The Heaton File

“And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name,” says the Lord of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart. (Malachi 2:1-2)

Take It To Heart

Before the Lord was to close out His final word for the people of God He pleaded with them to return with their whole hearts. Israel had suffered the bondage of a foreign land because of their rebellion. The remnant that returned struggled with their hearts to serve the Lord. A famine of the word of God was about to be inflicted upon the people for four hundred years. Christ would be heralded by the coming a man much like Elijah to turn the hearts of minds of God’s people toward the salvation of the Messiah. From the beginning it was always about the heart. Sin had destroyed the hearts of the people as the kingdom fell into idolatry. When the people returned seventy years later they continued to fall short of the glory of God because their hearts were not devoted to the Lord. While idolatry had been cured from the minds of the nation the hearts were still apathetic.

The word of God is given to change the hearts of men. Devotion to the Lord must come from a willingness to turn everything over to the will of God. There can never be a half-attempted effort. Jesus would remind His disciples that duty to the Father required all the heart, all the soul and all the mind. Heart felt love comes from hearts that are completely given over to the union of two people. God desires our love for Him to be as complete as we can give. Love between two people is seen in how they think of each other daily. There are actions each one shares with the other expresses their love. Time is spent in nurturing that love that grows every day. Our love to God cannot be anything less. Giving our hearts to the Lord is a daily experience. Reading the mind of God from His word shows His love for us and we express our love for Him by taking the time to listen to Him. As we grow older in our relationship with the Lord our devotion grows deeper.

Taking the love of God to heart was lacking in the days of Malachi. History shows the danger of not giving glory to the Lord. As people of God today we have greater blessings in Christ and should be deeper in love with the Father than any time in history. As part of the body of Christ, we experience the cleansing blood of the Son of God who loved us so much He died for us. The Father gave us His Son to sanctify and cleanse us from the dirge of sin. Our fellowship in the church of Christ is rooted in the common love we have for one another because of what He has done for us all. He has revealed His will in the written word that we can read and understand the mystery hidden for generations. The promise of Heaven is clearer than it has ever been. The security of salvation is sure and steadfast. What reason can we give not to give glory to God in our hearts every day?

Let us open our hearts to God in full love. Fall in love with the Father turning your heart to a complete devotion to what He has done for us. Live each day with your heart turned to Him. Love Him every moment giving glory to the Father for His unbelievable love He has given to each one of us. We should remind our hearts each day we do not deserve this love but the Father opens wide the storehouse of blessings to give to His children who love him with all their hearts.

Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Stop At RxR Crossings

Fuel trucks have warning labels notifying other drivers the vehicle will stop at every railroad crossing. As the truck approaches a railroad crossing, it comes to a complete stop although there is no train on the track. There are no warning lights or bells ringing to suggest any danger. The driver will be cautious for a moment before proceeding through the crossing. No matter how many crossings the driver will compass during the day the truck will stop at every crossing. The danger is real. Propane is highly volatile. Fuel trucks are moving bombs that if ignited could blow up whole blocks of property. Lives can be lost if caution is not exercised. Smart drivers will follow the rules at stop at all rail crossings.

Paul’s admonition to abstain from every form of evil is like warnings signs to stop at the hint of danger. The rail crossing seems empty and although the warning signals are not activated at the crossing, the danger remains. Taking extreme caution in the case of extreme danger is a wise course of action. Sin is more volatile than propane. When we go through life ignoring the warning signs – danger waits. It may look like the crossing is clear but a fully loaded freight train of grief and sorrow is bearing down on us. Stop, look and listen – valuable words to make sure sin does not overcome us.

The apostle is not merely warning to stay away from sin but his exhortation is to stay away from forms of evil. Appearances of evil usually shadow the reality of evil. When a driver of a fuel truck sees rail tracks in the road ahead, he knows the possibility of danger exists. Everything may look clear but a smart driver will not take unneeded chances. Sin is everywhere and often we find ourselves entangled by its web because we ignore the warning signs. The tracks of sin lay across the road but we do not see any danger. Without warning, Satan bursts upon the scene driving a locomotive of trouble and slams into our lives. If we had taken a moment and stopped to consider the trouble before us – the devil would not have wrecked our lives.

I learned a valuable lesson when I followed behind the propane truck. My life needs to stop at all crossings of sin and take heed. Warning signs abound. We need to have the courage to not allow Satan to bring harm to our lives. Stay away from anything that will cause sin to impact your eternal home. Stay far away. You will be glad you did.

