The Heaton File

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. And many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” (John 4:39-42)

The Noble Samaritans

Jesus had come to the well of Jacob to refresh Himself while His disciples went to bring food. As he rested at the well, a woman of Samaria came to draw water. The discourse of Jesus and the woman at the well is a striking testimony of God’s message to save all people. Samaritans were despised by the Jews. A Samaritan woman of questionable character would seem to be less desired. She was shocked Jesus spoke to her but soon the words of Jesus would change her life. Her reaction was to return to the city and tell everyone of her encounter with the man at the well. She told the men Jesus had told her all she had done and possibly this man was the Christ. Curious, the men of the city came to see Jesus. What happened next was even more remarkable.

The Holy Spirit does not record the teaching of Jesus to the people of Samaria but the reaction is clear. Many Samaritans believed in Jesus. A mongrel race, despised and hated by the Jews, listened to the word of God and they believed in Him. In contrast, Jesus was rejected in His own hometown. He was despised by the Jewish leadership. Eventually the Jews would have Jesus killed by the Roman authorities. But at a well outside the city of Sychar, a Bible study with the Lord turned the hearts of many Samaritans to believe Jesus was the Son of God. They implored Jesus to stay with them and He remained two more days. What an exciting time that must have been. How refreshing for Jesus to find such open hearts willing to listen to His teaching. What separated the Samaritans from so many others is their desire to listen to Jesus and make their decisions based simply on their own minds. They told the woman how grateful they were for her bringing Jesus to their attention but their faith was not based on her – it came from hearts that opened the truth of Jesus Christ and His word.

In the work of evangelism there are many Samaritans longing to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The woman at the well was not a woman of good character. Samaria was a land rejected by the people of God but not by God. Jesus had a bountiful harvest in the land of Samaria. What set these folk apart from so many is their open hearts. They hungered for a message of hope. Their hearts were receptive to the powerful teaching of the Son of God. How many Jewish cities begged Jesus to stay with them so He could teach them? How thrilling those two days were for the people who soaked in the word of God’s Son. It all began because Jesus knew the power of talking to a woman of Samaria. Teaching the gospel of Christ should never be measured by the character of the person but the measure of the heart. The disciples were shocked Jesus was talking to the woman because they would never have thought this woman was deserving. It is sad when we make that same mistake today.

The noble Samaritans remind the church there are many people in the world who are hungering for the truth that will set them free. Sometimes all it takes is a conversation at a water fountain. The bounty of a simple contact can lead to so many more blessings. What sets the Samaritans apart is their willing hearts to hear the truth. In the lives of every Christian are people who pass by who would believe because they heard the word – if only given the opportunity. The Samaritans believed because they heard the word of God. They believed it. They obeyed. Their lives were changed. This all began because of a discussion at a well near the city of Sychar.

The gospel is for lifeboats, not showboats, and a man must make up his mind which boat he is going to operate. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He spoke this parable to them, saying: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15:1-7)

A Father’s Love For The One

From birth, every child needs to feel loved and cared for. There is reliance upon someone to protect, nourish and care for the needs of the baby because it is helpless without it. In the family of God, the greatest joy knows that the Father cares for everyone and He cares for the individual. It is easy to see how the heavenly Father will care for all men but it is sometimes difficult to remember that He cares for the one as much as he cares for the millions of others. Jesus shared a parable about the worth of the individual in the mind of God. A man with one hundred sheep has many animals to look after. Each one is unique in their own way; some are easily cared for – others more difficult. If a man loses one sheep the loss is one percent. In the business world this would be an accepted loss but not so in the family of God. One sheep is as important as the ninety-nine because the love of the Father is just as great for the one as the many.

The parable Jesus told is vital to make a practical application of the Father’s care for the individual. No one is unimportant to God. There can be a lot of reasons the sheep was lost. It could have been his own fault, carelessness, fear, bad choice or a number of reasons. The real message is the one lost sheep mattered to the shepherd because he cared for the one as much as the ninety-nine. Realizing the one sheep is lost, the shepherd begins an arduous task of looking for the lost sheep. That is a lot of work, time and energy to find one lost sheep. The shepherd does it willingly because of his love. He does not stop until he finds the lost sheep and rejoices with friends and neighbors when he returns home. Jesus makes the application that when one sinner repents, the halls of heaven resound with the joyous praise of the angels. There is greater joy over the one than the ninety and nine.

