The Heaton File

So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God. (Nehemiah 6:15-16)

Building Walls That Are Torn Down

Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a herculean feat that was accomplished in fifty-two days. After the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, the city lay in ruin for 142 years. A cupbearer for Artaxerxes, king of Persia, became the man to lead the people to rebuild the city walls and burned gates of the city of David. Nehemiah cared deeply for a city he had never seen but worshiped as the place where God dwelt. In the year 516 BC, the Temple had been rebuilt but the city still remained in shambles. Facing an insurmountable task and persecution from his own brethren, Nehemiah rallied the people to work on the repairs of the gates, towers, and walls. The fear of retribution was so great the builders had swords on their sides as they worked with watchmen keeping guard over the project. In the face of all the fear and opposition, the walls were completed in fifty-two days.

The efforts to rebuild the walls were not accomplished through the miraculous power of God. When Israel entered Canaan and came up against the city of Jericho, the city was taken through the intervention of the hand of God that at the sound of the trumpet the walls of the city fell flat. Nehemiah guided the hearts of the people to rebuild the walls through the determination of their will to show the world the glory of God. It was hard and difficult work that seemed at times impossible. Many tried to discourage the hearts of the workers. Nehemiah was targeted with threats to his life. Still, the workers labored in their sections rebuilding the walls. Some of the people refused to work. Others stepped in where others failed. The unity of the people was an incredible infusion of devotion to a cause, to a purpose, and a common goal. What became of the spirit of the people was a unity to accomplish what the enemies of God were unmanageable. Fifty-two days after they began, the people stood and gazed at the restored walls of Jerusalem.

The world took notice of what was happening in Jerusalem. When the enemies of the Jews and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of God. The hard work of the people had shown the world what kindred spirits can accomplish when united together as one. It was hard labor. The days were long and the work labor-intensive with massive stones being moved and timbers restored. Hanging the gates of the city was not easy but the people persevered. The purpose of restoring the city walls was for protection but the greater lesson was what people united under the banner of God’s will can accomplish. For many years the walls had remained crumbled and strewn about in piles of rock but when one man stood in the gap declaring the work of God as good, the people united and did the impossible. Hearts united with hands working diligently for a common cause produces incredible rewards. There was a feeling of exhilaration when the workers stood before the restored walls of Jerusalem. They could see the glory of God in their work and the world also took notice.

Nehemiah was only a cup-bearer but he found a purpose in his life to be remembered as the one who helped rebuild the walls of the city of David. His story is one of courage, faith, determination, and a will to show the glory of God to the world. When he died he may not have considered his life accomplishment as anything more than rebuilding the walls of a torn down city but the example of a simple man continues to move the people of God. He accomplished an incredible work because he believed in God. The world saw what the people did and took notice. Rebuilding the walls in fifty-two days disheartened the spirit of the enemies of God. They could see what the people of God could accomplish when united.

There is no greater task in the world today than the church to rise up and build the walls of the gospel to a lost and dying world. Fear, hatred, prejudice, and discontentment reigns in the hearts of men and the message of Jesus Christ will be the only answer that will solve the malcontents of a troubled nation. While things are being torn down the spirit of God’s people must rebuild with the grace of God. Light always dispels darkness and the light of God must shine in a dark world. If there is any hope for our country it will begin with Jesus Christ. He is the light and in Him is the peace that passes all understanding. His peace will change hearts. Let him live in your heart first and then share that message with your neighbor without regard to who they are. God loves the world. All of it. Jesus died for everyone because everyone matters. Roll up your sleeves and unite in rebuilding the walls of a tattered world with the faith and courage of Nehemiah. Let the world see what God’s people can do. Are you ready?

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. (Acts 9:26-28)

Joining The Disciples

The New Testament church began on the Day of Pentecost as the Lord added the saved to the body of Christ in Jerusalem. In time, disciples began to establish congregations in the surrounding areas of Judea, Galilee, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Luke describes the work of Paul, Barnabas, and Silas taking journeys to Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece to establish churches and ordaining elders in every church. Local congregations sprang up in Ephesus, Colosse, Thessalonica, Rome, and Philippi and throughout the region of Galatia. The church in Antioch of Syria was a vibrant, active, and missionary congregation where Paul spent much of his time before taking his three preaching trips. It was an event at the beginning of Paul’s work as a preacher that is fundamental to the nature of the church.

