The Heaton File

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

It Is More Blessed To Give

Today’s devotional is about the life of Jesus yet the passage we share today is not in the gospels. Luke is telling Theophilus of something Jesus said that is not recorded in any of the four gospels including his own. John reminds us that if all the words of Jesus were written down the world itself could not contain them all. Paul wrote by inspiration and as he did with the Lord’s proclamation of the supper he would have knowledge of this by the Holy Spirit.

The context of Paul’s use is his exhortation to the shepherds of the Ephesian church. One can only imagine the context Jesus would have said such a thing but what a powerful example of the life of Jesus. The Lord came to give. He came to give His life. Considering not His own place with His father as something to be grasp He left the heavenly abode and gave Himself for those He created. Man rejected His nature, reviled His teaching, mocked His power and cried out to crucify Him. He was spit on, beaten, scorned and mocked, scourged and finally nail to a piece of wood. It was more blessed for Him to give His life than to receive the accolades of men and earthly honor. He came to give Himself so that He could receive honor from His Father.

Because of His humility in giving Himself for you and me the Father exalted Him. When we learn the lesson of giving over the need of receiving we will learn the lesson Jesus died for. The only peace worth having is when we give. True devotion is found in the act of giving. Jesus not only gave Himself – He gave all of Himself. We can do no less.

Monday is a glorious day to think about giving. Plan this week to give. Make opportunities to give of yourself this week by helping others. Give time to those who are shut-in. Give a word of encouragement to someone who needs a good word. Give a hug to a needy shoulder. Give a message of hope by sending a few notes this week the old fashioned way – ‘snail mail.’ Give your spouse an ‘I Love You” moment and tell your children you love them. When you get through all this giving this week and Saturday rolls around – what a week you will have. And then you will understand – It is more blessed to give than to receive.

The finest gifts are given, not after waiting until need has to ask, but by the person whose eye sees, whose heart feels, and whose hand is stretched out even before any request is made. (William Barclay)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:17-20)

Do This In Remembrance Of Me

Luke is the only Gospel writer that mentions Jesus saying, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. The Lord’s Supper is not just a part of worship where we drink some juice and eat some bread. A time of remembrance is a memorial to one who has died. When a loved one dies and we assemble to honor them in a memorial all we can think about is who this person is and what they mean to us. The closer our relationship to our loved one the deeper the meaning of the service.

Remembering Jesus implies knowledge. As we grow in Christ and His life becomes clearer to us the memorial takes on greater meaning. It may be said that if the Lord’s supper is not a moving celebration of His death we really do not know Him very well. Jesus wanted us to take the emblems of this feast with a mind that is drawn to His character, His example, His teaching and His love. When we assemble as saints of God today we remember not just the fact of His death but the emotional impact on what the memorial means. He died but He lives again never to die.

Up from the grave He arose; with a mighty triumph over His foes. Remember this.

It was not weakness which made Christ hang on the cross; it was obedience to the law of sacrifice, of love. For how could He save us if He ever saved Himself? (Fulton Sheen, Radio Sermon, April 6, 1941)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. (Acts 23:12-13)

Forty Men Died Of Hunger

Paul was in a lot of trouble with the people of Jerusalem. Almost in fulfillment of what he told the elders from Ephesus he would almost be killed. Coming to Jerusalem he had been arrested under false charges and nearly beaten to death. The Roman Commander rescued the apostle from the mob but Paul begged the commander to allow him to speak to the crowd. This did not go well either and after the crowd grew to an intense frenzy of hysteria the commander ordered Paul to be scourged to find out what was going on. Learning they were about to scourge a Roman citizenship the soldiers withdrew from him.

The next day the commander brought Paul together with the chief priests and council to again sort out the problem. It turned into another riot. This preacher is really causing some uproar in the city. Meanwhile forty men have had enough. They are no longer in the mood to talk. Time has come to put an end to this blasphemer from Tarsus. Meeting in a smoke filled room dimly lit by a flickering candle (you know it was like that) they made a vow to not put a morsel of food in their mouth or take another drink until this Paul was d-e-a-d! Grasping their sweaty hands together a vow was made. Oaths were confirmed. Paul would die.

