The Heaton File

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Faith With A Foundation

The life of a Christian has a beginning and it is there the most important part of the hope of the Christian begins. Building faith is a daily exercise of walking after the pattern of the Lord, establishing practices and principles that will build courage and devotion that will form an edifice of righteousness in the heart of the individual. It is a continual process nurtured by a constant rooting and building of character changed into the image of God. Paul exhorts the saints in Colosse to walk after the will of Christ but this cannot be done without the proper foundation. Faith alone can never last. If a building is constructed without a solid footing or underpinning it will fall. A solid foundation will keep the structure from being destroyed. Receiving the Christ into the heart is a time of joy and rejoicing in the redemption of the soul. However, if the spirit is not rooted and built upon in Christ, faith will fail and the hopes of the child of God will diminish. Jesus ended the sermon on the mountain with the admonition there are two kinds of soils to build faith upon: the solid rock or the shifting sands. The house of faith built upon the sand has no foundation and will easily be toppled. Building on the rock will give security to the heart to believe, obey and rejoice in the face of great trial. Faith must be rooted and grounded like a mighty oak that will bend in the wind but never fall.

Receiving the word of God requires walking in the word of God. This becomes a pattern of life, a way of thinking and a manner of decision making. Faith is built upon the exercise of walking in the light to see the will of God. The one who stands in one place will not grow. Those who sit upon the promises will have little faith in the power of God. The life of the Christian is the active pursuit of the word of Christ. Walking in Christ is walking in His footsteps. The heart is filled with the love of God through knowledge that guides the mouth to speak words of grace, the heart to feel compassion of grace and the hands to be busy in the diligent work of serving the Lord. There is an abundant life of activity in the life of the Christian. Daily growth is evident. It is impossible to walk in Christ and not grow. Failure to grow indicates a lack of activity in Christ. One of the long term effects of not walking in Christ is the inability to become rooted in Him. Walking creates roots and roots are necessary for building a life of faith.

Having a strong root system gives any tree the ability to withstand anything that comes against it. When the child of God seeks to build a solid root system of trust in the Lord, nothing in life will destroy them. There will be storms and trials but the heart of the Christian will safely trust in the Lord. The roots allow a strong building to be created in the grace of God because the heart is walking by faith in Christ. This edifice of faith will be evident to all as the roots silently strengthen the position of the heart and like a light shining on a hill, be an example to all who see it. Rooted in Christ and being built up in Him will establish the life of the Christian in the faith of God. Faith will come from the knowledge of the word of God strengthening the structure of the building as the heart abounds with thanksgiving. The tree of righteousness is firmly rooted building a strong trunk of faith that branches out with the abundant blessings of God. Faith is secure. There is hope and there is the joy of eternal promise. Walk in Christ. Create the roots of righteousness. Build on the solid rock of Jesus Christ. Establish faith in God. Abound with a heart of thanksgiving.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Life Changes

The certainty of life is the reality of the uncertainty of life. There are changes that come in life that are planned and unplanned. Those we plan for are viewed as necessary directions we want to go in order to accomplish some task or dream. What is hard is when the unplanned changes come in life throwing all of the planned ideals in disarray. The true measure of the character of a man is how he handles the unplanned changes in life to make himself a better person. Abram grew up in the Ur of the Chaldeans before moving with his father to Haran. For seventy-five years he served his God with faithfulness and was just a common man among common people. The day came when the Lord spoke to Abram and told him to leave his home for a land that would be shown to him with promises that would partially be fulfilled in his life. He did not hesitate. Abram and Sarai left their home and followed the instructions of the Lord not knowing where they were going or how the promises of God would work out. He was told that he would have a heritage which must have seemed unlikely considering his age and the age of Sarai. He did not hesitate. Leaving what he had known for seventy-five years, Abram embarked on a journey of faith. His life had changed in ways he could never have foreseen. He would wander for the rest of his life through the land of Canaan and Egypt, bear a son by Sarai’s handmaiden and then miraculously give birth to another son through Sarai who was ninety years of age; himself one hundred. There would be the time God requires Abram to offer his son as a burnt offering. He did not hesitate. Abram lived to the age of one hundred seventy five and the last one hundred years of his life was change after change after change. What never changed was his faith in God.

