Tough Love

Posted on February 15, 2016 by heatonkent

agape_-_darkBut I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)

Tough Love

Radical teaching best describes what the multitudes heard from Jesus. They had never heard a man teach with the forcefulness and clarity as the man from Nazareth. He left people stunned with the changes of heart needed to be His disciple. Their hearts were astonished at the demands required to be a follower of the miracle worker. Living in the midst of a Roman occupation the people of God loathed the presence of the uncircumcised masters. The army of Rome was oppressive and cruel. To their surprise the Rabbi who drew untold multitudes to His teaching is telling them to love their enemies and do good to them. Unbelievable.

The language is clear. Jesus tells them to have a relationship with their enemies, the ones that hate them and curse them and maliciously abuse them in every way. When they would strike them they should not retaliate. If enemies steal from them do not get revenge. In fact the teacher admonishes the people to express feelings of love and do good to show their enemies the kindness of righteousness. In the face of cursing only words of blessings from a heart of grace come forth. The teaching of Jesus was so sweeping the world would never be the same. Enemies and evil men abound in a cruel world. The natural thing is to resist persecution and lash out at those who seek harm. What makes the disciples of Jesus true followers is to show the pattern of the Lord in praying for His enemies and doing good to all men – no matter what they have done.

What sets a Christian apart from the world today? In our world of red, white and blue we mistakenly follow a national spirit of pride with freedom of speech that allows every man to speak his mind defaming those who would persecute the principles of the Bible. Sharp words of anger, prejudice and evil come from the mouths of God’s people because they believe that American freedom was founded on the word of God. It will come as a shock to know that Jehovah God is not a Republican, Democrat nor Independent. The world of our day is filled with those who seek to destroy the teaching of righteousness. They are our enemies. While we stand for truth we must also kneel in prayer. Our enemies are trying to destroy us but we are to pray for them. We are to love them as God loves us. Our actions are measured by the good we will do for them. Lips of blessing will be given instead of cursing. Most importantly instead of denigrating their character we are to lift their names in prayer to the Father.

The teaching of Jesus is just as shocking today as it was two thousand years ago. He is still the truth, He is still the way and He is still the life. No one will come before the Father unless they come through the life of Jesus Christ who left a powerful example of dying for His enemies – you and me. Why did Jesus suffer on the cross? Who nailed the Son of God to the curse of the tree? Go look in the mirror and you will find the enemy of Christ. God so loved you and me (we are the enemy) that He gave us (we are the enemy) His beloved Son. Can we treat our enemies any less? Tough love.

The soul is not where it lives but where it loves. (Thomas Fuller, Gnomoligia, 1732)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, Jesus Christ, Morality, Prayer, Social Issues | Leave a comment

Eternity

Posted on February 13, 2016 by heatonkent

eternity-with-godFor our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

Eternity

Death. End of life. Funerals. Sadness. Loss. Separation. Finality. It is hard to understand or fathom what the end of life means. Everything we know is about life and living. There can never be a time we are prepared to accept the death of a loved one or friend. Our own mortality is but a vague picture hidden behind a darkened window that none of us truly grasp. Life is about living. We rejoice in the birth of a child and mourn the death of the elderly. Tragedy fills the void with the injustice of premature death. Throughout the scriptures the Lord tells us about this thing called eternity but we skim over the words as lightly as a feather. It means little because we cannot grasp its meaning. Yet it is the central theme of the Bible. The word of God is about Jesus Christ who lived before the world was created, walked among men on the earth and lives even now at the right hand of the Father. Eternity.

It is seldom realized the true nature of man. We remember our childhood and early adult life as a time of endless life. Growing older we mature in our knowledge of things of this world. Entering the golden age of life a clearer picture of the brevity of life emerges. But how do we understand the next step – entering life after death? The focus and fear of life is the reality of death. There should never be a fear of death for those who understand the true nature of eternity. The mortal flesh is but a temporary dwelling place of time. Life has a beginning in birth and ends in the destruction of the flesh in death. The reality is we are eternal creatures that will never cease to exist. Eternity is without end.