Losing one sheep may not matter to a businessman but losing one soul means a great deal to the Father. It is gratifying to know God cares that much for the one. He understands our needs and through His love desires to bless us with His personal touch. Consider how fearful the sheep would be lost in the wilderness. The greatest comfort he would have is to know his shepherd is looking for him. We fail our Father often. Yet, we know He loves us enough to seek us and implores us to return. When we restore our spirits in the arms of the Savior, He forgives us and the angels of Heaven rejoice. Think about this for a moment: one sinner who repents makes noise in Heaven. The Father’s love makes that joy possible because He cares than much for me. Never think you are not important to the Father. The Father cares for the ninety-nine but He cares deeply for the one. And that is YOU.

God is beautiful. He is the most beautiful of all beings, because … His beauty is without change or vicissitude, without increase or diminution. (Jacques Maritain, The Philosophy of Art, 1923)

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Living In The Midst Of Bounty

There have been few countries as blessed as the United States. From sea to shining sea the bounty of America’s crops have fed millions an abundance of produce in both this country and the world abroad. It is not hard to see the incredible blessings of the rich land the American dream was built upon. Grocery stores are filled every day with shelves teeming with goods. Fuel is always available, malls and department stores bulge with thousands of selections and few people do not enjoy the technological advancements of cell phones, computers, internet and a vast array of amazing toys for men to dabble with. Unlike many nations in the world, the United States is a world of unending opportunities.

A greater harvest awaits the work of men that has nothing to do with the physical blessings of the land. Imagine for a moment a land filled to the brim with fields upon fields of grain and few people working the fields to reap the bounty. Millions of people are starving. Millions more are dying. The irony is the answer to the famine is found in the fields gleaming with ripe grain and yet few workers are found working in the heat of the day. In some parts of the globe, diligent workers are busy working in the fields finding those who hunger for the lifesaving grain and saving their lives. A sad reality is the workers of the one who planted all the grain are so often found idly sitting by without harvesting the crops. People are dying daily who needed the grain to live but no one took the time or effort to help.

Jesus was not speaking of a physical harvest when He looked upon the multitudes that followed Him. His compassion led Him to proclaim the stark reality of the world. Millions of people die with no hope and so often, the reason is the lack of workers in the field of souls. Multitudes spend their lives like sheep without a shepherd. The fact remains the harvest of lost souls is abundant but the ones willing to labor in the field of teaching others the gospel is few. Little has changed over the two thousand years Jesus spoke those words. Few are working diligently to bring others to Christ. For many, evangelism is waiting for the lost to walk in the church building and then after attending for a few weeks will suddenly – on their own – decide to obey the gospel. On rare occasions this will happen but only rare. It is like fisherman having a weekly convention hoping the fish will jump into their boat so they can proclaim they are doing the work of the Lord. The laborers are few and remain so.

There are lost souls all around our lives. How often do we make an effort to glean the harvest of those who are our friends, co-workers, families and sometimes strangers? There is a plentiful harvest but few laborers. Jesus emphasized an important part of the work of evangelism. There are many things to pray for but one thing most needful is to spend time praying about the work of teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ. The fields are teeming. Workers are needed. It is work. Let there be no doubt. The rewards are eternal. Now that is a great story.

The gospel is not a secret to be hoarded but a story to be heralded. Too many Christians are stuffing themselves with gospel blessings; while millions have never had a taste. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery, just like the love of the Lord for the children of Israel, who look to other gods and love the raisin cakes of the pagans.” So I bought her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and one and one-half homers of barley. And I said to her, “You shall stay with me many days; you shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man–so, too, will I be toward you.” For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days. (Hosea 3:1-5)

Loving An Unfaithful Wife

Hosea is one of the most amazing prophets of the Old Testament. His book is just over five thousand words but the message of the son of Beeri is one of the greatest love stories in scripture. He was a pre-exilic prophet seeking to bring the people of God back to a faithful relationship with the Lord. The book opens with the Lord telling Hosea to marry a woman of harlotry. Three children are born to his wife Gomer but only one belongs to Hosea. Jezreel is the only child of Hosea with Lo-Ruhamah (a girl) and Lo-Ammi (a boy) conceived by others. In time, Gomer leaves Hosea returning to her life of debauchery. Deserted, despised and perhaps sold as a slave, she is bought by her loving husband for fifteen shekels of silver (half the price of a common slave) and one and one-half homers of barley. Hosea brings his wife home “no longer to enjoy the privileges of an honored wife, which she had flung away, but to repair the past and atone for the sin by mortification, seclusion, and tears” (Albert Barnes).

