Thanking God for Others

1 Thessalonian 1:2-3   We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ

In the first chapter of 1 Thessalonians it is very clear how thankful Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy are for their brothers and sisters at the church of Thessalonika.   The whole chapter is a declaration of praise for the character, works, and faith of the church.   The Thessalonians had a big impact on these men and on the churches in the surrounding cities.

There is no doubt that we have people in our lives who have been like the Thessalonian church.  People who have been or are great examples, mentors or encouragers in the faith.   Therefore we would do well to follow the example Paul, Silvanus and Timothy and constantly mention them in our prayers.  In prayer we should praise their works, labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord.  It wouldn’t hurt to encourage them by showing our appreciation to them with a kind word or kind gesture.   

So today and everyday in prayer and in word let us encourage and thank those who have made a difference in our Christian life.   

What Are You Stirring Up?

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another,  and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  - Hebrews 10:24-25

As I was waiting for a meeting to start I read through this portion of scripture and thought this is a good filter for the meeting I am about to have.  My goal in this meeting should be to stir up love,  to stir up good works and to be encouraging.   So before I give any counsel, I need to ask myself if this counsel is going to stir up love?  Is it going to stir up good works?   And finally is it encouraging?

Then I thought, this should be my filter with every conversation I have in life.   I should want every conversation I have to leave the other party stirred up to love and good works.  I want to make sure I speak words of encouragement or at least have those I meet in life leave encouraged by our exchange and not discouraged.  I'm also reminded about what the apostle Paul admonished the Ephesians concerning their conversations.  He said, "Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Eph. 4:29

We would all do well to take the apostles advice and use it as our filter in our day to day interaction with others.  In doing so we will edify others and keep ourselves from conversations that can lead us into sin.  More importantly we will be glorifying and doing the will of God.

Therefore, we should consider the following before we speak.
1.  What am I going to stir up by saying this?
2.  Am I stirring up love with what I am about to say?
3.  Am I stirring up good works with what I am about to say?
4.  Is my conversation encouraging the other party in some way?
5.  Are my words building up or tearing down?

John Chrysostom's short explanation of Paul's instruction to the Ephesians sums this blog up perfectly "what ever edifies your neighbor, say this and nothing more..."

The Internal Struggle

O that my ways were directed to keep Thy statutes.  Psalm 119:5

In this verse I get a sense that the Psalmist has an intense desire to follow God's statutes.  I get the sense that he is pleading to follow God's ways, but something is obstructing his path.   Something is continuing to harass him as he tries to walk in the way of the Lord.  Therefore, the Psalmist cryie out in frustration because his all to common way is to allow this hinderance to keep him from doing what is right in God's eyes.   He recognizes the internal struggle between his flesh and the Spirit as they both seek to control his desires.   So he cries out and pleads that God would direct his steps so that he would not be pulled to the right or to the left, but he would walk in the ways of Lord.

The apostle Paul express this same sentiment in Romans 7:15-20.  He writes "For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.  But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.  So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.  For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want.  But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me."

Let us not read Paul's statement as an excuse for our sin, but let us be aware of the internal struggle we have as we deal with our sinful nature that always with us.  This should prompt us all the more to plead for God's help to lessen our inclination to yield to our sinful desires.

In commenting on this Psalm C.H. Spurgeon adequately describes the Psalmist' intent in his prayer as a "...sigh of regret because the Psalmist feels that he has not kept the precepts diligently, it is a cry of weakness appealing for help to one who can aid, it is a request of bewilderment from one who has lost his way and would fain be directed in it, and it is a petition of faith from one who loves God and trust in him for grace."


Let us pray that God would direct us, guide us, and lead us so that we would keep His statutes.

Preparing for Church

O Lord, communicate Thy grace to my soul through Thine ordinances upon this day so that I may be enabled to better live to Thy honor this following week.  Lord, I come into They presence to this end, that I may know some part of Thy will, and that I might get Thy Spirit to be conveyed through this Word of Thine into my heart." - Jeremiah Burroughs

Before hearing the Word of God Jeremiah ask for the following,

1. That God would communicate grace to his soul.
2. That he would be able to better live for God's honor in the coming week
3. That he may know some part of God's will
4. That God would convey His Spirit into his heart.


When we come to the house of God or to the word of God are we asking for this to happen?  Are we praying that God would show us how live for Him?  Are we expecting to learn something that would make us better witnesses for Him?

God's word is so powerful and so transforming that every time we hear it or read it these things can be accomplished.  All that's required is an open and receptive heart.  This week let us come to the word of God with these expectations.   Before we step into the house of God, let us pray that He would show us marvelous things from His law, so that we might honor Him in the coming week.