Everything in life has an end. Childhood ends in adolescence. School closes in graduation. Retirement is the reward for working a number of years and no longer punching a clock. New things become old. Dynasty’s end, kingdoms fall, plans cease – everything we know comes to a complete end. Eternity is not like that. It never ends (and even that thought is difficult to grasp). God tells us He inhabits eternity. We believe He formed the worlds before the world existed. He is ageless. The Bible tells us the world beyond death is without end. Jesus taught the wicked will be punished with everlasting fire and the righteous blessed with eternal life. Everlasting? Eternal? The things that are not seen are eternal. What a thought to understand.

When we begin to realize that we will never cease to exist; that death is not final but a beginning – it will change the way we live. Whether we fully grasp the meaning of eternity is not necessary. The greatest story ever told is the promise that God has given to all men that they can leave this life and exist in a place that is without end – literally. The joys of eternal life are real. But so is the reality of an eternal Hell. All men are eternal. The choices we make in life will determine whether eternity is full of peace or horror. Either way – there is no end. Eternity. Now that is a great story.

God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends. (Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living, 1650)

Posted in Bible, Christian, God, Jesus Christ | 1 Comment

The Lord’s Plum Line

Posted on February 12, 2016 by heatonkent

plumbline1Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of My people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore. The high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste. I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.” (Amos 7:7-9)

The Lord’s Plum Line

One of the most important items in a contractor’s arsenal of tools is a plum line. This simple tool has been around since the beginning of time as men built cities and walls. A plumb line is a tool consisting of a small, heavy object attached to a string or rope. The plum line gains its power from the force of gravity. Suspending the plum line by a natural course of gravity a builder can determine whether a wall is even and perpendicular. Proper construction requires the walls to be perfectly vertical. A plum line tells the builder what needs to be fixed or repaired.

In a vivid and powerful illustration, Amos sees the vision of the plumb line with the Lord God standing on top of the ‘wall’ He built representing Israel. When God constructed the nation of Israel in the beginning His word was perfectly vertical. The Lord’s perfection in the design of everything is measured by the grace of His plumb line. After a wall is built time may have exerted force upon the wall causing it to lean. Using a plumb line the Lord stands upon the nation of Israel to see if it is still square and vertical. The obvious conclusion is that Israel is far off the mark. God’s people had leaned towards idolatry and immorality to their destruction.

A plumb line does not lie. The established forces of nature are the same then as they are now. If Amos took a plumb line and measured a wall he could determine whether it was “plumb” or not. Today those same forces of nature will give the same results. In a figure of spiritual correctness the plumb line of God’s word is the same because God does not (absolute) change. Men will build the walls of knowledge with their wisdom but measured to the plumb line of God it will never be correct. Only – and only when – man seeks to build his life with the plumb line of God will there be truth.

Denying the truth of God is like trying to deny gravity – how silly. No one would argue that gravity does not exist. Jumping off a building would prove that. The plumb line is a simple tool that since the beginning of time has shown the force of gravity and remains constant. Such is the word of God. It has not changed since the creation of the world. It will not change. Denying the word of God as a measure of living will only bring failure. If our lives are not in vertical harmony with the will of the Lord our life is “out of plumb.” How do we correct that? Pull out the spiritual plumb line (called the Bible) and start measuring your life.

The best proof of God’s existence is what follows when we deny it. (William L. Sullivan, Epigrams and Criticisms in Miniature, 1936)

Posted in Amos, Bible, Christian, Old Testament, Prophets | 1 Comment

From Groaning To Glory

Posted on February 11, 2016 by heatonkent

sunset sunFor I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:18-23)

From Groaning To Glory

Life can be tedious. Physically the body wears down with aches and pains. Spiritually the battle against Satan is a constant threat. The apostle Paul describes life as a fight that must be fought, a race that must be finished and a faith that must be maintained. Forces of evil rail against the spirit on a daily basis. Courage must fill the heart to fight valiantly through each victory to win the next battle. Endurance is needed to keep the daily pace of running against the tide of spiritual wickedness that presses against the soul. Calm assurance restores the soul of faith to continue on with each day. Life can be filled with a lot of groaning.

The joy of salvation knows that while life can be a challenge here it is working a far more exceeding gift of glory in death. Something greater awaits the child of God. Something so grand it is without compare. All of the suffering of this world will be taken away. There will be no more temptation because sin will be removed. The pain of this life will be removed for the glory of an everlasting life. Corruption of the body, the spirit and the soul will be dismissed in the redemption of God’s love. What a joy eternity will be.

