The Heaton File

And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty men are broken, and those who stumbled are girded with strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, and the hungry have ceased to hunger. Even the barren has borne seven, and she who has many children has become feeble. The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up. The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness. For by strength no man shall prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; from heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.” (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Hannah’s Prayer To God

A mother’s love is an indescribable devotion to the children that are born from her womb. The Bible is filled with the stories of women who have brought some of the greatest saints of God into the world whether they are known or unknown by name. Samuel the great prophet of the Lord was a man who had a powerful example of grace in the heart of his mother, Hannah. Few stories move the heart as the grief stricken wife of Elkanah who mourned her barren womb and how through God’s mercy she had a son of promise. She was a second wife of the man Elkanah. Peninnah was also a wife for Elkanah and she had sons and daughters and became a rival of Hannah through her constant provoking of Hannah for being barren. Elkanah would give Hannah a double portion above his troubling wife Peninnah but what Hannah wanted more than anything was a son. It was one day when she worshiped the Lord at Shiloh her prayer was answered. Eli the prophet thought she was drunk at first as he watched her cry out to the Lord for a son but soon realized it was a grieving woman desiring to have a son with a willingness to give the boy to the Lord as a servant. He told Hannah to return home and her son of promise would come. The Lord remembered Hannah and she conceived giving birth to a son whom she called Samuel which means “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” When Samuel was weaned she brought her son of promise to the Lord and dedicated his life to the service of God. Hannah would have three sons and two daughters after Samuel but her firstborn would change the world and become one of the great heroes of scripture.

The prayer of Hannah is a powerful testimony of a mother’s love and her faith in the promises of God. Giving birth to a son is filled with many emotions of joy but Samuel was a special son born from a grieving heart and answered prayer. Hannah believed in the power of God and sought the presence of the Lord in her life to impact the decisions she made as a wife and mother. She recognized the gift of God in giving her a son. The child that came from her womb would be a servant of the Lord because Hannah’s heart was dedicated to instructing the young child in the way of truth, righteousness and holiness. Nothing would matter to this young mother but the molding of Samuel’s heart to love the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind. Her prayer is a testimony of rejoicing in the salvation of God’s promises and love. From a woman of tearful misery to a mother of exalted glory for the gift of God, Hannah knew there was no one like the Lord God who was her rock and her trust. Her rival Peninnah was proud and arrogant and brought much harm to Hannah but her trust was in the Lord. In the face of persecution, Hannah trusted in the word of God and was blessed through the gift of God. She acknowledges that God does things in His way and in His time. The pillars of the earth are the Lord’s and He has set the world upon them. His will is accomplished through His people and the Lord will guard the feet of His saints. No man will change the will of God. Hannah knew the power of the Lord first hand and she was thankful for His grace.

There is a powerful lesson of faith in the prayer of Hannah that resonates with the saints of God. Hannah believed in the impossible because she knew that all power rested in the hand of the Lord. Her heart grieved for a son and the Lord answered the prayer. The story of Samuel is a providential fulfillment of the continued work of God’s grace to bring His only Son into the world. Hannah’s prayer was a thankful heart for the working of grace in her life to give a son to serve the Lord all his days. One of the deepest lessons a parent can learn is trusting in the will of God to dedicate their children to the Lord. Samuel was literally dedicated to the work of the Lord becoming one of the greatest men of faith in scripture. The heart of Hannah should move every mother to begin before a child is born to dedicate their own lives to serve the Lord and that if blessed with children to consecrate the hearts of their children to serve the Lord – not just in outward show but inward beauty of loving God before anything else. It is easy to give children everything but a holy life. Parents want their children to be popular, athletic, successful and beautiful and often fail to give them the most important thing they need: a love for God. Hannah is a mother who gave her son to the Lord and no mother can do less who wants to please God. The prayer of Hannah is a monument to a mother’s faith in God and trust in His will in her life and the life of her children.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13:11-14)

