The Heaton File

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

The Word Is The Good Part

There are many things in life that are necessary. Providing food and clothing is as old as time itself. From the time Adam was expelled from the garden life has been about toil, labor, and work. Nations were built on the industry of its citizens. Families survived because of the need to survive. God made provisions in His message to remind humanity of the honor of work. In the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, the wise man exhorts his readers to consider the ant who without a prince or governor or ruler to make them work, labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. Jesus taught his disciples the honor of work and the early church exhorted Christians to be an example of industry with admonitions to the church at Thessalonica to mark those who refused to work. Being busy about the day to day affairs of life is a godly profession to follow.

On the occasion, Jesus visits with his dear friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, many things needed to be done to make ready a great meal for their guests. Martha was scurrying around the home making preparations for the meal. No doubt she wanted everything to be fully ready so that Jesus could be refreshed and revived after another arduous day in His ministry. Martha was a wonderful example of industry. She was not a lazy person. There was the clattering of utensils and dishes and arranging and preparing throughout the house as Martha anxiously worked to prepare. All the while Martha was working; her sister Mary was not moving a finger. She was sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him talk.  This was not the place for a woman to be sitting with the men listening to the Teacher. Her role was to be busy in the background making preparations as Martha was doing.

Martha was frustrated at the lack of help her sister was giving and she complained to the Lord. It did not seem fair with so much to do that Mary was neglecting her duties. Martha had a lot of things to do and Mary was not so much as lifting a finger to help. Mary needed to get up and help Martha so that everything could be ready for a meal. Jesus did not rebuke Martha but gently reminded her that while the affairs of a busy household were important and commendable before God, there were times that something different was more important. Preparing a meal was a wonderful example of industry but listening to the word of God was more needed at the time. Jesus knew His time on earth was short and while He tried to exhort His disciples to redeem the time they did not understand how short time was. Mary had chosen the better thing for the moment. A meal could wait. Learning about God could not. Being a hospitable host was a sign of great honor but the meal would pass and the house would be cleaned again as the day came to a close. What Mary received that day would never end.

Luke does not tell how the story came out. Did Martha stop working and sit and listen to Jesus? Did the Lord interrupt His time and allow Martha to finish the meal and then continue teaching? The scriptures do not reveal the rest of the story. What is revealed in this story is the nature of the word and how important the divine is above the carnal. Everything in this life will fade and pass away but those things that are eternal will not. There is great value in the knowledge of the world and the mind is strengthened with the wisdom of study. Jesus tells Martha that Mary had found something better than the passing activities of life. The word of God will never fade away. Sitting at the feet of Jesus will always enrich the soul. Mary needed to hear what Jesus was saying and so did Martha. What Martha was doing was good but what Mary was doing was better. Martha’s work would fade away. Mary’s love for the word of God would not be taken away.

The lesson from Martha and Mary is to know how God wants the home to be a place of diligence with busy souls engaged with much service. However, if it becomes a distraction from the word of God it becomes too busy. Every person needs quality time with quantity effort to spend in the word of God. The home will fade away in the dust of time. God’s word will never be taken away from hearts eager to hear the word. Nothing can compare to time spent in the meditation of the word of God. Work as God desires in the home but work harder to clean the hearth of the soul from the distractions of the world to know the will of the Lord. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and this will not be taken away.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. (Psalm 103:8-10)

What We Have Done To God

The mercy and goodness of God are eternal. There is nothing man possesses to measure the immensity of abundant kindness of a wrathful Creator held in check by His omnipotent love for humanity. God created the world in perfection and with willful disobedience man destroyed it in one stroke. During the days of Noah, the moral fiber of humanity had deteriorated almost to being an animal and God destroyed everything with the breath of life except Noah and his family. The flood did not stop man from sin. It changed the consequences and paved the way for the coming of Christ. God sent His Son to die for all men but this did not stop sin. Sadly, the character of man continues to rebel against the will of God. Sin rules in the heart of the majority of humanity leaving the vast multitudes of those who die facing eternal perdition.