In an amazing twist (what we call the providence of God) the nephew of Paul overhead the plot and told Paul. The apostle relayed the news to the commander and that night two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen and two hundred spearman conducted God’s preacher to Caesarea. My only guess is that forty men must have died from hunger and thirst. I suspect they finally gave in and ate something. Their plan was to no avail. Sadly their oath could not override the power of God. Now that is a great story.

The key to this story is what the Lord told Paul the night after he stood before the Sanhedrin. “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome” (Acts 23:11). This is a great story because of the action and drama. But more importantly it is a great story because we can believe in the providence of God also. We know that God will take care of us in His will. And that is the greatest story of all. Have a great Saturday today. Tomorrow is the Lord’s day. Worship.

The New Testament is the history of the life and the testimony of common men who rallied to the fellowship of Jesus Christ and who by their faith and preaching remade a world that was under the thrall of a Roman army. (Woodrow Wilson, Address, May 1911)

Friday Morning Reflections – Wisdom Literature

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity. (Ecclesiastes 11:9-10)

Rejoice In Youth

There is a lot that can be said about youth today. Often we focus on the bad and emphasize the character of youth as reckless. However there are many wonderful young people who struggle with the trials of youthfulness and live honorable lives. This time of life can be a time of great joy and the impact of this message is clearly seen in our passage for Friday.

The Lord made man to grow from infancy to adulthood with a fascinating bridge between the two called “youth.” It is a time of curiosity filled with vigor envied by those of older age. Contrary to the belief of many it is not a time of frivolity where youth cannot be spent in the pursuit of a natural course of what God has planned. He wants young people to enjoy the way He has created them with cheerfulness. This time of life should be where young people are allowed to be young people. There will come a day when the more serious tones of life are demanded but let young people be young people with an important lesson from the Lord: learn to sow proper seed in youth so there will not be a harvest of heartache later in life! Young people are not forbidden to enjoy their age but rather they should be taught to make wise decisions for the future.

The vanity of youth is wrapped in the same blanket we all share. Life is vain when we understand that life is not about the here and now. Understanding this goes a long way in how we conduct our lives. Young people – understand that what you do in youth will stay with you in adulthood. Whatever a man sows he will reap one day. Enjoy your life and have fun, learn important lessons, share your vitality with others – and make wise choices that will be carried with you as you grow older. Remember now your Creator and remember why your Creator made you. Let no one despise your youth. Be an example in your youthful spirit. Remind us how to live happy lives for God.

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man. (Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds, 1916)

Thursday Morning Thankfulness – Epistles of Paul

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Corinthians 13:11)

Four Parts Of Farewell

As Paul brings to a close his epistle to the Corinthians, he leaves them with an exhortation to be the kind of people God wants them to be. The church at Corinth had a lot of problems. A lot. But Paul had not given up on them writing forceful letters to the saints helping them see how to correct their problems all the while commending them for their faith. His conclusion to 2 Corinthians is a four part harmony of simplicity.

Become complete

Paul wanted the Christians to find perfection or completeness in their lives. Remember the mess of 1 Corinthians? They had matured in the second letter but there was still work to do. Put your lives in order for God is what he is telling them to do. The ESV suggests “aim for restoration” and that is what they needed. Good advice for me. No matter where I find myself on this Thursday my aim is to bring my life more in focus to the will and love of God. Take good aim today.

Be of good comfort.

With all the challenges faced by the Corinthians Paul never gave up on them. He exhorted them to remember the promises of God. One of the great lessons of the letters to the church at Corinth is that we are just like them in our struggles. We may not have a letter written to us by an apostle outlining our faults … but we have them. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is filled with mercy. Be happy in the knowledge that God loves us and cares for us. Rest upon the promises that Christ came to save sinners. It is comforting to know today that God loves me.

