PSALM 119: 121- 128 AYIN
Plea for rescue from enemies verse 121- 123
I have done judgment and justice – leave me not to mine oppressors
be surety for YOUR servant for good
let not the proud oppress me
mine eyes fail for YOUR salvation
and for the word of YOUR righteousness
Plea for instruction verse 124
Deal with YOUR servant according to YOUR mercy
and teach me YOUR statutes
Plea for wisdom verse 125
I am YOUR servant – give me understanding
that I may know YOUR testimonies
Plea for protection verse 126
It is time for YOU – LORD to work
for they have made void YOUR law
Plea for right priorities verse 127- 128
THEREFORE I love YOUR commandments above gold
yea -above fine gold
THEREFORE I esteem all YOUR precepts
concerning all things to be right
and I hate every false way
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 121 I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. (6231 “oppressors” [‘ashaq] means to oppress, exploit, a person of authority who subjects others to undue pressures, wrong, extort, wrong, or abused.)
DEVOTION: There are people in our world who like to hurt others. Some of these people are individuals who find joy in hurting those who claim Christ.
In the Old Testament there were people both who were Jewish and those who were not that liked to give those who were genuinely trying to follow the LORD a hard time. These individuals would make fun of those who tried to worship the LORD genuinely. They liked to worship their false gods because they could see instant results of some of their actions. They had no Biblical standards of living and therefore made fun of those who tried to worship the LORD in spirit and in truth.
As you read the Old Testament you find occasions where those who genuinely worshiped the LORD had to prove that the LORD was real as opposed to times when the false prophets tried to prove that their false god was real.
On one occasion the challenge was real and the prophets of the false gods tried to get the prophets of the one true God to show HIM to be real. The LORD did show HIMSELF real and the false prophets were killed.
This doesn’t happen so much today but there are people who think that the God of the Bible is not real and when challenged make fun of Jesus.
We need to realize that today it is not as easy to fight the oppressors of the one true God but we can still pray and ask the LORD for help as we witness to them. HE does still reign and HE will come one day to deal with those who have given genuine believers a hard time.
We have to be just in our dealing with those who oppress believers and we can with the help of the Holy Spirit. Many of the disciples of Jesus were killed for their beliefs and this might even happen today and it does in other countries of the world.
Christian are being killed around the world for their faith. They will have their reward. Here in America, so far, we have not be killed for our faith but we have been given to undue pressures to reject the God of the Bible if we are going to be in any place of leadership.
CHALLENGE: We need to pray for other believers who are in public office or deal with the public on a regular basis while they are continuing to honor the LORD with their decisions.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 122 Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. (6148 “surety” [‘arab] means to braid, intermix, be security, give security, mortgage, occupy, give pledges, or undertake.
DEVOTION: This is the sixteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
The psalmist wants the LORD to work in his behalf. He wants the LORD to undertake his cause. He wants the LORD to honor HIS pledge HIS help against the proud people around him. It seems that most of the time this word means that a person is a co-signer on a loan.
We are warned in the book of Proverbs to not co-sign for others. We should either give the money to them without interest or not give them the money to buy what they need. Here the psalmist wants the LORD to sign HIS name next to his as a one who will guarantee everything will be paid in full. He wants the LORD to be the one to guarantee that only GOOD will come into his life.
We know that everything that comes into our life is for our good according to the New Testament. Sometimes or most of the time we think that some of the things that God sends our way are not GOOD.
The LORD does answer this prayer. Can we see everything in our lives as GOOD coming from the LORD? Even the chastening He sends our way? Even the pruning He sends our way?
The proud people of this world are not going to win the war. Sometimes they might seem to win a battle. They will stand before the LORD for judgment.
We would like it to happen in their lifetime but we have to depend on the LORD to do it when it is the right time. The psalmist has it right when he asks the LORD to “teach” him. We must remain teachable especially during the hard times!!!
CHALLENGE: As a servant of the LORD we are to help those who are in need. There should be an attitude of assistance in the local church for those who attend. Manifest this attitude and it will spread throughout your church. The LORD will honor those who encourage their fellow believers.
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: 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. (3615 “fail” [kalah] means finish, accomplish, determined, complete, and be bent on.)