When a child is born into the world he comes without choice and no knowledge of the world to come. Being born again in the kingdom of God is a choice made when one obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ. In birth a new hope arises that transcends the futility of this life for a world of endless glory with God. Salvation in Christ instills within the heart a feeling of wonder at the world to come. The pains and sorrows of this world are tolerated for the hopeful expectation of a joyous existence with God. Death is a joy. Eagerly awaiting a new adoption is the lifeblood of the child of God. Eyes that are dimmed in this life see clearly the shores of Jordan. Hearts that fail in the body are filled with delight in the joy to come. Eyes that often fill with tears will feel the hand of God wipe them away. The body is redeemed. Praise God. Groan no more. Glory forever.

This is a direct act of hope to look through the cloud and look for a beam of the light from God. (Jeremy Taylor, Holy Living, 1650)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, Forgiveness, God, salvation | 1 Comment

When Life Is Unjust

Posted on February 10, 2016 by heatonkent

chained-hands1Moreover I saw under the sun: in the place of judgment, wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. I said in my heart, “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17)

When Life Is Unjust

The abuse of power has always filled the earth. Wherever sin has resided the greed of evil hearts have subjected the world to a perversion of what is right. Innocent people have been abused, tortured and killed because wicked men had the right of rule. The travesty of unrighteous judgment is meted out in the slaughter of thousands against the defenseless. Instead of fairness and a system of justice men of great power have destroyed the lives of the common man so they can gain a measure of boastful pride and self-indulgence. Life is unfair. It is unjust what some men do to others.

There can be a view of life that blames God for this evil. Every day humanity suffers at the hands of evil men. Where is the Lord in these times of desperation? Does He not see what men do to others? Courts are filled with bribes putting innocent lives in jeopardy. Corporate leaders abscond with millions of dollars leaving families destitute. Laws are enacted that take away basic freedoms. Lying and stealing are the mottos of a world gone awry. In the place of judgment only wickedness resides.

Children of God suffer under the hand of unrighteousness. Being a Christian does not exempt one from suffering. Paul told Timothy to expect travail if he desired to live as a Christian. There are times when injustice is changed and righteousness prevails. But when life is hard and cruel against the lives of the people of God there comes a better day when all accounts are settled. The wisdom of the literature of old reminds us when life is unfair here it will be made right before the throne of God. Nothing is hidden from His sight. It is important for the Christian to view the justice of the Lord as complete and thorough. A wicked man can have his way in this life but he will never have his way before the bar of the Almighty Lord God. Justice will be established on the day of complete judgment.

There is comfort in the teaching of divine judgment. It is easy to be consumed with the sadness of a world filled with unrighteousness. A good man has been sentenced to 27 years in a foreign jail for something he did not do and while he will suffer the consequences of evil in this life his reward is what he will find when the final judgment is passed on evil men. Vengeance belongs to the Lord and His justice is pure and righteous. Once again we learn that living is not about this life but living for the life that is to come. What a day that will be when the judgment of God is passed on wicked men. There is a time there for every purpose and for every work!

Where the beauty and wisdom of the Divine working are most manifested, there also are manifested most clearly the terror of God’s wrath, and inevitableness of His power. (John Ruskin, Modern Painters, IV, 1856)

Posted in Character Study, Christian, Ecclesiastes, God, Morality, Old Testament, Social Issues | 1 Comment

Confession Establishes A Covenant

Posted on February 9, 2016 by heatonkent

APOS01But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8-10)

Confession Establishes A Covenant

A man from Ethiopia had been to Jerusalem to worship and as he returned home he found himself immersed in the book of Isaiah. The reading of the prophet intrigued the Ethiopian as he tried to discern the message of God. Traveling through the region of Gaza a stranger approached his chariot and asked to join him. Hearing the Ethiopian reading the prophet Isaiah the invited guest asked if he understood the passage. Wanting to know more Philip the evangelist began to explain the story of the man from Ethiopia. Later as they came to water the eunuch asked why he could not be baptized in accordance with the teaching of Jesus. Philip told the eunuch that if he believed in his heart he could. Upon this command the Ethiopian proclaimed he believed Jesus was the Christ and this Jesus was the Son of God. Stopping the chariot Philip took the eunuch into the water and baptized him for the remission of his sins. The key to this story is found not only in the eunuch’s need to hear the gospel of Christ and to be baptized into water but a covenant he made when he confessed Jesus Christ as Lord.

