We tend to protect our valuable stuff. When my wife leaves her purse in the car, she locks the car. Most people keep their money in a bank. Those with influence or fame are often guarded closely while in public. If it has value or potential risk, it is locked up or otherwise guarded. We understand this concept.

The New Testament talks about guarded stuff quite a bit. What follows is an abridged list of ways τηρεω (tereo) is translated, in a very informal word study format. Specific definitions come from BDAG (a fantastic lexicon).

1. Prisoner/Person in Custody – It is used of Jesus (Matt. 27.36ff), Paul and Silas (Acts 16.23), Angels Who Sinned (II Peter 2.4), and Peter (Acts 12.5).
2. To Preserve or Hold Someone or Something – It is used of the “good wine that was kept until after the bad wine was consumed” (John 2). It is used to describe our inheritance, which is being held and is waiting for those who die in Christ (I Peter 2.4). It is used to describe the universe and the earth, which is being preserved because its destruction will be caused by God at the end of time (II Peter 3.7; Cf. Romans 8.22-24). For the Christian, this seems to resolve the climate change issue since God is keeping the earth intact until the last day.
3. To Not Give Up Something – Paul uses it urging Christians to persist in being united (Eph. 4.3). He also used it to tell Timothy that he had held onto his faith, even up to his imminent death (II Timothy 4.7). John uses it to describe our spiritual protection from being lost if we’re trying to live faithfully (I John 5.8).

For the sake of brevity, we’ll stop there. How cool is that our eternal home is being held by God, or that our record is kept clean by Jesus, if we’re trying to be faithful? The two most important assets a Christian has are their eternal home and spiritual state. The first can never be taken away, and the second can only be lost if we give it up willingly and intentionally. God is good.

Ever find yourself listening to something, but not really listening? Maybe it was something on the radio in your car or on the TV. I mean you are listening, but not really. It happens to me all the time. Trying to do a number of things at the same time or just simply being distracted by other “more important” can cause us to lose focus on what is being said. I mean we are listening, but not really. Worse yet can be when someone is speaking to us. Maybe you just aren’t into what they are saying or you just don’t feel like it is that important, but sometimes we can find ourselves listening, but not really. What about during Bible class or during a sermon? Ever find yourself listening, but not really?

Now imagine that you are at the doctor’s office and he or she has just told you you have a serious condition. They begin to tell you what you need to do to deal with the situation. They start to explain the medicines you need to take and how often you need to take them or offer some others details to help you resolve the illness. Are you listening differently now? I mean you are listening differently to that aren’t you? You are listening closely so you can do what you need to to take care of the problem.

As Jesus taught, He often began and ended His parables and teachings with “he who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9, 23; 7:16; 8:18). Sounds like a strange statement at first glance doesn’t it? I mean how many people there with Him don’t have ears? While everyone has ears, the question becomes do they have ears “to hear’? The word hear (akouō) in the original language means “to give careful attention to.” The word also carries the idea of hearing in order to do or obey what is being heard. A form of this word is used when, after Jesus calmed the storm the disciples were amazed and remarked “Even the wind and sea obey (akouō) Him” (Mark 4:41). The wind and sea clearly HEARD Jesus’ command to be still. So what does Jesus mean when He says, “he who has ears to hear, let him hear”? He means listen carefully in order to do/obey what is being said. You aren’t just there. You aren’t just listening to get to the end. You are really paying attention and are looking to do what you are being told. I would suggest that we have “ears to hear” when the doctor is telling us what to do to deal with our serious issue?

So the question becomes, do we have “ears to hear” when God is trying to speak to us? Are we listening carefully during sermons and Bible classes so we can do what God’s word tells us to? Does the amount of time we spend in personal Bible study show God that we have “ears to hear” what He wants to tell us? Are we looking to do what we hear/read in Scripture or are we listening, but not really? Maybe we need to ask ourselves “Do I have ears to hear what God is saying? And then we need to take the time to listen, I mean really listen, to the answer to that question.

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Michael Hite

Even a brief survey of the New Testament illustrates the fact that the first petal of Calvin’s TULIP is in error./1 Total hereditary depravity is a false doctrine.

Yes, a person outside of Christ is, in fact, dead (Ephesians 2:1). However, this doesn’t mean he is totally depraved.

The word “dead” does not refer to an unsaved person’s inability to engage in any positive behavior; it refers to his spiritual status before a holy God (cf. Isaiah 6:5). He is dead and therefore separated from God, because he chooses to commit sin (Luke 15:24, 13).