Following his conversion in the city of Damascus, Saul of Tarsus immediately began preaching Christ in the synagogues confounding the Jews, proving that Jesus was the Christ the Son of God. A plot to kill Saul was discovered and with the help of the disciples in Damascus, Saul escaped and came to Jerusalem. Arriving back at the city, Saul tried to join himself with the church in Jerusalem but was received with great fear. The saints in the church at Jerusalem did not believe the former persecutor was a follower of Christ. Barnabas took Saul and brought him to the apostles declaring the wonderful story of Saul’s obedience to the gospel and that he had boldly preached in Damascus in the name of Jesus. Saul was received as one of the saints in the church of Jerusalem where he stayed for some time.

Luke says that Paul tried to join himself to the disciples. What Paul recognized and would later discuss with the elders from Ephesus is the need and the importance of being a part of a local congregation in the work of the kingdom. The Greek word used by Luke describes a gluing together, cleaving, joining, or keeping company with showing Paul desired to be part of the group in an active manner. Paul wanted to be recognized as part of the church in Jerusalem. He understood as did all the New Testament converts the work of the church including being a part of or have a membership with a local congregation of God’s people. Paul could have come to Jerusalem and become a ‘Christian-at-large’ but that was not his understanding of the will of God. After his trips to Galatia, Macedonia, and Greece, Paul returned to Antioch and reported all the things God had done. The apostle was part of the church in Antioch under the eldership of the church.

When Paul called for the elders of Ephesus to meet him in Miletus, the apostle warned the shepherds of the duties given to them by the Holy Spirit. He tells them to guard themselves and care for God’s people like a shepherd does his flock. They were to feed and shepherd the flock that was among them indicating a fellowship of members who were overseen by their leadership by the authority of the Holy Spirit. Church membership was a vital part of the New Testament pattern of church authority. Paul admonished the church in Corinth concerning their actions when they assembled together showing the pattern of discipleship as a collective effort. Every Christian should strive to find a congregation to join with and cleave in the effort of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ in that community. At-large-membership is not authorized in the New Testament and defeats the work of the shepherds of the flock and the ministry of Jesus Christ.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

The Amazing Word

When Moses began penning the history of humanity the Spirit directed him to begin with the only place that man can begin: the word. God reveals Himself through natural revelation as the heavens declare His glory and the earth is a manifestation of His power but without the written word the character of the Creator remains unknown. From the beginning of creation, God spoke to man words whereby he would know what to do to be pleasing to the Lord. Through various ways over eons of time, God spoke to the fathers directly or through prophets so that all men would come to a knowledge of the truth. The imperative of the divine was to speak words to His creation and without a word He never failed to place a man in a position of accountability to obedience. Without the revealed word, God could be held to blame for the failure of men. There has never been a time in the history of humanity where men have been ignorant of the word of God. The creation often rejects the word of God but they must acknowledge the presence of the word.

What is amazing about the word of God can be seen in how the world was formed by the word of God. On the first day of creation, God said (spoke) for light to appear and it did. Throughout the process of creation, the word was spoken and creation was formed. Gazing into the limitless sky of stars that fill the night a man must acknowledge that everything is in its place because God spoke and it was ordained. The apostle Peter will declare that all the world is held in place by the same word that created it. In the beginning, God spoke and the earth and universe came into being and the sun rises and sets with the seasons filling each year and all of this is held together by the word of God. The breath of life that fills the body of a mortal man exists because the word of God declares it to be. Man’s habitation or boundary is established by the word of God and cannot be changed. Nations rise and fall by the declaration of the word of God. There is nothing that man can do to escape the word of God.

