The Birth Of Jesus

Posted on February 24, 2025 by heatonkent

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. (Luke 1:26-27)

The Birth Of Jesus

Before the foundation of the world, God planned to send His Son to redeem sinful man and establish the church. The fullness of time would not be accomplished until a certain time in history, allowing the appearance of the Christ and the propagation of the gospel throughout the world. A focal point of the scheme of redemption was the introduction of God’s Son to the world as a man. God could have formed Jesus from the dust of the ground as He did Adam. It was in the power of God to put His Son on the earth as a thirty-year-old man at a precise time to reveal the gospel of salvation. None of these would show the wisdom of God to a world that needed to accept His Son as a viable part of their lives. Jesus had to come to earth in a fashion that would connect Him with God and man. The virgin birth accomplished that.

Jesus would become the pattern of divine wisdom to show the power of God’s grace and the empathy of God toward His creation. Joseph and Mary of Nazareth were chosen to be the earthly guardians of the Son of God. Mary was highly favored as the woman who would bring God into the world. Through the act of one woman, sin came into the world. In the virgin birth, one woman would bring into the world the Savior who would give His life for the sins of the world. The birth of Jesus would be unlike any birth. Abraham and Sarah had a child when Abraham was one hundred years old. Sarah was ninety. Zacharias and Elizabeth gave birth to a son, John, in their old age. Jesus would be conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit. Joseph would have no part in the conception of Jesus.

All miracles are incredible events of God’s power working through the natural and spiritual world. For a woman to have a child when she was a virgin excels the understanding of how God shows His power in the world. Gabriel told Mary the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and the power of the Highest would overshadow her. Mary would conceive in her womb the child Jesus, who would carry to term as all babies and be born in the same manner. When her days were completed in accordance with the natural order of pregnancy, Mary brought forth her firstborn Son. Jesus was born in the same fashion as all men. Joseph looked upon the little baby Jesus through astonished eyes that a child was born of his virgin wife.

Matthew clarifies that no interference by men brought about the birth of Jesus. After the angel of the Lord explained to Joseph why Mary was pregnant, he accepted his wife and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. In accordance with the divine word, Joseph and Mary named their newborn Son, Jesus. The Son of God was born of the tribe of David in the city of Bethlehem, according to prophecy, and Jesus was born of a virgin, according to the prophets. Joseph and Mary would go on to have at least six children together.

The virgin birth of Jesus declares that God is the Creator. He can create the universe by speaking them into existence. Adam was created from the dust of the ground. Eve was created from a rib taken from Adam. Jesus was born of a virgin. The birth of Jesus shows that He was as human as all men. With the only exception to the nature of His conception, Jesus experienced all the things of humanity. As a little baby, He learned how to walk and talk and read like other children His age. He was subject to Joseph and Mary. Jesus probably helped Joseph in the carpenter’s work learning his trade. With at least six half-siblings, Jesus engaged with His earthly family as any other family. Jesus would have grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends with whom He would grow up.

At the age of thirty, Jesus began His ministry. All indications are that Joseph had died sometime earlier, leaving Mary a widow. The brother of Jesus had difficulty accepting their older brother for who He said He was but eventually came around. Mary was always an integral part of Jesus’ life, especially His ministry. When the Romans crucified Jesus, Mary stood at the feet of her beloved Son and wept. In a remarkable gesture of divine love, Jesus asked John to care for His beloved mother. Mary knew without any reservation that her little boy, who had begun His life cradled in a manger, was the Son of God. She did not cry out and demand they release Jesus. Her heart had long accepted the mission of the one that was conceived in her by the Holy Spirit.

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Training Children

Posted on February 23, 2025 by heatonkent

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “That it may be well with you and you many live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3)

Training Children

There is very little that has changed since the world began. It is easy to assume each generation has become more civilized, and while progress always changes with greater inventions, the core element of human nature remains the same. Consider the wise man who noted, “Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, they gobble their food, and they terrorize their teachers.” This saying would be (in many ways) a clear mandate for the problems with young people today. However, the quote was made by Socrates more than two thousand years ago.