There are many stories in the Bible of lives that were changed in dramatic fashion. Joseph was sold as a slave at the age of seventeen and his life was never the same. Moses was the prized son of the Pharaoh for forty years until he killed a man and became a fugitive and vagabond in a foreign land. At the age of eighty while tending his herd the Lord appeared and changed his life once again. He would spend the final forty years of his life leading a rebellious and stubborn nation of Israel to a land he would never set foot on. David was a shepherd boy who would be thrust into the national limelight after killing an enemy giant and become the hated enemy of the king he loved. Later in life a moment’s reckless folly with the wife of one of his mighty men would fell the great kingdom of David into chaos. Amos was a herdsman and dresser of sycamore trees in the village of Tekoa not far from Jerusalem. From obscurity as a shepherd he became one of the great reformers of his day trying to bring God’s people to repentance. Daniel and his three friends lived with all the high hopes of young Jewish men of his day until they were carried away into Babylonian captivity.

Four fishermen in the time of Jesus left the only life they knew to follow an itinerant preacher who was the greatest miracle worker men had ever seen. He told them they would become fishers of men and along with a handful of others turned the world upside down. Matthew left his secure job of collecting taxes to follow Jesus. Saul of Tarsus was a powerful force in the Jewish world enjoying fame, fortune and inexhaustible authority until he met the Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. His life would never be the same. Timothy and Luke became constant travelling companions of the apostle Paul going places they would never have dreamed their lives would take them. Thousands of people left homes to preach the gospel of Christ and many more died because they believed with all their hearts a man from Nazareth was the Son of God. Changes. Life changes. They all experienced changes in life that were unforeseen. They did not hesitate and they did not falter. God called and they answered.

Abram obeyed because he had faith in the changes in his life were for the glory of God. He looked upon those challenges as tools to increase his trust in the Lord he served faithfully when there were few changes. He did not know where he was going but he knew he was going with the Lord. His faith took him to dwell in tents and move from place to place because his life was rooted in the firm conviction that God would take care of him. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the reality of what cannot be seen because God has made the promises and God has seen what needs to be done. There are many changes we experience in life. No matter the change or challenge we must resolve to face those vicissitudes with the strong faith of Abram and all those who faced change but never changed their faith in God. Be assured life will be filled with paths never dreamed before or planned by always remembering the sunlight that shines upon each path comes from the grace and love of God. Trust in Him for direction and hope. He will never leave those who follow His will.

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:9-16)

A Psalm For The Young Man

The second letter of the Hebrew alphabet is called “Bet” (rhymes with “mate”) and has the sound of ‘b’ as in ‘boy.’ Psalm 119 is a compilation of twenty-two poems from the Hebrew alphabet declaring the incredible power of the word of God. Each section of the psalm is unique in its structure and message. The second section declares the personal nature of God’s word upon the heart. Specifically it seeks to guide the young man to know how important the knowledge of the Creator is needed in his life. There is much turbulence in the spirit of youth and without direction and guidance many dangers lurk about that will destroy the reputation, character and heart. The psalmists exhorts all young people to take careful examination of the word of God embedding its divine message into their minds so they will be safe from harm.

Youth is filled with frivolity. The Lord does not dismiss the spirit of young people encouraging them to live a joyful life with the recognition of the consequences that will be reaped in the future. How can young people enjoy their lives and keep themselves unspotted from the influence of the world about them? The Bible. The word of God is the answer for young people. Taking heed to the word of God is the means of building character. It takes the whole heart devoted to know the will of the Lord guiding the feet on the treacherous paths of life. Many youth wander into dangerous waters finding only peril and destruction. The commandments of God are not given as cruel boundaries but safety measures to protect the soul from harm. This requires diligence on the part of the young man to hide the word of God in his heart so he will not sin against the Lord. Young people need to know the law of God because that is the measure of right and wrong. Parents must instill in their children the love of God and interest in His word to instruct them into righteousness. Sin will always be a plague on the hearts of men but the word of God is the only answer to how to battle unrighteousness.