Creation was ordained by the word of God and the world that now stands is determined by the word of God held until the day the word of God speaks and the universe is destroyed. When the final day of man’s existence comes and the Son of God returns with His holy angels in flaming fire it will be because the word of God has spoken. This word will be an instantaneous moment of destruction and salvation. Most men will hear the word of the Lord to depart into outer darkness and the blessed with hearing the words of salvation when the Father says, “Enter in.” What separates men from the curse of eternal perdition and the joy of eternal life will be words. All men will be judged by the word of God and no one will escape the word of the Lord. His judgment is based on divine the truth that is fully revealed to all men in every generation. The word of God created the world, sustained the world, and destroyed the world. This same word opened the doors of salvation for all men, gave the creation of God the knowledge to save themselves from His wrath, and will either condemn or save the soul in eternity.

Two thousand years ago a baby was born in the city of Bethlehem to a virgin named Mary. This little child would grow to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus is the Word, He was with God as the Word and as the Word He is God. The love of the Father sent His Son to die for humanity so the fullness of the Word could be revealed to the sinful nature of men. Jesus created the world, He gave His life for the world and at the word of His Father will return to take the saints home with Him. He is the embodiment of the Word because salvation comes through Jesus Christ as the eternal word. Life comes from the divine Word and eternal light is created by the sacrifice of Jesus through the word of grace and the word of mercy. While Jesus was dying He spoke seven sayings to show the great love of the Father to all men. Shortly thereafter the word of God was contained within the pages of the holy writ as men called the book, “The Bible.” Reading the words of the Bible creation is revealed, salvation declared and Heaven opened through the amazing revelation of the Word.

So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2)

Keeping The Name Of God Holy

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, the Lord presented a powerful message of the character of His Father and the respect due to the Almighty. He was not giving them a formula to follow in some rote manner of vain repetition but an understanding that when addressing the Holy God of Heaven the man must come with fear and trembling. God is not the fishing buddy or golf pal where men can speak to and with God in a cavalier and casual manner. When a man approaches the Father in prayer it begins with the honor due to His name. Without this kind of respect, nothing else matters what the man says. Failing to hallow the name of God or respect the name of God as holy will bring the wrath of the Divine upon the prideful heart of man.

Moses instructed the Hebrews not to take the name of the Lord God in vain because the Lord will not hold a man guiltless who takes His name in vain. There will be severe punishment upon those who misuse the name of the Lord. The Ten Commandments was not the first time God told men not to use His name in vain. When the Hebrews came to Mount Sinai God gave them a law as a peculiar nation set apart for His purpose including various laws that had been established since the beginning of time. It was a sin to commit murder when Cain killed Abel. The first son of Adam did not break one of the Ten Commandments. He dishonored the name of God in taking a life. Sexual immorality was an abomination to God before Abraham was born and the lineage of Israel rose from his loins. Using the name of God in vain was sinful in the days of Adam and Eve.

The Ten Commandments have been abolished through the blood of Jesus Christ but the respect due to the name of God remains as clear as to when first established by the Creator in the beginning. Jesus taught through the avenue of prayer that His Father will not hold innocent those who either use the name of God in vain or allow His name to be defiled. It seems among some that as long as they do not use God’s name in vain in their speech they are not accountable to the Lord. At the same time, they will watch entertainment that uses the name of God and Jesus in an obscene and dishonored manner. Television shows, videos, and movies are filled with profane speech including the abuse of God’s name. What is tragic is when a Christian will ignore the use of God’s name being profaned as if it is part of a culture that is acceptable. Where did God change His mind about His name? How can a child of God justify the use of “Jesus” or “Jesus Christ” or the profaned name of God being damned as pleasing to the ears of the Almighty?

An illustration of how full the world has become in disrespect to the Lord God is to see the popular movies of recent years. In 2019, a movie sequel was released called, “Jumanji: The Next Level.” It was rated PG-13 which might put parents and children at ease. However, examining the context of the movie will find frequent uses of “damn”, “hell”, and the use of God’s name damned. Other foul words are included. And this is family entertainment? Television series found either through cable, YouTube, internet companies, and popular video programs are filled with entertainment laced cursing.