Man changes little. The problems parents faced in the earliest part of human history remain the same challenges parents face in the modern world. There are no magic solutions to the ills of society. Each generation tries to reinvent the philosophical wheel of wisdom to solve the societal problems of family, morality, faith, and hope. An endless supply of books is authored by the educated elite who believe they have found the answers to life’s problems. They always fail.

Children have the same needs today as they needed in the time of Socrates. He was born four hundred years before Christ and became a Greek philosopher from Athens, Greece. Parents in the Greek world faced all the trials of raising children as any parent has done. Adam and Eve faced the challenge of raising godly children. God provided the answers. King David had more than twenty children. The Law of Moses gave instructions on training young minds. The apostle Peter had children who were taught the gospel of Christ. In 1492, parents had the Bible to understand how to cultivate the minds of their children.

The gospel of God has remained unchanged since the beginning of time. From Cain, the firstborn child of the world, to the modern-day challenges parents face, the Lord has given the same message of godliness to guide the home. Children need direction; the best answers are found in the book by the One who created them. The Bible is not an outdated book because its message remains the same. Children need to know God and how to follow His will so they can find true happiness and worth. There is no greater knowledge your child will discover than knowing God.

Parenting is a challenge that is not for the faint of heart. There is only one opportunity a parent has to guide the minds of their youth, and there are no do-overs. God has given us a blueprint to teach our children about God. What children need today is the same message God has always given. Let the Bible be your guide to give your children something that will change their lives. A child without God is a child lost in the world. Let them learn about Jesus and how much He loves them. You can find happiness in the home and your marriage when you train your family in the way of the Lord.

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A Righteous Thing With God

Posted on February 21, 2025 by heatonkent

Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you. (2 Thessalonians 1:6)

A Righteous Thing With God

The thought of eternal punishment is rejected because how could a loving God inflict such a horrible sentence upon those He created? To believe the Lord would take anyone and cast them into a place of torment is unconscionable to human wisdom. It is thought that a loving God would never threaten any form of eternal judgment. Many people do not believe in life after death, suggesting further that God is such a loving God that evil people will cease to exist. The thought is that eternal punishment is arbitrary and because it seems unjust and improper for humanity to embrace, it is therefore denied as possible. All who die either cease to exist or that everyone rest in peace (RIP) in a heavenly realm.

Everlasting destruction is a key component of Biblical language. It is taught in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is a righteous thing with God to punish evil doers and those who refuse to keep His commandments. Jesus said that Hell was prepared before the foundation of the world and was prepared for the devil and his angels. Denying God has prepared a place for eternal punishment would deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. It is proper for God to put everyone who refuses to obey Him in a future punishment because it is the righteous thing to do Sin is the transgression of the law of God. It separates the human spirit from the nature of God. The two cannot dwell together. Sin is not a mistake or a momentary lapse. The nature of sin is an egregious affront to God’s character and eternal nature, and He will repay the unrepentant with divine justice.

Jesus is returning one day in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who refuse to acknowledge God. The Son of God will bring judgment on all those who refuse to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is an everlasting destruction that has been prepared for the disobedient. This is based on the righteousness of a just God. Sending the unrepentant to an eternal destruction is the right thing to do. Ironically, everyone in the lake of fire and brimstone will know they are there because of the righteousness of a just God. There will be no one in perdition who does not believe they are there by mistake. All who enter the portal of eternal darkness will agree that it is the right thing to do.

It is sad to think of the millions who die who do not believe in God or believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. There is no joy or hope in death as they face the wrath of God. God will repay those who refuse to submit to His word with tribulation. This awareness should cause the unrepentant to repent and turn to the Lord. Jeremy Taylor said that life is short, and on this short life, eternity depends. No greater decision can a man make than where he desires to spend eternity. The gospel of two declares there are only two choices: eternal life and eternal death. There are no other options. It is a righteous thing for God to punish the unrepentant. His grace is the fulfillment of righteousness to save those who do repent. What choice will you make?