Young woman reading bible by stream in summer

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, for all are Your servants. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. The wicked wait for me to destroy me, but I will consider Your testimonies. I have seen the consummation of all perfection, but Your commandment is exceedingly broad. (Psalm 119:89-96)

I Am Yours, Save Me

The psalmist of Psalm 119 was a deeply devoted child of God. Throughout the writings of this incredible psalm he offers praise, glory and a deep sense of how powerful the word of the Lord is to his life. Built upon the Hebrew alphabet, Psalm 119 is a striking portrait of how the saving grace of God’s word gives life to the spirit of man. Written nearly three thousand years ago the message of the psalm is just as fresh today as the time the tune of praise entered the author’s heart.

God’s word is not a fabricated story of man’s imagination. One of the greatest horrors of man on the Day of Judgment will be the realization their rejection of the Bible as anything but a fairy tale will prove eternally wrong. The word of God is heaven sent by the same power that formed the world. His revelation of divinity through the written word comes from the throne of righteousness settled beyond the reach of man. From generation to generation, the faithfulness of the word of God remains unaltered. It is unchanging like the world itself remains the same. The sun rises and sets as it has since the beginning of time. Seedtime and harvest have remained constant since the day God set all things into motion. Life continues to go through its flowing motion of birth and death with no change. Like the law of the natural world, the law of God remains the same from generation to generation.

There is security in the word of God because it is settled in heaven. The confidence we can have in the word of the Lord is that is always true, it is always right and it is always a blessing. Life is in the word! Every effort of man to explain life apart from the will of the Lord is met with disaster. There is wickedness in the world because of the absence of the light of God. Darkness can never overtake the light and exists only because of the absence of light. Evil can never overtake righteousness and exists only because of the absence of truth. Hearts void of truth will never find happiness. The word of God will dispel the plans of the wicked. Giving attention to whole counsel of God will bring truth to the heart.

Seeking the precepts of the Lord will bring salvation. The heart that is willing to give everything to the mind of God will find peace. Committing our life to God will save us. Letting His word guide our steps will protect us. Embracing the love of God through His word will establish our hearts before His throne above. The Bible should be our daily experience. No day should ever pass that we have not drunk deeply of the wisdom of Jehovah God. Say to the Lord today, “I am yours, save me.”

Everything in the sacred books shines and glistens, even in its outer shell: but the marrow of it is sweeter; if you want the kernel, you must break the shell. (Jerome; 340-420; Epist. LXIX)

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. (Ephesians 6:5-9)

Christ On The Job

Of all the things we do in life there is nothing we spend more time engaged with than our jobs. Over a lifetime, thousands of hours are spent in the workplace. Retirement is the hope that we can enjoy the golden days at our own pace away from the hectic, daily grind of work. Sermons are often preached on the reality of the day of judgement and the accounting of our lives before God. If there is one part of our life that will be the bulk of that judgment; the manner of our life on the job will be it. Paul reminds us of the proper kind of conduct as people of God in our work is vital to our salvation.

Children of God should be the best employees and employers because of our character of righteousness. We work at our jobs not because we serve the human institutions of commerce but because we serve the Lord God. The apostle admonishes the Christian to work with a spirit of fear and trembling before the heavenly Father. Christ is our leader in every part of life – especially on the job. We may receive recognition for our work from the company but again the focus of our labors is to glorify God. Faithful living is faithful working.

The character of the Christian in the workplace is the exaltation of Jesus Christ. We are always honest in our work. When tasked to perform a job we do it heartily to the Lord. Time is not squandered in cheating the company of the expectation given for our job. People of God do not steal from the company even if it is an accepted norm in some places. Our word is our bond because we know God is listening. We do the best we can as we let Christ shine through our lives to others in the workplace. What they find in us is kindness, forgiveness, benevolence, and a work ethic that gives honor to God. Doing the will of God at work is just as important as doing the will of God on Sunday morning. The reward of a faithful Christian in the workplace is the reward God will give in eternity.

Those who have leadership roles in the workplace are shining examples of Christ. Their leadership is guided by the principles of truth, righteousness, fairness and understanding. All the characteristics of the child of God should be exalted in the workplace. Paul reminds the ‘masters’ they have a ‘master’ in heaven. You may be the CEO of the broom factory but your heavenly CEO is watching carefully how your life reflects the glory of Jesus Christ. There is a wonderful opportunity to show Christ when we realize the impact of godly living in the workplace. From the employee who has to sweep the floor to the executive in the top office, children of God are to remember they serve the Lord – not man.

