that are not so plain in the Scripture, and present them as fact...
Second, things that are not so plainly taught, I would recommend you present them as truthfully as you can. This means you should present the 'strong-points' of credible opposition to your beliefs. It is good to explain why you believe those things are wrong, and in what area, but to misrepresent them is not good.
Third, don't present yourself as being a 'master.' James 3:1 says that those that teach others will receive the greater condemnation (defintion of master is teacher). And if there is something that you feel obligated to share with others, then I would recommend putting a caveat on it that is something along the lines of: "This is the way I see it" or, "It seems to be that..." or my favorite, "Just a thought..." This makes it a completely true statement that "I believe doctrine X to be true," without making the false statement of "X is true." (given that X is a false doctrine)
Now, that begs the question: Is it a sin to believe something that is not true?
Anyway, Just a thought...
"If one believes something to be true and they teach other people that this
something is true BUT this something is indeed not true. Is that sin?"
Another way to word the question: Is it sin to teach something that is wrong - in ignorance?
My short answer: Yes, if it is presented as truth, and not as possibility.
My longer answer and explanation:
To say things that are not true would be bearing false witness. So, to teach falsehoods goes against God, and is sin. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
To break God's commandments ignorantly, is still sin, however it does not have the same punishment, therefore it is not considered to be as severe. Leviticus 4:2-3 teaches that breaking God's commandments, although ignorantly, still requires a sacrifice for sin. However, as with the case of ignorant homicide, the punishment is not death but rather confinement to a city of refuge.
I imagine that none of us have every single point of doctrine right. So, how can anyone teach anything at all if it would be sin to teach something that is wrong?
Well, first, I would suggest you start with teaching that which you are sure is right! I really think that much of the church today does not have a good handle on the principles of the doctrine of Christ, yet they are looking for the more ear-tickling things. This motivates the teacher to find more things that are not so plain in the Scripture, and present them as fact...
Second, things that are not so plainly taught, I would recommend you present them as truthfully as you can. This means you should present the 'strong-points' of credible opposition to your beliefs. It is good to explain why you believe those things are wrong, and in what area, but to misrepresent them is not good.
Third, don't present yourself as being a 'master.' James 3:1 says that those that teach others will receive the greater condemnation (defintion of master is teacher). And if there is something that you feel obligated to share with others, then I would recommend putting a caveat on it that is something along the lines of: "This is the way I see it" or, "It seems to be that..." or my favorite, "Just a thought..." This makes it a completely true statement that "I believe doctrine X to be true," without making the false statement of "X is true." (given that X is a false doctrine)
Now, that begs the question: Is it a sin to believe something that is not true?
Anyway, Just a thought...
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