The Heaton File

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Hebrews 8:13)

Something New And Better

Everyone likes getting something new. It is exciting to buy a new car, build a new house or start a new job. There is a freshness that brings that new car smell to mind. Moving into a new home freshly painted and perfectly constructed is a wonderful experience. A new job can be scary but still a new beginning is often the most productive. There is anticipation when something new comes along. Driving an old truck for many years brings a sense of comfort but the newer trucks have so many whistles and bells that attract the senses of want. When things become worn out over time there comes a time for replacement. The Law of Moses served a purpose for a time but like many things needed to be replaced. When God gave the Law to the nation of Israel, it was established upon the grace of God’s love to redeem His people through the sacrifices of animals. The Gentiles were saved as a law to themselves which included animal sacrifices. Both laws were inefficient. There was a need for a better covenant.

The Law of Moses was an old covenant given to a select group of people based upon sacrifices that could never fully take away sin. God had determined before the world was created to establish a new covenant that would fulfill the demands of sin. A new covenant would be given that would cost the Son of God His life on a cross outside Jerusalem. Love was the binding contract for the establishment of the new covenant. It would be unlike the covenant with the Jews and Gentiles. Man could not save himself as a law to himself or keeping the old law. Jesus would be a perfect sacrifice without spot or blemish given for all the sins of man. He opened the door to a new way, a new truth and a new life. His blood was a better means of salvation unmatched by anything man could do. The sacrifice of Jesus took away the Law of Moses. The first covenant was obsolete. It vanished away long ago. There is no hope in the Law of Moses. The Jews could not keep the law failing miserably to perform the requirements of the law. Only in the new covenant was hope rekindled through the blood of Jesus.

A new covenant is a remarkable statement of God’s mercy. He proved that man could not live to himself or be keepers of a faulty covenant. The sacrifice of Jesus exalted the glory of God to show all men the loving grace of the power found in a new covenant. There will never be another covenant or testament declaring the will of God. All man needs is found in the new covenant established by Christ at a place called Golgotha. It is through the resurrection that hope rises to the throne of the Lord God giving promise to all men the new covenant is the last and greatest act of love man will ever see. Almost all things that are new become old but the new covenant of Christ will never grow old. Established two thousand years ago the law is still in its perfect state of newness. Imagine possessing something that old and it remains new. The new covenant is the law of God saving men through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It will remain until the Lord returns. A new covenant. Thank you God.

Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him. Let your father and your mother be glad, and let her who bore you rejoice. (Proverbs 23:22-25)

A Family Of Thanksgiving

Thanks-living is learning how to be filled with thanks-giving. There are so many things to be thankful for. Counting the blessings of God is enumerable. He has given so many things both in the physical world and the promise of eternal life that man could never possess all the things given by the Lord. The joy of thanksgiving is to learn how important the relationship of the family is to the happiness of man. Everyone has a set of parents but many do not have a father or mother that will guide and instruct them in the way of righteousness. God designed the home where the wisdom of the parents guided the children to love and adore Him and in return show that love toward the parents. No one can love God and not have love for parents. They are to be received with honor and respect for who they are and what they mean to the will of the Lord. Revering the parent is commanded by the Lord.

No matter the age of the child, listening to the father is a sign of wisdom. The wise man shows that when parents become old they are not to be despised.  Buying the truth with wisdom, instruction and understanding brings glory to the family and to God. Scorning a parent because they have grown old is sinful to the Lord. The father of the righteous will rejoice as the will of God is found in the respect his children have for him. A wise child comes from wise parents that follow the pattern of righteousness, truth, holiness and godliness. Children that are trained in the nurture of the Lord will make the father glad and the mother to rejoice. The pattern of the home was designed to bring thanksgiving.

As the family assembles for a time of thanksgiving, let God be glorified in the lives of each person. The food and trappings of the day of Thanksgiving are important. There is a lot of work that goes into the preparation of a beautiful table adorned with wonderful food. Laughter will ring through the home as relationships are bonded in love for one another. Admittedly there will be moments of “why did I have that second piece of pie” coursing through everyone’s mind. When all is said and done the great joy of Thanksgiving should be the godly family. A unit of people united under the hand of a gracious God that has led their lives to serve His Son as devoted servants of righteousness. Nothing is more important than to share in a family where everyone is serving the Lord as obedient children. True thanksgiving comes from the joy of a family walking in the steps of the Lord. Buying the truth is what matters in a family. Following the wisdom of God, listening to the instructions of the word of God and understanding the joy of faithful obedience brings honor to the parents and gives glory to the Heavenly Father.

Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (Mark 10:46-52)

It Seemed Obvious

There were not many days left before Jesus would be crucified. He had told His disciples what would happen when He went to Jerusalem and they were leaving Jericho on the road to His final hours. There must have been many things on the mind of Jesus as He journeyed towards fulfilling the Father’s will. With throngs of people surrounding Him, the Lord walked along the dusty road deeply in thought of the trial of obedience that would tempt His soul to its core. And then there was a commotion. He heard above the noise of the crowd a voice crying out to Him. A man was calling out for Jesus to have mercy on him. Those standing by rebuked the man telling him to be quiet but he insisted more. Standing still Jesus commanded the man to be brought to Him. Stumbling through the crowd a man approached Jesus and it was clear the man was blind. Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, sought for mercy and a remarkable thing happened. Jesus asked him what he wanted Him to do. There would be just a few miracles left before the Son of God was killed. It would seem evident the miracle this man would desire was his sight but Jesus asked him what he wanted.

Nothing is known about the life of Bartimaeus and how long he had been blind. It would seem clear that he had never seen a miracle of Jesus and yet here he is begging the Lord to have mercy on him to give him sight. There was a poetical blind faith on the part of Bartimaeus to believe Jesus could perform such a feat but his heart was not to be swayed by the crowd as he determined to have an audience with Jesus. The Lord could have come to the blind man but He insisted he come to Him. There was no hesitation. Throwing aside his garment, Bartimaeus went directly to his savior. Living in blindness would create a world of trust in what he could not see. He had never seen the face of Jesus but he trusted His voice. A blind man would have only one object in life and that would be to receive or restore his sight. As the frail sightless man stood before Jesus, the Lord asked him what he wanted.

Faith comes in many forms. Someone might argue it was obvious what the man desired. He was blind. Who would not want to receive their sight? What purpose did it serve to ask the man what he wanted when it seemed clear the need of the man? Jesus asked Bartimaeus, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Faith is a determined soul who boldly asks God for the impossible. Healing a man of blindness was not giving him a pair of glasses so he could see better. What Jesus did for Bartimaeus was to take him from his world of darkness to perfect vision. The blind man had to pronounce his faith in the power of the Lord. Jesus could have healed Bartimaeus where he sat but the Lord insisted he come to Him. Seeking an answer from Bartimaeus was a testimony of his own faith to believe the Lord could do the impossible and the confession to the multitude of the power of Jesus.

There is a deeply sad part to the story. Bartimaeus received his sight and immediately followed Jesus. Very shortly after seeing the face of Jesus for the first time and imprinting the image of the Son of God on his heart, the former blind man witnessed the death of Jesus by those who could not see the power of the man from Nazareth. Jesus went to Jerusalem, was received with a triumphal festival of glory by the people and then watched as the hearts of the people turned in hatred to kill Him. Where was Bartimaeus in these dark days? A great miracle had happened with him but now they delivered his Savior up to be crucified. He believed Jesus had the power of God when he was blind and those who could see denied that same power. It must have been a crushing blow to the son of Timaeus. There is a hope that one of the first Christian’s of the New Testament church was a former blind man who sat by the side of the road near a town called Jericho. What a story he could tell when Jesus asked him what he wanted.

And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:24-27)

With God

There are many things in this world beyond the power of man to know or understand. He is limited by the boundaries of his own habitation and he cannot go beyond. It is impossible for man to fly. He created machines that carry him through the air but man will never be able to fly like a bird because he is not made in that form. It is impossible for man to walk to the moon, travel to distant stars, dwell in the oceans or create life. The list is endless of what man cannot do and falls under the category of impossible. To define the word impossible is to understand it cannot be done. This is unlike the achievements of men that went beyond the normal perception. There was a time when men said walking on the moon was impossible and yet that feat was accomplished in 1969. Men will look at this to believe they can do anything and nothing is impossible for them. Columbus believed he could sail beyond the western horizon and come back – which he accomplished. Striving for the impossible has led man to learn great things about his world. When all is said and done, there are many things man can do and will accomplish in the future. The apostle Paul reminded the idol worshippers of Athens that man has a habitation and he is limited. There are things that are impossible for man to do.

