Verses like Hosea 14:4 are so encouraging. This verse in particular reminds us of God’s ability and willingness to provide hope and restoration to His people.
The prophet Hosea shows how Israel had wandered from the truths of God. He depicts Israel as a nation that has turned away from God, that has taken up idolatry and pagan worship and who now trust in foreign alliances. Hosea warns his people of impending judgment and calls upon them to repent. Despite Israel’s rejection of God, Hosea tells them, that God offers healing, forgiveness and love. Having abandoned God’s word, Israel had fallen a long way from God. Yet God continues to offer them hope and restoration. Hosea reminds us of God’s steadfast love for his people despite their persistent unfaithfulness.
God is still making this same offer today. We too live in a broken world, where many have forgotten God, are unaware of His promises, and persist in unfaithfulness. Regardless of how far we have fallen, God offers to restore us and give us hope. Let’s examine God’s healing, His unconditional love, His mercy, and the bright future that we have in Him.
God promises to turn back His people’s backsliding. According to Strong’s, the Hebrew word translated – backsliding is meshubah. It describes a moral and spiritual return. It portrays a sinful heart that has substituted idolatry or one that is complacent to true worship. Sinful behaviour results in separation from God, along with brokenness and guilt. But God promises to heal us of our backsliding.
Scripture portrays God as the great physician who is able to heal us of our spiritual ailments. 1 Peter 2:24 describes Jesus as the one “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” And Isaiah 53:5 states “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
There is no limit to God’s healing power, and no sin too great for God to forgive.
God says that he will love us freely. His love is unconditional and not based on our worthiness. Love is part of the very nature of God, for as 1 John 4:8 puts it: “God is love”. Unlike our own love, which is often inconsistent and changeable, God’s love is steady and unwavering. He loves all, regardless of who they are or what they have done. Consider the following passages:
We can have confidence that God’s love is constant and everlasting. It can be easy to forget that God’s love is not like human love. Our willingness and capacity to demonstrate love varies from moment to moment or situation to situation. But God’s love is not like this. His love is everlasting, unconditional and constant. Nothing is going to change His love for us.
Hosea goes on to say in verse 4 that his anger is turned away. The sin of men rightly provokes God’s anger, Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”
God’s anger is not vindictive. It flows from His holiness and is tempered by His desire to bring us back into a right relationship. His anger is always accompanied by grace and mercy which preserve our opportunity for repentance. We have an open invitation to return to a loving relationship with Him. As the prophet Micah puts it (7:18-19) “Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever. Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Aroused by our sin, the wrath of God has been satisfied by the blood of Jesus who has made it possible for God to restore us and to live at peace with Him. Romans 8:1-2 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” It is not necessary for us to live under the guilt and burden of sin. We can instead be obedient to God and enjoy a life blessed by God’s grace, mercy and freedom.
Through God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness we can have a restored relationship with Him and live a fruitful life for Him. Our God has the capacity to restore what was lost and strengthen us for the future.
God hopes to heal and restore us. To enjoy healthy relationships, and lives filled with divine purpose. When we hope in the Lord, we remove uncertainty, for God is constant in love and always keeps his promises.
What the world offers is temporary, because one day, the world itself will pass from existence. But when we trust in God, the object of our hope abides forever. He restores us to a permanent relationship. Renewal in Christ is eternal, as is life with him in heaven.
We live in a broken world, which can seem discouraging and hopeless. God promises us a hopeful tomorrow, knowing that God always keeps his promises.
If you are like me, you have a number of unfinished projects around your home, We can have confidence though that God will finish the work that he began with us. With His help and guidance we know that we can successfully finish the race and receive the prize of eternal life in heaven. God will not leave us unfinished.
Hosea 14:4 reminds us that God is a God of hope and restoration. No matter how far we’ve drifted, He offers healing, forgiveness and everlasting love. This is good news worth sharing. Let us hold fast to this hope and share it with others..
Owen Sound ON
Exodus 31:1-5 states “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have specifically chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts. He is a master craftsman, expert in working with gold, silver, and bronze. He is skilled in engraving and mounting gemstones and in carving wood. He is a master at every craft!'”
Bezalel was chosen by God to help build the Tabernacle and all its associated items to allow the Israelites to worship God. He gave Bezalel an assistant named Oholiab as well as other craftsmen to help construct these items. Bezalel was chosen by God, filled with the Spirit of God and given great wisdom, ability and expertise. God provided each of these men with the skills and abilities necessary to be master craftsmen. God had very important work for Bezalel and his contemporaries to do and fully equipped them to do it.
Like Bezalel, God has chosen us to do great work. God chose Bezalel for a specific purpose and set of tasks. God has also chosen us and has a purpose for our lives (Ephesians 1:4; 1Peter 2:9). God gave Bezalel a great work to do; God has also given us a great work to do. In Matthew 28:19-20 we read, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
God did not simply give Bezalel this important work to do, without also equipping him to do it. God filled him with His Spirit, and provided helpers similarly equipped with the necessary skills and abilities. He did this directly. None of these men attended trade school or passed proficiency tests. God granted them knowledge and skill as a gift.
God has also given us the ability to be fully equipped, providing the means for it. And while he did this directly with the apostles and prophets, he accomplishes this indirectly in our day and time.