Young people should know the word of God so they can bless the Lord that protects them. There is value in knowing mathematics, science, vocabulary and all of the foundations of knowledge but the most important information contained within the pages of one book is the statues and judgments of the Lord. Young men and women must be taught to love the word of God as the basis of life and from which comes truth. Their language should be sprinkled with the words of God rejoicing in the way His word fills their hearts. The result will be young people who are happy to know the eternal truths of the mind of God. Their lives will not be focused on seeking out the riches of the world but the treasures of heaven. The trinkets of this world will perish but the word of the Lord abides forever.

The challenge for young people (and old) is the word of God requires a diligent heart. There are four things required to make the word of the Lord a joyful part of life: mediation, contemplation, delighting and remembering. The psalmist admonishes the young man to meditate on the precepts of God. This is ruminating on the principles, laws, teachings and stories of holy writ. Thinking often about the word of the Lord builds trust in the promises of God. It is important to spend some time thinking about the word of God. Contemplating on the word of God means to have respect for the value of its instructions and ways. Fixing the eye on the message of God’s love will change the heart of the young man. He will see from God’s point of view how he should live. That comes from contemplation. There can be little growth if the heart does not delight in spending time in the word of God. One of the dangers for young and old alike is viewing the Bible as a drudgery or burden. In order for God to be alive in the heart it requires a love and delight in wanting to know more and more about the statutes of righteousness. Delighting in the statutes of God will change the outlook and ‘uplook’ of life. Happy people are those who find joy in reading the word of God. Finally it is necessary to remember the promises of God and not forget His word. Constant study will fortify the mind against the wiles of the devil. Remembering the word of God will be a light to the path in a world of darkness. Young men and women must learn to remember the word of God and trust its message as a guide in life. How can a young man cleanse his way. THE WORD OF GOD.

Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man. (John 2:23-25)

He Had No Faith In Their Faith

The life of Jesus spans a short time of about thirty-three years and yet everything Jesus said and did could not be recorded if man took to task to describe the incredible life of God’s Son. John the apostle commented the earth could not contain the whole message and power of the life of Jesus. It is impossible to detail every miracle done by Jesus as He healed multitudes upon multitudes. His miracles were powerful testimonies of His divinity and thousands of people were recipients of healings, feedings, cleansings and wonderment at the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit through the hands of the man from Nazareth. Many people believed in Jesus because of the miracles they saw. Often those who were healed would follow Jesus or begin to proclaim to the world what Jesus had done for them. The purpose of the marvels of His power was to prove He was the divine Son of God and no man could call upon the Father as Jesus did. There were many who did not believe although great miracles were done before them. Blinded by their prejudices their hearts turned dark against the Lord rejecting His teachings but never denying His miracles.

While in the city of Jerusalem during the time of the Passover, Jesus wrought many signs among the people and they believed on Him. This would have been a great time for Jesus to connect with the multitudes and trust they would follow Him, believing He was the Son of God and the world would change to understand who He was and why He came. However, John tells us that Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew the fickle and reckless nature of men. He did not believe in their belief and had no confidence in their faith of Him. It would seem counter-intuitive for Jesus to react like this because at the height of His popularity He could impress upon everyone His nature and they would follow Him with great devotion. Sadly, Jesus had a certain knowledge that would not allow Him to give His trust to men and that was the reality that Jesus knew the hearts of men. It was not to be trusted. At one moment the crowds are praising Jesus of Nazareth as a great miracle worker and the next condemning Him for saying God was His Father. Jesus would not commit Himself to man because the miracles impressed men more than the teaching. As long as there were outward signs of the power of God men would be enthralled by the presence of Jesus but that is not why the Lord came to earth. His purpose was not to take away the poverty of the body, remove disease from the world or raise everyone from the dead. The miracles were testimonies but His teaching was salvation. All men could see were the incredible wonders done by the carpenter’s son.

