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The human condition of selfishness and self-serving attitudes is that which I think makes our understanding of grace and gifts that which on the surface seems so easy to grasp – Who doesn’t love to receive gifts? Yet, too often, gifts are given, and the recipient doesn’t really reciprocate any form of gratefulness for the gift which has been offered. I think that maybe, in a small way, the world thinks about God’s grace and the gifts that issue forth from that grace without the proper reverence and gratefulness that should rightly be merited by the magnitude of the gift. I know, I used “merited” in a positive way while discussing grace. Let’s lay down a few definitions so that I don’t completely confuse us.

Firstly grace – in the English language, Webster’s dictionary provides about six different discussions about the meaning of “grace.” You see, this little word carries a range of meanings from elegance of movement to divine assistance and brief prayers. The theological definition even suffers from a range of meanings. Maybe the most common concept of grace is actually found in the idea presented around the meaning and usage of the Greek word translated frequently as “grace,” but in other places “favor.” Mounce describes this word in this manner: “charis is ‘grace, favor’ the acceptance of and goodness toward those who cannot earn or do not deserve such gain.”

As you talk to people, especially our friends, neighbors, and family who are not members of the Lord’s church, you will hear a number of appeals to Ephesians 2:8-9 for their reception of God’s love, and the misunderstanding that they then do not need to do anything (obedience) nor even can they. This understanding of grace makes apparent the missing component of gratefulness on the part of the recipient of such a gift.

Let’s consider this passage and common appeal for a moment. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV) “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The traditional theological interpretations shaped by Calvin and Luther—or perhaps, common misinterpretations of their views—have influenced the way many people think about grace today.

This common misunderstanding of grace, especially in interpretations of Ephesians 2:8-9, overlooks a crucial element: that grace is not just freely given, but grace also calls us to transformation. Grace is unearned. It is a gift given out of God’s abundant love. In some ways we might say it is an outpouring of God’s mercy, but it must compel us toward a new life. (Titus 2:11-12 NKJV) “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Here, grace is shown to be active and purposeful, guiding us to reject sin and to pursue lives reflecting the character of God. Brother Mike Willis in a recent article on this topic emphasizes that true understanding of grace doesn’t diminish our need for obedience; rather, it deepens it—not as a way to earn salvation, but as a natural response to such an extraordinary gift.

The biblical perspective on grace transcends simple acceptance; it calls for a genuine, transformed response. In Romans 6:1-2, Paul asks, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” This underscores that while grace grants forgiveness, it also calls us to live righteously; avoiding taking this divine gift for granted. Our gratitude for grace is shown through obedience, not out of a sense of duty, but from love and reverence for what God has done. Accepting grace without a corresponding change in heart and behavior dishonors the sacrifice that made this grace possible. This transformation is the changing of our lens so that we see evil and righteousness in a way that is informed and shaped by God and His word.

Living in response to grace means developing a grateful heart that naturally expresses itself in good works. As James 2:17 states, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Our actions in worship, service, and interactions reveal lives transformed by grace. When we comprehend the depth of God’s favor toward us, we cannot help but respond with reverence and obedience, aiming to glorify the One who has so richly blessed us. In this way, grace becomes not just a gift received, but a powerful calling to live faithfully, expressing gratitude in all aspects of our lives.

No, we are very much saved by grace through faith. Grace transforms us and provokes the birth of the new man discussed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:1. Understanding grace in this way calls us not only to be grateful but to a life marked by kindness, service, and moral integrity, showing the world the impact of God’s grace in us.

Let us be deeply grateful for the magnitude of God’s gift and never take for granted the salvation offered to us. May we honor God’s gift by being moved to live the life He calls us to, reflecting heartfelt service and gratitude in all we do. By doing so, we demonstrate our understanding of grace as both a gift and a transformative call to faithful living.

Although recent weather doesn’t quite move the needle as we look forward to the month of November and the season in our nation that we observe nationally that of gratitude and thankfulness, that time is quickly approaching. The week of Thanksgiving is but 4 short weeks in the future.  Roughly one month from today. I haven’t noticed it as much in recent years.  Maybe it was the doldrums of COVID shutting people away from human interactions, maybe it is a number of other things distracting us from this time of year, but for whatever it is, we should make an intentional effort to be thankful and show our gratitude for that which is our countless blessings.