The apostles were given divine assistance in three important areas:
Through the apostles and prophets, God has given us His word. II Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
We must study God’s word and put it into practice in order to be equipped by God. While we do not have miraculously bestowed ‘gifts’ today, we do have ‘God-given’ abilities that He expects us to use in his service. The apostle Peter encourages us to use all that we have received from God – to honour and glorify him.
What Peter wrote in 1 Peter 4:8-11 certainly applies to both categories of gifts: “ Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
God has gifted the church with godly leaders who are to bless each congregation with their work.
In Ephesians 4:11-13 we read, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;”
And while miraculous healing is no longer with us, the ability to pray remains…as James wrote
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”(James 5:13-16)
God still calls to praise him in prayer and to restore the fallen. And he still heals in response to our prayers.
As He did with Bezalel and Oholiab our heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to do important work in His Kingdom. God ensured that these men were fully equipped to do their work and were successful in accomplishing it. If we are going to be successful in completing the work He has given us we, too, must strive to be fully equipped for that work.
The question is: are we allowing God to fully equip us?
Just before Jesus’ crucifixion, during his trial before Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him,” (John 18:38). It seems to me that Pilate responds to Jesus arrogantly regarding His previous statement about the truth. Perhaps his arrogance comes from Pilate’s position of power in the Roman Empire. He would have been a man responsible for making rules and decisions which impacted many people; perhaps he thought his position gave him the authority to dictate truth.
In this scripture the word truth is from the Greek word alétheia. According to Strong’s Lexicon alétheia is used to denote truth in a variety of contexts, including the truth of God, the truth of the Gospel, and the truth as a moral and ethical standard. It signifies not only factual correctness but also sincerity, integrity, and faithfulness. Alétheia is often contrasted with falsehood and deception, emphasizing the divine nature of truth as revealed in Jesus Christ and the Scriptures.
I often find it discouraging when factual correctness is distorted and integrity is not seen as important. It seems more and more these days that things which were once seen as truth are no longer held to be true. There is also an unwillingness to stand up for the truth – a reluctance to speak up when the truth is not accurately portrayed. We live in a world where people can make up their own truth and present it as factual. Is it possible for truth to be so fluid? If things we thought were true are changing, how can we count on truth to guide us and our children? We need to be able to anchor our lives on things that we know are truthful and not going to change. If we deviate from fundamental truths or standards, this can lead to catastrophic consequences.
I feel like the changes in truth today are similar to what we called in the industry where I worked, “normalization of deviation.” Normalization of deviation occurs when people become desensitized to an unacceptable practice and it becomes the new norm, or in some cases it becomes a slow reduction in standards where negative consequences are not experienced, and the reduction in standard is accepted as the new norm. A simple example of this is the common practice of some people to drive up to 99 km/hr in an 80 km/hr speed zone and not expect any consequences. This practice of exceeding the speed limit has become an accepted new norm by many. Obviously, those who don’t believe in God’s word as truth will ignore it. But should Christians practice that same attitude? Regrettably, there is a trend of some, who do believe in God’s word as truth, to slowly drift from it. Why the change and lack of commitment to the truth? Cultural changes and personal desires seem to cause deviations from God’s truth, and they become the new norm.
God’s truth must be the standard by which we can all live our lives by. We need to be able to count on this standard as consistent and unchanging. If we allow the standard to change or determine for ourselves what the standard should be, then the consequences will be unacceptable.
This reminds me of Aaron’s two sons who offered strange fire in their sacrifice to God. They deviated from what God had commanded them, with the result that fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died in God’s presence (Leviticus 10:1-2).
In Deuteronomy7:1-4 the Israelites were warned against intermarrying, as this would turn their sons against following God and lead them to serving other gods. Despite God’s command and warning, many intermarried and learned the practices of ungodly people. In time they rejected God and started serving other gods. This cultural difference resulted in a deviation from God’s truth and the acceptance of other cultures and religions.
Even Solomon, who was blessed by God with wisdom and much more, found himself disobeying God through intermarriage. He loved many foreign women and had 700 princess wives and 300 concubines who turned his heart from God. Even worse, on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem, he built shrines dedicated to Chemosh, the detestable Moabite idol, and to Molech, the detestable Ammonite idol (1 Kings 11:1-8). The consequences of Solomon’s disobedience led to the division of the kingdom of Israel. God allowed the ten tribes of the northern kingdom to be ruled by Jeroboam, a servant of Solomon, and the two southern tribes to be ruled by Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, 1 Kings 11:14-43. These consequences not only impacted Solomon, but the entire Israelite nation.
David recognized that God is the source of truth and the importance of God teaching him truth.
Jesus reinforced what David tells us. He taught that truth was not simply a concept but it is embodied in Him. Truth is the very nature of God. In John 14:6 we read, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Contrast this with what Jesus said to the Pharisees with His warnings against the lies and deception of Satan in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Truth comes from God, while lies or falsehoods come from Satan. Moses knew that God was truth. Just before his death, in his song to the Israelites, he said to them, “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).
God’s truth does not change as it is rooted in His perfect nature. There is no need for God to adjust his truth based on culture and circumstance. There should be no need for us to advocate changes to God’s truth based on our changing culture. We can rely on God’s truth being unchanging and consistent. Scripture reveals that God is unchanging which means that His promises and character are as reliable today as they were yesterday, and will be for eternity. Despite what we may see going on in the world around us, this should give us hope for today, hope for our children and grandchildren in generations to come.