Jesus could not commit Himself to the fickle nature of man because He knew how short lived that devotion would be. He also knew that His glory was not measured by the amount of crowds that followed Him or throngs of people that worshiped Him. The work of God’s Son was to turn hearts to His Father and show them the path of righteousness through the sacrifice on the cross. Miracles would not save man. His teaching brought men to the throne of God. On the cross Jesus opened the doors of salvation by shedding His blood for the redemption of all men. Shortly before He was crucified He was hailed as a conquering hero as the people welcomed Him into Jerusalem. Riding on a colt, the people spread palm branches before Him as He entered the city. It must have been in the mind of Jesus as He rode among the people of how little confidence He felt in their adoration – knowing they were going to mock Him, scourge and kill him in a very short time. Jesus did not put His confidence in men. He could only put His faith in His Father.

There is a strong lesson for all of us to learn from Jesus. We do not have the divine ability as He did to know all men but we can know all men like Jesus did. He did not commit Himself to men because He knew how difficult we struggle with commitment. The best we can often do is still too little. We try hard to be the kind of people we should be but we struggle. Realizing this we know all men have a battle to fight and our commitment should never be solely in others but in the Lord alone. The confidence we have in others is important and should be looked upon as strength to help us but ultimately our strength must come from God. He is the only one who knows us and knows the hearts of all men. We can disappoint and fail others but God never fails and will never disappoint. Like Jesus, our glory comes from the Father, not men. Trusting in the grace of the Lord will never disappoint. Anchor the soul on the promises of God and you will never lose your way.

• Kent Heaton

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. (Genesis 39:1-4)

Finding Faith When Things Go Terribly Wrong

There are few stories in the Bible that are more riveting than Joseph and his brothers and the outcome of their relationship with one another. Jacob had twelve sons and in a fateful twist of a father’s love for his son, he would lose his beloved son for more than twenty years. Joseph was the child of Rachel and Jacob bestowed on him many more gifts than his other sons. Notably the coat of many colors became a symbol of Jacob’s preference of his young son over the others. In time Joseph had some unusual dreams that angered his brothers with his perceived pertinence and haughty character. On a day when Joseph was looking for his brothers, a decision was reached to kill him. Delayed by Reuben, Joseph was spared murder by being thrown into a pit. As Reuben was away from the group, the brothers sold Joseph to some passing slave traders going to Egypt. To cover their deed they took Joseph’s coat and sprinkled the blood of a goat on it leading Jacob to believe his son was killed by a wild beast. Meanwhile, Joseph was taken as a slave on the long journey to Egypt.

For a young man of seventeen years and pampered by his father, Joseph’s life seemed to be going in a terribly tragic way. He was put on a slave block and sold to the highest bidder. In this world no one cared who he was and where he came from. Everything he knew was turned upside down. As a slave in a foreign land he did the menial and dirty jobs no one else would do. His food was meager. The outlook looked dim. There would be no coat of many colors and there would be no loving embrace by his father. His first night under Potiphar’s roof must have been a watershed moment in his life. Where was God in all of this? Why had the Lord allowed this to happen to him and where was he to go? There was a lot of blame that could be passed around. The remarkable story of Joseph is he did not dwell on the horrible things that had happened to him but his abiding faith that God had never abandoned him assured his heart daily.

Joseph found favor in the sight of Potiphar because Joseph never lost sight of the love he had for God. He did not understand why these terrible things were happening to him but he believed firmly that God would care for him whether times were good or bad. His view of life was not measured by the successes and happiness of his circumstances but the contentment he found in serving the Lord in full assurance of God’s love. The success he had in the house of Potiphar was from a heart devoted to the cause of the Lord. Faith was the rock Joseph built his life upon. He knew that God would not leave him trusting that God’s will would be carried out in his life. Joseph rose to prominence in the house of Potiphar through the blessings of the Lord. His life had turned around to be a better circumstance but still unknowing what the future would hold. Things went tragically bad again when the wife Potiphar accused Joseph of attempting to rape her. Cast into prison the spirit of Joseph could have been broken and shattered because of how things turned out. Once again the son of Jacob trusted in his God. Blessed by his faith, Joseph continued to be a servant of God and was given authority in the prison because the Lord was with him. Whatever Joseph put his hand to do in the prison, it prospered. A day came when the kings butler and baker was thrown into prison where Joseph was confined. Before they were released they had dreams that Joseph interpreted. As in the dream, the baker was executed and the butler restored to his place. When the butler was preparing to leave, Joseph begged him to remember him to the king and seek a pardon for his incarceration. Two more years Joseph languished in prison forgotten by the kings butler. It was not until Pharaoh himself had a dream the butler remembered what Joseph’s had done. Explaining the king’s dream, Joseph was finally released from prison and given authority over all Egypt second only to the king himself. In all of his trials, defeats, calamities and blessings Joseph never lost his faith in God.