Be of one mind.

The division at Corinth is not good – not even close to being good. Their party factions were doing nothing but causing harm to the body of Christ. Paul shamed them in his first letter and encouraged them in his second letter to lay aside those things that destroy unity. In a few days we will gather with our brethren to worship the Father. Do we still have our cliques? Is there someone in the congregation that I have not spoken to or greeted? It is easy to gather for worship and leave without speaking to those I am not familiar with. To be of one mind is to have a singular mind with my brethren. Reach out Sunday and greet someone you do not normally greet. You will be amazed at the feeling you get. Just think what the Lord says to that kind of unity.

Live in peace

Lastly, let your relationships with others be what our heavenly Father wants. There are times when we tell our children to quit fighting and fussing and get along with one another. It disturbs us when our children fight all the time. How does God feel when He sees us fighting with one another? Live in peace with your brethren. Jesus died for them and He died for me and He plans on all of us living together in PEACE where He lives. Forgive and live in peace with one another. Pray for one another and live in peace. Lift ups the hands of the weak and live in peace. Sing praises to God with joyful lips and live in peace. Amen the sermon preached and live in peace. Partake of the supper of Christ and live in peace. Call a needy person and live in peace. Today is Thursday – a day of peace.

Four points with one great message.

What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what kind of a person you are. (C. S. Lewis)

Lovers Of Themselves

Standing in the express lane at the local grocery I noticed the man ahead of me with a large number of items to check out. A quick review easily detected this man was way over the limit of ten items reserved for this lane. He seemed aware of this and also seemed oblivious to care what anyone thought. It crossed my mind to say something to him encouraging him to find another aisle but decided it was not a matter of great importance. As the cashier began checking the groceries she noticed the large number of grocery items and pointed out to the man his discretion. He ignored her and bagged his own groceries and left without a word. She apologized and I acknowledged that I felt that many people feel empowered to impose their will on others without concern. It did cross my mind that had I said anything to the man or the cashier that with what is heard in the news he could just as well go to his car and bring a gun back.

More and more stories are filling the news with arguments in movie theatres ending in the shooting death of a patron. A lady makes a comment to a man who brushed her car with his wheel-chair and he pulls a gun and kills her. Road rage has led to people being shot over arguments and angry feelings of retribution. Many states have legalized the carrying of weapons in public which is not the issue in itself but now it is much easier for someone to become angry and shoot first without asking questions. Recently my wife, daughter and I were the victims of a man shouting and screaming at us because we pulled in front of him at a McDonalds drive-through. He walked back to his truck cursing us. Had he been a rational person to talk too we could have easily shown how we did not see him stopped in the parking lot behind us (and there were two lanes available). In today’s climate I chose to drive away.

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4). What is happening today is not new. Perilous times have been around since the serpent deceived Eve. But there seems to be times in history with heightened peril and our world is a perilous place to live. Paul illustrates the problem when an examination is given to the character of people. The man who ignored the express lane is characteristic of those who are lovers of themselves. They care not what others think or do because they are empowered to live above what others think. Pride fills their hearts in their arrogance. The anger that flows over to killing is rooted in unholy people who have no love and regard for human life. Our society is ruled by the lack of self-control. Men have become brutal in their thoughts and actions. Pleasure is at the top of the list and what I want I get is the religion of the day. We live in perilous times.

As the people of God we must be aware of our surroundings. Caution would dictate the better course of action is what the wise man said – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness … The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:1-2, 28).” A ten item express lane is not worth dying over or a spot in a drive through. The judgment of God will be the final answer and I am greatly satisfied to know He will mete out the proper answer. Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies and sometimes they come in the form of loud mouth, cursing and prideful people. Sadly these folk do not know the true happiness and peace found in Christ. May God grant them the time to come to know Him who has a greater answer to life than what they find in themselves.