The attitudes of the Christian worker will show a crooked and perverse world that righteousness exalts a nation. Whatever we work for in retirement will fade away in time. Let us not work to gain a golden watch but strive diligently for a golden crown that has our name on it. The world needs more faithful people of God working diligently in the workplace giving glory to God. Let the word of God guide your life as you go to work today. Be the kind of employee and employer that will let others see Jesus Christ living in everything you do. Work for the Lord today.

Someone has said … that the only Bible which millions of people read today is the daily example of Christians – your example and mine. (James E. Murray, Address, March 31, 1948)

Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, “These things which you see–the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” (Luke 21:5-6)

Ruins Of A Temple

When Solomon completed the first temple in Jerusalem, there was no building in the world that was as beautiful. Constructed without the noise of a hammer its walls glistened in the Palestinian sunlight bathing the city of Jerusalem with the warmth of God’s protection. Sin would destroy the magnificent edifice as the people turned away from the Lord and Nebuchadnezzar would raze the temple to the ground in 586BC. Following a period of seventy years, the people would return to build a second temple. Opposition to its rebirth delayed the final construction but it was finally completed in 516BC. Through the years leading up the coming of Jesus, the temple experienced times of glory and periods of desecration. Herod, the king of Judea, began an energetic rebuilding project that was finished six years before it was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD. When Jesus began His ministry, the temple enjoyed a resurgence of its former splendor. The Jews, while hating the Romans, reveled in the beauty of its structure holding out the hope that God would restore the former days to the nation. It was not to be.

While in Jerusalem with His disciples, Jesus was asked about the temple. His disciples commented on how beautiful it was. The Lord gave a shocking observation by declaring that a day would come that not one stone would be left upon another as the temple once again would be razed to the ground. This was not what the disciples expected to hear. What they saw before them was a building of such grandeur no one could imagine anything so glorious would ever suffer harm. Especially true was the temple of the Lord. The vision of the followers of Jesus was limited by their belief that all things will continue forever. They had heard the stories of the first destruction of Solomon’s temple but this would not happen again. It happened in the lifetime of many of those same disciples. In 70AD Roman legions under Roman General Titus looted and destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple. The words of Jesus came true.

Today in the city of Jerusalem – no temple stands. Nothing remains of the temple. The lesson from Jesus is not only the power of prophetic word but the truth of the glory of this world. Nothing is lasting. Egyptian pyramids stand as stark reminders of a time when a great nation ruled the world but no more. Crumbling ruins intrigue the mind as remnants of the Roman Empire become classroom history lessons. Nations of great power rise and fall leaving dusts in the place of their heralded beauty. No stone stays upon another and what we see today will be broken down one day. Living in a world of temporary buildings is what Jesus wanted His disciples to see. The human body is the same way. It is here today and gone tomorrow. Jesus would tell His disciples to take heed to the lie of this world and not be deceived by its fragile future.

Truth is found in the teaching of Jesus as He gazed upon the temple. It was beautiful but it would not last. He still lives, His word remains and the eyes of man will never find happiness unless they come to know Him that is the same yesterday, today and forever. Life is not about the here and now. The earth itself has a due date for its destruction. All the grandeur of God’s beautiful creation will end one day. The joy of salvation tells the child of God that life will continue after death not in temples of mortar and stone; but temples of the spirit of God. Now that is something beautiful. Lord – come quickly.

Jesus knew that He had come to kindle a fire on earth … He saw that what was exalted among man was an abomination before God. (Walter Rauschenbusch, Christianity and the Social Crisis, 1907)

But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (1 Corinthians 12:18)

The Great Composer

Harmony is the trademark of the Lord God who created all things. There is nothing more amazing than to look upon the work of His hand and see the beauty in His design, His purpose, His perfection and His nature. Creation shouts forth the infinite design of something more than an intelligent designer. The composition of everything God made is far beyond the mind of man; there are no words to fully embrace how perfect the tapestry of His design is. Without the perfect design of the creative world, there would be chaos. If the moon was further away from the earth or too close there would be constant calamity. Such is true of the sun. The cycle of climate patterns over the face of the earth are examples of perfection. Often we cannot understand why things happen but allowing the process of nature to follow its created path the beauty of God shines forth.