The story of Joseph is a testament to the fortitude of the human spirit to devote completely the trust and confidence that God will never leave His people. So many terrible and tragic things happened to Joseph giving most men cause to deny their faith in God. He never wavered but simply trusted in the will of the Lord working in his life. His view of slavery could have made him a bitter man but it did not. It would be interesting to know what Potiphar’s wife thought when she heard the man she accused of rape was now in charge of Egypt. Joseph was not a man of vengeance or holding grudges. After his father died the brothers feared Joseph would reap reprisals upon them for what they did. In one of the most remarkable statements in scripture Joseph tells his brothers that what happened to him was for the purpose and glory of God. He knew his life was forfeit for the cause of the Lord and he basked in the glow of the love shown to him all his life by the God he served. The traits of Jacob’s son are the building blocks of the Christian who is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Faith can be tested and tried but with the example of Joseph, there can be no excuse but to remain faithful, live righteous and trust in God.

And He said: ‘I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end will be, for they are a perverse generation, children in whom is no faith. (Deuteronomy 32:20)

Not Much Faith In The Old Testament

One of the advantages of computers is the ability to do research through the Bible in word studies, language and meanings of words. Typing in a word search will bring all the references among a host of translations including looking for specific Hebrew, Chaldean or Greek words. It was surprising to study the word ‘faith’ and see how many verses or texts use the word in the Old Testament. Depending on which translation chosen, the English word appears very few times in the Hebrew Old Testament. The New King James Version has ‘faith’ appearing twice, ‘faithful’ 32 times; the Revised Version ‘faith’ is found three times, ‘faithful’ 29 times; the English Standard Version ‘faithful’ 26 times, ‘faith’ 28 times; and finally the American Standard Version ‘faith’ is found three times and ‘faithful’ 29 times. When a selection is made to examine the Hebrew word in its many forms throughout the Old Testament there are 108 times the use of AMAN is found in the holy scrip. The word is rendered faith, trust, believe, established, sure, continuance, verified and other meanings of the root word AMAN. A study like this will make the novice Bible student excited over little and the diligent student of Biblical language cringe at the useless exercise and misuse of word studies. What is known about faith in the Old Testament does not come from the appearance of words in the English or Hebrew but the reality of what the stories tells us about the people of God since the time of Adam.

Our text today comes from Deuteronomy where the word ‘faith’ is first found in the New King James English Version. However, faith was an integral part of the story of the Bible from the beginning of time. The Hebrew writer alludes to the incredible faith of Abel when he offered his sacrifice to the Lord in contrast to Cain’s unrighteous worship. Enoch was of such great faith in pleasing the Lord he was taken up by God without dying. Noah served the Lord diligently in a terribly wicked world and through faith believed in the grace of God to save his household in obedience. Abraham trusted in the word of God and changed his life at the age of 75 to follow the will of his Lord. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, through faith bore a child at the age of 90 years. Other stories of the Old Testament are filled with hearts of courage and faith like Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. Faith is in the Old Testament filling every crevice and corner of the word of God because the life of God’s faithful lived each day trusting in Him. Their faith was not based on the word but the idea. It meant something to them and they faced the world of darkness with the fortitude to believe in all the promises of God.

Faith is not a badge we wear to show others our character. It comes from a heart filled with a dedicated mind that measures each thought, action, deed and word by the voice of God. The word faith resounds in the mind by the actions of the person who lets his light shine brightly in a dark world. There are no trumpets to sound or shouts to draw attention to faith. It is the quiet working of diligent souls living each day in examples of humility, trust and belief that God’s word is true, sure and filled with promise. Faith is about God, Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Man needed an answer to his predicament and the answer God gave was His only begotten Son. Jesus is the answer and faith is the response. The first time faith is mentioned in the Bible but not found in the Bible is Genesis 1:1. That is the beginning of faith. Believing that God created all things and formed man for His glory is where man begins his journey of trusting the Lord. If faith is not found in Genesis 1:1 then everything that follows is hallow and void. The Bible is about Jesus Christ. What man does with Jesus Christ must come from faith. Without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to God. If there is no faith there is no salvation and without salvation man is lost. You may not find the English word faith in the Old Testament very often but when you examine between the lines and see the hearts of those who loved God – faith will overflow with rivers of grace from hearts that believed eternal promises and hope. Got faith?