“A sinner in his pre-Christian state is  ‘dead in sin;’ but that deadness is not something he inherits, but comes about through the guilt of the sins he commits.”/2

Consider the following passages:

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh and mind…” (Ephesians 2:1-3a)

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He    will not hear you.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)

Watch it carefully.

An individual is dead “in trespasses and sins” and therefore separated from God. But how so, Paul?

He is dead because (a) he walks according to the course of this world, and (b) he conducts himself in the lusts of the flesh and mind (cf. 1 John 3:4). In essence, he lives his life in conformity to the thoughts and pursuits of this present evil age (cf. Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:7).

He is born pure and sinless (cf. Ezekiel 18:20; Matthew 19:14), as are all infants, but when he sins, he dies spiritually. Later, if and when he comes in contact with the life-giving blood (cf. Ephesians 1:7) of Christ at baptism (Revelation 1:5; Acts 22:16), he is–notice Paul’s words–”made alive” and therefore no longer separated from God.

In fact, quite the opposite-he is “brought near” to God via the blood of Christ (cf. Ephesians 2:13).

Is a man dead prior to his conversion?  Yes, but that doesn’t mean he’s incapable of any of any admirable conduct; it means he’s separated from God.

Make these notes in the margin of your Bible at Ephesians 2:1:

Dead = separated from God by personal sin.

Alive = brought near to God by Christ’s blood.

________________

1/ T=total hereditary depravity, U=unconditional election, L=limited atonement, I=irresistible grace, P=perseverance of the saints.

2/ James Burton Coffman,“Commentary on Ephesians,”

Commentary on Galatians, Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, 152.

by Mike Benson

The Old Testament is a rich mine of truths about God and his ways. The prophets reveal the divine heart and intentions. Get a taste of truths about God from this little slice of Ezekiel 33.

No. 1. God is a revealer. “The word of the Lord came to me” (Ezekiel 33:1, ESV). He tells man what he is doing and what he expects. God does nothing without letting us know his intentions and actions (Amos 3:7; Ephesians 3:5). Things he reveals are for us all, that we might obey his commands and thereby find joy and peace (Deuteronomy 29:29). God’s revelation to us, now contained in the Bible, is for our salvation. “The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations” (Psalm 98:2).

No. 2. God holds people responsible. “I will hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death” (Ezekiel 33:6, NET). This chapter and chapter 13 is all about man’s responsibility and God’s judgment. Each individual answers to God for their own actions, not for anyone else’s. Many parents today tell their children to do something, but don’t care if it’s done or not. (Seems like they enjoy hearing themselves talk.) They’re not willing to follow up and discipline their children. Part of our society’s ills are due to failure to punish a child. Let us never think that God is like a slipshod parent. We will be judged in the last day by the written word (John 12:48).

No. 3. God desires that man live. “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11; see Lamentations 3:33). God has the best intentions toward man. All that he does is for man’s good (Psalm 119:68). Speaking of Job — of all people!— James wrote, “you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). Jeremiah reminded the people, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Of what do these plans consist? “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (vv. 12-13).

No. 4. God is just and judges righteously. “O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways” (Ezekiel 33:20). Man thinks God is unjust, but he really has no idea. We want judges who will let us off the hook, who hands down sentences based on who his friends are — and we want the judge to be a friend of ours. But God judges according to his principles, which are aligned with his nature and character. What a relief, actually, that we can always know what his judgments will be!

No. 5. God knows the heart of man. “… it is their own way that is not just” (Ezekiel 33:17). Remember that Jesus knew what was in man (John 2:25). Man’s heart is only full of evil, “every intention of the thoughts of his heart [is] only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Jesus himself said, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander” (Matthew 15:19). So what do we need? A new heart! (Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26). This is what Jesus does in the new birth (John 3:3, 5).

No. 6. God keeps his promises and fulfills his threats. “… a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, ‘The city has been struck down’” (Ezekiel 33:21). The prophets of the Lord said it would happen if the people did not repent. They did not, so the Lord carried through with his threat. If God says it, you can count on it. Don’t let anyone persuade you that he will do things differently at the last minute from what he has declared in his Word. He just ain’t gonna do it. Take the Bible seriously. Very seriously.