Paul calls for Christians to be a joyous and thankful people by way of his epistles (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).  (Philippians 4:4 NKJV) “4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!”

(1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV) “18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Notice these are not dependent on our status in life, our station, season, or anything subjective going on for us.  Rather, Paul, uses these qualifiers instead – “always” and “everything”. That gives us circumstances and frequency for taking joy and being thankful/grateful. Because of our fellowship through the Son of God, we have hope in eternity, relationship with God and each other by the Son, and blessings innumerable in this life.  This is not a new notion that Paul has developed, but rather a theme that transcends dispensations.  It’s a call made by the Psalmist (Psalm 103:2-5 NKJV) “2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good [things], [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

And the reminder God gives to Israel to remember God’s provision for them in every way (Deut 8:10-11).

Certainly the material blessings, our health, our strength, etc. are things that we often are thankful for during this time of our year, but the exercise of this season maybe should be for us to be more focused in recognizing the fullness of God’s goodness and just how deeply our thanksgiving should be for everything.  The awesome as well as the mundane.

With this in mind, let’s each one make it a personal point to be more thankful in the month ahead.  Intentionally make the time each day to contemplate and be thankful, counting our blessings, even if we find our road beset and fraught with trouble and trials.  We live in a place where being thankful should come natural because of the great number of natural blessings we enjoy on a daily basis.

Some ways to start this are by giving thanks in prayer.  Make prayer more frequent and make thanksgiving the focus of these brief expressions to God.

Look for blessings in spite of our adversities that we might exercise patience in every situation. (James 1:2-4 NKJV) “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Sometimes we find the road really hard today, but it is preparing us for some event or challenge down the road. Faith and trusting in God works that way sometimes.  We often think that life is really difficult, and that our road is just too hard, but that is when we need to lean more into the Lord and His provision. If you are going through such a season of challenge, struggle, or persecution, look back over your past and spot the points at which God has by circumstance and His word equipped you exactly for the day that is before you.  Let us with thanksgiving keep perspective of all that is here, pointing to a time when we will rest in His presence eternal. 

It is that hope which drives us onward and that eternal provision which makes it so that we can in sincerity give thanks to God in all times for all things through our Savior (Ephesians 5:20). Seeing our blessings for what they are also helps us to look forward with constant expectation that God will supply for us more blessings.  When we lose sight of these blessings, we become ungrateful like Israel as they bemoaned the bread which God supplied for them daily (Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 11:4-6, 21:5)

Let’s make November a month of truly being thankful in all things for all things, putting life in its proper perspective and keeping an eye on the eternal.  Let’s remind people around us of blessings and share with each other in thanksgiving and gratefulness. When we do that, we will be like David, declaring , “(Psalm 23:5 NKJV) “5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”

In the Sermon on the Mount, we find a section of scripture maybe best known as the Beatitudes.  These are qualities that mark things men often look upon with derision and dismissiveness. You see, they aren’t statements about fame, fortune, or power.  Instead of men’s values, Jesus exalts that of humility, mercy, and faithfulness even in the face of difficult or dire circumstances.  Let’s examine these and take notice of the themes that seem to exist among these values, and see how each one should be a part of our core values as well.

Firstly, we see Jesus exalt humbleness both toward God and also to men. [Mat 5:3-5 NKJV] 3 “Blessed [are] the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed [are] those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed [are] the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. As we consider these who are blessed, notice that the poor is a spiritual kind of poverty and reflects the need on our part to receive God’s grace and mercy, for it is only by those elements flowing from God that we can obtain such as the kingdom of heaven (Psalm 34:18; Psalm 51:17). We also see though that the broken heart and the heart held in control (meekness) are also blessed in their needs and shall receive by His providential care.  Further, the insatiable need for righteousness is what God wants us to be seeking.  It is from this humility that we begin to see things as God sees them concerning sin, our obedience to Him, and our need to honor him rather than ourselves. It is from humility that we are led to repentance and a reliance upon God.

We also see here in these blessings that of externally extending ourselves toward our fellow man, as well as our God. Notice, [Mat 5:7-9 NKJV] 7 Blessed [are] the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart, For they shall see God. 9 Blessed [are] the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.”  This section is somewhat like the “Golden Rule” (Matt 7:12) for it is mercy extended and received (Eph 4:32), likewise, we see purity toward God return by way of His eternal presence (Jas 4:8), and to the peacemakers, the very Son of God who is the peace eternal (2 Cor. 5:18-19), declares that they too shall be God’s children. Are you beginning to see how the beatitudes demonstrate a different kind of math than what man typically does?