How many times in a movie does God allow His name to be used in vain before He is offended? It is easy to shrug off the words as what is heard every day but how insensitive the people of God have become to the holiness of God’s name. Does God mind if every other word is “My God” or “Good God” or “O my God?” The world has no respect for the name of God and many saints who call upon the Lord through prayer lie when they say, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” They are not honoring the name of God. Yes, the world is going further away from God and denying His authority. What is sad is when the Lord God looks down on the church His Son died for and see what His children are watching and allowing to be part of their homes. There are times when watching some entertainment a sudden burst of unholy language is used and the opportunity is taken to change programs. How often before renting movies like Jumanji do we verify the language content and decide not to purchase damnation to our souls? God’s name is holy and it will remain holy. What becomes unholy are the hearts that ignore the respect for His name.

The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.

Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)

Christian Behavior In Times Of Conflict

The world by nature is reactionary. Newton’s law that states for every action there is a reaction is true with the elements of earth and can sadly define the character of a man negatively. Everyone reacts to something whether good or bad. If a man slaps another on the cheek there will be a reaction. Either the abused man will strike back or he will choose to refrain from returning the insult. What separates the children of God from the children of the world is how they behave in the face of conflict. It is accepted in the world view the old principle of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and more often than not carried to extremes by those who are retaliating. A slap on the face can lead to murder. Cursing and insults can result in chaos, fights, and injury. Wars have been fought between nations over matters of insignificant minutiae. Cain killed Abel because he did not get respect from God. The history of man is filled with the legions of stories born from the inability of one man to refrain from retaliating against another.

Sin has always been at the root of the problem. The carnal heart demands justification and reprisal for any slight done against another. God has given man a law to curb his appetite for revenge and payback by establishing principles of character that will bring peace rather than war. Isaac dug again the wells of water which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father but then the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with him and took his wells. He moved to another place and dug more wells. The herdsman again quarreled with Isaac and took the wells. Isaac once again moved from there and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth which means “open space.” Isaac exemplified the character of divine patience by not seeking revenge. He honored God saying “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”

The lesson from Isaac is the character of God’s people looks for peace. When reviled they do not revile in return. Jesus taught His disciples if they are sued in court and their shirt is taken, let them have the coat, too. Paul the apostle exhorted the Corinthian saints that when a brother takes brother to law against another it brings shame to the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit told the Christians why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? The child of God seeks peace in the face of chaos. This may mean that wrong is done to a person or he may even be cheated on something but at what cost will a man lose his soul?

Reviling is a harsh pill to swallow. When a man insults another the first reaction is to seek recourse for the slight. The Lord God does not suggest but demands His children to act in a certain manner by refusing to return an insult with an insult or injury with wrong. Jesus was reviled worse than any human being can ever lay claim but Jesus Christ never reviled in return. How dare the children of God take it upon themselves to return insult with insult when vicious words of defamation are leveled against another. There is a lot of hatred, prejudice, envy, animosity, bigotry, and bitterness in the world but this should not be in the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Evil must never be repaid with evil and insults can never be solved with retaliatory insults. A Christian rises above the chaos of the carnal world fueled by the wiles of the devil who delights in destroying lives. The godly character of a child of God is one of blessing because they have been called to be a blessing in a world absent of blessing. The Christian character in the face of conflict is a model of Jesus Christ. If you want to know how to act in our world of conflict – go read the life of God’s Son and then live it.

Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!” So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.” So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him. (Matthew 20:29-34)

Who Will Follow Jesus?

It was less than a week before Jesus would die. The events of the next few days would be a grueling and difficult mission to prepare for what Jesus knew was going to be a horrible experience. His ministry would be completed. The work He had come to do would find its fruition at Golgotha. In the past few months, Jesus had told His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things but His followers were unaware of how short their time with the Lord was going to be. In a few days, the complete plan of God to save all men from His wrath was coming to pass. No other event in the history of man would have such significance.

As Jesus and His disciples came out of the city of Jericho, two blind men sitting by the road began to beg mercy from the Lord calling Him the Son of David. The multitudes reproved the two men warning them to be quiet but they cried out the more. On this first day of the week, Jesus was going to Jerusalem where He would be received with a triumphal shout from the people. Would He take time to heal two blind men? There was much to do and time was short. From the beginning of His ministry, Jesus had shown His power by healing the lame, the deaf, and the blind. Why take time now to heal two blind men?