Jesus did not take away sin but He prepared a way to find peace in the face of God’s wrath. His blood cleanses the repentant from the scourge of sin making them holy in the sight of the Lord. Among the many blessings of a Christian is the power to stand before the throne of God seeking forgiveness. Through the grace of God’s love, He is willing to remove sin as far as the east is from the west. When a man becomes a child of God he obtains the love of a Father who is tender and compassionate to those who fear him. As a Father full of forgiveness, the Lord knows how weak men are and that the life of a man is nothing more than dust. The measure of God’s mercy is boundless.

When a man understands the love of God and how by grace a man is saved, he must come to terms with the reason for God’s love and grace. There is nothing worthy in man to justify the sacrifice of God to give His Son. Jesus died on the cross because of His love for His Father and then because of His love for those who killed Him; and that did not happen two thousand years ago. It is easy to blame the envious Jewish leaders for the death of Jesus and to feel secure in the misguided thought that no one else is to blame. Jesus died on the cross because of what Adam and Eve did, for the lies told by Abraham, the murder committed by Moses, and the smugness of the many sins David committed in the story of Bathsheba. The Lord told His disciple He was dying for the salvation of the world and that extends through every generation. Saints were living in the Black Forest of Germany in 1325 that Jesus died for. Far way in the sun-drenched plains of the African safari, Jesus died for believing Ethiopians. In the eastern reaches of the Mongol lands of China, the Christ died for those who turned their hearts to serve the one true God. In modern America, Jesus died for all those who obey His commands. Jesus died for me because of my sin.

Pride clouds the memory of a man who does not recognize what he has done to God. Sin is an abomination to the Lord and the frequency of sin continues through every person. None is perfect suggesting that every man sins – no matter how good they are. The apostle Paul called himself the worst of sinners but in truth, no one can claim that title because every man is the chief of sinners. Every person stands before God with the stain of sin. Sadly, those who have not washed their sins away in the blood of Christ through baptism will never enjoy the promise of cleansing. And yet – those cleansed must still contend with sin.

God is merciful and God is kind and God is slow to anger. What we must believe is God has not punished us according to our sins and He has not punished us according to our iniquities; and thank God He has not. Has it crossed our minds how often we sin against Him and He continues to forgive us as we repent? His unfailing love toward us is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. There is no end to His love when His children seek His kindness. As we grow older in Christ we will be able to strive more effectively against the wiles of the devil. It is possible to sin less in our lives but we can never live sinless lives. Even if we were able to sin but once in our life would we still not feel shame toward the cost of God’s love in sending Jesus? Imagine our greater shame when we sin more than once? Thank God for His incredible love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16)

What Song Do You Want On Your Tombstone?

Tillit S. Teddlie was born in Swan, Texas on June 3, 1885. He lived to be 102 years old and is fondly remembered by his contribution to spiritual songs that have filled the hearts of God’s people in the past one hundred years. He wrote 130 hymns and published 14 different songbooks. Tillit was baptized into Christ in 1903 and held singing meetings all over Texas for 61 years and also labored in the kingdom as a preacher of the gospel. It is said he began each morning reciting the books of the Bible and naming all of the Presidents of the United States.

“One day around 1932, Tillit S. Teddlie was able to visit his old home place where he had lived as a child. In his memory, the place was as new as when he was a boy. But when he arrived at his home years later, it was in shambles. The barn was ramshackle and falling down; trees were dead or gone. I’m not even sure the house was standing. Teddlie sat on the ground, leaned against a tree, took out his pocket-sized Bible, and turned to a blank page in the back. There he wrote the words, “Earth holds no treasures but perish with using, however precious they be. Yet there’s a country to which I am going. Heaven holds all to me!” The hymn, “Heaven Holds All To Me” has motivated many thousands of worshippers since then to put things in perspective, the unseen over the seen; the eternal over the temporal.” (Kippy Myers, World Evangelist, 1996, December, page 8, Under The Column, Illustrations That Illustrate).