So finally, we come to the section that gets hard.  Doing the really hard things that most will peer upon and would choose to not do, comes with blessing as well. “[Mat 5:10-12 NKJV] 10 Blessed [are] those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great [is] your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Endure persecutions because you were seeking righteousness – for the sake of… If we are living like we should in purity, exhibiting the things listed in the earlier beatitudes, we will see persecutions for these are things that the sinful world will not tolerate. In fact, Peter’s First Epistle has the theme as we have been studying that we must suffer with/for a purpose (1 Peter 4:13-16). When the Apostles were persecuted we see them rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to receive persecution (Acts 5:40-41). When we are shaping our lives around Him, being led in truth, sanctified and set apart through the Son, there will be no shortage of struggles, hardships, and persecutions (2 Tim 3:12). So let us speak the truth in love, and live the beatitudes in our life because our reward and longing do not dwell here.  If you listen to Dave Ramsey, the financial advisor, you will hear him tell people, “If you will live like no one else, later you can live and give like no one else”.  I think that this applies in a spiritual way as well.  Jesus encouraged those who heard Him to take heart in their struggles and lean into these qualities with an eye on a prize eternal.

I think we see this exemplified in the life of the Apostle Paul. He endured suffering at the hands of men, faced natural disasters (such as being shipwrecked multiple times—2 Cor. 11:25), and bore what many believe was a physical malady. Yet, in all these trials, Paul declared, “[2 Cor. 12:9-10 NKJV] 9 And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul’s attitude reflects the heart of the Beatitudes, demonstrating how God’s values often stand in opposition to worldly expectations. Toward the end of his life, Paul could confidently say, “[2 Tim. 4:7-8 NKJV] 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” His life serves as an example that despite hardships, those who live by faith and hold fast to God’s promises.

Distractions – they are a problem that we all face, and they stand in the way of our being productive.  In a digital age, when we are so very connected to news events going on a world away, bombarded with the he – said, she – said dramas on social media, and plagued by problems that trouble us mentally, physically, and spiritually, it leaves us empty, saps our joy, and can create a feeling of being unsettled.  Wow! What a long sentence, yet it doesn’t convey the half of the situation does it?

I’m reminded as I think on these distractions, of a time when Jesus encountered someone who was distracted from what their focus should have been on.

(Luke 10:38-42 NKJV) “38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””

Now I don’t know that Martha was distracted by half the things that we let into our lives, but certainly we see here that she was worried simply at being a good hostess.  Certainly in our part of the world, this is a valid concern.  I don’t know many ladies who would want to be thought of as a poor hostess, lacking in their hospitality. Yet, Jesus tells Martha that this isn’t really important. 

I think that we sometimes think that it’s a chastisement in a way that she shouldn’t have cared at all about the needs of her guests.  In another light though, I think that it’s less that she shouldn’t have cared for the guests, and more that she wasn’t focused.  Rather than focus, we find Martha distracted and thus missing out on spiritual nourishment.

As we contemplate the idea of lacking focus because of distraction, let’s consider the fact that in our digital age we are struggling with every manner of overstimulation to the point that we are missing all the nourishment which we should be receiving if we aren’t devoting time to set aside our distractions.

In our digital age and the digital world, our lives are dominated by screens of every shape and size.  We live in a world where screens guide our paths (think GPS), they tell us the status of the room we are in (digital-thermostats), we trust in these for security  and to see who is at our door even when we aren’t at home.  In a digital world, with automation, I could even turn on and off the coffee pot without even being there (provided I have the right equipment).  My point is that we are so dominated by the connectedness of life and the screen in our hand that we may be missing out on the best parts of life and especially the spiritual parts. This connectedness is creating overstimulation that results in distraction.

Beyond the distractions of being so connected, we also find that social media continues to drive mental health problems and dissatisfaction of people with themselves and their own lives.  Social media brings a comparing one to another that too often fosters envy and poor self-image for so many people. Go read Galatians 5:19-21.  Now think about your last visit to social media.  Were these things evident on your screen in the lives of others, the ads you were fed, or your own posts? Sadly, I bet the answer was yes. These are the things which hinder our being fruitful in spiritual things.