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Children Standing Before The Lord

Posted on February 20, 2025 by heatonkent

Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:13)

Children Standing Before The Lord

A national crisis had thrown the kingdom of Judah into turmoil as the people of Moab, with the people of Ammon and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against King Jehoshaphat. The small kingdom of Judah sought to remain faithful to the Lord, and Jehoshaphat was one of the few good kings who tried to bring the people back to God. Facing a great army, the king appealed to the Lord God of Israel to save His people. Jehoshaphat feared the great multitude of armies that stood before him. He set himself to seek the favor of the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. The people of Judah gathered together to ask for help from the Lord, and from all the cities of Judah, they came to seek the Lord.

As the people gathered together for this national crisis, seeking the help of the Lord, the Holy Spirit included an important lesson for parents who want to instill in their children a love of God and dependence upon the grace and mercy of the Lord. When all of Judah gathered together to ask for help from the Lord, they brought their little ones, their wives, and their children. The children needed to see God’s power in their parents’ hearts to depend upon God for deliverance. If the enemy was successful in waging war against them, everyone would die – including the children.

Faith in children must begin in the home. The wisdom to bring children to stand before the Lord is to show them who they must trust in times of crisis. This is learned by teaching and example. God wanted to see the children standing before him that day. He promised to deliver His people from the threat of the Moabites, Ammonites, and others who sought harm against Judah. The deliverance of God’s people was demonstrated powerfully when the enemies were defeated by singing. The Lord told Jehoshaphat and the people to position themselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. They did not need to fear or be dismayed. God would deliver them.

The people stood before the Moabites and Ammonites and sang, “Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever.” By God’s divine intervention, the Ammonites and Moabites fought against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. Then, they turned on one another and killed everyone. Judah never lifted a sword against them. When Judah came to the place where the battle took place, there were dead bodies everywhere. No one had escaped. There was so much spoil, and it took three days to gather it all together. God had delivered the people with His power, and the little ones and children saw His power.

Parents need to expose their children to the word of God. Children need to see their parents praying. Little ones need to visit the elderly to learn compassion. Families should spend time together learning about God and seeing the power of God in everyday stories. Parents need to bring their children to stand before the Lord. Children need never wonder where they will be when it is time to meet with God’s people. If a child does not know if they are “going to church,” the parents are failing their children. God wants the little ones to stand before Him. Jesus took time for children on multiple occasions during His ministry and rebuked His disciples when they hindered them. Let the little ones and children come before the Lord. Show them the power of God. Let them learn of His forgiveness, compassion, and wrath. Lead the children to Jesus Christ.

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A Different Gospel

Posted on February 19, 2025 by heatonkent

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

A Different Gospel

The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. Paul declared the message of the gospel in his letter to Rome. When the church began in Jerusalem, the twelve presented the story of Jesus Christ as revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. The church began to grow as more people heard the story of Jesus Christ and God’s saving grace. Thousands obeyed a simple message of hope and love in the story of Jesus. Men and women were baptized for the remission of their sins. The church was experiencing growth with people of God spreading the word of the Lord throughout the Roman world. Satan was taking notice.

One of the first books (letters) written in the New Testament was Paul’s epistle to the churches of Galatia. The region of Galatia was the central region of the peninsula of Asia Minor. Paul had visited this area on his first missionary journey, establishing churches as he went. It did not take long for Satan to seek harm against the church of Christ by false teachers preaching a false Christ. Many of those who brought trouble to the church were brethren who sought to force the Law of Moses upon the faithful in matters such as circumcision. They were perverting the gospel. Imposing the regulations of the old law with the new law was false teaching.

God has always condemned those who would trifle with His word. Satan’s first response to the human story was to question the word of God. The evil one asked Eve if God really meant what He said. Adam and Eve discovered the word of God does not change with the whims of human wisdom. God destroyed the world in the days of Noah because men turned away from His word. The nation of Israel was given a law written down in statutes, commandments, precepts, and testimonies, and the Jews failed on every point because they went beyond the word.