The contrast of man’s limitation and the unlimited power of God is what makes the nature of God so incredible. A rich man came to Jesus seeking eternal life but did not have the heart to follow Jesus without his riches. This discouraged the disciples. They thought if anyone would be saved it was the rich man. Jesus knew the man’s heart and while he would have made a noble disciple he would never have given up his love of money. Man cannot serve God and mammon. It is hard for those who love their riches to enter into the kingdom of God. Reacting to the rich man walking away the disciples lamented the possibility of salvation for anyone. The Lord declares that men will look at the situation of the rich man as an impossible task but with His Father anything could be done. Imagine a billionaire being told to give all his wealth to the poor and follow Jesus. Men would shake their heads and say that is asking too much. The point of the story is the difference what man can do by himself and what a man can do with God.

If the rich man had a heart of service he would have gone home, sold all his possessions and returned to follow Jesus. His friends would have thought he had lost his mind. It is uncertain what his family circumstance was but Jesus knew what the man needed to do and demanded a heavy payment. The Lord did not ask this rich man to do anything he could not have done. From his view, the rich man said that was impossible. It could not be done and it would not be done. How does one give up such wealth to follow Jesus Christ? Impossible. What the rich young ruler failed to see is that with God he could have done that. Anything with God can be done. Everything with God will be accomplished.

Living a Christian life will be the most joyous life anyone can live. There can and will be times the cost is high. Temptation will creep in seeking to seduce the spirit to walk away from God and serve the flesh. Passions will fill the heart driving the will of man to the brink of disaster. Decisions will have to be made that test the limits of man’s ability to endure. Persecution can become a real threat. How does man overcome these challenges and remain faithful to the Lord? WITH GOD. The only way to have the power to find eternal life is to submit the will of man to the will of God. Jesus said that WITH GOD nothing is impossible. Trusting in the love of God to guide the decisions of life will bring about the impossible. What seemed beyond the reach of man will become real. Let the power of God work in your life to realize the impossible.

Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. (Revelation 1:12-20)

The Church Has A Lampstand

John the apostle was witness to some incredible things. His writing of the Revelation is a remarkable vision of the power and majesty of God. Through each page the message of victory cries forth in tones from saint suffering under the hand of persecution to the shouts of victory in the defeat of all the enemies of the Lord. The Revelation is a book of hope that stirs the hearts of God’s people to know He loves them and cares for what the face each day. John was introduced to a concept of the church that is first told in the Revelation. Writing to seven churches in Asia, Christ tells John of the gathering of the churches in Asia as a ring of seven lampstands with the Lord Jesus standing in the midst. The seven stars in the right hand of Christ are angels of the seven churches and each of the lampstands represent seven unique congregations: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. Christ gives a summary of each congregation regarding their spiritual condition whether good or bad. For some the report is favorable but for some it is not. As the Lord addresses each congregation the message is the same: there is a reckoning for each location. The Lord will implore the churches to give heed to His words by reminding them that he who has an ear to ear must heed the warnings and admonitions or suffer the consequences. God knows the works of every church whether they are hot, cold or lukewarm. He is aware of the troubles they face and the victories they have gained. Some churches are rebuked severely for their lack of faith and told to repent. Overshadowing each testimony of the church is the knowledge that God holds accountable the work of the local church.

The lesson to take from this introduction to the Revelation is the responsibility each church has to be faithful to the Lord and fulfill the mission given by God for His glory. Setting up church services to go through the motions is a clear warning that God is not going to be pleased with the lack of diligence. Reading the letters to each of the seven churches illustrates the positives and negatives of church work. Every congregation has a divine mandate to carry out the work of the kingdom with an accountability ledger being kept by the Lord. His warning to the church of Ephesus is that without repentance the lampstand would be removed and they needed to take quick action. The Ephesian’s are prominent in the writings of the New Testament through the work of the apostle Paul. Sadly, the congregation had fallen out of love with God becoming dangerously close to falling away from truth. Warning them to change their ways, the Lord impresses upon them the danger of having their lampstand removed. This would be the case for the other six churches if they followed the path of the church at Ephesus.

