The Carpenter's Chapel (7)

A Wall

"For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her" (Zechariah 2:5).
This beautiful promise applies explicitly to Jerusalem in the days to come when "all Israel shall be saved" (Romans 11:26). In the meantime, believers can appropriate it now as an evidence of God's great concern for all His people.
The safest, most secure place in all the world for one of Christ's servants is in the will of God. All around him is an invisible, but invincible, spiritual "wall of fire," both protecting and energizing him. As the psalmist said: "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). Elisha's servant, fearful of the enemy host arrayed against them, was encouraged when his eyes were enabled to see, in answer to Elisha's prayer, that "the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (II Kings 6:17).
The Lord is also like an impregnable wall of mountains surrounding His people: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even for ever" (Psalm 125:2).
The earthly Jerusalem is a foreshadowing of the New Jerusalem, which will have "a wall great and high" (Revelation 21:12), within which will dwell safely forever all "the nations of them which are saved" (Revelation 21:24).
"In that day shall this song be sung...We have a strong city: salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks" (Isaiah 26:1). In type now, in reality in eternity, the great wall of mountains and angels and divine fire is none other than our great salvation in Christ; "Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates Praise" (Isaiah 60:18).

 

Amen.

Thank you for this devotional Charles.

Blessings

followinghim

 

Prepared For You

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34 KJ2000)
In context, this wonderful promise may apply specifically to those living believers recognized as "sheep" by Christ when He returns to judge the nations (or "Gentiles") at the end of the age. For them He has "prepared" a wonderful kingdom in which they can fully serge their great King here on earth. The "goats," on the other hand, will be sent away into "everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
But we remember also that the Lord Jesus Christ has also "prepared" a mansion in heaven for His faithful disciples. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:2-3 KJ2000)
He is, even now, preparing for us that glorious "place," One day it will be fully prepared, and we shall see it when He brings it down from heaven, as John did in His great vision. "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2 KJ2000)
It will indeed, be a wonderful place of "many mansions," and John describes some of its beauties in the Bible’s last two chapters. But that is not all. ""Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9). Therefore, we can say with Paul: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18 KJ2000). He has indeed prepared a great eternal future for His redeemed children.

 

Amen. Thank you Charles.

Blessings

followinghim

 

This devotional comes from "Word For Today" and can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Look in the mirror (2)25 Feb 2007'ONE WHO LOOKS INTENTLY AT THE PERFECT LAW...AND ABIDES BY IT...SHALL BE BLESSED IN WHAT HE DOES.' JAMES 1:25Paul writes, 'We all...beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...' (2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJ). A mirror is just a reflector. The more time you spend in God's Word and God's presence, the more you will reflect your Heavenly Father's likeness. Now this is no overnight change, and it doesn't happen by just grabbing a Bible verse here and there, or skimming through a passage. No, it calls for soaking yourself in the Scriptures until the Holy Spirit connects with your spirit and produces the nature and ways of Christ in you. If you've ever left dishes in a sink until the food has dried on, you know those dishes need to 'abide' in some hot, soapy water so that all the junk can be removed. We need to soak our minds in God's Word until the junk that James calls '...all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness...' (James 1:21 NAS) begins to melt away. This is not just gross sin, but hardened inner attitudes that keep us from growing in grace. Our new nature has been 'programmed' to want to obey God in much the same way that a calculator is programmed to compute numbers. All you have to do is feed a calculator the right information to get the right response. Your new nature has been set up to give you the right response when you feed it with the Word of God. That's why your enemy will do anything to keep you from spending time in God's Word. Don't let him do it!