The other problem of this digital age is that it has become a huge sink of our time to stay connected in this all the time way.  It leads us to mismanage our time – the one resource that is so finely limited and constrained.  Due to becoming always connected to our screens, it causes a neglect of other things. Especially the quiet things, spiritual things.  Many of us are now using our screens as our Bibles.  We can have very good apps to track our daily Bible readings, our prayer/prayer journals, and there are a large number of great resources in the form of podcasts, youtube videos, and many more wholesome things, but sometimes too much is too much.  It leads to waste.  How many times have you been reading something on your screen that had your attention, when an alert or message stopped your focus and demanded your time. 

You were just distracted.

With this in mind, let’s make a concerted effort to set aside and silence our devices for our quiet devotion to the Lord.  Let’s spend our days being filled up with the best part by giving the Lord ALL of my attention in my prayer time, in my devotion time, and in my Bible study time.  Set our minds on things above without distraction (Col 3:2). It will improve your uptake from the Root of the vine, and help you to bear the most fruit for the Lord. This will bring us a newfound peace (Phil 4:6-7).

Often, as I study and prepare sermons for the week, there will be sections of text that captures my thoughts or attention, maybe outside or just on the periphery of where I am focused and the message that I am working on. Today’s article is from one of those places. It represents maybe the further musings which couldn’t be fit into the boundaries of time and contemplation to fully digest via my sermon for This morning. As I developed the context of Mark Chapter 12, I found myself backing up all the way to the beginning of Chapter 11. In this, we find the record of the Triumphal Entry.

This is one of those critical events in scripture, as it is attested to in many prophecies and recorded for us in all the gospel accounts. It is the vision of a King coming into His city not in warfare or conquest, but in peace. A King entering the gates of the city to receive His crown, to the adulation and adoration of a thronging multitude. Maybe what we see in the Gospel accounts is best compared to the procession through London last year as the new
King was coronated at Westminster Abbey and his reign on the throne began. Certainly, the vision of Jesus fulfilling the prophecies of old was a grand affair and what a site to behold!

Let’s consider a few of the things which are recorded, describing these events, prophecy which was proclaimed more than a millennium (1000 years) before the events that are being foretold and described.

In the Gospel accounts (Matthew 21:4-5; Mark 11:7; Luke 19:35; John 12:14-15), we see that the beast of burden that Jesus would enter the city on had been foretold by Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9 NKJV) “”Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He [is] just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.” While men have titled these events “Triumphal Entry”, this isn’t the vision of conquest as we have said, nor was it foretold that it would be. The King would come into His city on a lowly animal, yet it was not a trained and tamed beast, but a foal which had never been sat upon. This is miraculous in itself and demonstrates the sovereignty and authority of the Divine Jesus who sat upon the back of this colt.

The Gospels further record for us (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9-10;John 12:13) that the multitude as they began to throng the pathway from Bethany into Jerusalem were shouting the words of (Psalm 118:25-26 NKJV) “Save now, I pray, O LORD; O LORD, I pray, send now prosperity. Blessed [is] he who comes in the name of the LORD! We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.” Luke further brings a perspective of reflection on the events as he
is providing his narrative of accounts to Theophilus. Notice his account: (Luke 19:39-42 NKJV) “And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things [that make] for
your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

Firstly, we see that the Jewish leaders were indignant that Jesus would not rebuke the gathering multitude for their greeting Him. Jesus’ response is a statement of His being the Divine and being exactly the foretold Messiah. Namely, He states that should the crowd not receive Him in adulation, that the very stones around about them would welcome and greet Him in this way.

Then, Luke records for us a tender moment, showing the care and concern that Jesus had; the empathy and compassion of one who was about to give His very own life for this city, to reconcile these men who were rejecting Him unto their God. So implied here in this text is the vision of Isaiah 53 in part, but with full knowledge of where this visit to Jerusalem is headed, we see the fullness of this fulfillment (Go give some time to reflect on Isaiah 53 in its entirety). (Isaiah 53:3-5 NKJV) “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, [our] faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 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.”

Jesus, The King, The Lamb, The Messiah (Christ) came into the flesh of men, to give His own life to atone for the sins of men. He is worthy of our honor, adulation, praise and glory. He died for us, was raised up the third day and so His portion is great: (Isaiah 53:12 NKJV) “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.” He requires our response. Do you serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?