Apostasy is born from the seeds of human wisdom seeking to improve and change the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul notes that the heresies being taught were not another gospel because there was only one true gospel. Anything else is error. Teaching matters not found in the word of God is a troubling problem leading to the destruction of souls. Perverting the gospel of Christ distorts the story of God’s grace. When men change the gospel, they invoke the wrath of God. Paul even suggests that if an angel appeared to a man teaching a message different than what was revealed by the Holy Spirit, they would be accursed. This cursing is no mild threat. It is the eternal flames of a vengeful God upon those who change His word.

The religious world is filled with churches touting their claim to love Jesus and serve God. How can it be that Jesus built one church, and yet today, there are multitudes? The answer lies in the doctrines that are taught, which are not based upon the gospel of Christ. There is no doubting the authority of the Bible. When men teach matters not found in the Bible with the proper understanding of scripture, they are accursed and cursing those who follow them. So many religious people have little concern about the authority of scripture. They follow men, long-held traditions, family pedigrees with religious groups, and their desires.

A different gospel leads to a different end. Some have deceived themselves into believing that all roads lead to Heaven. Jesus died and opened one road to the Father. Many will travel the roads of a different gospel content to believe what a man (or angel) has taught. The great tragedy is their different gospels will lead to the same end. There will be no joy, peace, hope, or home in Heaven for travelers on a different road. If an angel is accursed for teaching a different gospel, what do you suppose will happen to men who follow the same pattern? The end is the same. It is a horrifying lake.

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The Liberty Of God

Posted on February 18, 2025 by heatonkent

Therefore thus says the Lord: “You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,” says the Lord “to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.” (Jeremiah 34:17)

The Liberty Of God

Slavery was not condemned in the Law of Moses, but there were strict rules governing the treatment of those enslaved. A bondservant must be released from obligation in the seventh year of his service. During the year of the Jubilee, all slaves were to be released regardless of their time as slaves. His property was also returned to him with a liberal amount of food and livestock. Darrell Hymel writes, “The Hebrew slave was not a victim of a harsh, cruel system. Hebrew slavery actually served a social purpose for the destitute, allowing them a source of food and shelter.” Slaves were treated as hired servants who were not to work on the Sabbath. Masters were commanded to treat their slaves without severity for fear of God.

In the final days of Judah, the remnant faced the Babylonian army led by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. God warned the people through the prophets of the impending doom and destruction. Jeremiah told Zedekiah, king of Judah, that Nebuchadnezzar would burn Jerusalem and all its cities with fire but that he would escape death. The Lord told the king he would be spared and taken to Babylon. During this tumultuous time, Zedekiah implored the people to set free their male and female slaves (Hebrew) and that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage. The people agreed and set their slaves free.

After setting their slaves free, the people changed their minds. They made the male and female slaves return, whom they had set free, to serve as slaves once again. This displeased the Most Holy God. Jeremiah reminded the people what the Law of Moses commanded. At the end of seven years, every man should set free their Hebrew brother. The people did this but then reneged on their covenant. Taking the Hebrews back into slavery displeased God, and He brought His divine wrath upon them.

Jeremiah suggests the Lord sheathed his sword when the people let their slaves go free. When they enslaved the people again, the sword of the Lord came out of its divine sheath. God’s wrath would be brought against His people for their flagrant disregard of His law. The promise God made was to give the people a liberty they would never forget. This liberty was the liberty of the sword, pestilence, and famine. God’s wrath would be let loose among the people for their blatant disregard for His word. The sword of God would bring a pestilence upon the people, leading to a famine. God’s wrath was to be meted out against the evil hearts of the people.