 

Todays devotional comes from "Word For Today" and it can be found at wwwlucb.co.uk

Personal Growth 26 Feb 2007''LET THE WISE LISTEN AND ADD TO THEIR LEARNING...' PROVERBS 1:5Here are some things you need to know about growth: 1) Growth isn't automatic. You're only young once, but you can be immature indefinitely. Each year the Lobster is forced to shed its shell; it's a pity we aren't! Come on, if you don't make personal growth your responsibility it'll never happen. The road to anything worthwhile is always uphill, so the sooner you start climbing the closer to reaching your God-ordained potential you'll be. 2) Growth today brings success tomorrow. What you sow today determines what you reap tomorrow. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, 'Once stretched be a new idea, a man's mind never regains its original dimensions.' So what are you doing today to become more successful tomorrow? 3) Growth is your responsibility. When you were a child your parents were responsible for your growth, now you are. Robert Browning wrote, 'Why stay we on earth except to grow?' Good question! Yet few of us dedicate ourselves to the process. Why? Because growth requires change and most of us are uncomfortable with change. Gail Sheehy writes, 'If we don't change, we won't grow, and if we don't grow, we're not really living. Growth demands the temporary surrender of security. It means a giving up of familiar but limiting patterns, safe but unrewarding work, values no longer believed in, relationships that have lost their meaning. Taking a new step is what we fear most, yet our real fear should be the opposite.' Can you think of anything worse than living a life devoid of growth and improvement? I can't!

 

Today's devotional is taken from "Our Daily bread", which can be found at www.rbc.org

February 27, 2007
Keep Praying


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READ: Luke 11:5-13
Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. —Luke 11:10


About this cover

We prayed. Quietly sometimes. Aloud other times. For more than 17 years we prayed. We prayed for our daughter Melissa’s health and direction, for her salvation, and often for her protection. Just as we prayed for our other children, we asked God to have His hand of care on her.
As Melissa rolled into her teenage years, we prayed even more that He would keep her from harm—that He would keep His eyes on her as she and her friends began to drive. We prayed, "God, please protect Melissa."
So what happened? Didn’t God understand how much it would hurt so many people to lose such a beautiful young woman with so much potential for service to Him and others? Didn’t God see the other car coming on that warm spring night?
We prayed. But Melissa was killed.
Now what? Do we stop praying? Do we give up on God? Do we try to make it alone?
Absolutely not! Prayer is even more vital to us now. God—our inexplicable sovereign Lord—is still in control. His commands to pray still stand. His desire to hear from us is still alive. Faith is not demanding what we want; it is trusting God’s goodness in spite of life’s tragedies.
We grieve. We pray. We keep on praying. —Dave Branon

I question not God’s means or ways,
Or how He uses time or days,
To answer every call or prayer—
I know He will, somehow, somewhere. —Whitney

God may deny our request but will never disappoint our trust.

 

The Trinity

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen" (II Corinthians 13:14).
The doctrine of the tri-une God is unique to Christianity. There is only one God, yet three persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-each with His own distinct relation to mankind, yet each equally, fully, and eternally God. Although these truths are implicit throughout the New Testament, the doctrine of the Trinity is seldom, if ever, presented therein explicitly as a formal doctrine.
There are several passages, however, where all three Persons are mentioned in the same context, and each one deals with a significant aspect of the Christian life. There is, first of all, the provision of salvation "...the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God..." (Hebrews 9:14). Then follows regeneration. "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His own Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6). Salvation and regeneration are then publicly testified in baptism "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19).
The chief resource of the believer is prayer, and this also involves three Persons. "For through (Christ) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). He must also continue to learn of Christ, and to bear witness of Him. "The Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things." "The Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness (John 14:26; 15:26-27).
Finally, in the words of our text, we have eternal assurance in the tri-une God. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all Amen (II Corinthians 13:14).

 

Todays devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Establishing priorities (1)28 Feb 2007'...MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT.' EPHESIANS 5:16Pastor Adrian Rogers says: 'The misuse of anything as precious as time should be a crime. If somebody steals your car...you can acquire another. If they snatch your wallet...a few phone calls would salvage the majority of your concerns. But who can you call when you lose your time'? Solomon reminds us we '...must give an account to God for everything [we] do' (Ecclesiastes 11:9 NLT), because for most of us, 'one of these days' generally means 'none of these days'. How you spend your days is how you spend your life, so Paul writes: '...make every minute count'. To do that successfully you must: a) learn to say no: stress is what happens when your gut says no but your mouth says yes! Jesus said, '"...I have finished the work...You have given Me to do"' (John 17:4 NKJ), because there's always time to do what God wants done. Notice, Paul said, '...one thing I do...' (Philippians 3:13 KJV), not '50 different things I'm caught up with'! Don't let the good steal the best; back off on some activities so you can embrace others b) walk in the power of the Spirit: Jesus said, '"...you cannot be fruitful apart from Me"' (John 15:4 NLT), because by walking in the flesh you burn the wick and not the oil. Paul says when you're '...guided by the Spirit, you won't obey...selfish desires' (Galatians 5:16 CEV) c) avoid procrastination: we joke about it, but there's nothing funny about delayed obedience. James says, 'If you don't do what you know is right, you have sinned' (James 4:17 CEV). A real mark of maturity is doing what you don't feel like doing, when you don't feel like doing it!