Time To Get Serious

There has always been an urgency about serving the Lord. In the early days of the earth men lived for hundreds of years but like all those who followed them, they died. Methuselah may have lived 969 years but his life was a vapor and he died. Life is so brief and full of trouble and if man does not consider the brevity of his life, he will waste the precious gift given to him by the Creator. The large part of humanity has no concern for life and death. They live each day as if there is a promise of tomorrow when tomorrow never comes. Death is the great equalizer awakening in all men the reality of how short life will be. For the Christian he has a deeper view of life. He knows each day is precious and that a greater reward waits beyond the vale of death. Life for him does not end in death but begins. The years of travail on this earth are spent in a concentrated effort of serving the Lord who has promised eternal life. Salvation is nearer with each passing day bringing joy to the heart. For the child of God time is important to redeem for the value of what can be done in improving self and helping others find the peace that passes all understanding. Satan seeks to lull the heart into a sleep making them inactive and lethargic. Paul admonished the Roman Christians to wake up and get busy. Time is of the essence and there is no time to lose. With each passing day judgment comes closer for every man. The day of God’s return is at hand because there is no promise of tomorrow and His return will come as a thief in the night. Paul wrote these words two thousand years ago and it is easy to look at these words with a confidence that if the Lord has not returned yet there is no reason to think He will come today. What this means is that all men are two thousand years closer to the final day of the Lord than ever before. With each passing calendar date changing and the passing of each month, day and hour man draws closer to his own eternal destiny.

The night is far spent for the children of God to dwindle away their reward. There is an awareness that must be made for the faithful of the Lord to stop wasting their lives with the foolish pursuits of the world that will bring no profit. Life is not about what is gained here but what is treasured in the eternal reward of redemption. Christians must become focused on the work of their salvation instead of wasting their time in the follies of worldly pursuits. Husbands and wives must put off the indolence of apathy in their marriages and begin to be the kind of people the Lord commands in loving and cherishing one another. There will come a day when the words “I love you” will not be spoken or heard. Parents learn quickly how time escapes them as they watch their children grow to adulthood. So many parents spend little time preparing their children to know the Lord and when they realize the need it is too late. Now is the day to teach the family to love the Lord God because tomorrow will never come. Saints who dwindle away their abilities in the work of the church waste precious moments to exhort, encourage and admonish one another. Opportunities to be engaged in the work of the church cannot wait until another time because that time never comes. There is an urgency in working in the kingdom of God to reap the harvest of souls. Jesus reminded His disciples the fields were white to harvest but few workers were willing to bring in the sheaves. How tragic that time is lost in the work of saving souls.

There is a time for each individual to get serious about their spiritual health. So many lives are filled with revelry, drunkenness, strife and envy taking no account for the brevity of life and the wasted pursuits of this world. Life is so short and yet upon this short life all eternity will be determined. If a man fails to appreciate the need to get serious about their soul today it will be wasted on the shores of lassitude bringing no profit to life. Today is the day to get serious about putting on the Lord Jesus Christ and stop making provisions for the flesh. Many people believe that death will come at midnight and die a half hour early. There is no promise of anything in this world. The promises of God are eternal but cannot be achieved if the soul does not prepare itself to seek those things of the Lord. Paul’s admonition is clear: stop fooling around with your soul and get busy being the kind of person you are supposed to be in Christ – now! It is high time for God’s people to stop acting as if they have all the time in the world because the clock is ticking and the sands of time are vanishing. Souls are perishing because servants of God are not busy in teaching, exhorting and instructing the lost. Families are failing from lack of concern for the changing of the calendar. Marriages fail from hearts that are full of folly. Churches are languishing in indifference from members who don’t care about the work of the Lord. The night is far spent and the day is at hand. Get serious or get left out.

And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” (Matthew 26:51-54)