Reading the testimonies of the seven churches of Asia should give pause to each church of Christ who is seeking to follow the pattern of the New Testament. It does not matter what the sign says out front. The reputation of the local work in the eyes of others is of little significance. Whatever reputation a local church has will not be established by the whims of social prestige but the Holy Spirit. Each church has a lampstand and the Lord determines whether it remains. The work of the church in teaching the truth and defending the cause of Christ will be reflected by the words of the Lord toward that church. Unlike the Revelation, no one will know what the Lord would say but seeking to pattern the congregation after the word of God will should establish a confidence the Lord is pleased. The church must be busy teaching others and like the First Century church increasing in spirit and number. Building an edifice and putting a name on the outside is not what the Lord wants. He desires for His church to be busy in teaching, admonishes, correcting and saving souls. Churches that fail to have the proper leadership, saving souls, teaching the whole council of God and showing brotherly love are in jeopardy of losing their lampstand. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End and He knows the condition of each church.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-11)

Are We Abounding Or Lacking?

Everything that is needed for the Christian to grow in Christ has been provided through the love of God and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter begins his powerful epistle of hope with the graces that should mold every child of God to a better understanding of salvation. People of God are called by His glory and virtue to excel in every part of their life. From these graces come the exceedingly great and precious promises so that we can partake of the divine nature. Adding to faith virtue and to virtue knowledge along with self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love will change the heart and soul of the disciple of Christ. There will no doubts or fears about eternal life. Diligence is needed to make redemption real and hope alive in the hearts of God’s people. Salvation will be assured. The graces of the Lord will change the landscape of a person’s life to be filled with eternal hope and promise. But there is a condition that brings about this confidence. The graces listed by Peter will have little value if they are not possessed in the mind of the saint and abounding in his life.

God’s love is without measure but salvation in conditional. It would be easy to believe that there is little man has to do to be saved. From the Garden of Eden the grace of God has shown man where to look for salvation. It was inherent upon man to obey the commands of the Lord to find that grace. The list of virtues by Peter will have no impact on the life of the Christian if they do not seek to possess each one in his or her life. Faith must be an active part of our life. Virtue is the means by which we carry out that faith. Knowledge motivates the heart to seek the path of righteousness. Self-control is the steering wheel that keeps the mind of man in the narrow path of holiness. Perseverance fuels the soul to endure whatever comes against the spirit of man. Godliness is the canopy protecting the child of God from the wiles of the evil one. Brotherly kindness and love wrap the soul of man in his relationship with others because he serves the Almighty Father. These graces must be possessed, personal and possessive. I must make each one of the fruits of the Spirit my own.

Secondly, the Christian graces must abound. They must increase in order for them to be effective in my life. Whatever faith I had yesterday must be greater today. The virtues that set me apart last week must be more emboldened this week. Knowledge is always in need of growing as I study more and more about the Lord. The problem with self is the daily challenge of keeping it under the power of God. When the day gets long and the spirit begins to waver, I must increase my willpower to keep on keeping on; persevering to the end. Godliness is not an event but a lifestyle. Molding my heart to be pure, my mind to be clear and my steps ordered by the Lord will give me a spirit like God. Brotherly kindness is an expression of love through my actions toward others. This kind of love is an expressed love that must grow stronger every day. The more I abound in brotherly kindness the more I will know how to love unconditionally. Love must abound more and more so that I can see God.

Lacking any or all of the graces will doom the heart of man. Possessing and abounding in the graces of God will make the heart abound in the knowledge of Christ. Failing to possess these graces will dim the eyesight and cause a person to forget why they serve the King of Kings. The danger of ignoring the Christian graces is the sickness that follows. Looking at the Christian graces as the remedy for sin shows the seriousness of ignoring them. If a person is diagnosed with a serious disease and told how to cure the malady with a series of treatments, by ignoring the treatment they will bring about death. The graces given by Peter represent the perfect treatment for sin. Lacking these things will bring about spiritual decay and eventually death. There are terrible consequences if any of the graces are lacking. They must abound in the life of the Christian.