It seems incredulous for a man of God to marry a woman who was a prostitute. Hosea truly loved his wife. Gomer was a troubled woman who had difficulty keeping her faithfulness to her husband. Jezreel would be the only fruit of Hosea’s loins. He would know Lo-Ruhamah and Lo-Ammi were not his children. How crushing that must have been for the prophet. His love for Gomer was deep. He cared deeply for her and wanted her to share his love as he could care for her. Sometime later she leaves Hosea returning to her life of whoredom. The story of Hosea is beyond the realm of understanding. He marries a woman of ill-repute, has one child by her and discovers she bears two children by other men and then his wife leaves him to go back to her life of harlotry. How could any man love a woman such as Gomer? That is the powerful message of the book of Hosea when he takes Gomer back as his wife.

The message of Hosea was a clear warning for the nation of Israel and a declaration of the love God had for His people. They were nothing when He found them and made them His own. Through their rebellion and whoredom with the nations around them, the nation of Israel had turned away from God. In the face of all their whoredom, Israel was still loved by the Lord and a remnant would return. The prophet shows by his own life-experience the relationship God had with His people. It is also a testimony to the love of God for all men. There was a time when we were enemies of God, living in the darkness of sin. God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son to save man. Our harlotry is the challenge of sin. Time and again, we struggle with the passions of mortality when we transgress the law of God. In the incredible mercy of God He forgives us when we repent. The powerful message of Hosea is not the acceptance of a sinful life but the amazing grace and mercy of a loving God who will take us back when we have sinned. And He will always do this because He loves us more than we can understand. Do we deserve this love? No! Will God forgive us when we repent? Yes!

Hosea concludes his book reminding the children of Israel the ways of the Lord are right. The righteous will walk in the ways of the Lord and find peace. Those who disobey the Lord continuing in their rebellion will be punished. The book of Hosea is about the mercy and unmerited favor of a righteous God who unfolds His expansive arms of love seeking His children to return to Him. He loves us. What more can be said.

The sun does not look less upon one rose in the midst of a thousand millions of other flowers than if he looked down upon it alone. And God does not shed His love less upon one soul while He loves an infinity of others than if He loved it alone. (Frances of Sales; 1567-1622; Consoling Thoughts of, ed. Huguet)

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Giving Or Tithing

One of the singular parts of worship from the beginning has been returning to the Lord what He has graciously allowed man to have. Everything man has comes from God. The world was created as a cornucopia of God’s blessings for man to enjoy. Cain and Abel illustrate the importance of true worship and teach how the Creator desired for the creation to remember where all his blessings came. In the days of Abraham, organized worship is found when Melchizedek was a priest of the God Most High. Abraham gave him a tithe of all, which is the first reference to the worship of giving. Later, under the Law of Moses, the children of Israel are commanded to give a tithe of the land as a holy gift to the Lord. Most people in the religious world are not aware tithing is no longer required.

The first reason tithing is not a part of worship today is the Law of Moses has been done away with. Jesus came to establish a new law. His death took away the law of flesh or the law given only to the Jews. Various passages reflect the command of tithing but these are found under the old law. Keeping the law of tithing requires keeping the rest of the law given to Israel. Jesus took that law out of the way, nailing it to the cross.

Using the New Testament as the pattern for worship, giving is a matter of the heart. No reference of the early Christians reflects their giving as a tithe. Paul’s letters to Corinth establish the pattern of how Christian’s are to give. He exhorted them to put something aside on the first day of the week, storing up as a person may prosper. In his second letter, he went into more detail using the churches of Macedonia as an example of sacrificial giving. One of the points Paul makes is how the brethren first gave of themselves, an important ingredient to cheerful giving. A principle of sowing and reaping is set forth to measure the gratitude of the heart. Giving should come from a heart with purpose and thanksgiving. Before any gift is given, the heart must be filled with the praise of what God has blessed by His loving power.

Worship has always been a matter of the heart. Giving is as much a spiritual exercise as singing and praying. It can become a matter of rote practice with little consideration of how special it is to return a small blessing to the Creator. Removing the command to tithe has elevated the worship to a matter of choice with the individual as a sign of love in how they give to the Father. Giving is not a matter of begrudging or resentment. If a person squeezes the Indian nickel so tight he is riding the buffalo on the other side, his worship is vain. Often the question is asked how much to give. The real question to ask is if a person gives a certain amount, how much are they keeping for themselves? Even a ten-percent gift allows the giver to retain ninety-percent. While tithing is not commanded, giving ten-percent would be acceptable if the heart was willing. The honest realization is that few give even ten-percent. Giving is a cheerful experience because giving is an expression of devoted love to the Father.