No. 7. God wants people to know he alone is God. “Then they will know that I am the Lord, …” (Ezekiel 33:29). The knowledge of the only God is the key to all of man’s desires and hopes and dreams. God is not selfish or self-centered. Jesus’ death on the cross put that idea to death for all time (John 3:16). All else that are called gods are nothing but man’s imaginations and creations, as he flees from happiness with the one, true God toward the exaltation of desire and the certainty of destruction. The one God is our one hope.

There’s more! Read the whole chapter for yourself. Discover who God is. Find out how he works. See what his will is. Seek his face.

A. A. Neale

All Scripture should mean more to us than anything else, but sometimes passages of Scripture hit home more when our circumstances are more relevant. With the cascading effects of economic crisis moving from supply chains and interest rates to market volatility and failing banks, Paul’s words of warning to Timothy are much more stark and meaningful!

• We came into the world empty-handed and we’ll leave that way (1 Tim. 6:7).
• We should be content with basic necessities like food and covering (1 Tim. 6:8).
• We invite disaster when we want to get rich and we love money (1 Tim. 6:9-10).
• We need to run away from materialism (1 Tim. 6:11).
• We had better not get arrogant about how much we have (1 Tim. 6:17).
• We should not attach our hope to uncertain riches (1 Tim. 6:17).
• We should trust God rather than ourselves to take care of our needs (1 Tim. 6:17).
• We should use our wealth to serve God and how He wants us to use it (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

That is quite a challenging list of demands God makes on our spiritual lives. It runs contrary to human nature, self-reliance, and the pride we take in creating and preserving wealth. Some who trust in material things never have to endure an economic crisis in this life, but awaken in eternity to see how costly their approach is (Luke 12:16-21; 16:19-25). Many are blessed to lose the money they “banked” on in time to repent and amend their unhealthy or unholy attitude toward things.

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

Neither Jesus nor Paul warn about the having of wealth, but rather the wanting, loving, and trusting of it. Whether or not the current economic issues are a canary in a coal mine of an impending breakdown, it is an opportunity for us to be reminded that we should invest our hope and trust in God rather than wealth (Matt. 6:24). It is an object lesson about not trusting what is here today and gone tomorrow and will, in the end, be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10-11)!

Neal Pollard

When the storms of life descend on us, sometimes our faith turns to doubting. When all looks dark and without hope, what do we hold on to? The apostle Paul went  through storms in his life, not only mental and emotional but physical ones as well.

In Acts 27 we have one of the most detailed accounts of a storm at sea from the first century. Historians such as William Ramsey have pointed out the authenticity of what Luke recorded.

“Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. ‘For the last fourteen days,’ he said, ‘you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food – you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.’ After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. Altogether there were 276 of us on board. When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.” (Acts 27:33-38)

Can you imagine being in a storm at sea for two weeks? Having crossed the ocean twice on ocean liners when I was a child, my family and I experienced storms at sea. I can still remember the queasy feeling and the seasickness that came as a result when the ship we were on was being tossed this way and that. You didn’t feel like eating anything. It was such a relief when the storm was gone the next day!

Paul and those with him were on a much smaller ship and the storm lasted for two weeks. No wonder he had to urge them to eat – I’m sure they hadn’t felt like eating with the ship being tossed about by the storm.

Notice Paul’s faith and hope in all of this. “Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head” he told them – but they needed the strength to survive. Where did Paul get this calm assurance to face this storm and to encourage others?

His faith and assurance was because of his trust in God. Earlier he had encouraged them to keep up their courage.

“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.” (Acts 27:22-25)

You might point out that we aren’t the apostle Paul and should not expect an angel to arrive to give us courage – and that is true. But I would suggest it wasn’t the angel as much as God’s word that gave him courage: he had been told that he would stand trial in Rome before Caesar; for that to happen he had to survive.

We have assurances as well. Remember what Jesus told the apostles before he ascended back to the Father? “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The first part of that verse emphasized that they were to teach those they immersed to obey what Jesus had taught the apostles. That would include the teaching that Jesus will be with us no matter what we go through.

Jesus will always be with us. We should not lose heart but continue to be strong and faithful – even courageous – and be an encouragement to those around us when they are going through their storms of life.

by Jon Galloway

Studying the parable of the lost coin provides rich spiritual treasures. It is informative, for it tells us of the joy in heaven over one lost soul. It is instructive, for it teaches us the value of one soul. It is inspiring, for it compels us to see the urgency of seeking that which is lost. I am particularly interested in the words in verse eight: “If she lose one piece, doth not light a lamp, and sweep the house, and seek diligently until she find it.” I am not attempting to lift these words out of the immediate context, but like so many passages there are nuggets of truth often hidden within the broader context. Such is the case here.