Malachi 3:6 teaches us, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore, you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” There are many other scriptures which reveal that God’s truth does not change and will not change (Hebrews 6:17-18; James 1:17; Matthew 24:35).
God’s truth has the power to change our lives, our hearts and minds. His truth can make us new. God’s truth sets us free from the bondage, guilt and shame of sin. John states, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
God’s intention in giving us His truth is not just for us to store up that knowledge, but to put it into action. His word is able to change how we live our lives, how we interact with and love others, and how we handle difficulties and trials. God’s word allows us to imitate Christ in our daily lives.
James writes, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25).
As we continue to abide in God’s word, our character, our love and our purpose will gradually be shaped to reflect the very nature of Christ.
In II Corinthians 3:16-18 we read, “Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”
Following God’s truth can result in a complete transformation for us as we learn a new way of living. We have the ability to put off our former sinful nature; our minds can be reshaped to see ourselves and others through the eyes of Christ. We have been given a new self, a new identity, forgiven and known by God – now able to live righteous and holy lives through the grace of God. In Ephesians 4:20-24 we read, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
So, what is truth? Truth is the word of God. I don’t know who to credit with this saying, which I heard recently. But it went like this: “When a man changes the truth, that’s an act of the devil. But when the truth changes a man, then that’s an act of God.”
Let us be willing to accept God’s word as absolute truth and never deviate from it or change it. Let us stand up for that truth and guard it against those who seem willing to change it or deviate from it. And let us allow God’s truth to continually transform us into the people we need to be for Him. Let us work to embed in our children and our grandchildren the assurances that come from following God’s truth. Let us have a desire to share God’s truth with those with whom we come into contact.
Owen Sound
In Ezekiel 33:1-9 we read “Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ “So you, son of man: I have madeyou a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.”
According to Strong’s, the word watchman is derived from the Hebrew word ‘tsaphah” which means to ‘to lean forward, to peer into the distance.’ I think from this we can infer the watchman was to observe, watch out for, wait for, or keep the watch. Keeping the watch, or standing watch is a term still used today, particularly in the navy. When the sailor stands watch he is required to devote his full attention to standing watch, as inattention or negligence in doing such can have serious consequences for the ship or fellow shipmates. From the navy’s perspective the watch is necessary for communication, security and safety.
During Old Testament times Israel often had many enemies who were interested in capturing their land and taking them captive or killing them. To guard against, this many of the cities were build with great walls around them for protection. The city of Jerusalem was built with walls around it and history tells us these walls were tall and thick. Watchmen were required to stand on these walls or in the towers and look out onto the land. They would be leaning forward or peering into the distance looking for messengers, any unusual activity or an approaching army. If they saw any of this they were to alert the others in the city. The watchmen of this time were also responsible for communication, security and safety. They were responsible for communicating impending danger, ensuring the city was secure and ensuring the safety of the city’s inhabitants.
Nehemiah was the cup bearer to King Artaxerxes, he had learned that the remnant of Jews were in distress as the walls of Jerusalem had been broken down. He requested the king to allow him to lead the effort of rebuilding the wall surrounding Jerusalem. The king granted this request.
While rebuilding the wall enemies of the Jews learned of this and became furious. They decided that they should attack the Jews and throw them into confusion and stop the work of rebuilding the wall. When Nehemiah heard about this he encouraged the Jews to not be afraid and remember that their Lord is great and glorious. He also posted guards on the weak portion of the walls to protect those rebuilding the wall (Nehemiah 4). The Lord blessed Nehemiah and his people by allowing the wall to be rebuilt:
“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.”
When relying on God, watchmen were able to be effective in allowing His work to be completed.
God’s people have a history of being unfaithful to Him and not following His commands. In Isaiah 56:10-12 we are given some insight into God’s perspective of Israel’s watchmen.
“His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory. ‘Come,’ one says, ‘I will bring wine, And we will fill ourselves with intoxicating drink; Tomorrow will be as today, And much more abundant.’”
When speaking about Israel’s watchmen, Isaiah is referring to the leaders of the people of Israel. He states that the watchmen are blind, ignorant and dumb. He also says that they love to slumber and are only concerned about their own well being. We have seen that being a watchmen was a very important role. The first part of this role was to be on the lookout for trouble, if a watchman is blind, how effective can he possibly be in looking for trouble? The blind watchman will never see the trouble coming and God requires his leaders to be on the lookout for trouble, to see it coming and to act.
These watchmen are also described as ignorant. God wanted his leaders to understand His will, to understand the needs of His people and to ensure that His people were aware of and obedient to His will. Those leaders, who were ignorant about God, could never communicate His will to others nor discern when others deviated from it. So they neglected to correct sinful people.
Isaiah then describes the watchmen as dumb dogs, unable to bark. Communication was a key part of their function. The security of the city and the safety of its inhabitants depended upon the watchmen who upon seeing trouble coming, sounded the warning. But, the leaders of that day had no interest in warning others. They thought primarily of themselves and what was best for themselves.
Although the term watchman is not specifically mentioned in the New Testament, the concepts or characteristics are.