Wednesday Morning Meditation – Psalms

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. (Psalms 37:23-25)

The Righteous Are Not Forsaken

King David had reached the golden age of life. He reflected on the challenges he faced and remembered how God had been with him through them all. He had some serious defeats in life; he had some moments of greatness in life. Through it all he was never forsaken by God. Standing in the valley of Elah God gave him victory over Goliath. Sorrowing in his despair over Bathsheba he felt the presence of God’s grace still around him. As a result of his sin with the wife of Uriah his family was nearly destroyed. There were many things that David could regret in life but he could never regret ordering his life after the Lord.

There are many blessings in being a child of God. Not only does the Lord promise to give us eternal life He promises to take care of us here. We can believe that no matter what comes upon us in life God will be there. We keep our lives ordered to His way and He will never forsake us. When we fail the Lord He is faithful to not forsake us. David could see in his life that he was never forsaken by the Lord. Can you see it? Look closely and you will find many times. Count your many blessings, name them one by one.

The Bible says “God is.” To believe this is the first requisite in finding God. (E. S. Williams, Systematic Theology, 1954)

Monday Morning Coffee Break – Life With Jesus

Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. (John 4:6)

He Really Is Like Me

He can walk on water, raise the dead, heal any disease, cast out unclean spirits and refute the wisest of any ruler and yet He gets tired. The Son of God felt fatigue. Jesus had worked Himself into a state of needing to rest from a full day. Sitting down at Jacobs well He just wanted to sit and let His body take some ease. He was bone tired. Exhausted. The disciples left to go into the city leaving Jesus alone for some much needed respite. A woman from Samaria comes and her story takes center stage but go back and read again that Jesus was wearied. He really is like me.

Isn’t that great to think that God’s Son experienced what it is like to be tired? Jesus loved, cried, got angry, and became hungry and thirsty and probably laughed about something in life. He really is like me in every way. The Hebrew writer reminds me that Jesus had to become like me to die for me that I could live in Him. Jesus was a man. He came into the world through the womb of Mary, learned how to walk, listened to the stories of old from Joseph and Mary and learned to work in his father’s occupation of carpentry. He was taught how to spell, multiply and divide and the history of the Jewish people. Temptation confronted Him daily and that is what set Him apart from being exactly like me. He never sinned. But He felt that sting of temptation and resisted.

As we begin our day today let’s put our minds in the focus of who Jesus was. He was just like us and had to endure the same challenges of life we do. This will be a great week to serve God because we know we have a King who has ‘lived in our skin and yet without sin.’ He felt the issues of life like me and like you. Sorrow filled His heart when someone died; laughter came from His mouth when Mary said something funny. My Savior died for me so that I can see Him for who He really is: just like me and by His example I can overcome anything. If He can do it – so can I!

The immanent Spiritual Life of God focalized in a human personality. (Peter T. Forsyth, Positive Preaching and the Modern Mind, 1907)

Sunday Morning Starters – Worship

Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)

Worship In Song

Eve must have had a beautiful voice. Was she the first one to sing or was it Adam? Knowing men I suspect it was Eve. When Cain was born she probably sang soothing songs to him and then to Abel. It is a natural part of being a mother I guess. Music was an early part of the new world. Moses tells of Jubal who created harps and flutes. The world would be filled with music as instruments were created and songs were remembered from generation to generation. The Jews worshiped the Lord with music in almost every part of their lives. Matthew and Mark tell us Jesus sang. That must have been some kind of voice.

When God created man He placed in his heart a majestic ability to praise with song. One of the foundational parts of the early church was singing. The first converts were Jews accustomed to worship with instruments but the first Christian’s never used them. This shows the authority of singing only with the instrument created by God – the heart. When men use instruments they glorify themselves. Singing with the heart glorifies God alone. Singing and making melody in our hearts comes from a love we have from God without the accreditation of the ear of man. I know people who have beautiful voices and what a blessing they enjoy. But the wisdom of God is He never suggests that worship is based upon the ability of the voice. I know people who do not have beautiful voices – at least to the ear of man – but my-oh-my do they have beautiful voices to the ear of God. And that is praise.