It is important to note the covenant required of the Lord for salvation. Man cannot be saved by faith alone. The eunuch needed to hear the message of truth from God’s word. His heart had to believe all the truth contained in the teaching of the Lord. Philip began at Isaiah 53 and taught the Ethiopian the story of Jesus with the Ethiopian concluding that Jesus taught salvation was consummated in the waters of baptism. Before this took place a covenant would be established. This covenant was a confession. The eunuch was required to believe and confess certain things to establish the covenant between himself and God.

Paul explains this covenant in Romans 10:9-10. A covenant is an oath taken to cement an agreement between two parties. Obedience to salvation cannot be fulfilled unless a confession is made with the mouth that Jesus is Lord. What happens when confession is made is a covenant is established between the believer and God. There are four parts to this covenant: (1) “I BELIEVE”; the oath taken is a personal belief. (2) “THAT JESUS”; this is a real person, not a myth. Acknowledging that Jesus is real requires an abiding faith in a man we have never seen. We have to accept everything He did, He taught and He commanded. He arose from the dead! (3) “CHRIST”; Jesus was not only a man in the flesh but He was God. Believing Jesus is the Christ is establishing a covenant of faith that He is Lord. There is no other way, there is no other truth and there is no other life. (4) “IS THE SON OF GOD”; the final part of the covenant made with God is believing that Jesus Christ is HIS Son. Obedience is supreme. There is no turning back. Allegiance to one King, one Lord and one Savior. His word is the only word we can follow.

When we confess Jesus Christ we make a promise to God to be faithful. If we fail in our belief of Jesus we break a solemn oath we made when we obeyed the gospel. The marriage vow is a covenant made with God that should not be broken. A vow made to God in obedience should not be broken either. Confession is our oath of the covenant established when we are baptized into Christ.

The heart of revival, of the deeper Christian life, of Christianity, is making Jesus Lord. (Vance Havner, 1901-1986)

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Spend Time With Jesus Now

Posted on February 8, 2016 by heatonkent

sands of timeThen, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” (John 12:1-8)

Spend Time With Jesus Now

It would not be long before the Son of God died at Golgotha. The shadow of the cross was heavy on the heart of Jesus as He set His face towards the inevitable purpose of His coming. Enjoying a meal with the disciples everything seemed to be as peaceful as could be. Mary and Martha were there as well as Lazarus and the marvel of his resurrection still moved the disciples. Life seemed as good as could be expected in the eyes of the crowd. Martha was busy with the preparations of the food. Like before Mary was keenly aware of Jesus. She anoints the feet of Jesus with expensive oil wiping His feet with her hair. Judas was quite offended by the obvious waste. Jesus rebukes the disciples for losing focus on what He had taught them about His mission. He had repeatedly told them He was going to go to Jerusalem and die. This was going to take place within a week and while the apostles were unaware of the exact time they acted as if they had all the time in the world. For Jesus time was short. His death was coming. This was not a time to quibble about money. Some things would remain the same but the footprints of Jesus would soon disappear from the world.

Time is a bell that is rung that cannot be ‘un-rung.’ The minutes of yesterday will never be lived again. Everything hinges upon the doorway of now. Jesus reminded the disciples that some things in the world will never change. Worrying about the poor is a noble aspiration but they will always be in the world. Poverty will never be eradicated as long as the world will stand. Jesus was not making a point about the poor but the argument made by Judas to spend the money was a wasteful gesture when the death of Jesus was nigh. That was the important thing. Jesus would be killed by His own people the Jews. His disciples would scatter. It would not be until the third day when Jesus arose from the dead the world would understand the love of Jesus. But then after a brief period of time the Lord would ascend to His Father. He would be gone.

How often we spend so much time on trivial matters that have importance but little value compared to eternity. Our jobs are very important, even necessary. God expects man to work with his hands to provide for the family. Yet so many become overwhelmed by the necessity of work little time is given for the weightier matters of service to God. There will be many souls lost for the value of their jobs because they spent no time with Jesus. The poor will always be here and work will always be necessary. For those who work themselves to the grave will die without God and for what? Jesus was here for a short time. Life is here only for a short time. Time is like the precious oil Mary poured on the feet of Jesus. It is of great value and there are many things to spend it on. But when our focus is spending life working our jobs, enjoying our recreation, increasing our popularity and knowledge in the world to the neglect of our service to God – the loss is eternal.