DEVOTION: Have you ever dealt with eyes that are tired of looking at something? Have you ever had eye surgery and had a slow recovery? Our eyes are important to everything we do. Seeing is a gift from God. There are many people who were born blind or became blind for one reason or another.
Here we have the Psalmist giving an illustration of how hard he is looking for deliverance from the LORD. He is to the point where he is almost finished seeing anything. He has strained his eyes so much that he seems to be going blind.
He believes that the LORD is going to deliver him from the arrogant people that are around him but his has waited so long. Remember that our timing and God’s timing are always different. We seem to think that God should work in our time frame. HE doesn’t!!! That is hard to accept sometimes or maybe most of the time.
However, during his time of waiting on the LORD he is going to stay in HIS Word. He is guided by HIS Word. He wants to understand HIS Word. He wants to learn more of HIS Word. He loves HIS Word.
We need to be like the Psalmist. We need to work on our waiting on the LORD. We tend to be short-sighted. We tend to be impatient. It is part of our old nature to be selfish. We have to deal with these facts regarding our life and continue to trust the LORD no matter what is happening around. If we are faithful HE will honor us and we will give glory to HIM.
CHALLENGE: Realize that what is happening in our life at present is allowed by the LORD. Accept what is happening with the attitude that we remain faithful to HIM and HIS Word. It will show others and example of working in our life.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:126 “It is time for YOU to act, O LORD, For they have regarded YOUR law as void.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). Time – 6256 עֵת [ʿeth /ayth/] n f. From 5703; TWOT 1650b; GK 6961; 296 occurrences; AV translates as “time” 257 times, “season” 16 times, “when” seven times, “always” four times, “eveningtide + 6153” twice, and translated miscellaneously 10 times. 1 time. 1A time (of an event). 1B time (usual). 1C experiences, fortunes. 1D occurrence, occasion. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” While I agree with Solomon, I have to admit I am like the psalmist at times in asking for that season to be now instead of in God’s time frame. The psalmist is crying out for action and justice from the Lord. The oppressors and arrogant to have retribution administered for their unbelief. After all when truths and time honored principles are trampled upon and unrighteousness and anarchy appears to reign supreme this cry must go forth! Or does it? The Judge of all the earth indeed is on His throne and observing all the activities of man. Indeed it is good to remember that Psalm 2 is very relevant. “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath. And distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King On My Holy hill of Zion.’…Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (v. 7-8,10-11). There is a time and the Lord knows when that is!
CHALLENGE: Pray for those in authority over you that they might be sensitive to the Lord’s word and Spirit. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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: 128 Therefore I esteem all YOUR precepts concerning all things to be right: and I hate every false way. (3474 “esteem” [yashar] means to please, to be straight, to deem to be in conformance with justice or law or morality, to be straight in my eyes, upright, or lead straight alone)
DEVOTION: There is a big difference between loving something and hating something. When we love something or someone we hold it in high regard in our life, whether it be a person or a belief.
Our goal is to please someone in high regard and that means that their teachings are going to be held in high regard. This should be the goal of every believer to hold Jesus and HIS teachings in high regard.
When we do this we also hold the teachings of the rest of the New Testament in high regard because it written by those who followed Jesus under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
When we read the New Testament we have the disciples of Jesus writing what the Holy Spirit has directed them to write. When we read the Old Testament we have individuals who were under the same influence of the Holy Spirit giving direction to those who were HIS followers before the New Testament was written. God has not changed. HE is holy and just and wants us to obey HIM in spirit and in truth as the Old Testament saints did and now the New Testament saints are doing.
God has not changed but today there are believers in every nation of our world who are trying to allow the Holy Spirit to direct them in their understanding of the New Testament teachings.
If we hold the Bible in high regard than we will want to study and apply it to our daily life, so that, we are pleasing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
People will notice if we are following the LORD and ask us why we are different and then we can give a witness for the LORD. God wants us to reach our world with HIS Word.
CHALLENGE: We have to ask ourselves if we REALLY want to conform to the teaching of the Bible in our daily life. If we do we have to share this truth with others. We don’t want to hide what we believe!