The tombstone of Tillit Teddlie has inscribed on the bottom, “Heaven Holds All To Me.” A tombstone is a reflection of the life of the person entombed. It tells the name of the person and the years of their life. Often quotes are added and elaborate decorations. Some markers are very ornate and many are simple in design and purpose. Families visit the markers to reflect upon the life of their loved ones and to remember the impact of their lives. Tombstones can be a testimony to the character of the person good or bad. Talking about death and dying is not a comfortable thing for most people but the Lord reminds all men that death is a certain appointment.

While the words inscribed on a tombstone do not judge the heart of a man in the eyes of God, they do reflect a perception of the person’s life. Tillit Sidney Teddlie characteristically is remembered by a beautiful song telling the story of eternal life and how much it meant to him. He recognized the value of things on earth but he looked forward to the invaluable worth of a heavenly home. Things of this life are temporal. The glory of heaven is eternal. Life can be summed up by the words of a song. Earth holds no treasures and perishes with using, however precious they be. Brother Teddlie knew that.

There are two choices people make in life: either to live with a view of the world and its attractions or to toil in life with a vision of heaven in their hearts. Life should be filled with song and possibly each person should find a song that best describes their love for God. What song would you want to have inscribed on your tombstone? There is no doubt you will die and a monument will be erected with your name and date of birth and date of death. The only thing that will change this is the coming of the Lord but the outcome will be the same. You will have a song that describes your life. For many, it will be the hymn by Phillip P. Bliss, “Almost Persuaded.” The final refrain reads, “Almost persuaded, harvest is past. Almost persuaded, doom comes at last. Almost cannot avail, almost is but to fail. Sad, sad, that bitter wail – almost but lost.” In 1935, Teddlie wrote the song, “What Will Your Answer Be?” So what will you put on your tombstone? Which song will you ask to be carved into marble? What is your answer? My song is “Nearer, Still Nearer.”

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Jesus The Prince Of Peace

The first consequence of sin was fear. Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the day without fear but that changed when Satan deceived the woman and the fall of man was complete. Hearing the voice of God, Adam and Eve hid from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Adam would admit that for the first time when he heard the voice of God, he was afraid. The second consequence of sin is shame. Before Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, they were both naked, but they felt no shame. The fear of shame overwhelmed them immediately when eating the fruit and they realized they were naked before God. Trying to hide among the trees and sewing fig leaves together did not take away their fear. Cast from the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve stood alone in a world desolate of people.

Fear never left the soul of man. As humanity grew in number the consequence of sin overshadowed the hearts of the world. Fear ruled and there was no shame as wickedness, lewdness, immorality cast its sting of death upon all men. It was not long before the world was completely overrun with the ungodly. Only Noah and his family found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The Lord determined the time of man was shortened and He commanded Noah to build an ark for the saving of his household. When the wrath of God poured forth its judgment upon the world, fear became terror as all those who had the breath of life perished. After the flood men continued to struggle with overcoming fear and sought to find peace in human wisdom. Giving the Hebrews the Law of Moses did not take away the fear of sin. Centuries passed with the darkness of sin consuming the world. The world was at war with itself and there was no peace.

In a small town not far from Jerusalem with the shadows of night enveloping the world, a little child was born and placed in a manger. Angels appeared to shepherds watching over their flock outside the city proclaiming the good news that would bring great joy to all people. A Savior had been born that day in Bethlehem, the city of David. This Savior would be Christ the Lord, born of a virgin and He would be called Immanuel, which means “God is with us.” The Christ would be the Dayspring to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide all men to the path of peace. For the first time in the long history of man, a prince was born that would bring peace to all men of all generations for all time. Unlike the kingly rulers and princes of human governments, the Prince of Peace would bring a message of peace eternal in its nature. His peace would not be for one nation or one time but all men for all time. The peace of Jesus is the only thing that can take away the fear and shame first felt by Adam and with which every person struggles.