Jesus will not always be calling. There will come a day when the invitation of salvation will cease. The efforts of man will be destroyed. Where you spend eternity will depend on whether you washed the feet of Jesus with your life or wasted it on frivolous living.

Time is precious, but truth is more precious than time. (Benjamin Disraeli, Speech, September 21, 1865)

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A Personal Relationship With The Father

Posted on February 7, 2016 by heatonkent

to-god-be-the-glory_wide_t_nvThen one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him. (Mark 12:28-34)

A Personal Relationship With The Father

In a world of packaged products we look for a simple way to help us understand greater truths. We bullet things to make them easier to follow. Simplicity is a tool of marketing to present ‘CliffsNotes’ of an idea so that we can grab a quick thought and understand the greater meaning. Jesus incorporated this style of teaching on many occasions. Like the scribe in our story we want to ask a single question that will sum up what our life is all about. His question was simple: “What is it all about?” He knew there were numerous commands given by God but he (like us) asked Jesus to give him a single idea that would declare the whole truth. He was not disappointed.

The first thing man must do is to HEAR. Everything begins with the hearing. Man has always failed in his efforts to please God when he fails to hear what the Lord says. There is only ONE Lord and He and only “HE” must be heeded. Listening to men will not bring him to know the will of God. To have a relationship with the Father begins with an attentive ear.

Second, love must come from the heart. To have a relationship with the Father there must be a heart filled with a love that is willing to listen, submit and obey. Every fiber of our being must be in love with God. Our heart, our soul, our mind and every strand of our strength must be immersed in a constant love of the Father. So full is our love we think about the Father every day, we talk about our Father every day, we listen to the words of the Father every day – a day does not go by that we are not in communion with the Father. Love has that power. When we fall in love with a person we think of them often longing to be with them. To have a personal relationship with God is a daily experience of love. We talk to Him through prayer as we listen to His words from the Bible. He is our love. We want to know everything about Him because we love Him so.

Third, our love for the Father finds itself fulfilled as we show that love to others. Love has a vertical and horizontal relationship. Our love for the Father (vertical) can only be understood when we show love to our neighbor (horizontal). One is dependent on the other. We cannot love God if we do not love our neighbor. In other words the Father tells us if we cannot love His children we cannot love Him. Love is not just an idea it is an action. Loving our neighbor is an active part of our life because we love the Father so much. Love manifests itself through the care we give to others. Love is fulfilled in our love for others.

The scribe made one final observation. A relationship with the Father is not about how many animals we can sacrifice on the altar. Salvation comes from a heart that loves the Lord with every part of our being so that we can offer true sacrifices of obedience. Serving Christ with little or no devotion is not worth much. Giving meager lives of loveless crumbs will not give satisfaction to our lives. God wants all of our life. He gave us all of our life and He wants us to give it all back to Him. That is how we have a personal relationship with Him.

God is on the lookout for candidates with hearts perfect toward Him. He is not a talent scout looking for somebody strong enough or good enough. He is looking for someone with a heart set on pleasing Him and an eye single to His glory. He will do the rest. (Vance Havner, 1901-1986)

Posted in Christian, God, Gospels, Prayer | Leave a comment

The Sweet Psalmist Of Israel

Posted on February 6, 2016 by heatonkent

psalmistNow these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; thus says the man raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel. (2 Samuel 23:1)

The Sweet Psalmist Of Israel

Reading the book of Psalms is an experience where one finds the glory, majesty and beautification of the grace of Jehovah God. It is not merely a book of poetry. Painted across each tapestry of praise the joy of living in the presence of the Lord is declared with deep colors of prayer, meditation, security, righteous judgment and bountiful hope. Jesus acknowledged the power of the Psalms before ascending as a testimony of Himself. Quoted often in New Testament scrip the musings of the ancient disciples declare the fulfillment of God’s divine plan. Martin Luther said the book of Psalms could easily be called a “little Bible” since it “contains, set out in the briefest and most beautiful form, all that is to be found in the whole Bible.”