Worship is a matter of the heart. Spirit and truth are the foundations worship is built upon. Giving must be according to the spirit of the heart and the truth of God’s commands. There may be some who will find themselves as Ananias and Sapphira did when they pretended to give as they prospered. Still others will find joy when their hearts are filled like the man called Barnabas. Jesus gave His all. What I give will never match the gift of the Father. What I can do is to return to him the bountiful portion of what He has so generously given to me trusting He will provide all my needs. Thank you God for your abundant blessings and gifts.

Much church giving is to ease the conscience. Giving five dollars may be only a nice way of “paying off” the Lord while the heart really is set on the concubines of self and sin. It is one thing to write out a handsome check for the church; it is another to give God oneself and the ability by which one earned the check. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-11)

My Bible

The election is over. In one of the most contested political races of our time, America has come through a tempest of unparalleled proportions as the partisan agendas of two opposing parties fought a long and bitter battle to gain the presidency. Regardless of who won, the realities of a new day bring a reminder that life continues in the face of national turmoil. By the grace of God the sun rises from the east and through His power our days will be filled with the daily pursuit of life. As I entered my office this early morning pondering the impact of a newly elected president, lying upon my desk was my Bible. A black cover binding the golden edged pages of the word of God is where it is each morning waiting the cover to be broken and the wisdom of eternity to be mined. Each morning I open the book and spend a few hours gleaning a message for the day, a thought for a moment and a lesson for my life. My Bible is always there waiting. The words are always fresh. New teachings are simmering on the surface. Some new thing is discovered with a little gentle persuasion. Words are assembled and crafted in a simple manner to make a sentence and a paragraph and hopefully a lesson. It is my Bible that is always on my desk waiting for me.

The past year has been a flurry of political intrigue filling every part of the conversation of life. There is an immense sense of relief the year of electing another president is over. This one especially. It is great to be an American but this has not been a stellar year for the American spirit. Through all of the anguish of fear and doubt, my Bible has remained constant waiting for me each day on my desk. This morning was no different than any morning with the exception that I was really glad to see my Bible this morning. A constant friend and an abiding companion, my Bible is a refreshing breath of real hope filling my mind – not with the putridity of human waste – but the glory of God and His love. Rising above the debauchery of a world filled with prejudice and hatred, the oasis of the mind of God brings relief and soothes the soul.

Reading the law of the Lord changes the soul. His testimonies are solid ground enabling me to stand with the reassurance of the wisdom of God. There is joy in my heart as I fill my heart with the decrees of the Almighty. Seeing the world through the commandments of the Lord brings purity. Cleansed from the fear of men the word of God fills me with the enduring reverend fear of the Lord. What I find in my Bible are judgments that are true and righteous because they come from my God who is truth and righteousness. There is nothing in life more precious than time with my Bible. Gold perishes, honey wastes away but my Bible remains a constant reminder of the everlasting presence of God. There is nothing more precious and nothing sweeter than spending time with the words of my eternal Father.

The day after an election is always a day of reflection. It is then we realize that life is not about the here and now as each day comes and goes by the mercy of God. We may have thought the world would end on that second Tuesday of November. It could have but only because the will of God decreed the coming of the Son of Man. By His grace, we are allowed a new day. It is in this small frame of time we should renew our devotion to God – not to the whims of men – but devote ourselves more fully to what so many of us have at our disposal. Where is your Bible? How often do we glean its pages? One thing we should have learned this past year is how much more we need to open the word of God and spend time in His presence. His word is unchanging. It is still perfect, sure, right, pure, enduring, true and righteous altogether. Keeping the word of God brings great reward. Open your Bible. Read.

Give me the Bible, star of gladness gleaming; to cheer the wanderer lone and tempest tossed. No storm can hide that radiance peaceful beaming; since Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (Priscilla J. Owens, 1883)

And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7)

There Is Nothing To Fear

We live in perilous times. Actually, every generation lives in perilous times. The cocoon of our life is measured by what we experience and we believe these are the worst of times. Nothing has been as bad as it has been now and the world is in a worse state than ever before – is how we feel. Again, not an accurate portrayal of history as there are many times in generations past, life was much more difficult and tenuous. In all probability, there will be harder times in the future. The reality of life is what we experience today is the true normal and we must learn how to view the events of our lives in the face of our relationship with God. What happened two hundred years ago or what we fear may happen tomorrow is of no consequence. Today is all we have.