 

Establishing priorities (1)28 Feb 2007'...MAKE EVERY MINUTE COUNT.' EPHESIANS 5:16Pastor Adrian Rogers says: 'The misuse of anything as precious as time should be a crime. If somebody steals your car...you can acquire another. If they snatch your wallet...a few phone calls would salvage the majority of your concerns. But who can you call when you lose your time'?

I read this and thought I just wrote one on time, for future use, yestrday!
Thanks

 

More On Time

"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years" (Genesis 1:14).
The subject of "time" is enigmatic. Everyone seems to know what is meant by time, but no one can define it. We may complain about time going too slow or too fast, but time doesn't go anywhere. But neither does it "stand still."
At least we can measure time intervals-seconds, hours, centuries, etc. This is because of God's gracious forethought in providing means for doing this. He was not a "blind watchmaker," as some evolutionists have called Him. He actually created time "In the beginning" (Genesis 1:1).
Then He set the sun and the moon in the sky, and made the earth to assume a global shape and to rotate on an axis, making the measurement of time in "days" possible. Next He placed stars in the far heavens in various locations and combinations, and the earth to orbiting around the sun, enabling us to tell how many "days" make up a "year." Then, once the earth's rotational axis was "tilted," that made "seasons" measurable. So we can at least identify time durations in days and years with their seasons, and we can subdivide or combine these in whatever ways we find convenient (minutes, decades, summer, winter, etc.).
But what about the "signs"? Although this is a controversial question, certain ancient Jewish scholars believed that God named the stars and their groupings (Isaiah 40:26; Job 38:31-32; etc.) and then revealed their prophetic meanings to patriarchs such as Seth and Enoch in order to record His great plan and purpose in creation permanently in the heavens. If so, it is no longer needed, since the written Word of God, "For ever...settled in heaven" Psalm 119:89) has now been transmitted "unto the fathers by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1) and "shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35)

 

Running To Safety

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10).
When one realizes that he is lost and that only Christ can save him, he should not delay a moment, but come immediately to Christ. There are, in fact, several men in the New Testament who actually ran to Him.
There was the man possessed with a whole legion of demons. "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped Him" (Mark 5:6), and Jesus set him free.
Then there was a young man who wanted to learn of Christ. When he found that Jesus was going away, he came "running, and kneeled to Him, and asked Him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? (Mark 10:17). Unfortunately, his sincerity failed when he realized the cost. Zeal without sacrifice is dead, as is faith without works.
There was another wealthy man who was willing to pay the price. "And (Zacchaeus) ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him: for He was to pass that way" (Luke 19:4). The conversion of Zacchaeus was genuine, and he demonstrated it by a changed and sacrificial life.
In the midst of Christ's suffering on the cross, He spoke of His awful thirst, and an unknown observer "ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink" (Mark 15:36). Christ will not forget this expression of concern and sympathy.
After His burial, Mary Magdalene came back to tell Peter and John that the tomb was open. "So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher...and he saw and believed" (John 20:4,8).
All who hasten wholeheartedly to Christ, sincerely seeking to know and serve Him, will find salvation in His name, for "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."

 

For the Lord Himself...

"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven" (II KIngs 2:11).