As we are gathering to worship God tonight, there will be a celestial body which will be captured by the Earth’s gravitational field, becoming temporarily an additional moon. according to Space.com, this alignment in the heavens will occur this afternoon. We have had quite a year of heavenly declarations of God’s Glory and Majesty. Even at our low latitude, we have seen this year a Solar eclipse, the Northern lights, and now there is this a second moon. Scientists tell us that this moon interaction will not be visible to the naked eye, possibly not even to terrestrial telescopes, but it serves to remind us yet again how fascinating and glorious our God’s Creation is, and thus speaks to the marvelousness of His
characteristics. Truly our God is an awesome God!

The rhythms of nature and the order with which all things are created and are maintained truly have fascinated men forever. We maybe think that these events have been rare, yet there are constantly celestial events which occur and fix our imaginations and our minds. Looking up at a clear night sky and gazing at the heavens is a perfect reminder of the volume of creations declaration to us. Paul says that this leaves men without excuse as to the characteristics of God (Romans 1:20). In fact, he says that the things created understand the invisible attributes of God because of this, which they observe.

David declared in the 19th Psalm, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1). Events such as this also serve to remind us that the Creator is still sovereign over His creation. As we were discussing Wednesday night in our Bible Study, God’s authority is without end, since He made us and all that exists. His authority and sovereignty are inherent by virtue of the creative process. From nothing, he
formed and made everything. So it is right, when these events call to our remembrance the place of the Divine over creation. Paul in Colossians 1:16-17, “[Col 1:16-17 NKJV] 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Jesus, the Word is the creative agent according to John’s Gospel (John 1:1-3) and so it is right that these events remind us even of these facts, for he knows all of us, and all of the stars in the heaven.

“[Isa 40:26 NKJV] 26 Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these [things], Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of [His] power; Not one is missing.”

Because of His majesty, His sovereignty, and creation reminding us of these facts, we are then left hopelessly lost and without excuse if we fail to worship Him and serve Him (Romans 1:18-20). We must observe these events and stand humbled and in awe of a
Creator God who has made every provision for our lives. We live in a place that is just right for our existence, among all the myriad planets of His creation, this one alone has proven just right for us not just to exist, but to thrive. Let us not choose to cease from serving Him. His power is eternal and yet the continued existence of these things remind us that all things when He determines the end, shall cease.

“[2Pe 3:10-14 NKJV] 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to
be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;?”

If we are not putting heavenly interests first, not that of the celestial nature, but that of the spiritual nature, we are failing in our life. There is with certainty a day of accounting coming
wherein we will each one stand before the throne of the king an account for how we lived and the choices we made in this life. Let us make the most of the time we have, for life is brief and we don’t any of us know if there will even be a tomorrow. Let us look to God and His word to guide our paths and allow the events of our day to not distract us, but rather keep us focused on serving God.

We studied recently in James chapter 3 about the power of our tongue and certainly James describes it as an unruly member of our bodies that is the most difficult to control and bring into subjection,
but in light of its power for destruction and bad, let’s not neglect to recognize its power for good. The word is immensely powerful. I think it is that thought which causes popular quotes to exist such as, “The pen is mightier than the sword”. The Proverb writer gives us insight to the life-giving effects of words of encouragement in Proverbs 12:25, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.”

We live in an anxious me don’t we? There exists in our generations a sort of social anxiousness and concerns without end in this flesh. Men’s words are conflicts, strife, lies, and slanders continually. Maybe that tracks well with the warnings that we observed in James 3, as in the power of words, James describes a raging wildfire that is nearly unquenchable (James 3:5-6). With the connectedness of our day and the multitude of communication platforms, we are almost never unplugged from being stimulated by words. The question
though for each of us, is what is my portion in all of this? Am I using my voice, my tongue, my words for good, or am I contributing to the fires that are consuming and tearing down those around me?