He Came To Bring Peace

It is unclear why the Lord allowed any of the disciples to bring a sword to the garden but Peter had one of the two swords among the eleven. Letting a man accustomed to fishing wield a sword would seem to be a disastrous thing to do and proved to be an act of folly. The gospel writer Luke mentions in passing the disciples desire to bring two swords and Jesus’ reply seems to be almost without notice for the good the swords would prove against what is about to happen. Whatever the response by Jesus, Peter has a sword and decides to use it. The crowd that came to arrest Jesus was very large which included a Roman company of soldiers, Levitical temple guards, members of the Sanhedrin council, Pharisees and spectators. Having two swords among eleven men would have been laughable at best. As Judas betrays the Lord with a kiss and He is put in chains by the mob, Peter strikes out at anyone he can find which happens to be the unfortunate servant of the high priest, Malchus. Whether by design or clumsiness Peter only is able to slice the ear off the poor man. In an incredible moment and act of grace Jesus heals the man’s ear with no one taking notice of the miracle as they lead him away to kill him. Jesus rebukes Peter for his rash act telling him those who live by the sword will die by the sword. A sword is an instrument of violence whether in offense or defense. It is designed to maim or kill. The man who possesses the sword will have to defend himself by the sword. This was not the purpose of Jesus. He did not come to earth to start a literal war against other men but to bring all men to the Father through peace. The disciples had yet to learn that Jesus had the power to call down all the power of heaven to do His bidding if He so desired. The Lord was bringing a message of peace – not fighting.

The power that was within the grasp of Jesus was incredible. To call twelve legions of angels would have beckoned the might of 72,000 angels. A legion was a division of the Roman army amounting to more than 6,000 men. Using the story in the Old Testament where one angel destroyed 185,000 men in one night; twelve legions of angels could easily have wiped out more than 13 billion people or twice the population of the earth: in one stroke of God’s wrath. Jesus did not come to bring war between men but to bring the conflict of righteousness and wickedness to the hearts of men to show them the peace that passes all understanding. Peter acted rashly but his impetuous action proved a point that Jesus willingly gave His life to die on a cross so that all could find the peace of God. His love for the world stretched from horizon to horizon to express eternal mercy to undeserving man. Peace was the message of the King who came to change the hearts of the downtrodden and dispossessed to know the grace of a loving Father. God so loved the world He gave His Son and His Son so loved His Father He gave His life for those who were leading Him away chained and bound and destined for a cross.

Jesus declared His life was fulfilling the word of God. Peter tried to act in a courageous manner but the apostle did not understand the value of prophetic word fulfilled in the man he was trying to protect. Earlier when the disciples found the two swords and told Jesus He passed it off as making no difference to what was about to happen. His death on the cross was promised since the Garden of Eden and fulfilled throughout every generation proceeding the moment of the Garden of Gethsemane and nothing man could do would change that. Peter acted in a rash manner. Jesus knew He must fulfill the word of His Father and bear the cup of anguish. God would bring peace to the hearts of all men through the sacrificial death of His Son. The faith of God’s people would not come from the tip of a sword. No one would be pressured into accepting the free gift of God nor forced to believe what their heart rejected. The gospel of Jesus Christ will only save those who willingly allowed the love of God to move their hearts to obedience. Peace would come from the hand of the Father bestowed in the blood of Jesus to those who would lay down their swords and accept the Kingship of Jesus Christ. Obedient hearts find peace in the message of hope in the redemption of God’s Son. Jesus came to bring peace and became the Prince of peace.

Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you. (2 Peter 3:14-15)

Staying The Course With Determined Faith

The apostle Peter had lived an incredible life. Nothing would have prepared him for how much the man from Nazareth would change his life. As he grew older, Peter realized the great vision of what was to come and exhorted his readers to embrace the promise of eternal life affirmed by the love of God. There was a great change that took place from the Peter introduced to in the gospels and the apostle writing his final letters. His final words would be for the people of God to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and to stay the course with such a determined faith that they could live with purposeful hope. Peter looked forward to seeing his Lord again. The heart of the fisherman was clearly set on the coming of the Lord and the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. There were many who discouraged the hearts of the people by mocking the coming day of the Lord but Peter lived with a firm belief in the promised coming of Christ. He wanted others to look forward to that day not knowing that two thousand years would pass and the day of the Lord has yet to come. His message is vital throughout all ages and generations. What separates the New Testament disciples from so many today is they lived with the earnest belief that Jesus really was coming back in their lifetime. Because two millennia have passed, few recognize the possibility of the Lord’s return at any moment. Peter exhorts to live in a manner looking forward to the coming of the Lord and making every effort to be found in peace and prepared.