Jesus illustrates an important principle of life when He defines the character of fear. He assures the disciples that life will be filled with great uncertainty. It has always been that way and will continue until the Lord returns. Dangerous times fill the hearts of men with dread in every generation. Despots rule over people with an iron fist of cruelty. Men rise who make life hard for the masses. There are many things that men do to other men that can bring fear and dread. Regardless of what men can and will do, they are not to be feared. The persecutions in life can lead to death but this is not to be feared. In the early days of the church, many lost their lives for believing in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ words bring comfort for those who will give their life for truth and again that is okay. Christians are not to fear men because all they can do is to kill the body. There is something greater to fear.

The worst man can do to another is to kill them. All they have accomplished is to take the life from a man for a moment. Jesus reminds His followers the one to fear greater is the one who has the power to destroy both body and soul in an eternal flame. He speaks of His Father. The Lord God can destroy body and soul if a man does not fear Him. This fear is the reality that life after death can be worse than anything experienced on this earth. What man does is for a moment; what God does is without end. This fear is measured with the knowledge that man does not need to think the Lord is an avenging and angry Lord who will destroy at any whim.

The child of God should know the Father cares deeply for every soul who follows Him. Fearing God is the devoted respect for His love, His mercy and His grace. Jesus compares this love to the knowledge His Father has of man. The tiny sparrow is of great importance to the Creator and every sparrow in the world is known by the Father – none are left out. God knows how many hairs fill the head of man. Jesus makes the point the Father is aware of the troubles we face and He is concerned. He loves us that much. What we feel and what we experience is on the mind of the Lord God Creator. Every devoted heart of God’s children is special, important, and vital to Him. Think about that for a moment. Fearing God helps us to live a life without fear.

Fear knocked on the door. Faith answered. No one was there. (On the front of the mantel in the ancient Hind’s Head Hotel at Bray, England)

Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure. For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places. He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries. He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh and all his servants. He defeated many nations and slew mighty kings–Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan–and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people. Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations. (Psalm 135:1-13)

Remember One Thing This Week

We stand on the brink of a historic moment in the history of the land we call America. What will happen this week is a reminder of the power of a democratic process fraught with uncertainty, distrust, failure, freedom, anticipation and fear. The hearts of citizens are at a frenzied level of excitement for the outcome to be in their favor. A choice will be made and a decision rendered. Lives will change. A movement will begin in a new direction. Leadership will be recreated. What will go unnoticed is the rising of the sun like it has for ions of generations. Birds will fill the sky with no concerns of the human race. The waves will beat upon the shore in rhythmic patterns and the mountains will glow with the morning dew. Far above all the din of the world’s turmoil rules the One who remains in control allowing humanity to continue on its collision course with destiny.

Wednesday morning will not be unlike the day before. Life will continue as it has and the world will change on the surface but God still rules as He has from the beginning of time. In the beginning the Lord created all the world and set things in motion. He placed man upon the earth and reminded him allegiance must be given to the Creator. More often than not man forgot and believed he was his own god. Kings, rulers, Pharaoh’s and tyrants rose to power and the Lord God exercised His power over each one. The Lord is above all gods and rulers. By His hand the vapors of the earth ascend, the lightning fills the rain and the wind blows by the majesty of His will. He brought low the Pharaoh of Moses’ day in spectacular examples of His power. Throughout history, the hand of God has ruled over every nation defeating their armies and tearing down despots who believe they are gods. Nations rise and nations fall and the Lord God rules.

There is one thing that must be remembered this week above all things. The name of the Lord will endure and His fame will be acknowledged in every generation. He judges the nations and will care for His people regardless of what happens this week. That will not change. The people of God have a calm assurance knowing that the Father remains faithful in every storm of man’s pitiful attempt to make themselves gods. Praise the Lord this week. Let this day of worship be a reminder of who rules the affairs of man. Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, O you servants of the Lord.

We are too aware of the “men” in our text and not aware enough of our Father. Our sole business is to glorify Him and so let out light shine that others will glorify Him too. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:1-6)

The Joy Of The Twelve

Growing up in Israel, twelve little boys would have little idea how much their lives would change when they became adults. Like all other boys, many followed their father’s trade. Four of the boys grew up helping their family fish the Sea of Galilee learning the dangers of sudden storms and enjoying the calming sunsets over the water. Some of the other boys had impressions on them that instilled great national pride, a desire to be a successful businessman, and a heart that was fully devoted to God. Twelve little boys who would help to change the world in ways they could never imagine.