Try to imagine the woman as she realizes that one coin has gone missing. There is something urgent in her action. She does not seem to hesitate in taking proper action. She does not call a committee together to discuss how to go about searching. She does not shift the blame for her own neglect. She does not berate, belittle, or boast. What does she do? She lights a lamp to illuminate the dark recesses of her house. She takes a broom and sweeps the house, no doubt running that broom under the edges of anything that may hug the floor and obstruct her vision. With broom in one hand, and a lamp in the other, she seeks for the lost coin. Here is a word filled with determination. Thayer tells us that the word means “to seek in order to find.” Another word arrests our attention from this verse. It is translated by our English word “diligently.” The word connotes care coupled with earnestness. “Seek” and “diligently” denote the intensity of the woman’s search.

Now turn your attention to our Lord. Luke tells us that He came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Like the woman in this parable, He sought lost souls. He came quietly when He entered His sojourn upon this earth. Even as a lad of twelve, He was about His Father’s business (Luke 2:49). Doubtless His years prior to His public ministry were years of seeking, searching, and diligently watching for opportunities to teach others about His Father in heaven. When He entered His public ministry, He searched the highways and byways, in the marketplace, at the customs’ table, and by the seashore. He went into the mountains, down into the valleys, over the sea, all the way to the Cross of Calvary, always seeking, always searching. He gave His life to seeking the lost and shed His blood to bring them home to the Father.

Is there a message in this parable for us? Oh, indeed there is! If the spirit of our Lord was such that He went about seeking and saving the lost, how can we do any less? How shall we go about it? We must light our lamp and carry it with us. That lamp is the Gospel of our Lord. We do not carry some moral idea, or human sophistry, but the light of the Gospel. Beloved, the world will not be saved by maxims or lofty ideals taken from the most brilliant of scholars. Having the lamp in one hand, we must take the broom in the other hand and sweep away the cobwebs of human wisdom, “casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). With lamp and broom, we must, like the woman in this parable, go forth with diligence. As one author put it, “It is not more organization we want, it is more personal consecration, the surrender of the will and the heart in this seeking mission in the service of the Great Commander who came to seek and to save the lost” (Hastings, 437).

by Tom Wacaster

A supporting congregation had a teacher-appreciation dinner Aug. 18 after the Sunday evening service. We were invited to attend. It wasn’t my moment, but I thought of all the teachers of Bible school, the teachers of evangelistic studies, those who teach to encourage brethren, and all those who have been given the gift of teaching. What would I like to say to them if given the chance? Three things came immediately to mind.

#1. Take the long view

Look beyond the frustrations of the moment, to see the long-term effect you are having, and even the eternal impact you are causing. The most rambunctious child may be the one you have the greatest influence upon. The most resistant student may well be the person whose heart finally opens completely to receive the gospel. While they will listen, keep teaching.

You never know who will finally respond to your teaching. I recall a couple we taught the gospel some years ago. He accepted everything we said and agreed with every lesson. The wife was the resistant one. After one difficult study, I told my wife that I thought it might have been our last study with them, since the wife did not accept well what she had heard. But when it came time to decide, she — not he — was the one who gave her life over to the Lord and was baptized. Her husband responded only some years later.

We tend to focus upon immediate results. That is not bad in and of itself, but we cannot let lack of results discourage us. Let us sow the seed. God will provide the harvest. Focus on the task at hand, of teaching, and leave the results with God, in his time.

#2. Stay close to the text of Scripture

The ultimate power to change people is in the Word. You are teaching your hearers to know God and do his will. Always keep the Bible at hand.

• Don’t paraphrase it — read it.
• Don’t assume people know it — explain it.
• Don’t make it theoretical — apply it.
• Don’t apologize for not following it — live it and put yourself forth as an example to be followed.

Teachers, of all people, ought to apply the phrase, “It’s not about me.” We hide behind the Word of God. We want God to be glorified. We want to shine our light, but that light will focus upon the salvation that God has provided. Let us make every word of ours rise from the text of the Word of God. In one true sense, we have nothing to say. We are messengers who pass on the message we have be given. That message is the Bible.

#3. Imitate Jesus the Teacher

The Gospel of Mark reveals Jesus as the Master Teacher. Study his content, his methods, his motivations, his objectives. Let his teaching teach us how to teach. What we lack, Jesus supplies. With his gospel as our textbook, and his Spirit as our power, we have all we need to be effective teachers.