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken. (Luke 18:31-34)

What The Prophets Said About Jesus

The events in the life of Jesus were not random or coincidental. Long before His birth, the prophets spoke of where the Savior would be born, His character, what He would teach and most importantly: how the Messiah would die. Jesus would share only a few times with His disciples what was written in the Law, Prophets and Psalms concerning His death. Taking the twelve aside, the Lord tells them they will be going to Jerusalem and He will be delivered to the Gentiles. This is especially powerful because Jesus is telling the twelve the Romans will scourge Him and kill Him on a cross. What is more amazing is that Jesus tells them He will rise from the dead. In all of this the twelve did not understand what He meant and dared not ask. God hid the full meaning of these words to the twelve to protect them and to fulfill the plan of redemption. Taking the twelve aside Jesus limited the discussion to a few. If the people had heard this they might have risen up against the Romans to save their Lord. Keeping the twelve in the dark also kept them from doing anything rash. Later, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter used a sword to defend the Lord but to no avail. Jesus rebuked him that it was not the will of the Father to stop what would need to happen.

Reading the Old Testament must be seen from the standpoint of its message. At first glance it is the story of beginnings such as the world, the nations and the history of the Israelite nation. The poetry and wisdom literature is a refreshing change with its powerful music of words and proverbs of knowledge. Opening the books of the prophets can be a challenge. However, reading the prophets from the view of Jesus will change the perspective to see God’s glory in what was written. The 39 books of the Old Testament are about one person: Jesus Christ. Changing the lens of examination will help the student see more clearly the reason God gave men the Old Testament. It testifies of His Son. Jesus illustrated to His disciples the prophets wrote about Him. They wrote about the Gentiles (Romans) taking the Messiah and treating Him in a savage manner. Scourging was a horrific beating that preceded a crucifixion. Being crucified was the most painful and torturous death devised by man and the Coming One would die such a death. If the students of the old law were careful in their studies they would see the purpose in death by crucifixion was that no bone would be broken. They would know the Jews used stoning as a means of execution but the Lamb of God would not have any bones broken. The prophets wrote how the Gentiles would be the executioners fulfilling that requirement.

Hidden from the disciples was the reality of the resurrection. On a few occasions Jesus would tell His disciples that He would die but then come out of the grave. Raising Lazarus from the dead was a precursor to the resurrection of Jesus. The Son of Man showed His power over death and testified the Father would raise Him in the same manner. The prophets wrote about the resurrection of the Son of God. The Law, Psalms and Prophets clearly defined the life of the Messiah and the power of God to raise His Son from the dead. All of this should lead the student of scripture to see the grace of God in His Son Jesus Christ and that all things were fulfilled as promised by the prophets. The things that happened to Jesus were not happen-chance. They were the fulfillment of the plan God had before the world began. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s love.

Reading the Old Testament should reveal Christ to all men. The early disciples preached Christ from the Old Testament. Philip taught a man from Ethiopia what he must do to be saved starting from the book of Isaiah. The conclusion drawn from the Ethiopian was that baptism was necessary for salvation. Jesus is in there. He proclaimed His own story from the pages of the Law, Psalms and Prophets. His life is revealed in the scheme of redemption on every page. The death of Jesus was not a mistake or the church a substitute because the Jews accidentally killed the Messiah. It was in the prophets. The Jews delivered Jesus to be killed and the Romans carried out the sentence making all men – Jew and Gentile – guilty of the blood of God’s Son. No one is justified because the prophets said it would happen. Praise God for His infinite glory seen in the writings of the prophets.

For if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God? (1 Timothy 3:5)

Leadership In The Home

The family makes up the foundation of every society. As the family goes so goes the nation and as the nation goes so goes the world. This is a fundamental truth that has been the staple of history since the beginning of time. God created the heavens and the earth with purpose and design. The family was created with purpose and design. Trying to change the makeup of the home into any other pattern than established by the Lord will only bring chaos. Because of sin, man takes on the headship of the home as the guide, leader and rule. Nothing is suggested in this organization that woman is a lesser being or that man should be a tyrant. The role of man is to be the leader of the home. His place is to rule the home in accordance with the word of God. His purpose in the relationship of husband and father will be to mold the character of his wife and children to serve God in all glory. This will require diligence on his part to take that role seriously and to follow the word of God learning how to fulfill the design of the home.