As Christians, we are to control our tongues, and with that I would add all forms of our communications. That goes to how we present ourselves (non-verbally), how we speak, what we write, and even things we share on our social media accounts. Controlling these will allow us to have a positive and encouraging impact on others. With this, we can be a force for uplifting the downtrodden, bringing peace instead of strife, and echoing only truth instead of perpetuating lies and slanders. We may not be able to control the voices around us, but my voice must be managed and controlled by me, with the helping influence of God’s powerful word. With a positive and encouraging word, we find the power to make
peace, to heal, to soothe. What a contrast to that of anxiousness and grief that pervades our society. Time and again, we read proverbs to this end and effect. Note Proverb 15:4, which says, “A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” This is why we comfort one another in word. Have you been sick or in the hospital and received a card? Maybe you just were struggling and a friend knew of it and brought you a word of
comfort, consolation, or encouragement. So often these small words get swept under the rug and dismissed in our minds. We fail to recognize the opportunities we have to use positivity and good words to multiply goodness for others around us. In a world defined by stress and anxiety, we should make the most of every opportunity to bring encouragement to others for in encouragement is healing and hope.

Some ways that we can bring positive change in our world is to control our communication. By removing my voice of derision, negativity, and don’t lend it to perpetuating lies and deceit, I am able to control those things which are mine to control and not perpetuate the negative speech. James 3:9-12 warns that our tongues should not (but too often are) inconsistent. In one moment, we are praising and worshiping God with our tongue, and
in another breath, our tongue is cursing our fellow men. This should not be so and does not lend itself to being who we are supposed to be as children of God with an identity formed in Christ Jesus. Our words then should be filled with grace and love. We have received these in great measure from God and so we should be filled with such, let these overflow in our lives so that our communications become these.

To better control our tongues, we have to control what we allow into our hearts and minds. We are vessels of communication, and the things that we have filled ourselves with will comes pouring out. If we take a jar and fill it with sweet tea, when it breaks, only sweet
tea comes out. Conversely, if we have a jar of pickle juice or brine and we break that jar, the sal ness and brine comes forth. This is the very point that Jesus is teaching in [Luke 6:45 NKJV] 45 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an
evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” What we fill ourselves with will define how we communicate.

Let us be filled with good so that we are putting forth only good and truth. Let us always be aware of our tongues and of our influence on others around us. You may not realize how much power your influence holds and how much of that power is bound up in your communications. Develop then proactive habits of good communication and that which is wholesome. Strive for speech that leads to healing, that adds joy and provides for comfort. This doesn’t mean that we don’t correct wrong when we see or hear it, and it doesn’t mean that we quietly just tolerate sin in our own life or the lives of those around us. Rather, we must stand with our words for truth and righteousness, building up our brethren, and pointing a dead, lost world to its need for a Savior.

Searching for Peace – By Matt Miller

Often times, we find life embroiled with struggle.  A younger person once asked me if it ever gets better and by that, I suppose they are really asking if it gets easier.  We long for better don’t we?  We desire easier.  As young people, we look forward to a time of rest and ease, maybe working diligently to store up for ourselves what we commonly call retirement; a time to retire from labors and cease from working for our livelihood.  Does that bring peace though?  I know a number of retired people.  Sit with them for a bit and they often will describe to you alone-ness and boredom.  God didn’t make us to must sit and just be.  He made us to serve and to labor.  We often become bored with our time and dissatisfied with things in our lives.  So I suppose that in whatever season we find ourselves in life, we need labors – outlets for our energy and efforts, and we likewise long for peace and rest. 

Peace is that quality that is without strife, contending, and fighting. In fact, “peace. noun. : a state of tranquility or quiet: as. a. : a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Peace is something then that we also long for to accompany our rest. The Apostle Paul conveyed his wish for the Philippians this way, [Phl 4:6-7 NKJV] 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

As I contemplated a response to the younger man, it occurred to me that no, it doesn’t get easier, better, just different.  You see our lives here are always marked by some problem, some contention, some strife.  That is the way it has been since the expulsion of man from the Garden of Eden.  It is the quality of the curse upon the earth and upon man and woman.  We will strive in this life for something that is beyond our reach and outside of this existence.

Earthly peace is a temporary condition and largely dependent on a number of factors which include our necessities.  People need to know that their meals are provided for.  People need security – safety from harm. People further need physical, mental, and emotional health to be truly at peace.  All of these are factors after which our strivings seek to improve; yet for all of this, we find that all is fleeting. This is the contemplation of Solomon in Ecclesiastes.  Notice, “[Ecc 1:14 NKJV] 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all [is] vanity and grasping for the wind.” Afterward, he concludes, “[Ecc 12:13 NKJV] 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” Even when you have peace, it seldom has any staying power.  Peace today can be ripped from you by the smallest of changes in circumstance.