Jesus’ teaching rose from his relationship with the Father. Ours also rises from our relationship with the Father and the Son. We “were called into fellowship with his son, Jesus Christ our Lord” 1 Corinthians 1.9. It is that calling which we reproduce in our teaching.

As teacher, Jesus sacrificed to bring us to God. We do not impart mere information. We share life in Christ. We enter into Christ’s sufferings for others. Just as we have relationship with God, we call others into relationship with his people. We are purified in order to participate in brotherly love, 1 Peter 1.22. Our mission is to show the way, through teaching, to the proper obedient response, so that all may enter God’s family and find there our purpose and fulfillment.

We’re all teachers

We may not all have the gift of teaching, but we are all teachers in one way or another. Whether in a structured setting or in conversations with friends, let us honor the Lord Jesus Christ who gives the precious eternal gospel into our hands. We are God’s agents so that when we teach, it may be said, “And they will all be taught by God” John 6.45.

by J. Randal Matheny

The Bible is a book whose depths we cannot comprehend. As a result, we discover something new every time we read the Scriptures. Recently, as our devotional Bible reading turned to Psalm 78, I had one of those moments. In verse 25, Asaph refers to manna and says God gave the Israelites “bread of angels.” I couldn’t recall hearing that addressed by any preacher I’d heard, nor had I previously read any commentaries on the verse. So I put on my “scuba gear” and went for a dive.

We must establish the context first. The main goals of Psalm 78 are that Israel should not repeat their unruly past and properly instruct future generations about God’s Law. Asaph recalls God’s miracles in Israel’s history, but Israel still rebelled. Asaph mentions one of these wonders: God feeding the people with manna from heaven. And God did this, although the Israelites had repeatedly enraged Him. According to Asaph, they put God to the test in their hearts (78.18).

As a result, our “bread of angels” was a providential answer to a need. The people were hungry, and God satisfied their hunger and provided more than they required. However, Asaph recalls that the people believed God should cater to their food preferences (78.18). So, God punished them again because they complained after He sent the manna (78.31-33). Asaph’s point was that they were unappreciative of a lavish gift.

Following the context, we will move on to the Hebrew language. Lechem abbirim is Hebrew for “bread of the mighty ones.” The word “abbir” appears 47 times in the Old Testament, referring to everything from animals to strong or stubborn men. However, only twice in some of our English translations is this word rendered as angels (Psalm 78.25,cf. Psalm 103.20). Why is this the case? The Septuagint is most likely the answer because the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures uses the word “angels” here. We should also mention that the Latin Vulgate uses the phrase “panem angelorum” (bread of angels). And the translators of the King James Version were heavily influenced by the Latin Vulgate. But there could be more to it than that.

Another hint comes from a non-canonical book written by a Jew living in Alexandria during the first century BC who pretended to be Solomon. People refer to this as the Book of Wisdom. “In contrast, you fed your people with the food from angels,” Wisdom 16.20 says. Again and again, you provided your people with a bread that had been prepared in heaven. It was a bread that was able to satisfy anyone’s longing and please anyone’s taste.” (Common English Bible) Even though it lacks the weight of what God-breathed (cf. 2 Timothy 3.16), it still provides valuable commentary for understanding Jewish thought before Christ’s birth.

As a result, Asaph may have referred to angels—mighty ones—as ministering spirits (cf. Psalm 103.20-22; Hebrews 1.14). In other words, God prepared and sent the manna from heaven via the angels. If true, it would not be the first time the Bible mentions angels in passing. For example, Stephen stated that an angel was present in the burning bush (Acts 7.35). Otherwise, all we know about manna is that it came with the dew (Numbers 11.9). As a result, it descended from heaven.

Finally, most commentators agree that the bread of angels refers to food fit for angelic consumption or the king’s table (cf. Daniel 1.8). Manna, in other words, was a dish fit for heaven. Nonetheless, God gave it to men who did not value it. We might find a modern parallel in being given a free meal at a three-star Michelin restaurant but complaining that we would rather have eaten at McDonald’s. (With no offense to McDonald’s.)