Leadership in the home is found in the qualities that make a man acceptable to shepherd the flock of God. While these qualities are required for a man to lead the family of God, they must begin in the home where all men find their calling. Whether he becomes an overseer of the Lord’s body does not change the fact the man must learn how to rule his own home. The art of ruling is not something from the middle ages suggesting a cruel and oppressive leadership. Like a shepherd of the flock, the husband and father guides the family with temperance, sober-mindedness, gentleness, not quarrelsome and with all reverence toward God. A man must rule his household. He must look to the needs of every member whether physical or spiritual. His role is to work by the sweat of his brow providing the family with the necessities of life. He will guide the home with a deeper understanding of the word of God. Combined together his family will not lack. The wife will be treated in the same manner that Christ loves the church. As a father he will not provoke his children but train them in the admonition of righteousness and holiness. His rule of the home is overshadowed by the hand of God.

There is a great need for men to take the mantle of leadership to guide the home as the Lord desires. If a man does not know how to rule his own household he cannot guide the family of God. This does not limit the responsibility of all men who serve the Lord to learn how to be a husband that nourishes and cherishes the wife and to lead the children to the throne of God. Every man must be a leader in the home. Women are to be in subjection because that is the will of God. Noble men who take the charge of the Lord to guide the home will show the woman how enjoyable subjection will be under the will of the heavenly Father. Ruling the home requires courage. Faith is the center of the home as the man builds the walls of truth around his family. Covering the home with the grace of God will protect the family from the wiles of the devil seeking to destroy the leadership of the man. Men must be leaders. They must rule the home under the care of the word of God. As students of the book the man will learn how to make righteous decisions and direct the family to the heavenly gates. If a man does not know how to rule his own house well he will leave it up to someone who will destroy it.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. (James 1:1)

Slavery Is A Good Thing

The subject of slavery is unfavorable for many reasons in our country due to the perceived history that brought about a civil war and civil unrest. Talking about slavery is a delicate debate of right and wrong and lasting impressions that linger to this day. Lost in the rejection of slavery is the manner God uses it to describe our relationship to Him. The Law of Moses never banned slavery but placed restrictions and regulations concerning the treatment of slaves. When the early church began to form its doctrines according to the word of God, slavery was not prohibited but like the Law of Moses challenged its treatment of the slave and attitudes of those under slavery. Paul instructed the saints in Corinth to remain in the calling which they were found including slaves. Using slavery as a backdrop, the early writers called themselves servants of God and of Christ to make a powerful point.

To be a slave meant that all rights were given up for the service of another. When it comes to our relationship with the Lord this is the only way we can serve Him. Living in a land of the free and the brave gives us the idea that we are free to do whatever our heart desires. This can be true in our relationship to the government and community but this is not the case in our service to God. Slaves had no rights and had to obey their masters to the letter of the law. They were not free to choose what they wanted, where they wanted to go and how they were to carry out their service. Some will look at this as a cruel denial of rights demanding justice be meted out to set those servants free. To be crucified with Christ demands we become slaves of God. We are not free to choose what we want, where we can go and how we can carry out our life outside the bounds of God’s law. There are too many American Christians that believe the Constitution of the United States and the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is the guide for the service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Nothing is further from the truth. James called himself a bondservant or slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Slavery is required in the kingdom of God. We have no rights – none. All of our supposed rights were taken away when we crucified ourselves to Jesus Christ making the good confession of allegiance that we believe He (and He alone) is the Son of God making Him the King. In the feudal days of lords, ladies and kings, whatever the king demanded was done and without question. Serving King Jesus is not a democracy. It is an absolute monarchy. A Christian is a slave of the master Jesus Christ and must serve in that capacity as a slave. The reason slavery can be a terrible thing for men is they do not possess the capability of everlasting justice and love. Many slaves desired to stay with the master because they were treated so well (see the Law of Moses and the awl in the ear). The book of Philemon is about a Christian master who was implored to take back his slave Onesimus. What made the book powerful is the knowledge that Onesimus had become a Christian. Being a slave under Christ is the most wonderful experience man can possess because our master died for us. Let that sink in a moment and drink deeply from that cup! We are slaves of the one who died for me so that I could see His Father. What part of that slavery would anyone not want to have? This is the essence of being a slave of Christ.