Jesus stops and asks the two blind men what they desired for Him to do. They asked the Lord to take away their blindness. Having compassion for them He touched their eyes and instantly they could see! The first thing the two blind men could see was the face of Jesus. They could see a face of compassion and kindness. What joy must have filled their hearts as their eyes filled with the wonder of the world they had never seen. Jesus turns and continues His journey to Jerusalem and the two blind men gather their meager belongings and follow Jesus. Why would they follow Jesus? What motivated them to leave the comfortable surroundings of their lives and follow after this man? Jesus had done the impossible. He had opened their eyes. The wonder of the miracle flooded the souls of two men who could now see the world about them. Darkness was no longer their captor and demon. The light of the world flooded their eyes and their hearts filled with joy.

A sad tragedy of the story is what the two men would see in the next few days. The record is silent to where the men went and if they continued to follow Jesus into Jerusalem. Did they witness His crucifixion? After the death of Jesus would they become the early disciples of the church? What is clear is that when they received the sight they followed Jesus. He had changed their lives by doing the impossible and the immediate response was to follow the One who set them free. Their fears had been taken away by Jesus. They followed Him because of what Jesus had done to their lives.

Jesus is the great physician that heals the spiritual darkness of sin. Obedience to the gospel of Christ translates a person from the power of darkness into the kingdom of light. Christians are children of the light and the day. Through the grace and mercy of God sin has been defeated and the blindness of Satan’s wiles has been removed. People of God do not belong to darkness and night. The two blind men received their sight and followed Jesus because they knew what He had done for them. It changed their lives. They could not but follow Jesus. When a heart is touched with the gospel of Christ and sin is removed, it should be the natural response to follow Jesus and obey His will in everything. If nothing more than a heart of gratitude fuels the soul, how can anyone not desire to follow the one who saved them from the wrath of God?

The two blind men did not make demands of Jesus after their eyes were opened. They followed Jesus and that was enough. Humbly bowing to the power greater than any the two blind men received their sight and dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ. A Christian is someone who was blind but given sight by the power of God. Who will follow Jesus? Those who honor the Lord with an obedient life and devoted life in service to the one who saved them will show their love in gratitude. Thank God He saved me from the darkness of sin. There is nothing I can do that will repay the grace of God but I will live every day showing my love for Him. Where He leads I will follow.

And David’s heart condemned him after he had numbered the people. So David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; but now, I pray, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly.” (2 Samuel 24:10)

The Heart Of David

Character comes from the heart and the Holy Spirit described the heart of David as one that was like the heart of God. Jesus taught His disciples that what comes out of a man is what dwells in the heart. If the heart is evil the spirit of the man will be evil and when a man has a good heart his character will show goodness. David, son of Jesse, was a man after God’s own heart and this is found repeatedly in his life. He had a heart of courage to face the giant, Goliath. His heart of humility recognized the rebuke of the Lord when Nathan came to him after the sin with Bathsheba. David did not argue about his sin but admitted that he had sinned against God and begged for mercy. Near the closing years of his life, it came to the heart of David to count the people to know the number of the nation. Joab, commander of the army, tried to dissuade the king from asking this thing but the king insisted. When the final count was made 800,000 valiant men drew the sword and the men of Judah were 500,000.

The numbering of Israel was a plan devised in a heart of pride and mistrust for the power of God. David was a righteous man plagued by the nature of sin. He knew that with little or many God would be able to win the victory. It did not matter how many men were ready to fight. The king had defeated the bear and the lion that came against his sheep when he was a young man. Goliath was killed because of one boy who stood in the Valley of Elah with the Lord God on his side. David had gained victory over his enemies through the will of the Father. The grace of God had forgiven David and Bathsheba of their grievous sins. Satan had succeeded in tempting the man of God to do something he knew was wrong.

After the census was completed, David had a change of heart. His conscience began to bother him. The heart tendered by the mercy of God acknowledged what he had done was sinful and David asked for forgiveness. He admitted what he did was a foolish thing. Repentance demands recognizing that sin is an affront against God and that only with a contrite heart will forgiveness be granted. Pride hardens the heart to believe that nothing was done that was wrong. The Lord did not come to David nor did Nathan the prophet. David was convicted by his own heart. He responded to the Lord in the spirit of humility seeking the favor of God because his heart was moved to please God.