The coming of Jesus did not take away fear and shame. Wars continue to rage across the planet. The injustice of prejudice, hatred, murder, sexual immorality and the debase nature of the carnal man continues unabated. Jesus came to offer His life as a way to peace, a means of life, and the only truth where a man can find happiness. When peace does not exist in the world it is because of the void of Jesus Christ. His name is Wonderful because there is nothing to compare to the majesty of His glory. He is the greatest Counselor with the wisdom of the eternal ages contained within His word. The Christ is Mighty God of ages, with all authority and power invested in Him by the Father. Jesus is the Everlasting Father as the Great Shepherd who cares, protects, and provides for His sheep. As the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ is the only source of happiness that man will find.

When the world is filled with chaos, unrest, and anarchy, men are not seeking the Prince of Peace. Fear rules in the world from hearts that will not accept the rule of Christ. Peace will not come at the end of a gun, the voices of hatred, hearts filled with malice and hatred; peace comes from Jesus Christ. The most remarkable trait of the peace of God is to see those who were enemies worshiping together in harmony. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace that will take people separated by race, religion, nationality, and political cause and unite them together in peace through His message of God’s love. Satan is the author of sedition. Jesus invites people to come to Him for peace. When the heart accepts the grace of God and obeys the will of the Father, peace will reign. The answer to strife in the world is Jesus Christ. He is the Prince of Peace.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences. (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)

Knowing The Terror Of God

There is such a thing as the terror of the Lord. It is denied by men because the view of God is only as a loving, compassionate, and forgiving God. These attributes are clearly taught in scripture but the wisdom of the carnal mind changes the God of scripture to a god that looks more like the totem of men which brings the Lord God to their level. In other words, a man will accept God as long as the Lord maintains commonality with the needs of man. Humanity doesn’t need to respect God as a higher being since God and man are equal. Nothing is further from the truth. There is so much about God that is defined by love and goodness. What man denies is the true nature of the Creator of the world who has determined the habitation of all men under the requirements of His law and His law alone. Disobedience or rejection of the commandments of God will bring about His wrath.

The terror of God is exactly what the word implies. Paul used the Greek ‘phobos’ from which the word “phobia” comes. The personification of fear is illustrated by the apostle to describe a side of God that must be respected. To disobey the will of God will bring a harsh judgment and terror. Denying this side of the Lord is an excuse men use to pretend they love God and yet continue to live according to their desires. It is remarkable how many so-called ‘religious’ people espouse a belief in God but live following the world. A person can drink, swear, sleep around, and even wear religious jewelry and with the same mouth praise Jesus and thank God. When the heart believes and accepts the terror of the Lord, they will be persuaded to change their lives.

Knowing the full nature of the Lord will demand respect for His word. The Bible is not written to comfort the deceived to believe they are okay but to instill in the fear of the Lord into hearts that do not live by the will of God. When a person disobeys the will of the Lord and they refuse to repent, the terror of the Lord will be what they face. A society without a law is a lawless society. If the lawbreakers are not punished, society becomes a reckless and lawless rabble of self-serving people seeking their demands and living the way they choose. Without consequence, there is no law. That is not the case with God. No man can change the will of the Lord and when the law establishes a certain thing as sinful and adjudicates a punishment to that sin, God’s law will not change. Sadly, most people will face the terror of the Lord because they have never obeyed His will.

Jesus taught the terror of the Lord. In the mountain sermon the Son of God said that most people will follow the broad way to destruction. The terror of the Lord is what destruction means. If God did not punish those who did not follow His will, why would Jesus suggest such a thing as destruction? From what? Jesus taught there was a place called eternal fire, hell, damnation, and perdition. If there is no such thing as the terror of God then Jesus would have to be labeled a liar. This is not a wise road to travel because the end of the road will be destruction.