While men’s peace on this earth may be fleeting, just as our lives, we are assured of a lasting and sustained peace after this life is over when we re in Jesus Christ. That is the peace that Paul is talking about in Philippians 4:7. Peace that is lasting is a peace with God.  It has a divine origin.  Peace with God has this eternal quality and, in this life, a forward-looking aspect that searches for what is promised in eternity.  It is a peace founded in hope (Hebrews 11:1).

In our Bible’s, we find men who are apparently at peace in the way described above.  Men like Daniel as he spent the night in the lion’s den.  Now I don’t know about Daniel, certainly as they lowered him into the pit, he must have felt some internal struggle and trepidation about what he was about to face, yet recall that King Darius gave Daniel a word of re-assurance for his faith, “[Dan 6:16 NKJV] 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast [him] into the den of lions. [But] the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Certainly Darius had a faith that Daniel would be delivered physically, but I think that Daniel understood it the way that his friends had understood it at another time, when they faced a certain death in a fiery furnace.  Recall they told the king, “[Dan 3:17-18 NKJV] 17 “If that [is the case], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver [us] from your hand, O king. 18 “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Such men are men who’s peace is not here. It is not a quality of this life or this existence, but one of an eternal enduring and lasting nature. 
Where are we at peace? What peace are we seeking? Are we making our peace with God in an eternal way so that even when the devil and life throw all manner of struggles in our way here, we can rest in an assurance of His eternal refuge and rest?  Let us make our peace with our Creator, or Redeemer, and our God and have that which surpasses man’s reasoning and rationalizations. 

The Letter to the Hebrews writer’s entire thesis seems to be that of the superiority of Christianity over even that true religion of their forefathers – Judaism. The Jews had their national identity, and some even based their religious identity on their being descendants of Abraham.  In this, they were partakers in an ancient covenant made by God to their ancestor (Genesis 12:1-3).  In these promises was that of a land that was to be theirs forever.  As God gave the children of Israel then the Law of Moses and all the instructions for how they were to live and what they were receiving, He cautioned them to obey His commandments with a warning that failure to do so would bring all the plagues which they had been told about (Deuteronomy 28:58-68). By the time that we get to the First Century then, we find the entirety of the Jewish nation subjected to Roman governmental rule and having been dominated by other nations and cultures for over 600 years by the time of the writing of our New Testaments.  It is from this place then we find the Hebrews writer describe the better promise than that which the Jews were looking toward.  Notice Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

The kingdoms of Israel and Judah had long before been shaken to the ground.  The Temple built by Solomon had been utterly destroyed.  The Temple rebuilt by Cyrus (Persian King who commissioned the return to Jerusalem and rebuilding of the Temple in about 586 BC) was in the process of being expanded and made more opulent by King Herod beginning in about 37 BC was still being worked on in the days of Jesus.  The one key takeaway from these physical and political things is that everything on this earth has no real staying power. Earthly things, even the grandest are fleeting and passing away.  I read this week that a great pyramid in South America had a whole side collapse.  Even the Great Pyramid in Egypt is lacking its original splendor today, and someday if enough time has passed, it will be eroded down to the simple dust which bound together in stone now makes it up.

We who are in Christ, are partakers of a better covenant than these (Heb 8:6) and we might note that there is a sort of bookends as it relates to the idea of this kingdom which those in Christ are receiving; namely Hebrews 1:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for…”(NASB95).  The kingdom which was established forevermore and shall not be defeated or destroyed is that heavenly realm and is that to which each of us become citizens in when we obey the Gospel.  It is a certainty then.

The world around us is not certain.  It is as changing and as ranging as the weather in Oklahoma.  Turn your television on, pick up a newspaper, log into a news website and you will see that the one constant in this world is discord, trouble, and destruction.  The world has been such since the institution of the curse in Genesis Chapter 3.  This should cause our breast to be filled with a longing for something more, something better, something lasting.  That yearning in our hearts then is a groping to find God.  Paul describes this in his sermon to the Athenians (Acts 17:27), and I think the Holy Spirit prompted him to declare, “[Rom 1:18-20 NKJV] 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown [it] to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible [attributes] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,”.