Fortunately, this is not a matter of salvation, and there is room for debate. I agree with most commentators that the phrase refers to the quality of the food rather than the consumers’ identity. However, it is intriguing to speculate that angels may have been responsible for distributing it to the people. After all, people did not always see the angels who were present. The Arameans, for example, once pursued Elisha to his home in Dothan. The servant of Elisha was terrified, but Elisha prayed to God to open his eyes. God complied, and the servant saw the heavenly host encircling Dothan, protecting Elisha (2 Kings 6.15-17). So, even if manna arrived with the dew, it could still have been brought down from heaven by angels.

Brent Pollard

Webster defines “superficial” as “(1) being on the surface; not penetrating the substance of a thing; as a superficial color; a superficial covering; (2) hallow; contrived to cover something; and (3) not deep or profound; reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent; as a superficial scholar; superficial knowledge.” Superficial Christianity looks good on the surface, but it is of no “value against the indulgences of the flesh” (Col. 2:23). Our Lord calls for sacrificial, not superficial faith. There is a marked difference between the two.

First, a superficial faith produces a comfortable Christianity; one that does not interfere with one’s predisposed lifestyle. It is a “Christianity” that places no restrictions upon an individual, requires no repentance, exacts no restrictions, and asks for no sacrifice. Unaccustomed to feeding upon the word, superficial Christians are incapable of taking more than short doses of the spiritual medicine that is needed to cure their sin sick soul. The meat of word makes them gag. Moral principles are rejected for mere platitudes that make them feel at ease, and any sermon that runs more than fifteen minutes is viewed as a waste of time and an imposition upon their busy schedule. Once a week, or in some cases only once or twice a year, these nominal believers make their appearance, pay their dues, and punch their spiritual clock, all at the church of their choice that meets their personal taste in style of worship and brand of theology. Easter Sunday and Christmas are the apex of their spiritual activity; daily cross bearing means nothing to them.

Second, superficial Christianity will produce a church that is foreign to the blood-bought institution we read about in the pages of the New Testament. The leaders are quick to provide those things that will help increase the numbers but fall short of improving spiritual maturity. The denominations have long sought to entertain rather than enlighten. The church is viewed as some sort of organization designed to administer spiritual anesthesia; something akin to a haven of rest where the indolent and idle may congregate to escape their moral and spiritual responsibilities in a world of darkness and doubt. Those who have only superficial faith view the church as some sort of safety zone in the midst of the highways of life into which people can go to avoid the dangers they encounter every day. But once the danger is past, the weak in faith abandon the church like the proverbial rat that abandons a sinking ship. The church is nothing more than an old folk’s home where the spiritually defective might find shelter. Someone noted more than a century ago, the church “is not a sort of spiritual Florida to which people can migrate in order to escape the chilling blasts of a cold, unfriendly world.” I wish that such misconceptions were limited to those in the denominational world, but so much of this “give me” mentality has infiltrated the Lord’s church today. Oh, how I wish it were not so! Having had the opportunity to travel about our country seeking funds for my mission work, I have come to learn that we have spent so much on creature comforts and neglected the Creator’s commission to go into all the world. I have visited congregations willing to borrow millions to build an elaborate building, and make long term commitments to mortgage payments, but are willing to commit themselves to more than a year at a time to mission endeavors.  One wonders if we have not been the victims of superficial Christianity.

Third, superficial Christianity will not save. I am writing to an audience who knows (or at least should know) the demands from our Father and His Son. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what shall a man be profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? or what shall a man give in exchange for his life?” (Matt. 16:24-26). “So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6:24). Superficial Christianity is the antonym of genuine saving faith. It is confined to the realm of convenience and comfort. Seldom is there a call for real sacrifice. Suppers, sales and entertainment are the means by which people are brought into the church, and through more exciting and more numerous entertainment and programs they are tricked into believing that they are making sacrifices and living the kind of life God wants them to live. No wonder the church has lost its influence in a world that seems to be overrun with evil and ungodliness. The gospel is no longer considered the power unto salvation, but the avenue unto sensationalism. There are churches out there that are indeed sensational, with their Broadway style productions and glitter and glamour that thrill men, but they do not offer what it takes to save the souls of men. In this they have long ago compromised.