The nation had long looked for the coming Messiah. It had been four hundred years since the word of the Lord had come to the people. A famine of the word of God had blanketed the nation as Amos had prophesied. Anticipation was always at a peak as men rose claiming to be the Christ until the day Jesus Christ came into the lives of twelve men. He called them one by one and they followed Him not knowing the challenges they faced. This was the real Messiah. His power was clear. His teaching forceful. He endued them with power to cast out demons and cure diseases. They went out preaching the kingdom of God and healing the sick.

Twelve men left Jesus that day to do something they never dreamed would be where their life would take them. Peter must have thought he would spend his life toiling on a fishing boat like every generation before him. What kind of family did Judas come from? Where did Thomas learn a deep love for the Lord? Matthew was a deeply devoted Jew who would be a writer telling the story of the Christ from Nazareth. Twelve men going out from the Lord to preach the good news of repentance. Coming into a village, they began to heal the sick. What was it like to heal someone by the touch of the hand? Judas cast out a demon, Bartholomew gave sight to a blind man, Andrew moved the hearts of the people with a sermon of God’s love, and John gave food to a poor family. The excitement among the twelve was profound.

Multitudes of common people came to hear what the twelve men proclaimed. They had never heard such teaching before. Many had come claiming to be the Christ but no one had the power over demons or healing of all manner of diseases like these twelve men. The disciples of Jesus grew in number. Twelve men preached the joy of salvation to a nation of people who had long lost their hope. The people marveled at how common the twelve men were. They would have expected nobles such as the Pharisees or scribes to be the teachers but these were fishermen, zealots, tax collectors and ordinary men who brought them the message of Jesus Christ. Twelve men turned the world upside down. Men of faith doing the work of the Lord. Now that is a great story.

Good preaching sounds reveille, not taps. (James M. Gillis, This Mysterious Human Nature, 1956)

For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: “Seek Me and live” (Amos 5:4)

Happiness In Four Words

Libraries are filled with books describing the pursuit of happiness. Television shows with famous stars tout the latest fad to give life a full meaning. Experimenting with drugs, alcohol and sex appeal to the carnal nature of man to seek fleshly utopia. The most sought after need of man since the beginning of creation has been to find happiness. All the wisdom, fads and experiments of men have failed bringing greater misery and unhappiness. When God created man, he embedded within his nature the need for happiness and showed him the only way to fulfill that happiness was to seek after the One who made him.

All men are eternal. Created in the image of God, man has a beginning but has no end. The image of God is wrapped in a fleshly body that struggles to find happiness in carnal pleasures. From the Garden of Eden the Lord has told man contentment will only come from seeking Him and following His word. Imagine how beautiful it was in Eden. Everything man could imagine was provided and there was no hatred, anger, death, disease or sin. Man was created to be happy. God put him in a world filled with peace and joy but man was not satisfied. Expelled from the Garden, man found happiness would only come from seeking the will of God.

The world of Noah was so corrupt it was destroyed by the hand of God. Man had taken carnal pleasure to the worship of selfish needs in the short-lived depravity of the flesh. Noah found happiness obeying the word of the Lord finding peace inside the ark. Generations later, the nation of Israel is told to return to the Lord and find peace. Amos is a prophet of the pre-exilic days of Israel pleading with the rebellious children of Israel to find happiness in the Lord. Life would be blessed if the people would repent and turn to the Lord. Four words describe the need: Seek God and live. The only source of happiness is found in the Lord. Sadly, the people refused and found despair in the destruction of Israel.

Happiness is still the focus of man today and like all generations; men fail to find a lasting joy. The carnal pleasures still appeal but only for a short time. Wisdom from man fails to measure up to a lasting joy. Fads come and go. The question of life and its meaning escapes man as he looks in all the wrong places for contentment. Amos appeals to modern man with the same words. Seeking the Lord will give life. The only real life man will find is in the word of God. He made us and knows what we need. Anything we find in the pleasures of the flesh is temporary. Seeking the Lord will give life eternal. Godliness removes the stains of sin and its consequences. Purity of mind brings peace, sanctification of the body removes impurities and holiness of a life consecrated to God will promise eternal life. Seeking God is seeking happiness. Life can only be found in a personal relationship with the Father and Creator of the world.

When we try to reach real happiness on cheap terms, what we get is bound to be cheap. (David Roberts, The Grandeur and Misery of Man, 1955)