The terror of God is exactly what it means: terror. This kind of fear is something no man has ever experienced. Many things are done to men that are horrific, unbelievably cruel, and bring about great fear. This is nothing compared to the terror of God that is real, large, and eternal. The best man can do is to torture another for a time and then death releases the pain. When the terror of God grips the heart of man, there is no end – literally. Whether the mind can grasp the meaning of eternity, the weeping and gnashing of teeth are symbolic of the terror of the Lord and it will never, never, never, never end. Ever. No end in sight. Unending. It would be one thing to endure perdition for a century and then be over. This is not the case of the terror of God. When a man touches the hem of the garment of God’s terror, he will cloak himself in every part of the wrath of God. Sin is lawlessness and lawlessness is disobeying the will of God. By the grace of God, a man can be saved from the wrath of God but it demands obedience. No obedience no peace. Know obedience know peace. Are you persuaded?

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Finding The Peace Of God

Peace is hard to find in a world fired by the unrest and anger of the ungodly. When men take it upon themselves to live by their own rules ignoring the laws of the land and the laws of God, peace dissolves. The derivative of peace comes from the character of God alone. Peace in the wisdom of man is faulty and always fails. Human wisdom defines peace according to the carnal needs of the individual. Finding peace in God is the only true nature of where the creation meets his Creator submitting to the rule of the one who holds the breath of life in His hand. Paul shows the true nature of peace when the mind is settled upon the character of godliness, truth, holiness, and obedience to the will of the Lord. There are many things to be anxious about in life. Satan constantly throws in the face of his victims the anxieties, worries, doubts, fears, and anger of the world to cloud the minds of a man to subdue his nature to fleshly temptation. Hatred comes from the absence of peace. Prejudice is fueled by the lack of the peace of God in the heart. When the heart is filled with the chaos of sin, life becomes an experience of turmoil, rebellion, and hopelessness.

The peace of God can only be found in the submissive heart that seeks the will of the Lord through prayer and supplication. Worry does not come from the word of God. Prayer is pleading the promises of God when the heart understands the peace of God through His will. Telling God the needs of life and thanking Him for all He has done turns the heart of anger away from a neighbor and submits to the gentle hand of the Lord. Experiencing the peace of God will exceed anything that a man can understand and will give him a clear mind to seek the welfare of others. God created man to be in harmony with one another. Rebellion flies in the face of what the Lord created man to be. Having respect for a neighbor and honoring one another is the foundational truth in which the law of God is built. When the Lord gave the law to the Hebrews He demanded they honor Him first but the final parts of the commandments were given to show honor to the neighbor. Peace comes from God. His way is the path of true wisdom to find harmony and unity. Discontent, malice, revolt, and uprising do not come from the peace of God.

Peace begins with submission to the will of the Lord. As Creator, God formed man with a purpose and a design. Wars and unrest are the results of human wisdom gone awry. Man has never been able to find peace when he does not submit to God. Prayer is an expression best served on knees bowed rather than an angry hand with a brick. The heart and mind guided by the hatred of the world will bring about upheaval, turmoil, and mayhem. Prayer brings the peace of God. Finding the peace of God begins with God and ends with God. Without God, there can be no peace. No God no peace. Know God know peace.

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:11-14)

A Message Of Peace

The church at Corinth was filled with division, animosity, and prejudice and divided along lines of personal choice. It was a congregation of God’s people but the people of God were not united in their love for one another. Paul wrote a very harsh letter to them exhorting them to consider the influence they had on one another and the example left for the world to see. It was not an example of Christ living in them. They allowed carnality to fill their hearts. The resulting division came because the wisdom of man was exalted above the wisdom of God. Paul’s letter had a positive impact on the attitudes of the Corinthians as they began to change their attitudes and worked diligently on growing united in love. His second letter evidenced a change of heart and he commended them for the new creation that had moved them to be more Christlike.

When Paul began his letter he addressed the church of God at Corinth with grace and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. As two bookends of the message, the apostle concludes his letter with the admonition of comfort, unity, love, and peace. He closed his letter asking the brethren to be filled with joy and to grow in their maturity toward one another. This would be done by encouraging one another and seeking to live in harmony and peace as the people of God. A Christian is a person who seeks the good and welfare of others. Joy in Christ is something shared from a heart of love. Mature minds put aside the petty differences of a carnal heart embracing the love for others. There is a need to exhort and encourage others with words of grace and acts of kindness. Harmony and peace come from people who refuse to be divided along lines of prejudice, hatred, and anger. The church at Corinth had suffered greatly from the division and Paul wanted them to be joined together as one.