God help us to return to His great wisdom and build churches that seek and save the lost rather than seeking to serve and satisfy the masses. Anything else is only superficial Christianity. 

by Tom Wacaster

For weeks, a florist was quite bothered by some ants. They were getting into his seed storage and causing some significant problems. To get rid of the ants, the florist put a meaty bone nearby, which the ants soon discovered and deserted the seeds. As soon as the bone became thickly inhabited by the little creepers, the florist tossed it into a tub of water. After washing off the ants, the bone was again used as a trap. Seeing how effective this bone was, the florist thought he would save some trouble and placed the bone in the center of a sheet of flypaper, thinking the ants would get caught on the sticky flypaper while trying to reach the bone. However, the ants were smarter than this and quickly worked out a solution. Each ant brought a grain of sand, placed it on the flypaper and let the next ant do the same. For hours the ants worked.  Once the path was completed, they made their way across the flypaper one their newly made path and continued to feed on the bone.

It’s interesting how similarly this situation parallels our own. We too were once blocked from the prize by sin and unfaithfulness. Then, one Man prepared the way for us (John 14:6), while using the apostles and prophets as well (Ephesians 2:20). As long as we stay on this path of light (1 John 1:5-7), we could keep away from the stickiness of sin.

The secret to staying on the path lies in the ant. Their unity. Their teamwork. Their work ethic. Their dedication. While only playing a small part, they work together to reach the prize. God knew what He was doing when He built the church. It is meant to be an incredible force to keep each other faithful. And when done right, it accomplishes this.

Let’s look to the ways of the ant, as Solomon did (Proverbs 6:6ff). Let’s put others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4). Let’s encourage each other (Hebrews 3:13). Most of all, let’s reach the prize together (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Brett Petrillo

Lying in a bed for three and a half months will make you feel icky. You can only bathe with washcloths. Some nurses loaded those cloths with water and got me wetter than an Anglican baptism. Those “baths” made me feel better. However, before being discharged, I finally took a shower. That was the best. I felt refreshed. The only downside was seeing my hair come out in clumps as I washed my hair. It seems I am fated to look like the Stooge, Larry Fine.

Where do you find your refreshment? Is it in a cool drink on a sultry day? Is it standing by a fireplace in winter? Such actions reinvigorate us. This result is what refreshment accomplishes. The sinner can find refreshment in obedience. In his second recorded sermon, Peter says:

“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3.19 NASB1995).

This refreshing comes from being immersed in Christ (cf. Acts 22.16). I would encourage any who have not yet clothed themselves in Christ to allow their faith to lead to this total submission, in which one joins the Lord in His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6.3-5). No, it is not a work, nor is the power in the water. It is where we symbolically contact the blood of Christ and express a clear conscience before God (1 Peter 3.21). It is a necessity for salvation.

Yet, there remains refreshment for the Christian as well. Paul speaks of his desire to meet with the brethren of Rome in Romans 15. He tells them to join him in prayer so his arrival will refresh him (Romans 15.32). That is an interesting word choice. In fact, this is the only time this word, συναναπαύομαι, appears in Scripture. The word means to rest along with, but here implies a spiritual refreshing.

I like that idea of “resting with”, though, especially as it applies to Christian fellowship. We spend our weeks in the world and get beaten up by the forces of the adversary. How refreshing is it when we pause and rest with our brethren in worship and Bible study? I know I have gone to services feeling poorly, physically, only to find myself reinvigorated on my way back home. It has the same effect mentally and, most importantly, spiritually. Unfortunately, my recovery prevents me from joining the brethren currently. Still, you better believe that I eagerly await the day I can rejoin them even more than when I wished for a shower.

It is sad when brethren find excuses to avoid refreshment since it is one of the blessings we receive in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1.3). Earthly diversions cannot reinvigorate the spirit as can God. Oh, it might bring temporary happiness, but the participant of earthly delights is left feeling empty, needing entertainment and diversion yet again. Services are not a chore when one comes seeking to worship God and rest beside their brethren.

“And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10.24-25 NASB1995)

Don’t you want to find your refreshment?

Brent Pollard

Psalm 54

Have you ever felt betrayed? Have you ever been betrayed? You had someone you thought was a friend, you did things with them even, but then when “push came to shove,” they weren’t present to be of help to you? Even worse, perhaps, they stabbed you in the back and took advantage of you. Maybe they had some bad things happen to them and rather than taking responsibility for their own actions, they blamed you?

One of the worst acts of betrayal in American history was that of Benedict Arnold. Benedict Arnold had graduated from West Point but then in 1780, in the heart of the American Revolutionary War, he tried to surrender West Point to the British. Now there is a plaque in Old Cadet Chapel where Benedict Arnold’s name use to be. But his name is scratched out. Our family visited West Point a few years ago and you can tell it was Arnold’s name.