The apostles Paul and Peter referred to themselves as slaves of Jesus Christ. New Testament Christian’s must learn how to be slaves of Christ to subject their hearts and minds to the will of the Father. It requires full obedience like a slave. The Father and Son provide every spiritual blessing that makes our slavery salvation. Serving a master demands humility. The Christian does not have a right to refuse the will of the Father. His word is our guide and we obey – because we are slaves. What is truly remarkable about our slavery is that when our work is done we are allowed to live eternally with our master glorifying Him for all of His goodness given to us. The joy of slavery in Christ is without end.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” (Jonah 3:1-2)

The Longsuffering Of God

Jonah the son of Amittai was a special messenger of the Lord to the Gentile population of Nineveh. This great city was filled with wickedness and the mercy of God would grant them an opportunity to change their ways or be destroyed. The Lord instructs Jonah to preach to Nineveh but the preacher chooses to run away from his responsibility and secures a ship to Tarshish. It seems incredulous a man of God would think he could vanish from the eyes of the Lord but Jonah made a valiant effort. Thwarted by God Jonah is sent a second time to preach to Nineveh and he obeys the Lord. There were many men that could have gone to the Assyrian capital but the Lord wanted Jonah to go. He was a powerful spokesman for righteousness. Nineveh was an exceedingly great city requiring three days to walk its breadth. Warning that destruction would come from the power of God in forty days, Jonah persuaded the city to believe in God and brought the king to cover himself in sackcloth and ashes. It was a revival of huge proportions unmatched in evangelistic stories. One lesson missed in the story of Jonah and the big fish is the longsuffering of the Lord toward a man and a city.

God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach the good news of salvation. Jonah refused. For many who rebuffed the word of the Lord death was swift and certain. Not in the case of Jonah. The Lord knew his heart and from the mercy of God Jonah was spared. He was punished with three days in the belly of the fish which would become a type of the Son of God in the tomb three days. After Jonah was released from the fish God called Jonah a second time to go to Nineveh and the preacher obeyed. It is difficult to fully understand the longsuffering of the Lord. He knows the heart of all men and with that knowledge chooses to show His mercy as He sees fit. Jonah’s refusal was bold. Trying to run away from God was an impossible task and yet the Lord did not strike him dead. His disobedience was a blatant and purposed but the Lord spared his life. It is significant to see that the Lord gave him a second chance.

The mercy of the Lord is also seen toward the city of Nineveh. This was not a town of Israelite’s who were keeping the Law of Moses. They were a Gentile population filled with wickedness and evil. Why would God send a Jewish preacher to this great city to preach repentance? The Lord saw in the heart of the people a responsive chord that could change. His longsuffering toward the city of Nineveh was a powerful example of the grace and mercy of God. Jonah was a powerful preacher and was able by the word of God to change the hearts of the city. Men could not have seen that but God did. After Jonah preached to the city and they repented, he became angry that the Lord would spare them. The story ends abruptly without knowing what became of Jonah. Could he not see the longsuffering of God in his own life and how that by God’s grace the people of Nineveh were spared? There are important lessons that take our hearts to the throne of God and learn about His love.

Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost. He established the church that would make up the body of the saved. The world is in desperate need of the message of salvation. God’s longsuffering is toward His people who struggle in their lives and challenged in their faith. Like Jonah, we fail to obey the word of the Lord. He called Jonah for a reason and Jonah refused. How many times have we taken a ship to Tarshish trying to flee our responsibilities to the Lord? God’s grace gently weaves its love into our hearts and we are brought back to His loving arms. Sadly, we do this often and with each journey the longsuffering of the Lord overshadows our lives. Sin is like Jonah fleeing the presence of the Lord. Forgiveness is found in the one who spent three days in the tomb and arose to give us hope. God’s longsuffering is patient. Jonah obeyed the Lord the second time and we should always be thankful the Lord gives us a second chance.

The city of Nineveh is a lesson of how the Lord desires all men to be saved. His longsuffering is allowing the world to stand. Life is the testimony of the grace of God given to all those who can come to Him for salvation. While breath remains in the spirit of man there is hope because God suffers long showing His love and His mercy. There are no boundaries of His longsuffering. After the flood of Noah’s day God gave man a second chance. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead confirmed that all men have the opportunity to seek the Lord and find Him. When Jonah preached repentance to the people of Nineveh they all obeyed the Lord including the king. What a difference this world would be if the spirit of Nineveh pervaded the hearts of men at the preaching of Jesus Christ. Come the Father. He is longsuffering and is a God of second chances.