A child of God is the express image of the Father. If the Lord is the God of love and peace then His children must be children of love and peace. This brings about comfort. Unified as one in the body of Christ, Christians stand for one another and live in peace regardless of nationality, gender, ethnicity, or economic status. God so loved the world that He gave Jesus as a sacrifice. He is not partial to any one group of people. Jesus died for every man that walks upon the face of the earth. Peace comes when the followers of God show the example of faith and trust in seeing peace and love with others. The God of love and peace will be with those who seek unity under the banner of God’s love.

Corinth experienced division because the hearts of the saints were not united in the comfort of God’s love. Becoming complete would only come from unity and peace when the saints of God would show the love of God in their lives. The world is filled with unrest and uncertainty but one thing that should be the stabilizing force in a world of chaos is the peace of God seen in the lives of the people of God. As a beacon of light shining bright in the dark world of sin, Christians stand against injustice, prejudice, and hatred. Only through the grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit will these feelings of carnality be diminished. Let all men see in Christ the unity of souls who seek for peace. Paul’s farewell message of peace was the beginning of the gospel of peace shown in the lives of God’s people. May God bless our land with peace.

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. (Daniel 6:1-3)

He Had An Excellent Spirit

Life can be very hard. It can turn out in ways unexpected and plans made in youth can be lost in adulthood. This is the story of Daniel and his three friends who lived during the final days of Judah and captivity in Babylon. At the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, Daniel was a young man. He was a strong, healthy, good-looking, and gifted with knowledge and good judgment. As a young Jew, he would have so many things to look forward to. That all changed with the Babylonian army arrived at Jerusalem and destroyed it. It was an uncertain future for the youthful Daniel as he watched the land of his forefathers disappear over the horizon. He would never see the fertile lands of Canaan again and never worship in the temple of his God. His life took a drastic turn but he was not going to allow the circumstance of his surroundings to change the depth of his love for God in his heart.

When Daniel first arrived in Babylon he faced a lot of changes that would impact the rest of his life. His name was changed from giving glory to God to a name with an homage to a Babylonian god. Along with his three friends, Daniel would be taught the literature of the Chaldeans and learn the language of the empire that enslaved them. For three years, the young men would spend their days immersed in the Babylonian culture which was so foreign to the customs of their homeland and the Law of Moses. But these godly men purposed in their hearts that while their names were changed and the culture of the Chaldeans would be a large part of their lives, the heart that had served the Lord God would not be compromised. The first test came when the king required the young men to eat of the king’s delicacies and wine which he drank. Daniel asked the chief of the eunuchs for permission not to eat the unacceptable foods. This was a bold request. Daniel and his friends were blessed by the mercy of God to be allowed to not eat of the king’s delicacies and the king found them ten times better than all the wise men in his court. An excellent spirit guided their hearts and God was glorified.

In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, the king had a dream that would put Daniel and his friends in peril. Demanding the wise men tell the dream and the interpretation, the king began killing the wise men because of their inability to tell him the dream. Daniel interceded and along with his three friends prayed to God for an answer to the king’s demand. Again the mercy of God revealed the dream and its interpretation saving all the wise men along with the three Hebrews. The excellent spirit of Daniel gave him the courage to ask God for the impossible. His friends prayed together and found deliverance through the power of prayer. The captivity had not diminished the faith of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Nebuchadnezzar erected an image of gold ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He commanded all of his counselors to attend the dedication of the image and required everyone to fall down and worship the image when the music began to play. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah attended the dedication but refused to bow down to the image. Infuriated by their public demonstration of defiance, the king ordered them thrown into a blazing furnace of fire which consumed the soldiers who threw the three Hebrews into the fire. By the mercy of God, the three young men were delivered from death and came out of the furnace unharmed. It did not matter whether God would have delivered them from the fire as the three Hebrews had excellent spirits to serve the one true God with no concern for the consequences of what the king would do to them. To deny the explicit command of the king of Babylon and face the fury of a fiery death did not dissuade the hearts of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to stay true to their heart of devotion for God.