1 Peter 5:8-9 states “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” Other translations use the word watchful for vigilant, it is critical that we are watchful for the schemes of the devil. The devil will easily entice us and lead us away from our heavenly prize. In 1 Corinthians 16:13-15 Paul exhorts the believers to be watchful and stand firm in their faith “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” Colossians 4:2-6 tells us “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” We are to be watchful in our prayer life, looking around us for opportunities to pray for others, to help ensure we are wise in the way we deal with others and that we will have the wisdom and opportunity to reach out to others. Jesus himself stressed the importance of being watchful. In Luke 12:35-40 He speaks about the faithful steward. The faithful steward remains on watch, waiting for his master to come home, even though he does not know when he will be back. He is diligent and attentive in his waiting. We, too, need to be diligent, attentive and prepared for the Lord’s return.
God accused His watchman of being blind. Jesus had similar words for the religious leaders during his ministry on earth.
Those who ‘watch out for our souls’ must first know the will of God and then do it – before correcting others.
So, the scriptures instruct us to seek knowledge, wisdom and discernment.
We need to be like the Bereans who searched the scriptures daily which led to their fair-mindedness.
Paul admonished Timothy to commit what he has been taught to faithful men who will be able to teach others.
We have to be faithful people who are dedicated to understanding God’s instructions and plans for us so that we share this with others.
God accused His watchmen of being dumb or mute. The purpose of the watchman was to look for danger and alert people. Jesus provided many warnings to God’s people.
In Luke 12:15 we are warned against covetous, “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
In John 8:34-35 Jesus warns us about becoming slaves to sin and how He is able to make us free. Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Jesus warned His people of the false teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees in Matthew 16:5-12 which reads: “Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.’ And they reasoned among themselves, saying, ‘It is because we have taken no bread.’ But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’ Then they understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
In 2 Timothy 2:2-4 Paul encourages Timothy to preach the word and warns against false doctrine, “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
The apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of our speech in Ephesians 4, specifically verse 15 where he states, “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.” In verse 25 he also tells us to speak the truth, “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour.”
And in verse 29 he tells that our words need to be edifying or instructive, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Paul provides further insight in Galatians 4:16.
The watchmen described in Isaiah 56 loved to slumber. I don’t think they were sleeping because they were tired, rather they liked a life of leisure. This is the opposite of what we would expect from a watchman for the watchman must do his job diligently, alertly, always being ready.
Contrast this to what the apostle Paul teaches us in Col 3:22-25
Are we faithful watchmen for God?
Do we take this role with the seriousness and diligence it requires? Are we standing watch, looking for trouble and ready to complete God’s work? Are we serving God and others whole-heartedly? Are we speaking out – communicating God’s message – and including the severe consequences of not following Him?
Are we spending time in God’s word with a seeking heart and a desire for wisdom? And we growing in understanding and ability to discern His word?
May our love for God and our love for the lost give us a desire to warn others of the impending doom that disobedience to God brings.
Owen Sound, ON
In 2 Samuel 13 we read that David’s son Absalom fled after killing his brother Amnon. Absalom had taken it upon himself to punish Amnon for the horrible act he had committed which had gone unpunished by King David. Following the murder of Amnon, Absalom was afraid of retribution from his father and brothers, so he fled Israel and sought political assylum with his maternal grandfather Talmai, the king of Geshur. And he remained with him for three years.
In 2 Samuel 14:1-21 we read about Joab’s response to Absalom’s prolonged separation. Joab was a son of Zeruiah, King David’s sister (1 Chronicles 2:13–17). He was David’s general and for most of his life was very loyal to him. It seemed apparent that he knew David’s heart and his desire to be reconciled to his son.
So Joab made a decision to intercede and devised a plan to help facilitate reconciliation. His plan was to have a wise old woman – go to the king, pretending to be a widow with two sons. She told him the story, that one of her sons had killed the other in anger and now her entire clan was demanding that her remaining son be put to death for murder. The woman appealed to David to protect her son. And David did so by ruling: “As the Lord lives, not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground.”
For the sake of that family, David placed mercy and forgiveness ahead of justice. This was exactly what the woman wanted to hear and she proceeded to boldly ask David why he “does not bring his banished one home again?” She goes on to state, “For we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him.”
Following some additional discourse King David declared to Joab, “All right, I have granted this thing. Go therefore, bring back the young man Absalom.”
There is much that we can learn from Joab and the wise old woman who spoke to King David.
We need to love all people and recognize that each one of us needs reconciliation with God.
Joab knew that King David longed to have his son back. Joab recognized the need for reconciliation between David and Absalom and he acted to help make it happen. We, too, need to have the courage to bring about reconciliation between people and God. I admit that when I look at people around me, I often fail to recognize their separation from God and need for reconciliation. It is just not at the top of my mind, and yet the need is there. The question is, ‘do we love others enough, as Joab loved David, to help make reconciliation possible?’.
Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The prophet Isaiah teaches us that our iniquities have separated us from God. I am confident we all know that our sin has separated us from God, but do we truly appreciate the dire need for reconciliation? In 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Paul teaches us that we can be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Christians have in fact been given a message of reconciliation. May we recognize what we have been given and love others enough to bring about reconciliation with God. Our ministry of reconciliation requires us to make others aware that sin has separated them from God and that reconciliation with Him is possible through Jesus Christ.