Therefore you shall be careful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. (Deuteronomy 5:32-33)

There Is No Right Or Left Hand

The Law of Moses was given to the nation of Israel but the law was given to all the people of the world for all time as a testimony to the character of the will of the Lord. In part it was given to the children of Abraham to preserve the Seed promise which was Christ and because of man’s propensity for sin. While the Law of Moses (including the Ten Commandments) has been abolished, the purpose of preserving the law today shows the powerful message of the Lord in the manner of obedience. The specifics of the law are no longer binding as the grace of God is through Jesus Christ. When the early church began to teach and preach the gospel of Christ they used the Old Testament as their battle ground to establish, defend and show the redemption of men through the blood of Jesus. It also reminded Jews and Gentiles that trifling with the word of God would not be accepted. When Moses rehearsed the law with the people he affirmed the righteous principles of God’s law by reminding them to be careful to do what the Lord said to do. That has never changed and never will change.

Salvation in Christ does not come by being a good person, religious follower or casual believer in God. Many in the world accept the mistaken idea that God loves all men and the only thing they have to do is give nominal reflection on the Lord and He will accept their table scraps of worship. Obedience comes from being very careful how one treats the word of God. The Lord demands those who desire to be saved not to turn aside to the right hand or to the left. This suggests a constant understanding of the will of God in correcting and guiding one’s life in accordance with the word of God. There can be no variation in doing what the Lord requires. It cannot be a spiritual delicatessen where men pick and choose what they want to believe or practice under the law of God. Men have the idea that God is in the cereal business – allowing them to pick which every flavor suits their needs (and there is an abundance of man centered religion). There is no variation with God. His will is His will and there is no other truth. Being careful to do as the Lord God has commanded requires not turning aside to the right hand or the left because the Lord God is not a right or left handed God.

Obedience accepts the path laid out by the Lord with trusting faith desiring to walk in all the ways (notice the word ‘all’) and following the commands of the Lord. Loving God is an important part of the relationship but loving God is not enough. Many people love God but refuse to follow His will. Jesus challenged the people of His day when He declared that love is found in obedience – doing the will of the Lord. Life in Jesus demands keeping the words of God. Commandment keeping is not drudgery but the blessing of show love to the Father for the sacrifice He made. Moses declared the character of the grace of God when he admonished the people to walk circumspectly in following the commands of God; not turning aside to the right hand or to the left. Can we do any less today to be pleasing to the Lord? Can we pretend He does not care how we live and what we do with our lives? Not everyone who calls upon the Lord will be saved but only those who are willing to do the will of God – and that is being careful to keep the commandments of God.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. You have commanded us to keep Your precepts diligently. Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. I will praise You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments. I will keep Your statutes; oh, do not forsake me utterly! (Psalm 119:1-8)

ALEPH – Meditations On The Word Of God

The 119th psalm is a most unusual prose that takes the twenty-two characters of the Hebrew alphabet creating a powerful testimony to the superiority of the word of God. Each section of the psalm is a letter of the alphabet beginning with ‘Aleph’ the first letter of Hebrew. The second stanza begins in verse 9 with the letter ‘Beth’ and so forth. There are few passages that rival the impressive message of the word of God as Psalm 119.

Not all men find the peace and happiness that is lasting and full. God created man to be in a blessed state of contentment but this is only measured by a relationship with the Creator. Adam and Eve discovered when they disobeyed the word of God misery followed. All men desire happiness and seeking the fulfillment of the flesh or carnal mind cannot give man what he was created for. The key is for man to understand why he was formed and created in the image of God. Happiness will only come when man exercises the purpose of his creation and that is to follow the word of God. The blameless walk in the law of the Lord, keep His testimonies and seek Him with the whole heart. Many in the world deny the importance of commandment keeping but happiness can only come from understanding the proper way to live. God’s law is given not to restrict man but to protect him. Knowledge of the law of the Lord is the light that shines on the path of life filled with darkness. How can man know how to live with other men if he ignores the design of the Creator? Blessed are those who see the value and importance of learning the righteous judgments of God.