The human body is a marvel of inestimable perfected design. The greatest minds of man do not understand so many things about the body. Science is constantly trying to keep up with the knowledge of how and why the body reacts as it does. Paul uses the body as an example of God’s perfect design. One body has so many parts working together for the good of the whole body. No part is unimportant. Every part is vital to the function of the other parts. Perfection is the design of the Father. How many times does the heart beat in a lifetime? Can we count the number of times the eyes blink, the fingers move, the process of living exhausts itself over the span of a man’s life? Man cannot duplicate the creation of the body because its design is from the mind of God alone.

Following the perfected design of the body the apostle Paul shows how beautiful the church of the Father is. The human body is a perfect design. The church of Christ is a perfect design. Anything that man creates to duplicate the human body is a robot – artificial, without life and so much less than the true pattern. Every church created by man is a spiritual robot, an artificial creation without the life of the Father. There is no beauty or harmony. When men follow the pattern of the New Testament alone they will find the true church of God. Following a church that cannot show its ‘DNA’ from the Holy Word of God is a crude machine that will fail. The Bible is perfect. Changing the message of truth by adding or taking away invites eternal disaster.

God is the eternal composer. He composes the body as He pleases because what He pleases is perfect. Anything less will fail. This is true in nature, in the design of the body and in the plan of salvation. There is one earth and no other. There is one human body and no other design can perfect it. There is one church and nothing man creates will change that. There is one way to eternal life and that is by the one truth, the one way and the one life – Jesus Christ. You have one choice. That is the way the Great Composer of this world has designed it.

We could enjoy the story of creation if we were sure it were not true … faced with the fact that the story of creation is true, that God did indeed so call everything from nothingness, we are caught up breathless, almost incapable of protest. (Walter Farrell, My Way of Life, 1952)

Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to those who reared Ahab’s sons, saying: Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, choose the best qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, two kings could not stand up to him; how then can we stand?” And he who was in charge of the house, and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight.” Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying: If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them. So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. Then a messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” And he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Indeed I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these? Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the Lord has done what He spoke by His servant Elijah.” So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining. (2 Kings 10:1-11)

Two Heaps Of Heads

It would seem incredulous to approach a city and see two piles of heads near the gates. Seventy heads piled up as a testimony for all to see. Dead eyes staring into nothing. Blood covering everything. Mouths gapped open in stone silence. Jehu made certain that all would see the lineage of Ahab the king as destroyed. His ploy had worked almost too well for the city of Samaria. Ahab had died much earlier by the hand of a lone archer whose arrow mortally wounded the king. Both kings of Israel and Judah were dead (Joram and Ahaziah). Jezebel, wife of Ahab, had met her horrible death. Jehu begins the annihilation of the house of Ahab by writing letters to the elders of Samaria and Jezreel. His first letter taunted them to put someone on the throne so he could come and kill them. Having the intended impact with the elders expression of cowardice Jehu writes a second letter telling the leaders to deliver the heads of Herod’s sons to him by the next day – and they were to deliver the heads themselves. Knowing they had no choice, the leaders gathered the seventy sons of Ahab, killed them and delivered their heads in baskets to Jehu. They chose not to go themselves.

Jehu gathered the severed heads and placed them in two heaps by the city gates. In the morning, the king came out and asked who could have done such a thing. He was only playing the role of a despot who had other plans for the house of Ahab. One thing Jehu did get right was the fulfillment of the word of God concerning all the evil that came from the house of Ahab. There was not a king (or queen) that caused more evil to fall upon the land than Ahab and Jezebel. Through the prophet Elijah the Lord had told the people that judgment was coming to the family of Ahab. Seventy heads piled in two groups before the gate of the city was vivid proof the word of the Lord was true. Jehu would later kill the forty-two brothers of king Ahaziah and then kill all who remained to Ahab in Samaria until he had destroyed them all. This was again according to the word of the Lord which He had spoken through Elijah.

This is a terrible story to read. The reason the story is important is how God reveals His own character. Taking seventy men and cutting their heads off is as repugnant to our senses as can be imagined. Slaughtering forty-two brothers and then wiping out a whole household of people staggers the imagination. There is no telling the savagery of the bloodletting those few days. One could only imagine the headlines in the modern liberal media and outcry of the world. Why the story? What purpose would the Holy Spirit have in preserving the story of seventy heads piled before the city gates? It all comes down to truth. Jehu is not the main character in the story but Jehovah God. There is a seed of truth that has always been a challenge for man since the beginning of time. God’s word is absolute and His character is absolute righteousness.