Looking for the unseen takes a determined faith. It requires a diligent faith to be found by Christ as ready, prepared, anxious, excited and living in such a manner the day of the Lord will not be a surprise. No one knows the day of the Lord but for the faithful it does not matter. The disciples of the Lord are living without the spot of sin and worldliness. Their hearts are blameless before God as they strive to mold their character into the image of the Son of God. If the Lord comes today, tomorrow or next week the child of God is ready. Even if the Lord does not come in the lifetime of a child of God they are still ready and death is only a passing from one life of glory to an eternal glory. Looking forward to the coming of the Lord and living with the hope the Lord will come at any minute will change the outlook and “uplook” of the soul to be found blameless. Faithful children of God have nothing to worry about. The Father in heaven knows when He will bring the world to an end and bring all His children home to be with Him.

If there is any man in scripture that understands the longsuffering of the Lord, Peter would be that man. The gospels reveal a character that is filled with impetuous, impulsive and rash statements and decisions on Peter’s part. He had moments of clarity but often would have to be rebuked by the Lord. After the death of Jesus Peter still struggled with his faith and prejudices against the Gentiles. The two epistles of Peter reveal the character of a man who has changed over time to become a deeply devoted and committed servant of the Lord. Longsuffering is an appeal to the nature of God to allow the soul of man to mature to understand the purpose of the divine will. The longsuffering of God is salvation because He allows time to pass to let the child of God grow in the grace and knowledge of His Son. Peter understood more than most men the salvation of the longsuffering of the Lord and was so thankful for it. All men stand in the shadow of God’s grace to see how the patience of the Lord is an opportunity to change lives. These times should not be squandered or wasted. The longsuffering of the Lord is salvation for today with no promise of tomorrow. Staying the course with a determined faith in the promises of God will shape the heart of man to look forward to the coming of the Lord with hope and assurance in the eternal life in His Son.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

God Knows His People

The omniscience of the Lord is an incredible thing to consider. At any moment of any day the Creator knows what is happening in every corner of the globe and upon every speck of dust in the universe His eyes behold its wonder. When a sparrow snuggles in its nest the eyes of God are there. As the whale descends to the deepest caverns of the oceans he finds the Lord is waiting for him there. A sleeping child in India and a frantic housewife in Kansas sending her children off to school are known by the Father in heaven. The knowledge of the Almighty remembers the first words of Adam and Eve and listened to all the conversations of the Caesars. He knows everything Columbus did on his voyage and plumbed the depths of the horrors of two world wars. When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon for the first time God’s thumbprints were all over the landscape. What is there in the world that is not known or will be known by the one who made all things and by His word the world is fused together waiting for His wrath and judgment. In this vast library of knowledge retained by the Lord He knows the name of every soul that is His child.

All men have the desire to be accepted. From birth the first response of a baby is to be nurtured and cared for. A natural acceptance of dependence is found in the heart of every child that is born. As life matures this need for recognition grows to adulthood fashioning the decisions of the choice of good or evil. Those who choose to follow the path of righteousness will find fewer acceptances from the influences of the world and can become discouraged. Paul assures the saints of God that if nothing else is known in the world – God knows those who are His and He cares for them. That is a startling revelation to consider the compassion of the Father for His children in whatever state they find themselves. During the first century of the church there were severe persecutions that divided families, destroyed homes and made being a Christian a difficult and hard life. Discouragement was rampant in the hearts of God’s people and they needed to know the Lord was not unaware of their plight. Sin would seek to overtake the hearts of the people of God but they could rest assured the Lord knew their burdens. This would also serve as a warning to those who thought they could serve God and mammon. The Lord was well aware of their evil deeds and would repay wickedness with eternal punishment if they continued in their rebellion. No matter the circumstance, the Father knew what was going on with every child of His and He cared for their needs. If the Lord could name every star – remembering the names of His people was a passing thought.