Following the instructions of the Lord will give man all he needs to know of where he came from, why he is here and what happens beyond the vale of death. No other message will give the meaning of life and its purpose. As the Creator, God formed man with the purpose to glorify Him and His power. Denying the word of God will bring misery, sorrow and spiritual death. Obedience to the Lord requires walking in His way by His commands. It requires keeping His precepts diligently. God has rules and those guidelines must be kept in accordance with the plan of the Lord. What other reason has He given man a book filled with the admonitions and instructions of His will for the world? To ignore the Bible as a book of authority is to reject the life-preserver offered to save man. The blessed man looks into all the commandments of the Lord subjecting his will to the will of the Father.

A remarkable thing happens when a man spends time in the word of God. An infinite spirit of praise comes from understanding the righteous judgments of the Lord. The eyes are opened to the glory of God. There is a need to be closer to God. Spending time in meditation of the word of the Lord emboldens the heart, strengthens the spirit and lifts the soul to the glories of the eternal Father. Learning the stories of holy writ refresh the mind to know that God loves all men through all time. He has given His only begotten Son to guide men to a place of eternal rest through the glory and grace of His love. This is undeserved love because man has been so rebellious of the grace of God. The scriptures show the complete failure of man and yet the absolute love of the Father. Man is fundamentally flawed but the word of God reveals the Father is willing to forgive and redeem. The Bible is not a book of stories but the story of salvation for destitute man. Walking in the way of the Lord brings fulfillment and happiness beyond the imagination of men. Never lose a love for the word of God. Embrace His message, instill His thoughts in your mind and spend each day hearing the voice of God. Aleph.

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-33)

Worshiping Jesus As The Son Of God

The miracles of Jesus identified Him as being something more than a common man. There were many healers in His day but these were all deceivers that made the people believe they had the power of God. Jesus did things no man could do. He fed more than five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. There was no illness could not be completely healed by the Lord. There were no partial healings taking months or years to cure. The blind received their sight, the lame walked and the infirmed relieved of disease. Jesus showed His power over demons by casting out spirits inflicted among men. Death was no match for the Lord as he raised Lazarus after being dead four days. Following the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples were sent away across the Sea of Galilee while Jesus dismissed the multitudes. Later that night Jesus came to His twelve as the boat they were in was being tossed by the waves and wind. The disciples saw Him walking on the water supposing they were seeing an apparition of some kind. Jesus told them not to fear. Peter boldly seeks the Lord to allow him to walk on water also and receiving permission does the impossible. After a moment Peter’s faith wains and he begins to sink in the water. Jesus rescues His apostle and they enter the boat. When Jesus stepped into the boat the violent storm beating against the disciples ceased. The impact on the followers of Jesus was immediate. They came worshiping Jesus as the Son of God.

Nothing is more relevant to the foundation of redemption than believing that Jesus is the Son of God. It is easy to assume the phrase as simply the words identifying who Jesus was supposed to be. What the disciples experienced that night was nothing short of life changing. They had seen something that overwhelmed their reasons and emotions. Facing a Galilean storm in the middle of the sea was terrifying enough. Watching Jesus and then Peter walk on the water elevated the senses to high alert. When the wind ceased immediately the lives of the disciples was forever changed in recognizing the man standing before them was not just a carpenter’s son – this man was the Son of the Most High God. They were standing in the presence of deity. Jesus had created the world and all of nature was at His beg and call. There was nothing Jesus could not do. As the Son of God He was the incarnate of all that was divine, holy, righteous and true. The reaction of carnal man to the presence of God is to fall before the Lord and worship. There is no hesitation, no questions and no doubts. What the disciples witnessed testified that Jesus was God’s Son.