This is not about the death of hundreds of people in some random act of violence. The judgment of the Lord is sure, complete and just in every way. Ahab’s house was a lineage of immense evil and the Lord God will not endure the forces of Satan to endure. In one way or another judgment will come. What happened to the house of Ahab was a fulfillment of the words of Elijah because he foretold the word of God would be accomplished. That principle has not changed. There is a lot of immorality in the world and evil men have risen up seeking to destroy righteousness. Darkness can never overtake light. Satan has already been judged and his wickedness has been defeated. God will punish those who rebel against Him because everyone who rejects the Lord God is rebelling against His will. Judgment will come. Those seventy heads of Ahab’s sons are a testimony not to Jehu but to the sovereign word of the Lord. A great day is coming. Are you ready? Now that is a great story.

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ” “Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. “Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.” For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me. “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. And the Lord will take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!” (Zechariah 2)

The Apple Of His Eye

Jerusalem is a city of despair as its ruins herald the great destruction brought upon it more than eighty years before. A remnant has returned from bondage and the effort to restore the Temple is half completed. The city is a place of despair. Walls that once glistened in the Palestinian sunlight are broken and gates that protected the citizens of Jerusalem lay burned. Rebuilding the Temple is becoming a hard and difficult task with oppression, persecution and apathy. Haggai the prophet has been preaching his fiery sermons of renewal to get the people back on task. Zechariah is also exhorting the builders to return to the important work of restoring the glory of the holy city. His appeal is to the hearts of the people. He wants to remind them of their love for God and how the Lord has delivered them.

Times of renewal call for harsh words of rebuke. It is also important to know the reasons why the work of the Lord is so important. The book of Zechariah is filled with visions showing the mercy of God upon the people. They have been punished with captivity to a foreign land but those days are over. God’s wrath does not remain forever. He is a God of love and compassion and forgiveness. In this second vision of the message the prophet reminds the people that although the walls of Jerusalem lie in ruin the Lord is a wall of fire all around them and He is in their midst. When the people returned to Jerusalem the walls were not built first as would seem logical. The holy temple of God was built first so the people could invoke the spiritual protection of the Lord. Walls of stone and mortar would come later under the leadership of Nehemiah. Today God is the wall of fire all around her.

The reason the people have returned to Jerusalem is because of the mighty power of the Lord. He, and only He, made this possible. While the earlier prophets warned the people that if they did not repent, the Lord would carry them away to a foreign land; the prophets of the post-exile were reminding the people the anger of God does not last forever. Zechariah is appealing to the heart of Jerusalem and telling them that all those who would come against the children of Abraham are inflicting harm upon the apple of God’s eye. This expression appeals to the words of Moses and David as they wrote about God’s people being so precious in His eyes. You hurt Jerusalem – you hurt the Lord. Terms of endearment express the love God has for His people. In the midst of ruin the city of Jerusalem would sing again. The Lord will dwell with His people again and bless them with His presence. God’s love is true and sure.

God’s people are precious in His eye. His care for them is without description. The manner of His love for the people of Israel is defining the character of God for those who follow Him in righteousness. As people of God, we are the apple of His eye. We are so precious to Him because of our love for Him. Like Israel, we struggle with our faith and often fail in our obedience. The Lord is a God of mercy, truth, love and forgiveness. His anger does not last when we return to Him seeking His grace. The story of the children of Israel throughout the Old Testament is a story of our lives. It also describes the love God has for us even when we sin. Saints of God are the apple of His eye. Wearing the name of Christ in the walk of a Christian declares that we are the precious of God. We are separate from the world as holy children of God who can cry out, ‘Abba Father.’ Eternal life is a promise given to the apple of His eye alone. We walk in the light and know that one day we will dwell in the light. We can sing and rejoice because we are saved. Heaven is not a mystical maybe – it is a reality of truth.

When we worship the King, the Lord of hosts, we should remind ourselves of who we are. Being the apple of His eye was made possible through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. By grace we are saved and through the death of Jesus can stand among the ruins of this world and behold the temple of God that awaits us in glory when the Father will embrace us eternally. We are His own special people. How wonderful to be God’s child.

Love is the greatest thing that God can give us; for Himself is love; and it is the greatest thing we can give to God. (Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living, 1650)

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5)

A Model Congregation

The church of Thessalonica is one of the finest examples of a New Testament church. Often they are remembered by Luke’s remark about the brethren at Berea being ‘more noble’ than those of Thessalonica because they searched the scriptures daily. However, the brethren at Thessalonica have two letters written to them preserved throughout history complimenting their strong example of faith (unlike the books of Berea?). The commendation of Paul to the church north of Athens can well be a pattern for the church today.