Godly men make mistakes and righteous men have a heart willing to admit sin and seek the favor of God. Refusing to repent will not bring forgiveness. A heart like David will condemn actions against the will of the Lord. It seemed like a good idea at the time to number the people but after consideration within his heart, David realized his mistake. It is not easy for the human spirit to admit wrong. The true character of a Christian is to stand before the Lord and bare the soul with the honesty of sin’s influence and consequence. David’s heart condemned him. May more hearts be condemned.

Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:1-9)

Tradition

G. K. Chesterton said tradition was the “democracy of the dead.” He said that “tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors.” By definition, the word tradition implies a handing down or to hand over a custom or practice. There are many good traditions among families that are passed down from generations. Cultures hold dear certain traditions that make them unique among men. Traditions play a large part in so many aspects of life that endear groups as one and establish life-long cherished principles within certain disciplines. Religion does not escape the role of tradition and while often is harmless can become counter-productive in understanding the will of God.

The scribes and Pharisees in the time of Jesus were firmly entrenched in the traditions handed down from generation to generation. Some of the greatest battles between the Lord and the Jewish leaders of the day came from a conflict with the perceived traditions of men and the will of the Father. The disciples of Jesus were ignoring the age-old tradition of ceremonial hand washing before a meal. When the leaders came to Jesus they complained His disciples were not following the tradition of the elders or customs long held by the Jews. These traditions were not commanded in the written law but which the scribes and Pharisees viewed as law and accountable to God. Albert Barnes adds, “They had many foolish rules about it respecting the quantity of water that was to be used, the way in which it should be applied, the number of times it should be changed, the number of those that might wash at a time, etc.” The scribes and Pharisees were offended not because the disciples broke the Law of Moses but the tradition of the elders.

Jesus appealed to the commandments of God as a contrast to the long-held traditions of men. When men impose their traditions as law upon the people when God has not spoken in His word, they transgress the commandment of God. Jesus was not against washing hands but to make it a law with the consequence of sin if a man fails to wash in a proper manner created sin by its conclusion. The Lord illustrates with how the scribes and Pharisees failed to keep the basic elements of the Law regarding honoring parents and that by their skewed interpretation and abuse of the law made the commandment of God of no effect. The result was hypocrisy. They would fain keeping the Law of Moses but impose regulations never suggested by the Lord as commandments for the people to follow.

Tradition can create an apostasy of vain worship. Jesus quotes from the prophet Isaiah when he described the actions of the people as very religious but in their hearts, they defiled the worship of God. Outwardly they draw near the Lord and honored the Lord with their lips but their hearts were filled with the traditions of men and far from the will of God. Worship becomes a farce or a travesty of apostasy when man-made ideas have greater significance than the truth of God. Jesus condemned the traditions of men that have no foundation in truth.

The doctrine of God is established upon concrete principles of truthfully revealed in His word. Every man can read and understand the mystery of God as it has now been revealed. There is no reason for a soul to stand before the Divine Judge and plead ignorance. God has delivered the message of salvation to all men. Only the Bible can shed light on the grace of the Lord and through the power of God, the Bible has been preserved intact so that all men can come to the knowledge of the will of God. Some traditions are harmless because they do not conflict, add or take away from the word of God. Traditions are acceptable as long as they do not teach doctrine not found in the Bible. There are so many religious bodies that teach and practice things not found in the word of God. They transgress the commandment of God because of their traditions. The traditions of men have made the will of God of no effect or useless. Worship becomes vain because it comes from man-made ideas.

Traditions of men must be challenged and rejected when not in keeping with what a man can read in the Bible. It is an easy exercise to examine the teaching of men with the word of God. If what a man is doing is found in the context of the will of God, he pleases the Lord in following divine tradition. When a man or group practice things that have no Biblical foundation, these are man-made traditions that make worship vain and can destroy the soul in the pretense of false doctrine. Do not follow a tradition unless it comes from God. Traditions of men will die with them but God’s word will remain eternal.

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.