This remarkable event-the translation of Elijah alive into heaven without dying-was altogether miraculous, but it really happened! Among other things, it assures us that heaven is a real place in this created universe, for Elijah is still there in his physical body, still alive, to this very day.
The prophet Enoch, who had also served God in a time of deep apostasy, had likewise been taken into heaven without dying (that is, into the "third heaven," beyond the starry heaven, where God's throne is), as recorded in Genesis 5:24 and Hebrews 11:5. Enoch's prophecies, addressed to the entire world of mankind, were given at approximately the mid-point of the period between Adam to Abraham, whereas those of Elijah, addressed only to Israel, were given at essentially the midpoint of the time from Abraham to Christ. Both were caught up alive into heaven before their ministries were finished. It is possible that they will return again to Earth as God's "two witnesses" who will prophesy to both Jews and Gentiles in the last days (note Malachi 4:5-6; Revelation 11:3-12), then finally to be slain and resurrected.
In any case, there will also be one entire generation of believers who will-like Enoch and Elijah-be caught up alive into heaven "...and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (I Thessalonians 4:16-17).
This could very well be our generation! And, "when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is" (I John 3:2).

 

David's Throne

"He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his Father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men" (IISamuel 7:13-14).
These verses comprise the heart of the great "Davidic Covenant" made by God with David and his "seed." As with many Old Testament prophecies, it had both an immediate and ultimate fulfillment. Initially, it applied to Solomon who did, indeed, "build an house for my name."
Its complete fulfillment, however, had to await the distant coming (a thousand years in the future for His first coming) of David's greater Son, the Messiah. It was only of Him that God could promise uniquely that he would also be the Son of the heavenly Father (see Hebrews 1:5). To His mother Mary, the angel Gabriel confirmed the Davidic promise: "He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David; And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever" (Luke 1:32-33).
But before his eternal throne could be established, his iniquities must be judged. As far as Solomon was concerned his iniquities ultimately cut his own seed off from the throne.
"The seed of David according to the flesh" (Romans 1:3) came through Nathan, not Solomon (Luke 3:23-31).
Although Jesus Christ "knew no sin" (IICorinthians 5:21). "He was bruised for our iniquities," because "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." He deserved no chastening; nevertheless, "the chastisement of our peace was upon Him" (see Isaiah 53:5-6).
Thereby the Lord Jesus Christ, "greater than Solomon" (Matthew 12:42), is indeed, "a son over His own house; whose house are we" (Hebrews 3:6).

 

From "Word for Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Someday when the kids are grown22 Mar 2007'CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD...' PSALM 127:3The following article by Charles Swindoll is reprinted by request. 'Someday when the kids are grown, things are going to be a lot different. The garage won't be full of bikes, electric-train tracks on plywood, and a rabbit cage. And I'll be able to park both cars neatly in just the right places. 'Someday when the kids are grown, the kitchen will be incredibly neat. The sink will be free from sticky dishes. The garbage disposal won't get choked on rubber bands and paper cups. 'Someday when the kids are grown, the telephone will actually be available. It won't look like it's growing out of a teenager's ear. It will simply hang there...silently and amazingly available, free of lipstick, human saliva, mayonnaise and crumbs. 'Someday when the kids are grown, I won't have to answer 'Daddy, is it a sin that you're driving 47 in a 30-miles-per-hour zone,' or promise to kiss a hamster goodnight, or wait up forever until they get home from dates. 'Yes, someday when the kids are grown, things will be different. One by one they'll leave our nest and the place will begin to resemble order, maybe even a touch of elegance. The clink of china and crystal will be heard on occasions. The crackling of the fireplace will echo through the hallway. The phone will be strangely silent. The house will be quiet...and calm...and always clean...and empty...and we'll spend our time not looking forward to someday, but looking back to yesterday. And thinking, maybe we can babysit the grandkids and get some life back into this place for a change!'

 

Sounds about right, Thanks.

