Appreciating the Church

It is easy to take things for granted because we become quickly accustomed to life as things are.  For this reason we likely do not appreciate all God has provided for us by His grace.  Take the church, for instance.  We can appreciate and value the church as a gathering of God's people to worship Him, study His word and serve one another.  But we may not realise God has joined us together as one in His own Body of which He is our Head.  We might focus on what we can contribute to the fellowship of the saints, but we are also blessed by how all contribute to our good as well.

This dynamic played out in the early church when Timothy was sent to establish and comfort the church in Thessalonica as the people were going through tribulation and affliction.  Paul was concerned the people might have fallen prey to lies of Satan and abandon their faith because of their troubling circumstances.  Paul shared in 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8:  "But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you--⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord."  When Paul and the brethren received a good report of the people's faith, love and fond memory of them, they were comforted.  The ones seeking to instruct were informed; those who sought to encourage fellow believers were themselves encouraged and comforted.

It is amazing how God connects and unites individual believers in one body, the church.  Isn't it true that when we prepare to teach we are the ones taught?  And even after the message in discussion with other Christians there is much spiritual truth to glean and gladly receive we had not laboured for.  The one who seeks to help others are greatly helped according to God's grace.  Paul and his fellow Christians who were in affliction and distress were comforted by the faith of those in Thessalonica--ironically people they desired to establish and comfort in faith.  Sometimes the very thing we wish to supply to others is also what we need ourselves, though we do not always recognise it.  The minister may not realise how much he needs ministry--not as an outlet to use God's gifts to edify others--but to be edified and encouraged by the gifts of others.  We are blessed with capacity to grow in our appreciation of God for His grace and goodness towards us by simply being in Christ in faith and following Him obediently.

Seeing the Unseen

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ 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

A worldview founded by faith in God and His word provides a lens that enables us to see beneath and beyond the surface of what is seen.  Everything we see, read and experience can become opportunities for God to teach us more of Himself, how we ought to live and illustrate the truth of His word.  The one focused on their own present pain and suffering can often think of little else, yet the child of God who suffers can know he does so according to the will of God who is good and causes all things to work together for good.  Thus praise, gratitude and thanksgiving illuminate our hearts and fill our mouths rather than self-pity or frustration.

Paul realised in light of all God has provided for us--forgiveness, atonement, salvation, fellowship, righteousness, purpose and on--even the most severe afflictions are light by comparison.  Not only that, but he understood they fulfilled a practical function in working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.  It is only by eyes of faith fixed upon Jesus Christ we can see spiritual and enduring realities our physical eyes cannot see that make present pains of small consequence.  Knowing what Jesus accomplished when He suffered for our redemption means our suffering God allows is never in vain.  Everything we can see is temporary, for this world is passing away.  The things which are not seen with our physical eyes (yet with eyes of faith are seen, comprehended and received) are eternal.

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe."  Paul was thankful the Thessalonians received the word of God from him and other believers as the word of God:  the authoritative, accurate, divine revelation of God His people ought to heed and obey.  The word of God effectively works in those who believe in Jesus Christ, and one of these ways is how God gives awareness and insight to apply God's wisdom to ordinary activities.  In his book The Bible and the Newspaper, C.H. Spurgeon demonstrated how we can find emblems, parallels, parables and analogies all around us that illustrate the truth of scripture.  By the power of the Holy Spirit, God's word works in a child of God to provide ability to see the unseen, the eternal realities God has made known to us by his grace.

Spurgeon quoted John Newton as saying, "I read the newspaper that I may see how my heavenly Father governs the world."  This insight into God and His ways could only be obtained by John Newton after first being born again by faith in Jesus and being well-versed in God's word.  The things we see are not our primary focus because they are passing away, for we look to our LORD Jesus and consider Him who suffered for our sakes.  We can rejoice with exceeding joy because the light affliction we suffer is working for us and His word is effectively working in us presently for eternal good and His glory. 

Parent Up!

"The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."

Proverbs 29:15

On the cusp of battle against Israel, the Philistines were afraid.  They had heard of the miraculous wonders and deliverance by the power of God and knew they were no match.  But they were determined to fight Israel to prevent being made servants over those they had long oppressed.  They rallied themselves in 1 Samuel 4:9:  "Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!"  In modern vernacular, they urged one another to "Man up!" and fight like their lives, freedom and prosperity depended on it.  The Philistines won the battle, and God in time used it as an occasion to prove His supremacy over their god Dagon, plagued their cities for months, and Israel came to understand their need to rely on Him alone.  God was faithful to redeem the situation start to finish.

When it comes to parenting children, there is a need for parents to show at a minimum the same grit and resolve the Philistines had and "Parent up!"  We have strength beyond ourselves in our heavenly Father Who loves us and in Jesus Who is wisdom for us.  A father and mother best embrace their roles as parents by loving God and one another, together trusting and seeking God who allows conception and brings to the birth.  Parents are wise to fear God and provide a constant example of Christlikeness in submission to Him and one another in love, embracing their God-given task of raising a little one with the knowledge of God, providing for physical needs, nurturing, caring through consistent and well-weighted discipline, education and training.  Spending time with children and learning to communicate effectively is so important to convey your love, establish boundaries and expectations, and to encourage little ones as they grow.