The boat where Jesus found His disciples was filled with some interesting people. Peter was the bold one to suggest the Lord allow him to walk on water. His faith was proven when he stepped out of the boat and walked on water. When he saw the waves he became afraid but he was the only one of the twelve who had the courage to step out of the boat. Left in the boat were some courageous men but none brave enough to venture where Peter had gone. Included in the boat was Judas, the one who would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver leading to the death of the Lord. He felt the sting of the water on his face as the boat was beaten about. His hands grasped firmly a place in the boat to keep him from being tossed overboard. He watched as Peter stepped over the side and walked on the water. When Jesus came on board Judas came and worshiped the Lord saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Twelve men saw Jesus walk on the water and twelve men saw the wind cease immediately. Those same men came and worshiped Jesus recognizing Him as God’s Son. One of those men would lose his way in believing Jesus was the Son of God.

Believing Jesus to be the Son of God is not a momentary purge of conscious that may be overwhelmed by a certain event. Judas was in the group of men that saw what Jesus did but his faith waned somewhere in his life and he lost his way. God’s Son is the only means of salvation man can have and it requires a daily walk of living, talking, believing and praising the reality that Jesus is God’s Son. Faith must be based on a complete devotion to the will of the Lord in keeping His commandments. The grace of God is offered for all men but the heart must keep the knowledge that Jesus is the divine being from God the Father who died for the sins of every man. My sin cost Jesus His life. To believe less about the Son of God is to deny the power of the greatest miracle – His resurrection. Every part of life must exalt the truth that Jesus is God’s Son. His sacrifice, His love, His devotion makes possible my sacrifice, my love and my devotion to God. Begin each day with the declaration that Jesus is God’s Son and this day will be a day where His name is praised, exalted and lifted up before all men. I live because Jesus Christ lives.

Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. (Acts 12:20-23)

Modern Day Despots

Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great serving as king of Judea and Samaria. Having rule of these areas gave him great power, influence and authority to impose his will upon his subjects. He was of a powerful family courting with the Caesars of the day from Augustus, Caligula and Claudius. The historian Luke records Herod stretching out his hand to harass or afflict certain ones of the early church of Christ. His first act was to arrest and execute James the brother of John. Seeing this pleased the Jews Herod decided to arrest Peter with the plan to bring the apostle before the people after the Passover. God intervened and delivered Peter from the hand of the king. Afterwards he traveled to Caesarea and received an envoy from the cities of Tyre and Sidon seeking peace. On a set day Herod arrayed himself in his royal apparel and gave an oration to the people. They shouted, “The voice of a god and not a man.” It was then God struck Herod and being eaten of worms died a miserable death. As a result of Herod’s death the word of God grew and the church he sought to afflict multiplied. God’s hand showed its power among the people, Jew and Gentile.

What is striking about the story of Herod was he was a man of immense power over the people and he faced the same consequence as all men. The unusual part of his story is the Lord struck him dead over his pride and arrogance. A lesson learned from Herod is that all despots will have their day before the Lord. Judgment comes to all men whether they are good or evil. The king was feared but he did not fear God. He may have ruled with an arrogant pride making him to be a self-centered individual but again he suffered the same fate as the lowly humble man – he died. The irony of those who fill their lives with their own self-worth is they all will face the same Lord. God is not a respecter of persons. The proud, the arrogant, boastful, haughty and powerful depots will stand before the same merciful God that judges the humble, lowly servant among all men.

The angels laugh when they see the pride of men. When a man exalts himself as if he is a god, his end is the same as those he oppresses. The pharaoh’s of Egypt exalted themselves as gods but they died like men. When the Roman Caesars exalted their positions to be called gods they found the same judgment as the common man. The powerful, rich and brutal people tyrannizing others will enjoy a whisper of glory in this life until death introduces them to the Lord God Judge who is greater than anything they could have ever imagined. What has become of the nations of Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome? The U. S. S. R. is no more, Hitler disappearing in the ashes of yesterday, Imperial Japan forgotten and the dictators of today falling one by one.  Those who rule with fear today have an appointment to keep. Death is the common factor of all men regardless of their power, riches and oppressive rule. All men will die. All men will face God. All men will be judged. The last thing Herod Agrippa I heard were the adulation’s of the people before the most horrible thing imaginable happened. Then he died and he heard the voice of the true God.