Their faith was growing exceedingly. This was not a stagnant church. Here were people of God who were searching, learning and growing in the foundation of their faith in Jesus Christ. Sacrifice for truth was a large part of their life. Faith was growing even as they had to endure persecution. Complacency is the enemy of truth and in the depths of suffering; they were increasing in their faith exceedingly. There was an abundance of growth among the people as they grew in the grace and knowledge of Christ. A strong and vibrant congregation is manifested by the spiritual desire of its member to share together in faith for the purpose of growth.

The faith in Thessalonica is seen in how they loved one another. Their love for one another was active, vibrant and growing. They increased in their love on a daily basis. It is easy to say that we love our brethren but the congregation at Thessalonica enjoyed a growing love. This love was a directional expression of their heartfelt care for others. The love Paul commends them about is a love that was abounding toward (key word) others. Love can never be defined by words only. It is understood by action. God’s love is not just words; it is the gift of His Son. The church at Thessalonica was a group of people that showed their love to one another as they grew together in the grace of God. Remember this was all being done in the face of persecution.

Their faith was growing and their love for one another was abounding. No wonder the apostle would boast of them among other churches. The church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ was a church Paul used to glorify to other churches of the New Testament pattern. Here was a group of people that were models of faith and love and the purpose for which Jesus died. In the face of persecution, they were steadfast in their example of holding forth the banner of truth. Their faith was on the solid rock of God’s word. What a great church these people were.

Models are given so that we can follow the same pattern. The church in Thessalonica should be that pattern for the church today. This church was on fire for the Lord. It was evident their faith was growing. It was clear the love in this congregation was busting out of the seams. They were not satisfied with the status quo. Many churches today are existing just for the purpose of existing – not so the Thessalonians. Their desire was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost. The city of Thessalonica knew there was a group of Christians in that city. And the Christians in the church at Thessalonica loved one another. That love was growing, active, seen in the lives of each other caring for one another, expressive, pure – abounding toward everybody. This congregation was on fire with love.

Maybe what the church needs today is some persecution. Then our faith will grow exceedingly and our love for one another may abound. Let’s not wait for that to happen. Grow in grace today. Grow in love today. What a difference it will make in the local congregation.

The church has no greater need today than to fall in love with Jesus all over again. (Vance Havner; 1901-1986)

Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what He has made crooked? (Ecclesiastes 7:13)

The Work Of God

Creation is an incredible testimony to the power of the Creator. Man has been given dominion over the earth ruling over the animals and infused with the knowledge to overcome the elements of nature. He can sail around the world through all the seas, climb the highest mountains, trek across the unforgiving desert and send machines to the bottom of the ocean. Space has been opened up with the technology of modern man revealing parts of the universe never seen by human eye. In all the wisdom of man one constant remains – he cannot change what God has established.

The works of man can only operate within the boundaries of what the Lord has established. Paul on Mars hill declared the habitation of man is settled. The work of God gives man freedom to exist within his limited space but the Creator still rules in all things. Beyond nature, the Lord works in the affairs of men as a wise and righteous judge. Nations have risen throughout history that dominated the world and then fallen to the rubble of the past because of the hand of God. Tyrants ruled for a short time before vanishing away. History is littered with the corpse of man’s wisdom where men have tried to change the course of the world but to no avail. The puny efforts of men to rule the world whether in changing the course of a river or dominating the world through war all come to nothing. God is in charge. He rules alone. The work of God cannot be changed. What the Lord has established man cannot change.

Everything that God does is good. Nature declares His design as perfect. The word of God is perfect showing forth the goodness of His wisdom. In the final analysis men can ridicule the Bible as out of step, old fashioned and worthless but there is no more perfect system of living than what is found in the words of the Lord God Almighty. Creation declares the work of God with every sunrise and man cannot change that. The word of God declares the work of God with every book and man cannot change that. It has remained constant since Moses first scribed the words of Genesis 1:1. What God has made crooked man cannot straighten suggests to limitations of man.

The final conclusion is to see that God’s way is always the best. Men will argue about whether the way of the Lord is right trying their own answers for morality. History always shows that man’s moral code destroys the family; God’s moral code exalts the family. Nations fall because they dismiss God; nations become strong because they embrace God. Society becomes a productive and vibrant environment when following the Bible; degradation and destruction comes when the Bible is ignored. God’s way is always the best way and man cannot change that. Death comes to all. How has man changed that? He cannot but God did. Sending His Son, God did the impossible. He changed death from fear to joy. Trust in the Lord. His ways are unchanging.