We need to speak the truth with boldness, trusting that God will give us the right words to say.
We don’t know much about the woman Joab sent to speak with David. But we do know that she spoke with boldness. She was direct with David when asking him why he did not bring his banished son back home. I think that it would have taken a lot of courage to speak to the king that way.
These examples encourage us to pray for the ability to speak boldly in the face of opposition. And when given the opportunity, to rely on God’s help to forcefully and effectively proclaim the gospel. The gospel is all about God’s plan to reconcile the world to himself.
Our lives are short and when we are dead, reconciliation is not possible.
The ‘wise woman’ described our lives – like water that is spilled on the ground. Once it is spilled it cannot be recovered. She was emphasizing the urgency of reconciliation and the price of opportunites neglected.
Because we don’t know how much time we have, we need to preach and teach the gospel today.
Both of these passages reinforce the urgency of teaching the gospel message. Paul had accepted his personal responsibility to preach the gospel, yet he writes in a way that extends that responsibility to us. To the church at Corinth he wrote: “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
God has given us a way of bringing each of us back to Him.
In the words of that ‘wise woman’:
Other translations word it this way
God has always wanted His people to repent, to turn from their ways, and to live. As he explained to the prophet Ezekiel, “Therefore you, O son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘If our transgressions and our sins lie upon us, and we pine away in them, how can we then live?’ Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'” (Ezekiel 33:10-11)
Israel was accusing God of making his judgment so severe that there was no room for repentance. God’s response was, that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and that His desire was for them to repent, to turn to Him and be saved.
Our God is not cruel nor does He make repentance impossible. And while he does not want to see humanity suffer, He will also not withhold justice and punishment from those who refuse to obey and follow Him.
How can I apply these insights to myself?
God has given us a tremendous gift in Jesus Christ and it is through Him that we are reconciled to God and promised eternal life with Him. God has put people in our lives who have loved us, who have seen our need for reconciliation and shared God’s word so that we could receive this incredible gift. This gift is far too important to keep to ourselves. I must love others and be willing to share it with them. We need to be praying for opportunities to have God put us in the lives of others to share His incredible Good News.
Like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again, our opportunities to share the gospel will one day cease. Our loving God wants all people to come to repentance. His desire is for each one of to be restored to Him. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. But our God is also just, visiting the consequences of eternal damnation upon those who reject his salvation and refuse to be obedient.
In Ephesians 5:1-2 Paul calls us to be like God and to love others as Christ has loved us. To do that, we must have a strong desire and an unfailing commitment to see that as many as possible are called to repentance and a saved relationship with God.
Kevin Pickles
Owen Sound
In 1 Chronicles 29 David was approaching the end of his life. He was committed to build a temple for God to dwell in but God decided that it was David’s son, Solomon, who would do so. (1 Chronicles 28:6). So, in 1 Chronicles 28:11-22, David chargesmSolomon, to build the temple. He gave him the necessary plans to build it including the items to be used in it for worshipping God. He also provided him with the amount of materials necessary to build the temple. Then He encouraged Solomon to complete this important work. He tells him to be strong and courageous and do the work. He tells him God is with him and will not forsake him.
After giving these instructions and encouragement to Solomon, David addressed the entire assembly, which likely included all of the officials and leaders of Israel (Chapter 28:1). David explained to them that God has chosen his son Solomon to build the temple, but Solomon was young and inexperienced and the work to be done was great. David went on to explain what he has set aside or donated to allow the temple to be built. He then encourages the other men of Israel to contribute and support building the temple.
David’s charge to Solomon and to the people of Israel to build God’s temple there are several lessons that we can learn:
As David stated to God’s people, we, too, need to recognize that our work is great and very important. As followers of Christ perhaps the most important thing we are called to do is to share the Good News and make further disciples.
In Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus gave to His disciples what is commonly referred to as the great commission, specifically verses 19-20 which state,
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
There are many examples in the book of Acts where the early disciples taught the Good News and the church of our Lord grew.
We are also called upon to look out for and to assist the needy and those less fortunate. This comes out clearly in the parable of the good Samaritan, (Luke 10:25-37). James 1:27 teaches us that we need to provide for both orphans and widows in their distress. Jesus instructs us in Mathew 25:35-36, when speaking about the sheep and the goats, the importance of helping those in need. In Galatians 6:9 we are encouraged not to grow weary of doing good. Paul teaches us in Colossians 3:23-24 that whatever we do, we are to do it as if we were working for the Lord.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that we are to be “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.” He also instructed the Ephesian church to stand firm, to not be swayed, to not budge from the will of God. In Ephesians 4:14 Paul states, “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.”
We need to work wholeheartedly and uncompromising for the Lord as He has gifted us and the Holy Spirit leads us.
David recognized that the work Solomon was required to do was great, and he was inexperienced. He knew that Solomon would need help. So David asked the men of Israel to help.
Likewise, our work as Christians is great and we need to help each other and work together in order to be successful. Jesus was aware of this as He chose his disciples, and after training them, sent them out in pairs (Mark 6:7-13). In the limited commission, Jesus appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two (Luke 10:1-12).