The lesson in this story is how God’s wrath is equal to the rebellion of the people. They gave liberty to the slaves and then took that liberty away. It was a harsh thing to set the people free only to enslave them once again. Because of their evil hearts, God brought His own liberty to the disobedient in the form of a sword, pestilence, and famine. God’s wrath is against all unrighteousness. The mercy of God justifies punishment. His divine wrath gave liberty to the disobedient in the form of their own doom. God has no desire for any to perish. His love has been given to bring men to Christ. Most people are unconcerned about Jesus Christ. The world is filled with people who do not believe in God or His only begotten Son.

Liberty for the world is to do whatever the heart pleases. Life can be filled with all the pleasures of the flesh, eyes, and pride of life. The world can enjoy all its liberties, but the Lord’s liberty will soon recompense the evil. An eternal punishment is the liberty God will give to all those who refuse to obey His will. It will not be a sword, pestilence, or famine. The liberty of the Lord is a lake of fire and brimstone that no one will escape.

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Break A Twig

Posted on February 17, 2025 by heatonkent

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” (Genesis 4:8-10)

Break A Twig

A missionary to Africa relates the story of a custom in certain parts, such as asking every chief for his losako or a life motto. One day, an old chief asked a missionary what his losako was. Repeating in the African language, the man said, “Love the Lord will all thy heart.” The missionary then asked the old chief for his losako. The old chief slowly and reverently repeated, “When you pass through the jungle, be very careful to break a twig so that the next man can find his way.”

When God asked Cain where his brother Abel was, Cain replied indignantly, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain had killed his brother, and the Lord knew this very well. How Cain responded showed his evil heart, but his answer revealed a divine truth. God created man not to be alone but to share in a communion of brotherhood. It begins at the family level when Eve is brought to Adam, establishing the family. Children create a union of fellowship, and then communities become a place where friendships and relationships create a world of brotherhood.

The Tower of Babel is a story of the origin of languages and the beginnings of nations and communities. God created man to care for one another and to leave a path for others to walk. The human spirit cannot thrive in isolation. There is a need for people to be with people. The wisdom of the old chief was to show the importance of how one life can help another life, and those lives can benefit a community. Individualism can destroy a community when no one cares for others. Selfishness is not godly. Neglecting those who need care does not glorify God.

In the Law of Moses, God commanded the edges of the fields to be left for the poor and the needy. One of the reasons God punished Israel was for abusing the downtrodden and destitute. Jesus taught the first commandment was devotion to God, followed by the command to love one another. The Christian is benevolent, showing God’s love by breaking twigs through life so that others can find the way. Everyone needs everyone in life. Children need guidance to know the way of truth. The lost must learn how to find salvation in Jesus Christ. Breaking a twig for the next person leaves a path for others to follow.

God has provided everything needed to find peace, happiness, and eternal joy. Each individual becomes a trailblazer to help others find Jesus Christ. How can we love the truth and keep it to ourselves? From a benevolent heart to care for others, we show the love of Christ so that others can find the way to eternal life. The church is a place of fellowship united for the purpose of showing the grace of God.

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God Sees The Heart

Posted on February 14, 2025 by heatonkent

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. (Judges 11:1)

God Sees The Heart

The period of the Judges was a volatile time of wickedness by the people of God, oppression as a form of divine judgment, and the grace of God to save His people. It was a circular series of events where God’s people would engage in idolatry and wickedness, leading the Lord to bring a foreign enemy to oppress the land for many years. When the people repented and cried out to the Lord, a deliverer would be raised by the hand of God, and the land would have peace for a while. Judges like Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar, Deborah, Barak, Gideon, and Samson fill the pages of God’s word with courage, wisdom, and trust in God.

Following the death of Jair, a Gileadite who judged Israel for twenty-two years. The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They began to worship and serve the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. The children of Israel forsook the Lord and did not serve Him. To punish His people, God delivered them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites. For eighteen years, the affliction upon Israel was heavy. Finally, the hearts of the people relented and sought the forgiveness of the Lord. They put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord because the soul of God could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

The man God chose to deliver his people was a man with a stained past. Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. He had excelled in combat and was known as a great warrior. His skills had brought many victories for the people of God. However, Jephthah was the son of a harlot and was despised by his half-brothers, who eventually drove him away. Jephthah fled to the land of Tob, and worthless men joined him as raiders. When the children of Israel faced the Ammonite army encamped in Gilead, the elders went to Jephthah, begging him to lead them against the enemy.