The collection of one hundred fifty psalms is a complete picture of who God is. David the king is the author of nearly half the psalms. He is a man completely devoted to a life of thinking about his heavenly Father in every possible way. Called the “sweet psalmist of Israel” the shepherd boy extols the character of the Lord as worthy of praise and honor because of the loving care of his Shepherd. David knew God as few men have ever known Him. He declared the coming of the Messiah. Justice would be meted out to those who rebelled against the Lord. Faithfulness is a common thread in his writings and the praise of God’s mercy fills the page. If you want to know who God is read the psalms.

Prayer is a vital part of the heart of God’s children. Look at the psalms on bended knee and find the words to express to the Father the yearnings of the heart. Learning to pray will come from the psalmist who expressed in tones of majesty the greatness of a loving Father. Use the words of the psalms to frame the words of prayer. David was a man after the heart of God because his heart was always talking to the Father. Singing is not an act of worship contained within the Sunday morning building. David shows in his psalms that giving God glory through psalms is a way of living. Sing the psalms in your heart to praise the glory of what the Lord has done. His is greatly to be praised.

The book of Psalms is a great story. Take time to read, meditate, praise and glorify the Lord with the sweet psalmist of Israel.

The Psalms are our Bread of Heaven in the wilderness of our Exodus. (Thomas Merton, Bread in the Wilderness, 1953)

Posted in David, Old Testament, Psalms | Leave a comment

The Story Of Who

Posted on February 1, 2016 by heatonkent

BVCA-14HE WHO loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And HE WHO loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And HE WHO does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. HE WHO finds his life will lose it, and HE WHO loses his life for My sake will find it. HE WHO receives you receives Me, and HE WHO receives Me receives Him who sent Me. HE WHO receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And HE WHO receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward. (Matthew 10:37-42)

The Story Of Who

Discipleship with Jesus is about the WHO. When people heard the teaching of Jesus they were astonished. It was unlike anything they had heard before. The Lord came with plain speech directed at the hypocrisy that pervaded the spirits of God’s people for centuries. He wanted His followers to return to the old paths of truth and obedience of His Father. When the Lord sent out the twelve disciples he strictly warned them of the trials of their journey. Along with personal choices the twelve had to make Jesus outlined the message they were to deliver to the people. It is a message that many would not tolerate today.

Christ did not come to bring peace for men but rather offer peace to man. His teaching would separate families because one would believe and another disbelieve. It seems harsh to consider that within a family the teachings of the Lord would cause division and through the teaching of God families would be separated. The teaching of Jesus is the same message from the beginning: nothing can stand before obedience to God. If love for mother or father is more important than love for God then salvation is forfeited. Even if love for our own children exceeds the love we have for the Father there can be no hope. The Lord rejects anyone who does not put His Father first. HE WHO!

To be a follower of the Christ there is a cross to bear. This language does not have the sting as it did in the First Century. We have taken the cross of Jesus and made jewelry out of it. It is fashioned as gold, silver, wood or some beautiful jewel to admire. For the people who heard Jesus the cross was a horrific instrument of death. Hanging a cross around the neck for the first disciples would be like putting a hangman’s noose or guillotine around the neck. The cross was abhorrent! Jesus said that if you want to follow Him you have to take up an instrument of surrender and death. This suggests complete obedience. When a person takes up a cross they are going to a place where they will die. Following Jesus Christ requires a death to self. Anything less is not accepted. HE WHO!

There is joy in rejecting family and taking up a cross for the Lord. Losing a family because of truth will find its reward in eternity. Many Christians were crucified (literally) for their faith. The difference for the follower of God is that life is about the blessings of eternity. Jesus plainly shows that you can have everything in this life like family and ease of worldly joys but without God will lose your soul. Persecutions will come in the lives of God’s people but losing life here for Christ gives life in Heaven. Living and dying for the sake of Christ is the eternal reward. HE WHO.

One of the important parts of being a disciple of Jesus is a spirit of benevolence. The Lord takes note of those who care for His people. Something as small as a cup of cold water to a little person means a lot to Jesus. Nothing is unimportant to the compassionate heart of God’s people. There is a sense of steel and velvet to the service of God. When men follow His word it may seem harsh and difficult yet through a love for others kindness is shown from a simple cup of water. All of this matters. HE WHO.

They [Christians] walk in humility and kindness, and falsehood is not found among them, and they love one another. They despise not the widow, and grieve not the orphan. He that hath distributeth liberally to him that hath not. (Aristeides, Apology, c. 150)

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