There is a deep assurance of trust the child of God can have when they think of how much their Father loves them. He knows them. His understanding of their needs is without boundaries and in the short time of life on earth He acknowledges every minute of life in His mind and heart. God cares for the problems of His people. Love is the basis of His relationship with His family and giving His only begotten Son was the greatest gift to show that He knows His children and He cares for His people. Noah was alone in the world with only seven righteous people but he found grace in the eyes of the Lord. He was not alone. The Father knew the struggles of Noah and saved eight people out of millions because He loved the righteous hearts of those who loved Him. Out of the nearly seven billion souls that live on planet earth if only eight souls were righteous and you were one of the eight – God would know you and He would care for you. Are you known by the Father as one of the righteous? God knows all those who are His. Do you know Him?

Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 13:3-9)

Four Hearts And One Book

Jesus spoke in parables to show the power of God’s word in the hearts of honest men. He taught with authority and the people were astonished at the simplicity of His message. The call of Christ was to storm the will of men and take no prisoners. It was an overwhelming deluge of spiritual manna that would change the heart or fall on deaf ears. More often than not the teaching of Jesus was rejected by the multitudes and leaders of the day. They would kill the master teacher on a cross outside Jerusalem and the world would continue for millennia with few accepting the stark teaching of the Son of God. The Bible is ridiculed, rejected, and remanded to the library of mythical fiction. Jesus was a good man but nothing more. His miracles never happened, His teachings out of step and the message of one truth denied. Most men in the world do not believe in the word of God. Many accept parts of the word to fit their personal agendas and moral compass but refuse to believe all of it. Some try to live by its standards but are easily dissuaded by the cares of the world and pursuits of carnal pleasures. A small remnant of honest hearts accept the word of God as divine and life changing seeking to follow in every part of their lives the holy teachings of God’s Son.

The Bible opens up the message of four hearts. Everyone falls into one of four categories when they approach the word of God. The reaction to the message of the Bible is found in the four soils Jesus illustrated to the early disciples in parables. Wayside hearts are minds that are closed completely against eternal truth. Locked in the vault of human wisdom, the mind cannot accept a power greater than man. Rejecting the Bible as divine elevates man to be his own god and according to his own wisdom guides his life in futility. No book has had greater distribution and value throughout every generation than the Bible and yet the word of the kingdom is taken away from hearts hardened with the lust of the world and its trappings of pleasure. The majority of people in the world do not believe the Bible. There is an absolute rejection of the Bible as being divine because there is no God. Without God there is no law and without law there is only personal choice without accountability. The Bible tells a different story. There is a God and there are consequences to life. Hearts hardened like the wayside soil are minds closed to believe in God.

One of the greatest dangers of religion is the notion that the Bible can be used as a type of buffet where the participant can choose and pick what they like or dislike. The reason there are so many churches today is personal choice. Everyone gets to have the flavor spiritual ice cream they like best and suits their needs. These hearts receive the word of God with great excitement and joy but find no root in the veneer religion they try to follow and soon turn away. The soil is shallow and hallow as their spiritual life and it all comes to nothing. Like the first soil, the end is worse than the beginning. True worship is according to spirit and truth and Jesus emphasized worship must be deeply rooted in the word of God. Hearts filled with the rocks and stones of false religion, false hope and false doctrine will not survive long. The tree of truth must be bedded deeply in the soil of the precepts, judgments and commands of God. Failing to remove those hindrances will bring about failure.

Many will find the truth of God’s word and plant their minds deeply within the soil of His grace. They will flourish as the nutrients of the word fill their souls. Sadly, as times goes on they make the mistake of allowing the cares of the world crowd out the spiritual growth that once flourished. The riches of the carnal world overtake the time, energy and hearts of the faithful and their lives are spent less and less in the word of God. Soon because of the desires of the world the once rich soil of a faithful heart becomes an unproductive and a shriveled plant with no fruit. Without change the heart will die. This third soil is a common malady among the people of God. So many things vie for the time and energies of families that little is done for the work of the Lord. Bible studies are neglected, worship is minimalized and faith grows weak. The hearts that were planted in good soil are useless in a field of worldly weeds.