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer for the LORD to work verse 121- 128
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word verse 123
Statutes verse 124
Testimonies verse 125
Law verse 126
Commandments verse 127
Precepts verse 128
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Righteous verse 123
Mercy verse 124
Teacher verse 124
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 126
Time to work verse 126
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Oppressors verse 121, 122
Proud verse 122
Making God’s law void verse 126
Love of gold verse 127
False way verse 128
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Proper judgment verse 121
Proper justice verse 121
Surety verse 122
Servant verse 122, 124, 125
Salvation verse 123
Mercy verse 124
Teachable verse 124
Understanding verse 125
Love the Word of God verse 127, 128
Esteem precepts that are right verse 128
Hate false way verse 128
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
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QUOTES regarding passage
119:121–128. The psalmist asked God to protect him from arrogant (cf. vv. 51, 69, 78, 85) oppressors and to deal with him in justice and love (vv. 121–124). He sought to motivate God to respond by explaining his loyalty as God’s servant (vv. 125–126; cf. vv. 122, 124). He added that he loved the Lord’s laws (valuing them more than gold; cf. v. 72) and hated false ways (vv. 127–128; cf. vv. 101, 104). (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 881). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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The Lord is the Final Judge (vv. 126–128). In our impatience, we sometimes want God to work immediately and set everything right, but His ways and times are not always the same as ours. Faith and patience go together (Heb. 6:12), and God’s delays are not God’s denials. The day will come when the truth will be revealed and sin will be judged; meanwhile, instead of complaining about what we have paid or lost, let us rejoice in the wealth that we have in God’s Word, wealth that can never be taken from us. All of God’s precepts concerning all things are always right, so we can depend on the Scriptures and have the guidance that we need. If we love the Word, we will hate the wrong paths of sinners and stay away from them. We do not even put one foot on the path of the wicked! (Prov. 1:13). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 132). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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127 Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold.
Partly, because it is one evidence of their excellency, that they are disliked by the vilest of men; partly, out of a just indignation and opposition against my sworn enemies; and partly, because the great and general apostacy of others makes this duty more necessary to prevent their own and other men’s relapses. (Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 189). New York: Robert Carter and Brothers.)
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Ver. 127. Therefore I love thy commandments, &c.] Because he was the Lord’s servant, as Aben Ezra; or rather because the wicked made void the law. His love was the more inflamed and increased towards it by the contempt it was had in by others; he preferred it above gold, yea, above fine gold; or gold of Phez, a place where the best gold was, as was thought: the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it the topaz; and the Syriac and Arabic versions, precious stones or gems; see ver. 72 and Psal. 19:10. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 232). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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Let not the contradiction of many move you from your faith; let it lift your eyes to the hills from whence cometh our help. Let it open your desires in prayer to Him who keeps His own word, that it may keep His Church and bless the world. Let it kindle into fervent enthusiasm, which is calm sobriety, your love for that word. Let it make decisive your rejection of all that opposes. Driftwood may float with the stream; the ship that holds to her anchor swings the other way. Send that word far and wide. It is its own best evidence. It will correct all the misrepresentation of its foes, and supplement the inadequate defences of its friends. Amid all the changes of attacks that have their day and cease to be, amid all the changes of our representations of its endless fulness, it will live. Schools of thought that assail and defend it pass, but it abides. Of both enemy and friend it is true, ‘The grass withereth, and the flower thereof passeth away.’ How antique and ineffectual the pages of the past generations of either are, compared with the ever-fresh youth of the Bible, which, like the angels, is the youngest and is the oldest of books. The world can never lose it; and notwithstanding all assaults, we may rest upon His assurance, whose command is prophecy, when He says, ‘Write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever.’ (MacLaren, A. (2009). Expositions of Holy Scripture: Psalm 51–145 (pp. 328–329). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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121–28 The psalmist, who commits himself to the care of the Lord, has done what is “righteous and just” (v. 121; cf. 33:5; 89:14). Now he expects the Lord to conform to his “righteous promise” (v. 123; cf. vv. 81–82), according to which the godly will be delivered from all adversities. As long as the Lord does not intervene, it seems as if the psalmist is left to the “arrogant oppressors” (vv. 121–22; cf. vv. 21, 51; 72:4; 105:14; Prov 14:31; Jer 12:12). He is innocent of doing the same thing that the oppressors have done because he has lived in accordance with God’s expectations.