In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul describes the church as a body. Each part is needed and necessary for the body to function properly. We need to remember that like the early church we, too, must work together and rely on each other to complete what God has asked us to do. David and the people of Israel recognized that though they were willing to give generously and to help in completing the temple, it was God who had given them both the means and the ability.
David set a great example for the leaders of Israel and explained why the temple was important. The temple was not being built for man but was being built to honour God. He further explains just how much of the wealth that he had accumulated as their king had been dedicated to the Lord with this one project in mind. He set an example before asking others to do the same. Like David, may we also stir one another up to accomplish good works.
The Hebrew writer instructs us to consider how we can stir each other up to love and good works, not neglect meeting together and encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). There is no greater ‘good work’ than to share the gospel with others.
Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.”
In 1 Chronicles 29:5 David asked the men of Israel, who was going to consecrate themselves to the Lord? The concept of consecration involves dedicating oneself or something to God. Consecration signifies a deep commitment and devotion to God; it requires us to align ourselves with His purpose and will.
The Bible illustrates for us that consecration is a sacred act that involves dedicating oneself or something to God. It requires us to prioritize our service to God above all else.
An example of consecration is Aaron and his sons who were set apart by Moses to serve as priests (Leviticus chapter 8). The Lord had commanded that a significant process be completed in order to consecrate these men, including washing them with water, clothing them with priestly garments, anointing them with oil, and offering sacrifices. But more importantly God required an inner transformation and a wholehearted dedication of their lives to Him.
As David challenged the men of Israel to consecrate themselves, we also need to consecrate ourselves. In Romans 12:1-2 Paul instructs us to be living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. He tells us we are not to conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
Colossians 3:1-2 directs us to set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. Paul appeals to us in Colossians 3:17 that whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we are to do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
In 1 Chronicles 29:9 the Israelites rejoiced over the offerings of the temple that they had given freely. The rulers also rejoiced as they gladly honoured and glorified God with the gifts which He had empowered them to give. Others may also have rejoiced over the generosity and good will of their leaders to see the important work of the temple being completed.
We have much to celebrate and are also called to rejoice. This is always true when God’s people obey Him.
As Christians we rejoice because we have been included in this great work of sharing the Good News about Jesus with the lost. We do so having been reconciled to God through Christ and having placed our hope in Him. We can rejoice because we understand that while life on earth is temporary, it is preparing us for the glory and splendour of eternity in Heaven.
This account in 1 Chronicles 29 concludes with David’s wonderful prayer of praise to God before being joined by the entire assembly in praise to Him. David’s prayer of praise acknowledges the greatness, the power, the majesty and authority of God. David was humble before the Lord, saying: “who am I and who are my people that we could give anything to you?” (I Chronicles 29:14). He understood that God was the first to give and that they had simply returned a portion of it to Him. And then David prayed for his son Solomon and for Israel, that they would always obey and love God.
We, as well, need to recognize that God is worthy of our prayers and praise.
We should be encouraged by those who have served God before us.
I am intrigued by David’s words “But who am I and who are my people that we could give anything to you?”(I Chronicles 29:14). I think this question demonstrates David’s humility, he recognized that without God he was nothing. However, we also know that God used him to do great things.
Do we ask ourselves this same question – who am I? Without God, I have nothing and anything I do will be futile. However, with God, I can do all that He asks me to do.
By Kevin Pickles, Owen Sound, Ontario
In 1 Samuel 15:1-23 we read how the prophet Samuel told Saul that the Lord Almighty had decided to punish the nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they first came out of Egypt. He told Saul to go and destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children along with all of their livestock. So Saul mobilized his army, went to a town of the Amalekites and slaughtered everyone except king Agag. They also destroyed part of the livestock but kept the best for themselves as plunder.
This was not what God had commanded. Saul was deliberately disobedient to God’s instructions and when Samuel confronted him, he tried to justify his actions. He tried to shift the blame onto others, claiming that it was not his fault since his soldiers had spared them. This was most unlikely since they would have not done this on their own without Saul’s express orders. Saul then claimed that his people had only spared the animals with intentions to offer them in sacrifice to the Lord God. Samuel did not accept Saul’s excuses and proceeded to pass God’s judgement – which was that God had rejected Saul as king of Israel.
In verse 22 of our reading Samuel tells Saul “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
The prophet Hosea had a similar message for the people of his day, saying: “For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.”(Hos. 6:6)
In both passages we are plainly told that humble, sincere, and conscientious obedience to the will of God, is more pleasing and acceptable to Him than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. Obedience is the law of innocence, it is an expression of positive righteousness. But sacrifice is remedial. It presupposes the existence of sin and is a provision to take away that which obedience would have prevented.
If Adam and Eve had obeyed God in the garden, sin would not have entered the world. Once sin entered the world sacrifice was required. Exodus 29:36, Leviticus 1:4 and Leviticus 4 among other passages teach us that he purpose of the animal sacrifices demanded under the Old Testament was to atone for the sin.
Hebrews 9 and 10 go on to explain that in reality, the blood of bulls and goats never could atone for the sin of man. This could only be achieved through the blood of Christ. The animal sacrifices required under the Old Law are no longer required as Christ, Himself, was offered up as a sacrifice to atone for our sins, Romans 3:21-26. This was necessary since no other sacrifice was adequate. Christ’s death on the cross has always been the key part of God’s plan to ransom His people. Christ became God’s ultimate sacrifice through obedience to the will of our heavenly Father.