From the wayside ground to the soil filled with rocks the heart is measured by the kind of soil it allows the word to grow in. The only soil that produces a crop is a heart that is broken up by the power of God’s grace, emptied of the rocks of disbelief and doubt and keep clean of the impediments of the world that will choke its life from it. Good soil comes from hard work and diligent care to maintain the proper kind of soil conducive to producing thirtyfold, sixty and even a hundredfold. The Bible is not a trite book of stories filling the time of worship or study but a living, breathing entity that is filling the lives of the saints who love to hear its message, respond to its call and glorify the Father in the knowledge of His will in their hearts. Good soil has a richness about it that smells of the power of the Creator as a vibrant and living force that will produce the bounty of God’s wisdom. Hearts must first be broken. The rocks and stones must be taken out of the way when the Bible is open. Diligent effort is made daily to remove the seeds of doubt so the soil can remain pure and clean. When good soil is made from the word of God – growth will happen. There will be an incredible harvest of joy when the heart of man is turned to the word of God.

Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, because I have hoped in Your word. I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

• Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant.
• Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your law is my delight.
• Let the proud be ashamed, for they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; but I will meditate on Your precepts.
• Let those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.
• Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, that I may not be ashamed.

(Psalm 119:73-80)

A Psalm Of Letting

The word of God is a powerful tool in the hands of one who lives a model life of the principles of righteousness and truth. No man is perfect and the example of a devoted life is the examination of the motives of a good heart seeking the favor of the Father. Every effort should be made to let others see the love of God living in the heart. Hope springs eternal in the minds of those who believe in the power of the Lord to guide, instruct and fashion their lives after the commandments, words, judgments and laws of truth. The psalmist seeks the favor of the Lord to bless his life so that others can see the glory of God and know the grace of salvation. As a created being, there is nothing more basic than trusting in the word of God as a purpose in life. Understanding comes from the word of God by learning the commandments of the Lord. Knowledge is the conduit of salvation. A life governed by the laws of righteousness will fear the Lord and become an example for others to live by. Only in the word of God will lasting hope be found. The wisdom of man is shallow and hopeless but abiding in the meditation of the judgments of the Lord will bring lasting peace. When affliction comes the heart will not be removed from the presence of the mercy of God because there is security in the presence of God. The faithfulness of the Father is unwavering.

With the psalmist declaring his loyalty to the Lord and steadfast hope in His promises, he turns to five pleas for God to fulfill in his life. He wants his life to help others find the truth of the word of the Lord. His first request is for personal blessings from the kindness of the Lord. He wants others to see what the Father will do for him so they will also desire to receive these blessings. God promises in His word to bless His children. These blessings are lights of proof to those who do not know the Lord. The prayer of the righteous is for their life to shine as a light on a hill for others to see the righteousness of God living in them. Further, the psalmist pleads for the tender mercies of God to comfort him as he delights in the word. One of the great tools to bring people to the Lord is the example of change that takes place in the life of those moved by the word of God. It is not possible to spend time in the word of God and the heart not be changed or lives transformed by its message. In a simple plea to the Father, the psalmist is asking for the impact of the law to move his life to holiness and in that message strike a responsive chord in those who need to obey the will of God.

There will be those who proudly stand against the teaching of the will of the Lord and persecute the righteous. With great faith the psalmist pleads for strength to stand against those who wrongfully accuse the children of God with falsehood. Resting upon the word of God there will be no fear or trepidation from those who oppose the commandments of the Lord. Meditating on the precepts of truth and holiness, the faithful will bring to naught the attacks of those who do not believe. The power of example is a mighty bastion of courage to destroy the arguments of the unrighteous. Asking for the blessings of God to fill the heart of the psalmist, he pleads for those who are righteous to imitate his life as he imitates the word of God. This takes great courage to live in such a manner that others can know the commandments of the Lord through the life of another. He wants his life to be an open book for the world to see how God has changed his life. His final plea is to let that example be blameless regarding the statues of the law of God and no fear of contradiction can be found in the life of the servant of the Lord. It is difficult to live before others in holiness but the psalmist puts his life on the line to let others see that God is real, He is powerful and without the commandments of the Lord there is nothing to live for in life. As servants of Jesus Christ our greatest task is to let others see Christ living (really living) in us.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:19-21)