All the uncertainty in the world compels man to evaluate his existence in view of something more and something better than the struggles here. Only through Jesus Christ who is King over all can we look forward to that heavenly kingdom. He is the way (John 14:6), and by Him we enter into that citizenship.  So our assurance is in God’s word and promise which never fails. Our assurance is founded in the person of God’s own Son who was faithful.  So much so that Paul expounds on the humility of Jesus the Son, humbling Himself in the flesh and being obedient to the point of sacrificing His own blood for the remission of our sins (Philippians 2:8).  In His faithfulness, we are called to also be faithful in submitting to Him and to God’s will.

We live faithfully by knowing what God would have us be and do in this life.  Truth is not some subjective thing that we can take or leave at our whims.  We must look into God’s word and understand His will for us.  We learn these things by giving heed to the Apostles’ doctrine (Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:13-16).  We must give up ourselves so that we like Paul can declare, “it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20-21).” So let us put on Christ and look forward to that eternal home in the heavenly city.  It is a place to which men of faith throughout the ages are looking forward to and that to which they are going (Hebrews 11).

As our calendar has now turned to August, the season of fall is approaching. We are, it seems in the depths of summer heat (the first half of August is always miserable throughout the South it seems), and yet as you look on the page of your calendar, summer is soon to end and cooler weather will come along with the falling of the leaves. School is starting up (for some, it already has), and with it some of our beloved pastimes such as football. We would do well to recognize that all around us, there is a religion of sport. It is that which men hold up high, they erect high places (palaces even) where the competition and its glories are worshiped by thousands of adoring fans praising their respective teams and the struggle. We whip ourselves into fanatical frenzies. Sport is serious business, yet like so many things that we take seriously, sometimes we allow these serious things to eclipse and obscure where our true focus should be.

Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).” First, foremost, above everything else we faun after, we must put God and the kingdom of God before all others. Let us consider a few things related to this thought.

Does this description of a sports fan include you? Are you among those worshiping at the altar of sport either in person or on your television set? Men pour out their funding for such spectacles. We find deep pleasure and pride in our team and their triumphs. We wouldn’t dare miss the observance of our traditions – the cookouts, the comradery with our friends, the way all of it makes us feel.

Do we have this same kind of careful observance and devotion to serving God? If you study your Bible, then you are familiar with the concept of putting nothing before God. After all, God has described Himself as a jealous God (Exodus 20: 3, 5-6). It is said that our God is a consuming fire (Heb 12:29). Jesus simplifies it as he is challenged with determining the greatest of God’s commandments: [Mat 22:36-40 NKJV] 36 “Teacher, which [is] the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is [the] first and great commandment. 39 “And [the] second [is] like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Loving God with all of our being and with all of our conviction should by necessity make us raving fans of serving God.

Our fanaticism should be more demonstrable in our lives concerning our relationship with God and with the church than it is in our sport teams. This thought then should beg the question in all of us, am I more devoted to God than I am to my hobbies, my pleasures (recreation), my sport? If the answer is no, then maybe we would do well to recognize our modern idols which are just as deadly and destructive today as the idols of ancient Israel and that of their neighbors.

Paul says that as Christians, we are to be “living sacrifices” (Rom 12:1-2). How does this draw our minds to the kind of seriousness that we should offer in our religious service before God? Recall the seriousness with which Abraham’s faith compelled him to offer his son Isaac on the altar as God had commanded him (Genesis 22:1-14). Abraham was offering his all, even his son, his inheritance, all offered in belief that God would fulfill His promises. Are we giving our ALL? Our 􀆟me, energy, resources? Are we truly serious and
dedicated to serving God with all of our being? In Christ, we are called to bear daily our cross (Luke 14:27-28) and follow after Him. What are we sacrificing and what perspectives do we have on eternity? Let us understand that eternity is something that requires our serious consideration and a seriousness of our efforts. We strive after eternal life through Jesus Christ, not because we seek to earn that homeland, but because by faith we are compelled to put Him first, compelled to seek His way, and have then assurance of eternal life through the very Son of God.
Let us live with an eye on eternity like that of the Psalmist – [Psa 84:10 NKJV] 10 For a day in Your courts [is] be􀆩er than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in
the tents of wickedness. [Phl 3:7-11,14 NKJV] 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. … 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.