Although we are no longer required to offer animal sacrifices we are still required to sacrifice. Paul instructs us in Romans 12:1-2 that we are to be living sacrifices, not killed as the sacrifices under the law. We must allow ourselves to become fully devoted to the service of God. We need to die to our old selves, die to our will and allow God’s will to permeate our lives. We can do this by allowing Christ to live in us through faith. In 1 Peter 2:4-5 we are called to be a holy priesthood; sacred to God, required to serve others, blessed with heavenly gifts, graces, and talents. As this holy priesthood we are required to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. These spiritual sacrifices include our bodies, our lives, our love, prayers, praises, giving, and use of our talents to serve God and others. Through Jesus Christ, our great high priest, our spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God.
There is only one word in Hebrew for obedience; shama (שָׁמַע). It means to hear, to listen, to give attention, to understand, to submit to, and to obey. This means that obedience to God requires us to do three things: listen to God’s instructions, understand His instructions, and then follow or submit to His instructions.
There are numerous examples of men and women who demonstrated obedience to God, some examples of these are:
Noah building the ark (Genesis 6-9).
Noah’s obedience shows us the importance of following God’s commands, even when others around us choose not to do so, or if it seems unusual or unconventional. Noah’s obedience was not easy, but he trusted in God’s plan, followed it exactly and was rewarded for his faithfulness. The result of Noah’s obedience was that he and his family were saved from the flood and blessed by God.
Abraham required to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1-18).
Abraham demonstrated tremendous faith when he believed God’s promises and obeyed His commands, even when they seemed impossible or unreasonable. Hebrews 11:8-19 documents the many ways that Abraham demonstrated his faith. We can learn from Abraham that obedience requires faith and trust in God. We may not always understand God’s ways or His purposes, but we can know and trust that He is good, and He knows what is best. We also learn that obedience often involves sacrifice and surrender. We may have to give up something that is precious to us, or perhaps something we think we deserve, in order to obey God. Abraham was asked to give up his one and only son upon whom all of God’s promises seemed to depend. It made no sense, but Abraham obeyed. Like Abraham, we can also have confidence that God will provide everything we need to obey Him, just as God provided the ram for Abraham.
Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt (Exodus 3-12).
There are many things that we can learn from Moses’s example of obedience. Moses felt intimidated by what God had called him to do and inadequate to do it. Yet in humility and with God’s help, he grew in courage and ability. Like Moses, we may also feel intimidated by what God calls us to do or think ourselves unable to fulfill his commands. We may also face opposition or resistance from others who do not share our vision or faith. But we can overcome our fears and doubts by relying on God’s strength and wisdom. Obedience sometimes involves cooperation and partnership. God does not expect us to do His work alone. He gives us people to support and encourage us while complementing our gifts and talents.
Daniel and his relationship with King Darius (Daniel 6).
From Daniel’s example of obedience, we see that God can improve us. Daniel’s faithfulness and obedience allowed him to excel in his position with the king and allowed him to obtain an even higher position. Daniel’s obedience allowed God to be glorified through him. The Babylonian king recognized the importance of Daniel’s relationship with God and saw for himself that God had the power to save and deliver. Daniel also demonstrated that obedience sometimes requires us to be brave and loyal. Daniel refused to obey the commands of the king when they were contrary to the word of God. Daniel chose the presence of God in the lion’s den over the favour and rewards of the king.
Mary and the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-45).
Mary demonstrated obedience to God’s will when the angel Garbriel came to Nazareth and told her that she would conceive and give birth to a son, and that she was to name Jesus. She was told the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he would reign over Jacob’s descendants forever. Mary was perplexed and asked how this could be since she was a virgin. The angel told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the holy one to be born would be called the Son of God. Mary’s response to all this was simply I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.
Mary’s obedience played a key role in the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. It must have been frightening for this young woman to have an angel of the Lord speak to her directly. And not only that, the message itself was frightening: that the Holy Spirit would miraculously conceive a child in her while she remained a virgin and that that child would be the Son of God. Mary embraced God’s plan for our salvation and her part in it – demonstrating for us that we need to courageously be open to God’s plan even when it seems to be unusual and comes to us in unexpected ways.
These are just a few examples of men and women who demonstrated obedience to God. There are many others in the Bible, who like these men and women were also obedient. This is the kind of obedience to which we are called. (Luke 11:28; Philippians 2:12-13; Titus 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17).
Obedience requires us to listen to God’s word, understand His word and to follow His requirements exactly as written.
Obedience is not always easy and requires us to:
When we are obedient to God’s will it results in amazing things for us and others including:
If you are not a part of Christ’s church, I would encourage you to read God’s word, understand what you must do to be saved and obey that message. If you are a part of Christ’s church, I encourage you to remain faithful and obedient to God’s message and God’s plan for you. God’s message is powerful, and He can change us and make us into the people He wants us to be. A people that are obedient to His will.
Owen Sound ON
Most of us work in industries or professions which demand high standards. High standards are necessary to ensure the safety of the public, employees, the environment and to prevent loss.