Solomon provides insight to prospective or current parents that wisdom is given to children by the rod and rebuke that complement one another.  A common error exasperated parents make is they have neglected one or the other:  they have taken action to discipline without effective communication, or they habitually use words without consistent, corresponding action.  Whatever action employed for constructive discipline ought to be agreed upon by the parents according to God's word.  Threats, complaints, shouting, and pleading by themselves are impotent means of conveying wisdom.  Willful disobedience ought not to be laughed off or treated lightly.  Children learn to read their parents long before they can read words on a page or speak in complete sentences.  They quickly learn to masterfully exploit and manipulate doting parents who do not realise they are in a pitched battle of the will they retreat from and can surrender to.  The groundwork parents lay in a child's infancy will either be a bridge to learning and walking in God's wisdom or work to undermine all efforts to that end.  As Proverbs 29:17 says, "Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul."  Corrective action and words must be used together.

Solomon observed this in the training of household servants in Proverbs 29:19:  "A servant will not be corrected by mere words; for though he understands, he will not respond."  When it comes to correction, words are often not enough to illicit genuine change.  A stubborn child can shrug off words easily as he exerts his own will.  Such a one needs to be looked in the eye, spoken to in a caring manner so there is understanding, and physically restrained or moved.  The object must be put down; little hands should not be allowed to strike a parent.  Children are just as tireless as teens and adults to have their way, and the sooner they learn they are not in charge the better it is for everyone.  Solomon also gave a warning in Proverbs 29:21:  "He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him as a son in the end."  The idea is a coddled servant will never grow to be a fit servant and become a dependent and liability.

There is no perfect parent or child on this planet, but praise the LORD God is our Father in heaven who always knows what to do, what to say, and what He is doing.  When parenting feels all too much we are reminded God is not overwhelmed with our situation and can redeem even our fails for His good purposes.  As He has been gracious, merciful and good to us, we can exhibit His love with the rod and reproof to give wisdom.  Whether our children choose to receive God's wisdom is their responsibility, but as much as depends upon us let us always be faithful to pray for them, encourage, listen, be patient, correct when needed, confess our faults when we have sinned, and exhibit grace and forgiveness to build them up in our LORD.  Let us not leave our children to their own devices or to go their own way without correction, for that is the sure way to disgrace.

Guided By God

 "Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me.”

Quote from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the reality and operation of the Holy Spirit to that of wind:  one can feel and easily observe the effect of the wind, but the wind itself is not visible to our eyes.  When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit Who regenerates and guides us into all truth.  As a sailor adjusts the sails of a ship to best catch the wind, so we are propelled in ministry by the power of God as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  God's word could be compared to the rudder captained by Christ Who guides us in the correct direction of how to conduct our lives, examine our hearts, love one another and walk in obedience to God.  Unlike a rowboat that depends upon our limited strength and coordination or a motorboat where the occupants passively rely on a machine powered by petrol, we are to look to the LORD to guide us in His strength.

I was reminded of the lyrics of the popular Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody" when I considered Ephesians 2:1-3:  "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."  In this letter to believers in Ephesus, Paul described their life before coming to faith in Jesus Christ--a life by going wherever the wind blows.  Such a life is an aimless and likely nihilistic existence that, as the song suggests, ends in death without even caring.  It is no wonder Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air," a wicked, deceitful being who blows people towards ruin and eternal destruction by their lusts, flesh and minds.

Matthew Henry described the conduct of the life of Christians before they had faith in Jesus like this:  "Wicked men as slaves to Satan.  The course and tenor of their lives are according to his suggestions; they are subject to him, and are held captive by him at his will, whereupon he is called the god of this world, and the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Church, Leslie F. Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry Genesis to Revelation. Zondervan, 1974. page 1850)  Satan is a liar, thief and murderer from the beginning, and this deceiver and enemy of the souls of men easily convinces them they alone are the masters of their destiny, to live like a god before whom all others must bow.  In reality this one is enslaved mind and body to Satan, their own passions and lusts, is blind to the chains that bind them, and senseless of the wrath of God they face.  Led by everywhere the wind blows, whatever feels good, or in pursuit of fulfilling desires, the unbeliever is like a coin dropped into a donation funnel:  though the coin circles time and time again, ultimately gravity pulls it beyond our sight and it is plunged into darkness.  Unlike donation boxes that can fill up, the grave stays hungry.

Rather than resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit by disobedience, we are to submit to God as His beloved children and do what pleases Him.  The Holy Spirit always empowers and guides us righteously as we read in passages like Ephesians 4:29-32:  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  We are saved by faith in Jesus, and we are to live by faith in Him, looking to Jesus to guide us as the Holy Spirit moves us.  By God's grace we can know truth from error, repent of our sin, and walk righteously.