After the fall of the Babylonian empire and the rise of the Persian kingdom, Daniel remained in a place of authority within the new hierarchy. His character was immediately recognized by Darius the Mede and the king planned on placing Daniel over the whole realm to govern all the officers of each province. What set Daniel apart was he proved himself trustworthy, honest, loyal, and dedicated but in a way that Darius would later come to know as the spirit of the living God. Daniel was not a party politician that served the interest of the king but a loyal child of God who served the Lord of all. The heart of Daniel had purposed itself to serve God and to serve God alone. From the tragic day he was taken away from the homeland of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Daniel purposed in his heart to be an excellent man. A person of virtue. Honor would be his badge. His credentials were written on a heart of obedience to the will of God. The chief of the eunuchs under Nebuchadnezzar and the kings of Babylon and Persia saw in Daniel something few men possessed. Daniel distinguished himself because he served God.

The days in which we live are hard and filled with uncertainty. Men and women of God must let the world see the spirit of excellence in the hearts of God’s people so they can see the Son of God. This is a time when the righteousness of true virtue is exalted in the language, actions, and lives of the church of Christ. There is a great need for hope in a world filled with anger, hatred, and prejudice. Love is not the answer – Jesus Christ is. The calming spirit of those dedicated to the love of God will show in their lives humility of submission to the grace of God and an example of faith in facing whatever uncertainties arise. Christians must distinguish themselves with an excellent spirit and a heart filled with the word of God. Let Christ shine in your life so that others can see God living in you. Be an excellent spirit.

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. (Luke 2:17-20)

They Forgot The Baby

The perception of the Jewish mind to the coming of the Messiah was a hindrance for the people of Jesus’ day to see Him as the fulfillment of the prophetic word. Jesus did not fit the mold because He did not appear in the manner expected of the coming Savior. His earthly father was a carpenter and Jesus came from the city of Nazareth. There was no royal heritage that elevated His status among the people and from the viewpoint of the religious leaders; Jesus was an uneducated unimpressive common man. The story of Jesus did not interest the world of the perceived ideas of the coming Messiah. Everything about the life of Mary’s son was dull and meaningless. When the true Messiah comes He would appear suddenly from concealment and show Himself by power miracles.

In the fields outside the city of Bethlehem, shepherds kept watch over their sheep in the comfort of the vibrant spring night. It was a beautiful time of year with new birth and warmer days from the harsh nights of winter. The men settled into gathering their sheep together and joining one another for a quiet meal and conversation. Suddenly the night sky erupted in brilliant hues of divine light as an angel of the Lord stood before them and the shepherds trembled in fear as to the meaning of the manifestation. The angel told them not to be afraid and that He would tell them the great news of joy to be told to all people. In the city of David, a baby had been born that was Christ the Lord who was the Savior. The shepherds would find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the hosts of angels had gone away, the startled shepherds went into the city seeking the newborn babe lying in a manger.

In a short time, the men found Joseph and Mary huddled around a babe lying in a manger. They made widely known the events of that night when the hosts of angels appeared to them and the marvel at finding the infant child lying in a manger. The message of the shepherds was the announcement of the coming Messiah. Long promised and desired by the people, the Christ would deliver them and set them free. There was great joy among the multitudes who heard the story of the child born in Bethlehem. They marveled at the news of the Christ being born and found in a manger. The shepherds continued to tell the story of the child and how the promised Messiah of God had finally come. It was a time of rejoicing and anticipation. Messiah had arrived. There was great hope. And then the news died down. A few years later some men from the East arrived in Bethlehem and after they left the Roman army sent its troops into the small city and killed every male child two-years-old and under. Bethlehem was overwrought with grief at the murder of the innocents. It would be twenty-eight years later before anyone heard about the Messiah again.