 

TWO devotional readings today. The first is taken from "Word for Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Find your place23 Mar 2007'...OUR GOAL IS TO MEASURE UP TO GOD'S PLAN FOR US...' 2 CORINTHIANS 10:13Da Vinci only painted one Mona Lisa. Beethoven only composed one Fifth Symphony. And God only made one version of you. He custom-designed you for a one-of-a-kind assignment. 'How can I discover mine?' you ask. Your ability reveals your destiny! '...If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies...' (1 Peter 4:11 NKJ). When God gives you an assignment, He also gives you the skill-set. To discover your assignment - study your skill-set! Your ease with numbers. Your love of computers. Your gift for interior design. Others stare at blueprints and yawn; you read them and say 'I was made for this.' Heed the music within, then dance to it! No one else hears it the way you do. Look back. What have you consistently done well? What have you loved to do? Stand at the intersection of your desires and your successes, and you'll find your uniqueness. 'The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others' (1 Corinthians 12:7 CEV). Away with this depreciating 'I can't do anything', and its arrogant opposite, 'I have to do everything'. No, you don't! Paul said, '...Our goal is to measure up to God's plan for us...' Don't worry about skills you don't have and don't covet strengths others do have. Just maximize your God-given gifts! '...kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you...' (2 Timothy 1:6 NAS). If you're not sure what God has called you to do, get down on your knees and ask Him to reveal it to you. And when He does, pour yourself into it!


The second devotional is taken from "Our Daily Bread" which can be found at www.rbc.org

“Keep on travelin’. Keep on . . .” sang the teenagers of the Dayspring Chorale. They had just sung the first five words of their Sunday evening concert when everything went dark. All power was gone.
Well, not all power. Not true power.
The students kept singing. Flashlights were found to shine on the chorale as they sang their entire repertoire without accompaniment.
Midway through the concert, the director, my daughter Lisa, asked the congregation to sing along. It was goosebump time as God’s name was lifted high in that darkened church. “Hallelujah” never seemed so heavenly.
Before the concert, everyone had worked hard to make sure all the electrical equipment was working. But the best thing that happened was for that power to go out. As a result, God’s power was highlighted. God’s light, not electric light, shone through. Jesus was praised.
Sometimes our plans break down and our efforts fall short. When things happen that we can’t control, we must “keep on travelin’” and remember where the real power for godly living and true praise comes from. When our efforts falter, we need to keep praising and lifting up Jesus. It’s all about Him anyway. —Dave Branon

Sing praise to God who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of power, the God of love,
The God of our salvation. —Schutz

God’s great power deserves our grateful praise.

For similar resources, search these topics:
Basics Of Faith > God > Faithfullness
Ministry and Outreach > Serving > Commitment

Bible in One Year: Joshua 13-15; Luke 1:57-80

 

Today's devotional comes from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk

Learn to be content (1)24 Mar 2007'...BE RELAXED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE...' HEBREWS 13:5In 1900 the average Westerner wanted 27 different things, and considered 18 of them essential to happiness. Today the average Westerner wants 500 different things, and considers 100 of them essential to happiness. And our obsession with stuff carries a price tag. The average family now devotes a full one-fourth of its spendable income to outstanding debts. Over half of us spend 110% of our disposable income trying to manage debt. And who can keep up? We no longer measure ourselves against the Joneses next door, but against the star on the screen or the model on the magazine cover. Who can satisfy Madison Avenue? No one; that's why Jesus warns '"...be on your guard against every form of greed..."' (Luke 12:15 NAS). Greed has many faces but it speaks one language: the language of more. Epicurus noted, 'Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.' Not every teacher is supposed to be a principal. Not every carpenter has the skill to head up a crew. Be careful; for the love of more, you risk losing your God-ordained purpose. Just because a king gives you his armour, you don't have to wear it. David didn't. He rejected Saul's armour, selected the stones, lobotomized the giant, and taught us a lesson: what fits others might not fit you. Indeed what fits the king might not fit you. Let God direct your steps. 'You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You' (Isaiah 26:3 TEV). Bottom line: examine your gifts and know your strengths. '...have a sane estimate of your capabilities...' (Romans 12:3 PHPS).