Seeking The Things That Are Of Christ Jesus

On his second missionary journey in Asia Minor, the apostle Paul found a remarkable young man named Timothy that was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. It was such an impression that Paul wanted to have him go on with him in his work of preaching and teaching the gospel and establishing churches throughout the region. Timothy became a vital part of the life work of Paul and two letters written to the young preacher would be foundational books for the early church. The influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois was heavy upon the heart of Timothy as Paul described the genuine faith that Timothy had in serving the Lord. His passion was not a veneer of temporary religion but a life that was dedicated to the purpose of Jesus Christ. Writing to the brethren at Philippi, the apostle commends the character of Timothy as having no one as like-minded as he. There were a number of people that worked with Paul and many good things could be said of them. Timothy stood above all of these in the care he would give to Philippian church. His heart was fully devoted to serving the Lord. There was no insincerity in the life of the son of Eunice. He was fully committed to the preaching of the gospel to Jew and Gentile alike.

There are many people that stand out for different reasons in the church. What made Timothy shine in the eyes of Paul was how full his life was focused on the things of holiness, righteousness and truth. The church is filled with those who seek their own unwilling to go beyond their comfort zone to affect change in the world about them and in the heart of others. Timothy was of such a nature that he sought the things which would bring glory to Christ Jesus. He lived his life to exemplify the virtues of the Son of God. It was not that he was a companion of Paul or a preacher of the gospel that set him apart. His heart and mind were sanctified to be the kind of disciple that would please the Father and bring glory to the church of Christ. It was not in a boastful manner he lived his life before others. A quiet example of humble service characterized the effective work of the man from Derbe and Lystra. Timothy earnestly sought the things he found in the character of Jesus to put into his own life so that others could see Christ living in him. It gave him a sacrificial spirit to care for the brethren at Philippi. As a role model, Timothy set an example that all those in the kingdom should follow.

The work of the church is the plan of sharing the gospel with a lost and dying world. One of the most effective works that can be done is the example of those who seek the things which are of Christ Jesus. These are people who go to work every day and let others see that God is the focus of their lives. They dress in a manner that gives glory to the Lord. Their speech is seasoned with the grace of spiritual salt that let others know they have a pure heart. The work ethic they have in the work place is one of diligence because the Christian who has given their life to the things of Christ Jesus will be an example of industry and honesty. As a husband, wife, father or mother these individuals will set an example of living for Christ each day so that others can know of their love for God. Paul said that Timothy was a special person. What made this young man special was his love for the Christ. Disciples today can well learn to set themselves apart from the world and let others see Christ living in them. Seek not your own but seek the things which are of Christ Jesus.

Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. (Philippians 2:25-30)

Holding Such Men In Esteem

Nobility of character is a rare commodity and when it is found in a man it must be treasured. There are many people who grace the pages of holy writ that little or nothing is known of their lives and Epaphroditus is such a character. He appears in Paul’s letter to the saints in Philippi and disappears just as quickly. The kind of man Epaphroditus is described as being almost deserves a book written of his life. He stood out among the early disciples as a man of courage, faithfulness, devotion and a heart fully devoted to the Lord. The early church would suffer under the barrage of persecution from the Jewish leaders and Roman Empire. It would require men of grit to withstand the temptations to give up and abandon their faith but men like Paul’s fellow brother from Philippi would not be among the faithless. Epaphroditus was a brother of the apostle and called a worker and a soldier in league with the work of Paul. That would show a grueling character of a man willing to work hard and long hours in teaching the gospel of Christ at the expense of his time and energies. The man from Philippi was a soldier of Christ and showed the mind of being a faithful conqueror of truth against the bastions of idolatry, materialism and religious persecution. He was a warrior willing to fight the good fight for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Epaphroditus was a man who cared for the affairs of others. He served the church in Philippi in assisting Paul in his labors and help care for the needs of the apostle. As a servant of Christ he was a servant to others. It takes a special man to put himself in the service of others and Epaphroditus eagerly served the needs of Paul. His health became a factor as he became ill but this did not dissuade him from his tasks as he worked in the kingdom. The brethren at Philippi became very concerned when they heard the brother was sick and in turn Epaphroditus worried the brethren would be overly concerned about his affairs and sickness. What a remarkable man to worry more about the concerns of his brethren regarding his own illness than his concern for self. His spirit was completely in service to others. Paul alludes to the fact that whatever illness Epaphroditus had almost killed him. By God’s grace he was spared. This concerned the apostle and the brethren but he was made well again. A lesson is found in this story that shows that Paul had the power to heal all diseases but not all men received the power of healing without the stated purpose of miracles being established. Paul was thankful God had spared his fellow worker and soldier.