God loves to hear music when it comes from our hearts. Today is a day of worship. This is a day we gather with the children of God and lift up our voice and sing. God loves a cheerful singer. He wants to hear our hearts regardless of what the mouth may produce. Please know that singing is a joyful thanksgiving to tell God how much we love him. It matters not what we sound like but what we feel like as we stand before the Almighty and sing. Sing – sing – sing. Praise God with your heart today. Praise God with song today. Let us all lift up our voices with joy in our hearts and sing to our Lord.

What is to reach the heart must come from above, if it does not come thence, it will be nothing but notes – body without spirit. (Beethoven to J. A. Stumpff, 1824, quoted by Marion Scott in ‘Beethoven’)

Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

And Elisha said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you, nor see you. But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the LORD: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ And this is a simple matter in the sight of the LORD; He will also deliver the Moabites into your hand. Also you shall attack every fortified city and every choice city, and shall cut down every good tree, and stop up every spring of water, and ruin every good piece of land with stones.” Now it happened in the morning, when the grain offering was offered, that suddenly water came by way of Edom, and the land was filled with water. And when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come up to fight against them, all who were able to bear arms and older were gathered; and they stood at the border. Then they rose up early in the morning, and the sun was shining on the water; and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood. And they said, “This is blood; the kings have surely struck swords and have killed one another; now therefore, Moab, to the spoil!” So when they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, so that they fled before them; and they entered their land, killing the Moabites. Then they destroyed the cities, and each man threw a stone on every good piece of land and filled it; and they stopped up all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees. But they left the stones of Kir Haraseth intact. However the slingers surrounded and attacked it. And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too fierce for him, he took with him seven hundred men who drew swords, to break through to the king of Edom, but they could not. Then he took his eldest son who would have reigned in his place, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall; and there was great indignation against Israel. So they departed from him and returned to their own land. (2 Kings 3:14-27)

The Valley Full Of Blood

This is a great story. Elisha is a lot of fun to read after. He is not afraid of any king. He speaks plainly. His trust is in the Lord and he does a lot of powerful things to show God’s supremacy. After Ahab died the king of Moab rebels and so the three kings come up to fight against him. After three days without water they decide to check in with Elisha and see what the will of the Lord will be towards their battle with Moab. Elisha tells Jehoram (Ahab’s son) to go ask his own gods if he wants to know anything. Then Elisha relents and says if it were not for Jehoshaphat he would not waste his time.

A great miracle happens. The armies dig ditches and without wind or rain the valley fills with water. This will serve two purposes: to quench the thirst of the large army and to trick the Moabites. I like what Elisha said to them. “This is a trivial thing in the sight of the Lord.” What Jehovah does is not a big deal but the task given to the three armies is to utterly destroy the Moabites. This is called a ‘scorched earth’ policy.

The Moabites hear of the approaching armies and prepare for battle. Early the next morning they look out over where the opposing armies are camped and the early morning sun shines on the valley full of water as if it were blood. Thinking the three armies have fought one another and slaughtered each other the Moabites rush to take the spoil left by the defeated armies. To their great surprise no one is dead and before they can regroup into an armed force the camp of Israel rises up attacking them to their defeat. The abomination of the Moabites is seen in the king of Moab offering his eldest son as a burnt offering on the wall.

Elisha shows the power of God by giving victory to Israel over Moab. The battle is won only through the grace of God. We have the victory today through the blood of Jesus Christ. When the armies of Satan attack we are to rise up and defeat the devil with the scorched earth policy of allowing no residue of his influence to remain. Nothing is to remain. The Moabites thought they had victory when they saw the blood but the blood was their defeat. Satan must have thought he gained the victory when he saw the blood of Jesus on the cross. Three days later he realized that blood was his defeat. Praise God. That is a great story.

There is no devil in the first two chapters of the Bible and no devil in the last two chapters. Thank God for a Book that disposes of the devil. (Vance Havner)