 

TWO Devotionals again today. I hope they will be a blessing to you. The first is taken from "Our Daily Bread", which can be found at www.rbc.org

March 25, 2007
Hearing The Sermon Again

READ: Matthew 4:12-17
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” —Matthew 4:17


About this cover

A story is told about a man who preached an impressive sermon, seeking to be the pastor of a new church. Everybody loved it and voted for him to become their new pastor. They were a bit surprised, however, when he preached the same sermon his first Sunday there—and even more surprised when he preached it again the next week. After he preached the same sermon the third week in a row, the leaders met with him to find out what was going on. The pastor assured them, “I know what I’m doing. When you start living out this sermon, I’ll go on to my next one.”
Jesus’ sermons had a notably recurring theme. Not surprisingly, the King of kings wanted to be sure that the people understood what was required of them to be part of His kingdom. He came to announce a whole new world order that was totally out of step with life as it was usually lived. Themes such as forgiveness, servanthood, and unconditional mercy and grace were repeatedly on His lips.
Two thousand years later we find ourselves in need of the same message. As soon as we start repenting and living under the authority, reign, and rule of Jesus our King, we will experience benefit to our lives, glory to His name, and blessing to others. —Joe Stowell

The Bible gives us all we need
To live our lives for God each day,
But it won’t help if we don’t read
And practice what its pages say. —Sper

A sermon isn’t complete until it’s put into practice.

The second devotional is taken from "Word For Today", which can be found at www.ucb.co.uk


Learn to be content (2)
'...BE RELAXED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE...' HEBREWS 13:5
Did you hear about the farmer who grew discontent with his farm so he decided to sell it? A few days later his estate agent phoned wanting approval for an advertisement she intended to place in the local newspaper. She read it to the farmer. It described a lovely farm in an ideal location - quiet and peaceful, contoured with rolling hills, nourished by a fresh lake and blessed with well-bred livestock. The farmer said, 'Read that to me again.' After hearing it a second time he said, 'I've changed my mind. I'm not selling. I've been looking for a place like that all my life.' Paul would have applauded that farmer. He learned the same lesson: '...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content' (Philippians 4:11 NKJ). Before you change your job title, examine your perspective toward life. Success is not defined by position or pay scale, but by this: doing the most, what you do the best. Parents, give this counsel to your kids. Tell them to do what they love to do, and do it so well that somebody pays them to do it! Spouses, urge your mate to choose satisfaction over salary. 'It is better to have little with fear for the Lord than to have great treasure with turmoil' (Proverbs 15:16 NLT). Wise up! It's better to be married to a happy person with a thin wallet, than to a miserable person with a thick one. Pursue the virtue of contentment. 'Godliness with contentment is great gain' (1 Timothy 6:6 NIV). When choosing or changing jobs, be careful. Consult your design. Consult your designer. But never consult your greed.

 

Liaten to your doctor.

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. (Rev 9:20,21)
The word translated sorceries in verse 21 is none other than the greek word pharmakeia, from which we get pharmacy, or pharmaceuticals. Now here, if I may, express my opinion, but I hope you will see that it is an opinion based on scripture. I feel that there are two descriptions for DRUGS and there is a big gaping difference between the two:
Medicine and Dope.
Different meanings for the same word is not without precedent in scripture:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
Compare to:
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15)
Obviously, there is a big difference in the meaning of the word WORLD as given in these two passages.
God loves the people of the world.
While John admonishes us to not love the world system, which is opposed to God.
As for the definitions of medicine and dope.
Medicine: the body is not doing what it is supposed to do, so a Doctor prescribes something to remedy the situation.
Dope: Is something someone takes to get the body to do what they want it to do: Give them the "High" or "Buzz", or whatever people take these narcotics for.
Clearly it is the latter that is condemned in verse 21. As much as this activity is a big problem today, it may very well increase during this great time of judgement, as you have people trying to escape.
The Apostle Paul wrote something to Timothy, that I am grateful that he did:
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. (1Timothy 5:23)
Timothy had a medical problem and Paul advised him to take something for it.
Also, if you will note in the Book of Acts, after the conversion of Paul, how many times the word "We" appears. We, of course, means: the person writing (or speaking) and others. (I did this and, as it applies to the person writing, it was about 20 times). The point being is that the person writing is Doctor Luke. Therefore, Dr. Luke was Paul’s almost constant companion. Was Luke’s presence, and the fact he was a Doctor, coincidental? We know that Paul suffered an affliction:
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (2Corinthians 12:7)
Luke could not cure it, but could he and did he treat the symptoms?
All of this can be summed up thusly: listen to your Doctor and take his advice. Now when sick, definitely ask for the prayers of the church members, this we are exhorted to do; but never consider seeking medical advice as a lack of faith on your part.