Godliness is the response of faith to the promises of God, by which the godly act in accordance with the “law-word” by doing what is “righteous and just” (v. 121). It is also the response of “hope,” waiting and enduring adversity, even to the point of exhaustion (“my eyes fail, looking for your salvation,” v. 123; cf. v. 82). The “salvation” (yešûʿāh) extends to all the needs of God’s people, as they look for a renewal of God’s “love” (ḥeseḏ, v. 124; cf. 5:7) as well as a deliverance from the “arrogant” (vv. 121–22). Hope in the fullness of “salvation” is the object of faith. Finally, godliness also reveals itself in a teachable spirit. The psalmist prays repeatedly for God to “teach” him (v. 124; cf. vv. 12, 26, 64, 66, 71, 73, 99, 108, 135, 171) and to give him “discernment” (v. 125; cf. vv. 27, 34, 73, 144, 169).
Godliness also shows zeal for the honor of God and his laws and a hatred of an ungodly way of life. To this end the psalmist affirms his love for the Lord’s “commands” (miṣwōṯ, v. 127; cf. v. 47; Prov 8:17) and compares them favorably with “gold, more than pure gold” (cf. Job 22:25; 28:15–16; Prov 3:14; 8:10, 19; 16:16). “Pure gold” designates a higher degree of purity than “gold.” He also expresses his commitment to the Lord by expressing loyalty to his “precepts” (piqqûḏîm, v. 128).
Together with the psalmist’s affirmation of devotion is a righteous indignation at the way of the ungodly who have broken God’s “law” (tôrāh, v. 126). The verb “broken” (p-r-r) together with tôrāh may well be understood in the prophetic sense as “they have broken covenant” (cf. Isa 24:5; 33:8; Jer 11:10; 31:32; A.A. Anderson, 2:839). Zealous for the honor of God, the psalmist prays that the Lord may soon deal justly with the ungodly: “It is time for you to act, O Lord” (v. 126; cf. Jer 18:23). (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, pp. 756–757). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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But so far was this from being the effect they produced, that he declares that in all these long and wearisome conflicts his heart had never sunk into despair. We have before explained failing for salvation as denoting that although there was no prospect of an end to his calamities, and although despair presented itself on every side, yet he strove against temptation even to the fainting of his soul. Should we understand the past tense of the verb as put for the present, in which sense it seems to be employed, the Prophet in that case intimates, that his eyes fail him not because they become fatigued, but because through earnest looking they contract as it were a dimness, and that yet he does not cease to wait continually for the salvation of God. In short, the failing of his eyes indicates perseverance combined with severe and arduous effort, and it is opposed to the momentary ardour of those who immediately faint, if God does not grant their requests.
(Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Ps 119:123)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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We certainly consume to survive. But, bearing His image, we were created to produce, to innovate and invest, to pour into others, to seek to improve things. That’s the free market at its best, but it requires that we form the character to desire creating above consuming, that we delay gratification and think of the welfare of future generations. And that character is in short supply these days. An entitlement mentality has infected how we see our lives. We’ve seen the result: crushing personal and national debt and a growing state to accommodate all of our demands. It just doesn’t work, folks. And it won’t make us happy. Because we were made in the Imago Dei, the image of God, instead of asking “What can we buy?” we need to ask, “What can we create?” (Chuck Colson)
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Paul emphasizes the importance of the gospel message.
INSIGHT
According to Romans 1:18-20, all people have two avenues for beginning to learn about God. First, all human beings have an inner awareness of God or conscience (v. 19). Second, they can look at nature and learn several truths about God: (1) His invisible attributes—beauty, intelligence, etc.; (2) His eternal power—what awesome power it takes to put the stars in place!; (3) His divine nature—that there is a God who is higher than man and nature. Whenever anyone looks at nature and honestly searches his own heart, he can know that there is a God. (Quiet Walk)
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Moses writes in poetic form a summary of everything he has taught the Israelites.