Jephthah’s pedigree was not of his making, but it almost became his ruin. When the men of Gilead came to him seeking his leadership, he reminded them how they had driven him away because his mother was a harlot. He could have remained in obscurity as a leader of rebels the people looked upon with disdain. Instead, God uses Jephthah as the savior of His people to free them from the oppression of the Ammonites. God delivered Sihon, king of the Ammonites, and all his people into the hand of Israel with a very great slaughter. The people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Many people have stained histories that God uses for His glory. Moses was an Egyptian prince wanted for murder and was a shepherd in Midian when God called him. He became the great prophet and leader of the nation of Israel. Rahab, a gentile woman from Jericho, was a harlot listed in the genealogy of Jesus, along with Ruth, a gentile woman from Moab. Jesus chose a hated tax collector named Matthew as one of His chosen twelve. Saul of Tarsus tried to destroy the church before God used him to spread the gospel throughout the world. The only pedigree God is concerned about is what is in the heart.

Life for Jephthah would have been harsh growing up as the son of a harlot. He became a savior for the people of God because he believed in the power of God. What a man becomes should not be measured by his past if he believes in the grace and forgiveness of God. Paul regretted much in his life for what he did to the Lord’s church, but it became his fuel to do more for the work of the Lord. You have a past. Do not let your past define who you are today. With God’s love and grace, everyone can be a leader in the work of the Lord. Get busy. There are souls to save.

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A Hard Thing To Say But True

Posted on February 13, 2025 by heatonkent

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22)

A Hard Thing To Say But True

The church at Corinth had a lot of problems. Reading the epistle, it is a wonder why God had not removed the candlestick from the divine room of blessings. The church was divided by carnality, prejudice, hatred, false teaching, immorality, infighting, division, and chaotic worship services. Paul addressed each one head-on with the force of divine authority. No quarter was given for the sin that plagued the church of God at Corinth. The apostle put the church and its problems in the cross-hairs of divine truth. When it came to the end of his letter, Paul left it in the hearts of the saints with perfect clarity and simplicity.

After writing about all the problems plaguing the church, Paul summed up the need of the hour. In one simple yet powerful sentence, the apostle laid it all on the line. Yes, the church had a problem with brethren exalting preachers above Christ. That was not the problem. The church acted like a bunch of babies in their relationships with one another. That was not the problem. Some of the saints had written Paul about morality questions, and the apostle addressed each one. That was not the problem. Every story Paul outlined in his letter was of great significance to the corruption of the church, but none of those things was the problem. The underlying problem with the church at Corinth was by their actions; they let the world know they did not love Jesus Christ.

When it came to the deep-seated problem in the church, Paul reminded them the greatest commandment of all is to love God with all the heart, soul, mind, and body. The Corinthians saints had failed miserably in this matter. Their problems veiled the deeper issue of failing to love God as they should. Paul’s statement was harsh and to the point. If a man does not love God first, he will be cursed. He does not suggest cursing in the worldly view. Paul wanted to turn the minds of the Corinthians away from the petty issues of brotherhood to the greater command of love to the Lord. Churches filled with strife have failed to remember who the church belongs to. A judgment will be brought against such unloving brethren.

Paul’s statement also highlights a problem on the individual level. When brethren become weak and refuse to follow the will of the Father, they fall out of love with God to a place where they no longer love God. The reason the man at Corinth with his father’s wife needed to repent was not because of social status or influence. It was foundationally because he did not love God if he continued in his sin. The way to demonstrate a love for God was to repent. By God’s grace, the man repented when he put God first in his heart. That is the problem and the solution to sin.