Finding Benefits in Death

Today death struck close to home for our church and especially for the family of our beloved brother in the Lord.   This afternoon God called our brother home to be forever in His presence.   At this very moment I am confident that my friend is experiencing the joy of the Lord in way we could never imagine.   Today he is feeling no more pain, no more suffering and I am sure he is rejoicing in every moment.  Thus is the future of every believer in Christ. 

Some years ago I read a book called Learning Theology with the Church Fathers, by Christopher Hall.  One section of the book has always stuck out to me because it had valuable lessons to teach those who suffer the death of a loved one.   Below is the portion were Hall explains why John Chrysostom considers death a benefit to those who remain behind

Those who continue to live in this world after the death of a loved one have received a powerful lesson on the transitoriness of life and the danger of thinking and acting as though life will never end.    One is “humbled, learns to act in a more level-headed fashion, is taught to think in a more spiritual manner, and introduces into his mind the mother of all goods, humility.”…Thus death actually becomes “a teacher of the spiritual life, instructing the understanding, bridling the passions of the soul, quelling its billows and creating calm.”

The lessons I am reminded of are these.

1.        “The transitoriness of life”

Life on this earth is not permanent- this is not our home.   God has something so much more for His children when this life is over.  We can take comfort in the promise of a perfect world to come.  It will be a world that is not infected or tainted by the destructive power of sin.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”   Revelation 21:1-4

2.       “The danger of thinking and acting as though life will never end.”

Life is brief and can be taken at any moment.  One day we will stand before God and give an account of how we lived on this earth.  Therefore, we must live in such a way that we will be prepared to stand before our creator and be found clothed with His forgiveness and righteousness. 

Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.   Matt 25:13

3.        “…think in a more spiritual manner”

Since life and all that we do is temporal on this earth, we should put more effort into what is eternal.  Our efforts should be invested in the things of God,  that which will help build His kingdom.  When it is all said and done, the only things that will matter is what we have done for Christ.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.           Matt 6:19-21

Beware of the wolves

Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Luke 10:3

Last week when I was preparing my sermon on Jesus's instructions to His disciples.  I wanted to investigate the meaning behind Jesus warning about the "wolves" they were going to run into.  I was wondering why did Jesus call false teachers wolves?  What does a wolf and a false teacher have in common.  While searching I found a great article about the hunting habits wolves.  As you read the description below, think of how this parrallels attacks used by the enemy.

The following is an except from Wikipedia's entry on wolves.

When hunting, wolves will attempt to conceal themselves as they approach their prey. With ungulate herds, they then either attempt to break up the herd, or isolate one or two animals from it. If the targeted animal stands its ground, the wolves either ignore it, or try to intimidate it into running. When chasing small prey, wolves will attempt to catch up with their prey as soon as possible. With larger animals, the chase is prolonged, in order to wear the selected prey out. Wolves usually give up chases after 1–2 km (0.62-1.3 mi), though one wolf was recorded to chase a deer for 21 km (13 mi). Sometimes, a single wolf will distract the herd with its presence, acting as a decoy, while its pack mates attack from behind. Wolf packs may also set up ambush trails; Indian wolves have been observed to chase gazelle herds through ravines where other wolves lie in wait within holes dug prior to the hunt, Mature wolves usually avoid attacking large prey frontally, instead focusing on the rear and sides of the animal.

Another interesting fact I discovered was that wolves will usually not attack if the prey stands firm and holds it ground.  Instead the wolves will try and get their prey to run so they can attack from behind.   This is exactly what the devil would have us do- turn and run?  Are we not told to stand firm, to resist the devil and he will flee?    Remember the armor of God has nothing for our back.   So when the wolves approach -you stand firm, hold your ground and the watch them run away.

The Purpose of Scripture

The Scripture discovers God to us as the Creator of the world, and declares what sentiments we should form of him, that we may not be seeking after a deity in a labyrinth of uncertainty.  – John Calvin

Calvin’s comments give us three important truths regarding scripture

1.       Scripture gives us the correct understanding of who God is.  Here Calvin is talking specifically about God as creator of the world, but this is not the only description of God we find in scripture.  Nevertheless, the importance of the comment is that our discovery of who God is must come first and foremost from the scriptures.

2.       Scripture explains to us how our attitude ought to be towards God.  The more we read the word of God the more we understand how we are to relate to Him.  We are given concrete commands on the proper view of God.  We are given concrete commands on how to love and follow Him.  God is not impersonal, but personal.  Therefore, He reveals what He requests from His creation.

3.       Scripture is a light to our path.  The bible was written so that we may know who God is and what he commands from His creation.   It is a map leading us to the Savior.   God desire that all men find Him, therefore He has not only left His word for all mankind, but He has preserved it.  God is not hiding in the shadows, but He has revealed himself to the entire world and He is calling all men to repentance.