Standards have been established to govern practically everything we do, measure, buy, sell, or build. As an engineer it was necessary for me to meet certain established standards to practice as an engineer. The same is true of doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, plumbers, electricians etc.
There are many in our world today who want to relax or erode established standards. A recent news article documents how some university students signed a petition to have a professor removed because an organic chemistry course was too hard and many of them had failing grades. They argued that their grades didn’t reflect the time and effort they had put into the class. Not only are some willing to devalue technical standards but moral and ethical standards are also under attack. For the most part our moral standards were based on Biblical principles, however the world has chosen to significantly deviate from these. Society’s departure from God’s standard takes many forms. Many now accept such things as homosexuality, same-sex marriage, selfishness, not honouring commitments (divorce and family break-ups) and a pervasive lack of respect.
Our Heavenly Father has provided a standard for us. He first established this standard with the Jewish nation as defined in the Old Testament and it is frequently referred to as the “law and the prophets”. Matthew 7:12; Acts 13:15; 24:14; Romans 3:21 The Jewish nation was tasked with keeping this law. Jesus reinforces this in Matthew 7:12-20. Furthermore, God has a desire to establish a relationship with all people, He did this through Christ and His gospel message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16. It is God’s desire that we understand and are obedient to His standard established through His Holy word.
While God has set this high standard for us, He has also guaranteed that:
God’s standards are high, and He expects us to abide by these standards. “Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Through Christ, God’s standard is achievable for us. “See to it that there is no one who takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception in accordance with human tradition, in accordance with the elementary principles of the world, rather than in accordance with Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over every ruler and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Colossians 2:8-12
Are we committed to achieving God’s standard through Christ?
Achieving God’s standard requires more than simply putting in time and effort it requires a full commitment. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with al your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13.
We have to make a choice.
The world’s standards are ever-changing and imperfect, while God’s standards are unchanging and perfect. Following the world’s standard will lead to eternal damnation. Following God’s standard through Christ will allow us to reach our heavenly home. “But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Owen Sound ON
Our grandson, Luca, is now playing his third year of hockey. He has excellent coaches who are very focused on helping the kids develop the basic skills of the game. Skills such as skating, stopping, passing, shooting and stick handling. Typically, they practice twice a week and over the years I have seen Luca and the kids progress in their development of these skills.
Skills are not things we are born with; however, they are things which can be learned, and perfected through practice and dedication. Some of the kids are blessed with more natural athletic ability than others, but each child has been able to learn and perform these skills to a level which allows them to play the game.
What about Christians? What are some of the fundamental skills that we require to live a life of service for God? What follows is not an exhaustive list but is perhaps a good start:
Putting God First – Matthew 6: 31-33 teaches us that we are to put God’s kingdom and His righteousness first and that when we do, our heavenly Father will take care of our physical needs. It is essential that we learn to put God first in our lives and not to live a life focused on worldly pursuits.
Prayer – Prayer is an incredibly powerful tool for the child of God. Prayer can reduce anxiety (Philippians 4:6). It gives us the ability to understand the will of our Creator (Colossians 1:9). It also has the power to heal the sick (James 5:14-16) and to help us reach others with the gospel message (Colossians 4:3).
Bible Study – A knowledge and understanding of scripture is necessary for wisdom and is able to equip us for good works. II Timothy 3:14-17 and II Timothy 2:15 exhort us to correctly handle the word of truth. Regular and consistent Bible study is the means by which we may present ourselves to God as one of whom He approves. Hearing the word of God allows us to grow in our faith and to trust God more. (Romans 10:17).
Giving – Paul tells us in II Corinthians 9:6-11 to give purposely, generously and cheerfully. He also states that in our giving, through grace, God will ensure we have an abundance for every good work. Proverbs 3:9 encourages us to honour God with our wealth.
Acquiring Wisdom – The book of Proverbs is rich with scriptures encouraging us to seek wisdom and the value that comes in seeking it. Proverbs 16:16 states that wisdom is superior to riches. Proverbs 2:6 teaches us that wisdom comes from the Lord. Proverbs 4:6-7 instructs us to not forsake wisdom. James 3:13 tells us to show our wisdom through our good life and deeds in humility and James 1:5 encourages us to pray for wisdom.
Fostering Relationships – Our lives are blessed with a number of relationships, each of which require time and energy to foster. I Thessalonians 5:11 and Ephesians 4:29 encourage us to build one another up while avoiding unwholesome talk. Hebrews 10:24 urges us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds and not to give up meeting together. Colossians 4:5 instructs us to be wise in how we deal with outsiders, making the most of every opportunity.
Evangelism – All of us were taught the Good News by someone. Likewise, we too, need to be prepared and ready to share our understanding of God’s will with others. Psalms 105:1 teaches us that we are to make known what God has done. I Peter 3:15 reminds us that we always need to be prepared to give the reason for the hope that we have. In Acts 20:24 Paul identifies that the most important thing he needs to do is to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.
I believe that through God’s amazing grace these are the skills we can learn and develop. We may not all perform these skills at the same level, but each is needed as we serve our God.
Luca practices hockey twice a week, but there are no significant eternal consequences associated with this. Even though our heavenly inheritance is ours by the grace of God, there are real eternal consequences associated with our Christian walk. Our challenge is to take the time each day to practice and master these skills to fulfill our walk with God.
Owen Sound ON