INSIGHT
Man is more than a machine. Man is more than a combination of blood vessels and bones. There is something within man that transcends the physical. It is the image of God. When the major issues of life lie before us, the image of God within us demands that we sing a song or paint a picture or write a poem or perform a dance.
At the end of his life-as Moses is struggling to summarize all that he needs to say to his people-he bursts out in song. Surely the thumbprint of God is seen in his crowning achievement. (Quiet Walk)
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HINDRANCES REMOVED
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
John 17:4
One basis of security and assurance about eternal life, according to our Lord, is that every hindrance and obstacle to our receiving this gift of eternal life has been removed by the blessed work of the Lord Himself. “I have glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
Many things had to be done before I could receive the gift of eternal life. As a natural man I wondered how I could get it. Eternal life really means that we are sharers of the life of God and are in communion with Him. Is it not obvious, therefore, that a great many things have to happen before we can come into that condition? But it has all been done. There is nothing that has been left undone. Christ has dealt with the problem of my guilt by removing it. He has reconciled me to God; the law of God has been satisfied. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” (Romans 8:33). He Himself has done it, for “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God” (verse 34).
Christian people, this is the position we are meant to occupy. Here is a quotation from an Augustus Toplady hymn:
The terrors of law and of God
With me can have nothing to do.
My Savior’s obedience and blood,
Hide all my transgressions from view.
That is not boasting, for I am not relying upon myself, but upon Him: “My Savior’s obedience and blood, hide all my transgressions from view.”
A Thought to Ponder
Every obstacle to our receiving eternal life has been removed by the blessed work of the Lord Himself
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 180-181, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Take Heed Therefore
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28)
On his way back to Jerusalem, Paul decided not to stop at Ephesus, fearing a lengthy delay. But this church was much on his heart, and he recognized that he might not see them again. In order to give them one last bit of instruction and encouragement, he called the elders to meet with him, where they had a most touching time together (vv. 30-38). What was Paul’s main concern? “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember” (vv. 29-31).
Later, Paul sent Timothy to Ephesus, “that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine” (1 Timothy 1:3). The Greek word used here means “a different kind of doctrine” and is used only twice. Certainly, the false doctrine that concerned Paul the most was a works-oriented salvation. “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel” (Galatians 1:6).
Paul also concerned himself with lifestyle. “If any man teach otherwise [same word], and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness…from such withdraw thyself” (1 Timothy 6:3, 5). The list of characteristics of the false teachers given (vv. 4-5) contrasts markedly with those resulting from proper doctrine and life, “charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (1:5). May our lives be characterized by these qualities. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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A young man went to seek an important position at a large printing company. He passed the initial interview and was going to meet the director for the final interview. The director saw his resume, it was excellent. And asked,’
“Have you received a scholarship for school?” The boy replied, “No”.
‘It was your father who paid for your studies? ” Yes.’ He replied.
‘Where does your father work? ‘ ‘My father is a Blacksmith’
The Director asked the young man to show him his hands.
The young man showed a pair of hands soft and perfect.
‘Have you ever helped your parents at their job? ‘
‘Never, my parents always wanted me to study and read more books. Besides, he can do the job better than me.
The director said:
‘I have got a request: When you go home today, go and wash the hands of your father and then come see me tomorrow morning.’
The young man felt his chance to get the job was high.
When he returned to his house he asked his father if he would allow him to wash his hands.
His father felt strange, happy, but with mixed feelings and showed his hands to his son. The young man washed his hands, little by little. It was the first time that he noticed his father’s hands were wrinkled and they had so many scars. Some bruises were so painful that his skin shuddered when he touched them.
This was the first time that the young man recognized what it meant for this pair of hands to work every day to be able to pay for his studies. The bruises on the hands were the price that his father payed for his education, his school activities and his future.
After cleaning his father’s hands the young man stood in silence and began to tidy and clean up the workshop. That night, father and son talked for a long time.
The next morning, the young man went to the office of the director.
The Director noticed the tears in the eyes of the young man when He asked him,
‘Can you tell me what you did and what you learned yesterday at your house?’
The boy replied: ‘I washed my father’s hands and when I finished I stayed and cleaned his workshop.’
