Don’t be fooled by a Church that is more entertainment than doctrine…more preaching of social issues & political activism than God’s Word…and more manmade rituals than God’s Truth revealed. That’s because, the Church that caters to the worldview rather than honoring God is dangerously close to becoming dead like the Church in Sardis that John wrote about in Revelation 3. (The Greek word for dead here meaning useless, spiritually dead, and faithless.) The world loves a Church where the only words from the pulpit are man centered, with no conviction or judgement of their sins…desiring rather, Polly Anna, feel good platitudes and worldly cliches about love and what it looks like today. They want a Church that takes the Bible seriously, but not necessarily literally…and questions Scripture rather than requiring blind allegiance & trust. The world likes the Church that doesn’t make them feel uncomfortable and places them on the throne of their life…all the while, pushing Jesus to the background. No wonder God abhors such Churches…
Voluntary servanthood was common during Biblical times as a way to erase a debt that couldn’t be repaid. But on the seventh year, (The Year of Jubilee) freedom must be offered. But for some slaves, they voluntarily committed to willingly stay & serve their master for life. This public indication of an inward decision was done by the master with a sharp instrument used for piercing, called an awl. Sure, there’s an obvious correlation of this passage and our walk with the Lord, in that our required attachment and loyalty, commitment and dedication has to be to Him and Him alone. But this allegiance also applies to personal relationships such as to a spouse or parents. You might call it honoring well… for it’s a lifelong bond of love and gratitude for a debt that can never be repaid.
You can read a Biography of a famous person and know about them…but if you never actually meet and spend quality time with them…you will never truly know who they are. The same goes for being somewhat familiar with God, vs encountering Him as your Lord and Savior through His Holy Word. If you have the time, I encourage you to read Psalm 119 in its entirety and discover the many facets of God’s Word. Throughout this Psalm we read about mediating on His Word & hiding it in our heart, for by doing so we gain Divine insight and guidance as we seek to obey God’s revealed Word in our everyday life. For God’s Word is living and active. (Hebrews 4:12) That’s because, unlike any other written word, His Word is powerful enough to enter the deepest recesses of our being, and potent enough to accomplish its purpose.
If today you need encouragement to continue on, know that God will never leave you, no matter what. If you’re feeling discouraged & sad, understand that He is always in control, and that He is a merciful & loving God who wants only the very best for you. Therefore, be strengthened and determined by His Name & His Words…for His Name is Immanuel, “God with us” and His promises are true, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Housebound, shut-in, homebound…all three terms are used to describe a person confined to their home because of a disability, limited mobility, or chronic illness. They rarely leave their home and then require the assistance of another person and/or medical device such as a wheelchair or walker. For many, this causes isolation, depression, and the feeling of being a prisoner in their own home…because, in a way, they are. Not surprisingly, this condition can also affect the caregiver who cannot safely leave their loved one alone. But just because a person is homebound, it doesn’t mean their heart & soul can’t be free. The prophet Isaiah foretold of the Messiah in Isaiah 61:1… that Jesus would proclaim freedom for the captives…setting them free from bondage so they might experience liberty & freedom in Christ.
The Apostle Paul, or Saul as he had been named, was born into a proud and strict Pharisee family. He was highly educated…studying in Jerusalem under the great Rabbi Gamaliel and rigorously observing the requirements of the Law. As the early Church of Believers increased, Paul immediately recognized the threat they posed in Jerusalem. And he quickly became the most ardent persecutor of this new sect. But on the road to Damascus, he was radically changed…changing not only himself, but the entire course of Christianity. So, when God called him to go to “those who are far off”, even though it was counter intuitive to everything Paul knew & had been taught, he obeyed…to the point that Paul considered himself the Apostle to the Gentiles… spreading the Gospel Message that his own people would reject. God’s Will for our life can take many strange twists & turns if we only look at it from our very limited knowledge…but know that God’s Will is always perfect, always on time, and exactly what He desires to happen…for our good and His glory.
It’s the wonderful gift of God’s grace that gives us peace…or as II Thessalonians 3:16 tells us, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace.” And then there’s I Peter 3:11 that reminds us to,” Seek peace and pursue it.” So why do we spend so much of our time in a constant state of frustration because of the actions of others? Or aggravated in ourselves for not being able to physically do what we once did so easily? Colossians 3:15 tells us to let the peace of Christ rule in our life…. not exasperation. That’s because the peace of God is not a peace that stems from the absence of difficulties, but rather, it’s a peace that guards our hearts and minds in the midst of great trials. (Isaiah 26:3) So when frustration & disappointment overwhelms, seek out the quiet serenity & tranquility of God’s peace.
When Jesus spoke this to His disciples, their whole world was falling down around their ears. Judas had betrayed Jesus, and Peter had just been chastised for his upcoming failures of denial. This left the disciples scared and confused…not realizing that in a very short time there would be the agony of Gethsemane and the horrific spectacle of Jesus’ death on the Cross. Yet, as we read this passage, it conveys a real sense of sublime peace in the midst of all this chaos. We can control only what we can control, and unfortunately, many times in life control is ripped from us by serious health issues, severe accidents, or grave actions taken by others. But Jesus wants us to know that we do have control. We have control of our emotions and where we place our trust. We also have control over who we put our faith and confidence in when life is upside down. For when we can look to God in confident expectation and utter dependance on Him…our peace will overshadow any of the chaos in our life.
Just as God does not change, His Word does not change in the sway of public opinion. Or to quote Charles Spurgeon…”Do not ask God to confirm your opinion but ask Him to make your opinion conform to His truth.” Our personal opinion changes constantly. Our beliefs, convictions, feelings, and judgments of things & people change as we age, move from one season of life to another, or are influenced by others. But what doesn’t change is the unchangeable character of God & His Word. His Word is flawless, upright, faithful, and just and should be used as the plumb line for any of our so-called opinions. So just remember, anytime your opinion doesn’t match God’s Word…it’s not your opinion that’s correct.
Safetypinlove 