The scriptures do not tell what became of the shepherds. Their story faded into the forgotten memories of the people. The baby born that night left Bethlehem when He was around two-years-old and lived in Egypt for a while before going to a city of Galilee called Nazareth. He would grow up the son of a carpenter and have five brothers and some sisters. His life was uneventful for thirty years. One day a man came preaching the coming of the kingdom and the gospel of repentance. His name was John and he foretold the coming of the Messiah. Soon after, a man from Nazareth began to show divine power through miracles and astound the multitudes with His teaching. He would teach among the people for three years before the Jewish leaders would have him killed. The story of the shepherds was forgotten. Their wonderful news of the arrival of the baby in the manger fell to the dust of yesterday. No one could see in Jesus the story of the Messiah. He was from Nazareth and the Christ was to come from Bethlehem. It seems no one took the time to ask Jesus where He was born. If they had, the story of a group of shepherds finding a baby in the manger would have told them Jesus of Nazareth was the Son of God.

Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (Colossians 3:22-4:1)

The Christian In The Workforce

The perilous times of 2020 have seen the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the economic landscape of the world. Few global events have shaped the markets of commerce as a single virus than what has been experienced in a year of unprecedented changes. The year 2020 was foreseen as a year of vision with great expectation the new decade would usher in a thriving hope of prosperity and promise. These dreams have been dashed for many who have experienced compromised health, loss of loved ones, financial ruin, and jobs lost. What seemed to be a year of anticipation is now a time of fear and dread. The political world is in greater chaos and disharmony than at any time in America. Anger and frustration have foamed up in communities around the country with protests, boycotts, and rebellion. The spirit of freedom has unleashed personal choices against one another. These are perilous times.

When God sent His Son to establish the divine kingdom of righteousness, He created a body of people that would stand in contrast to the carnal wisdom of the world. Principles of truth and godliness were transcribed on the pages of inspiration to create a body of people that would stand in contrast to the world. In a remarkable body of teaching the Holy Spirit directed men like the apostle Paul to admonish those who were slaves and masters to act in a manner that was against the norms of society. Slavery was never condemned per se but the character of the slave would change when the grace of God came into his life. The Lord exhorted slaves to be obedient to their masters and not treat them with disrespect, dishonor, or disobedience. Slaves were to seek to please their masters all the time serving sincerely with a reverent fear of the Lord. Whatever the slave was asked to do he would do so with vigor and enthusiasm as if he were visibly working for the Lord. The slave recognized that his true reward came from heaven, not the praise of men. This was not the normal relationship of the slave toward his master.

Masters would be the example of righteousness toward their slaves as just and fair men who knew their own master was the Lord God of Heaven who had no favorites. This changed the dynamics of the master-slave relationship when the master treated the slave with love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Likewise, the Christian slave would reciprocate the same towards their masters. Master and slave knew that with God there was no partiality. The Lord wanted both to honor Him in their lives and to show that honor in the way they treated one another. This would have turned the world upside down in the First Century and this will change the world of today.

Christians shine brighter in times of peril. The character of the child of God is more evident in the days of toil and despair than any other time. In the uncertain days of this year the certain character of the Christian will shine as a light in a dark world. The admonitions of the slave-master relationship correspond to the nature of the employee-employer relationship. If there are any people on the payroll of a company that can be trusted for honesty, fidelity, timeless, and an above-average work ethic, it belongs to the children of God. This a time for the world to see the true nature of righteousness in the lives of God’s people. The Christian must be the model of Jesus Christ in every part of life and this especially holds true in times of uncertainty. Many churches have put on hold evangelistic efforts to reach the lost but Christians in the workplace can show the grace of God by their example of trust and faith in the will of the Lord. The virus of 2020 should not diminish the work of the church when the work of the saint is seen on the job – ready to be an example of righteousness.