The church in Philippi would rejoice when they saw Epaphroditus again as he was sent by Paul to return to his city and greet the brethren face to face. His work with Paul was arduous and difficult and for unknown reasons Epaphroditus suffered serious health problems nearly killing him. God had seen him through and returning to his home town he would be received with gladness by the brethren. It goes without saying that men like Epaphroditus would be held in esteem or honor but Paul admonishes the Philippian brethren to recognize the sacrifice of their brother and to acknowledge his work. Knowing the kind of man he was, it would have been hard for Epaphroditus to accept such accolades because of his humility. However, men such as this should be regarded for their works sake and presented to others as an example of how men should serve the Lord. It does not elevate the man in a prideful manner but acknowledge the incredible work of those who labor in the kingdom. Holding such men in esteem is proper and encouraging to show others the character of sacrifice, devotion and love for truth. Down through the centuries the name Epaphroditus remains as one of the hallmarks of those men who worked quietly behind the scenes in establishing the New Testament church. Everyone who shares in the glory of God’s kingdom in some small way owe a debt of gratitude to men like Epaphroditus.

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. (John 12:26)

Honored By The Father

In the closing days of the life of Jesus, the Lord predicts His death when He will be glorified. Like a grain of wheat that falls to the ground and dies, the Son of God will give His life on the cross to give life to all men. His sacrifice will be as a suffering servant doing the will of His Father to give His life for the ransom of undeserving man. Jesus reminds His disciples the price He pays will be the debt His followers will pay in being the servants of the Father to give their lives both literally and spiritually. To follow Jesus is a life of servitude. The example of death on the cross would be a symbol for those who would take up their crosses to follow Jesus. If He bears a cross His disciples would be cross bearers. Allegiance to the Son of God requires an oath of sacrifice to be like His Lord. Bearing the marks of crucifixion is the badge of distinction separating the people of God from the people of the world. A follower of Jesus is a person who serves the Lord in every way as an obedient servant to the will of God’s Son.

Serving the Christ brings its reward. Servitude is not looked on in a favorable light as slavery is viewed with many negative connotations. The difference in being a slave for Christ is the blessings of being with the Lord and sharing in His glory. Everything about serving Jesus Christ is immeasurable blessings of untold grace, beauty and light. Jesus says that His followers will be with Him where He is. The reward of serving the Son of God is the knowledge that when life is over a promise of abiding in the presence of His light is guaranteed. Sharing together in the glories of heaven is being with the Son of God throughout the eternal ages of endless time. Faith is made stronger when the knowledge of being with Jesus perseveres over the hard and difficult days of life. Looking to a brighter day of hope and reassurance helps the soul endure the challenges of life. Nothing can bring greater joy to the heart. Trying to imagine the feeling of happiness to be with the heavenly family increases the measure of faith instilling a spirit of courage to persevere. What a joy to be a servant of Jesus Christ.

The greatest reward for the child of God is to know that serving Jesus brings the honor of the heavenly Father upon the soul of the faithful. If the heart serves the Son of God there will be great reward given by God Himself. Everyone enjoys receiving accolades and honors for jobs well done, achievements, goals attained and respect for individual character. On the final day of man’s judgment, the glory of being honored by the Father Himself will diminish any achievement of life or goal attained in mortal flesh. The name of the faithful servant will be called out by the voice of God and those precious words longed for are heard for the first time: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” Entrance is opened to the servant who diligently and faithfully followed the Son of God and the Father bids all His suffering servants to enter in to His abode and dwell in His presence. Honored by God, exalted through the Holy Spirit, glorified by the angels and loved by the Son of God the child of God who served the will of the Father will bask in the eternal glow of God’s glory. Build your faith on that hope and the eternal promise of the Father and one day the honor of God will be heard in the halls of heaven when your name is called. What a day that will be when the Father honors His children.