If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he jeopardizes his soul and eternal life. That needs to be clearly stated to those who trifle with God’s word. How often are brethren acting in sinful ways with only kind admonitions to repent without the reality of their actions explained? Paul’s letter to Corinth is an example of how to have a godly conversation with people about sin. The first thing Paul said was he was thankful for the brethren. He then illuminated each problem the church faced with the proper use of authority. Near the end of his letter, he appealed for unity as a body of Christ. Paul showed them the hope of heaven and the promise of eternal resurrection. As he closed out his letter, he sternly warned that the church at Corinth needed to love the Lord God.

If you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be accused in a lake of fire forever. Jesus told His disciples that if they loved Him, they would keep His commandments. If you are not keeping the commandments of the Lord, you do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, and you do not love God. Stop kidding yourself. A great day is coming. Only those who love the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Heed the warning of God. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, he will be accursed.

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Tears In A Bottle

Posted on February 12, 2025 by heatonkent

You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book? (Psalm 56:8)

Tears In A Bottle

God created man with tear ducts before there was a need for tears. As the result of sin, grief, and sorrow darken the world with its infusion of grief over the loss of loved ones, sin, regret, and the trials of life. Part of the consequences of sin was the pain of childbirth placed upon the woman. Adam and Eve mourned the loss of their son Abel, who was killed by their firstborn son, Cain. Shedding tears are a part of the fabric of life that will never go away until the coming of the Lord. The psalms are filled with grief. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet and wrote a book about the sorrow of divine judgment. “Lamentations” is derived from the caption in the Latin version or Vulgate.

The Holy Spirit made a significant point to show the Son of God weeping at the tomb of Lazarus. Jesus had delayed his arrival at the home of Lazarus, arriving after Lazarus had died and was in the tomb for four days. The power of the resurrection was affirmed when Lazarus came out on the fourth day completely whole. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead, and yet He still wept openly before a family He had drawn especially close to. Death is filled with sorrow and crying. The consequence of sin can bring tears to the eye. Jesus wept.

The psalmist David wrote about an experience when fleeing the wrath of King Saul when he sought refuge with Achish, the king of Gath, a Philistine city. David became fearful of Achish and escaped to the cave of Adullam. His fear was well-founded. The experience left David troubled, and he sought comfort from the Lord in his prayers and psalms. When he became afraid, David trusted in the Lord. He knew that God watched over him and protected him. David also described a beautiful relationship he shared with the Heavenly Father, that God would take his tears and place them in a bottle.

The joy of God’s comfort is knowing that the Father knows all the cares and worries of His children. When His children cry, the Lord God collects their tears in a bottle so they will not be forgotten. David had enemies all around him, from Saul and his army to the Philistines. He knew that his sorrow was heard in Heaven by the great Shepherd who would never forsake him or leave him. It was a joy to David to think of God taking his tears and keeping them in His divine care. The reassurance that God knows and cares about the sorrows of the heart is beautifully described as tears in a bottle.

David’s lament shows the power of God’s love to remember the suffering of His people. The suffering of Jesus is the divine story of love from a Father who knows the pain of His children. There is nothing that God cannot soothe and bring peace to in man’s experience. Grief is a natural part of life and serves a purpose. Often, the feelings of loneliness overwhelm the heart, burdened with sadness, but God knows and understands. When His children cry, He takes their tears and puts them in His bottle to remember and bestow blessings upon them. It is of great comfort to know that as God “looks into” the bottle of our hearts and sees our tears, He remembers our grief and knows our needs.

There are many ways the Holy Spirit describes eternal life. It is called a paradise, a place of immense beauty, everlasting life, and eternal joy. In the Revelation of John, one of the profound descriptions of eternal life is when God wipes away the tears from the eyes of the faithful. Death is destroyed. There will be no sorrow and no crying – and no more need for tear bottles. All of those bottles will be taken away. Until then, the faithful, like David, know that God numbers their wanderings, putting their tears into His bottle and writing their names in His book. Put your trust in God, and do not be afraid. Walk before God in the light of the living. Let God put your tears in His bottle.

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