‘Now I know what it is to appreciate and recognize that without my parents, I would not be who I am today. By helping my father I now realize how difficult and hard it is to do something on my own. I have come to appreciate the importance and the value in helping my family.
The director said, “This is what I look for in my people. I want to hire someone who can appreciate the help of others, a person who knows the hardship others go through to accomplish things, and a person who realizes that money is not his only goal in life”.
‘You are hired’.
A child that has been coddled, protected and given everything he or she wants, develops a mentality of “I have the right” and will always put himself or herself first, ignoring the efforts of parents, family and friends. If we are this type of protective parent are we really showing love or are we helping to destroy our children?
You can give your child their own room in a big house, good food, a computer, tablet, cell phone, and a big screen TV, but when you’re washing the floor or painting a wall, children need to experience that too.
After eating, have them wash the dishes with their brothers and sisters, let them fold laundry or cook with you, pull weeds or mow the lawn. You are not doing this because you are poor and can’t afford help. You are doing this because you love them and want them to understand certain things about life.
Children need to learn to appreciate the amount of effort it takes to do a job right. They need to experience the difficulties in life that people must overcome to be successful and they must learn about failure to be able to succeed.
Children must also learn how to work and play with others and that they will not always win, but they can always work harder to reach their goals. If they’ve done their best, then they can take pride in all the effort they put forth.
Life is about giving and serving and these qualities are taught in our homes. Randy Kellogg
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PROCLAMATION
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you. 1 John 1:3
The lack of proclamation in the preaching of the church accounts for so much of the present state of the church and the present state of the world and of society. A man standing in a Christian pulpit has no business in saying, “I suggest to you” or “Shall I put it to you” or “On the whole, I think” or “I am almost persuaded” or “The results of research and knowledge and speculation all seem to point in this direction.” No! “These things declare we unto you.”
The old charge that has so often been brought up against the Church and her preachers is that we are dogmatic; but the preacher who is not dogmatic is not a preacher in the New Testament sense. We should be modest about our own opinions and careful as to how we voice our own speculations. But here, thank God, we are not in such a realm; we are not concerned about such things. We do not put forward a theory that commends itself to us as a possible explanation of the world and what we can do about it; the whole basis of the New Testament is that here is an announcement, a proclamation–those are New Testament words.
The Gospel, according to the New Testament, is a herald; it is like a man with a trumpet who is calling people to listen. There is nothing tentative about what he has to say; something has been delivered to him, and his business is to repeat it. It is not the business of the messenger, first and foremost, to examine the credentials of the message”he is to deliver it. We are ambassadors, and the business of the ambassador is not to say to the foreign country what he thinks or believes; it is to deliver the message that has been delivered to him by his home government. That is the position of these New Testament preachers, and that is how John puts it here. “I have an amazing thing to reveal,” he says in essence.
A Thought to Ponder: The gospel is like a man with a trumpet who is calling people to listen. (From Fellowship with God, pp. 46-47.)
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To Die Is Gain
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Although the glorious resurrection bodies that have been promised all believers must await the return of Christ, even the spirit-existence after death is better than this present life for the believer. Paul himself expressed “a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (v. 23)—“to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Thus, it is “gain” when a Christian dies! Since Christ, in His resurrection body, is in heaven at the right hand of the Father, the spirits of “sleeping” Christians are also there. The intermediate state is somewhat analogous to the dreaming state, in which the consciousness travels to various places and experiences while the body is asleep. In fact, death is called “sleep” for the Christian (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
However, in some amazing way, these conscious spirits of believers are still distinct and recognizable. Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:3), as well as Samuel (1 Samuel 28:12-19), were identifiable in their spirit-form, even by people here on Earth.
One of the greatest blessings of dying and going to be with the Lord will be the joy of returning with Him “at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13). “Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. . . . And the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16), just before the “rapture” and glorification of the saints who are still living. As wonderful as it might be to live until Christ returns, it will be even better to be with Him!
The death of a Christian, therefore, may be a time of loss and grief for those left behind, but it is a time of joy and blessing for the one who dies, including a happy reunion with those who have gone before. HMM
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