David writes Psalm 54 in the midst of the feeling of betrayal. The story is told in 1 Samuel 23:19-32. I think we also can find some points for our encouragement when we are stressed from Psalm 54. Let’s feed our spirits on the words of this psalm this morning…

GOD HAS THE POWER TO SAVE AND TO HEAR – verses 1-3:

For God to save “by His name” means that God would save consistent with His name, or consistent with His nature. We should not and dare not ask God to do something that would violate His nature.

If we are dealing with false accusations, we should pray and ask God to vindicate us, to reveal in some way to our persecutor – whether it is family or friend or stranger – that we did not mean any harm and that we were not trying to do anything wrong.

David’s request from God is: please turn your head and listen to me; hear the words of my mouth.

These were godless men; they had no scruples, no moral qualms at all. It is hard for us sometimes to grasp the fact that there is evil in the world and sometimes evil is found in the hearts of people who are closest to us.

GOD IS THE HELPER – verses 4-5:

“God is my helper.” We say that often, don’t we? How much do we believe it? Do we believe that God is our helper? That God will do good for us? That God will work things out for our good?

“The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” This illustrates how important it is for me to walk with God myself, to have my own relationship with God myself.

God is the one who will take revenge. God has told His people from the very beginning not to take vengeance in their own hands. In Deuteronomy 32:35, God tells Israel: “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution” (see Rom. 12:19-21).

Pray that God will bring about justice at the right time and in the right way.

David still recognizes that all truth flows from God and David does not see everything and he does not know everything. God knows all truth and all God’s behavior is consistent with truth, so we too need to pray that in whatever way God answers our prayers – especially if it comes to vengeance – that God needs to do so in a way that validates and supports truth.

WHEN GOD HELPS, WE WORSHIP – verses 6-7:

First, note that David’s worship is freewill worship.

Secondly, David sacrifices to God. This refers to animal sacrifices.

Thirdly, David praises God’s name – that is, His nature, His character, His reputation. We ought to regularly thank God for Who He is, not just for what He does for us.

The reason why David worships is summarized in verse 7. David saw that God had conquered David’s enemies, if not in reality, at least by faith. David trusted God so much that David knew that if he prayed to God in truth and faithfulness, God would respond and God would deliver David from His enemies.

This statement is similar to Jesus’ statement about faith in prayer in Mark 11:24: “all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.”

When you feel betrayed, the Lord is your helper. When you are delivered, respond with worship.

Paul Holland

I heard about a farmer who was detained for questioning about an election scandal.   The attorney asked him, “Did you sell your vote?”

     The farmer said, “No sir, not me.  I voted for that there fella ’cause I liked him.”

The attorney said, “Come, now, I have evidence that he gave you fifty dollars for a vote.”

The farmer said, “Well, now, it’s plain common sense that when a fella gives you fifty dollars you like him.”

I suppose that’s one way to define a friend.  In fact, Solomon said, “Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.” (Proverbs 19:6).

But, a true friend involves a depth of relationship.  It’s someone you enjoy doing things with, someone you enjoy talking with, someone you wouldn’t hesitate to turn to in times of need.  I like how I once heard someone describe a friend as someone you could call at 2:00 a.m. if you needed something.  Solomon lets us know how important friends are in the difficult times of life:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.  And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Give thanks to God for the friends who are a blessing in your life.  And let those friends know how special they are to you!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Our prayers are important to God, though there are those whose prayers sometimes target human ears, not God’s.

It seems absurd in the extreme that some people pray to be seen and heard by others when prayer is specifically for God. The Lord Jesus talked about this type of person in Matthew chapter 6. He told his listeners that prayer should not imitate “the hypocrites.” The word “hypocrite” in the New Testament hearkened back to the days of Greek theatre. Actors would wear a mask depicting their character. A hypocrite is someone who wears a false face.

In every age, there have been those whose prayers are not meant for God’s ears but to impress a listener. In his commentary on Matthew, Sellers Crain wrote, “The hypocrites love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. The Jews often prayed while standing and looking up with the arms outstretched to heaven.”/1 This was an acting performance for other people and not a humble prayer to God.

Sometimes people use God for their purposes. Jesus said, “Do not be like them” (Matthew 6:8). God doesn’t care for an effort to impress others when we should humble ourselves before him. God knows our hearts and minds like no one else (Acts 15:8).

God wants us to express our thoughts and desires to him in prayer. We should be careful, however, not to use the privilege of prayer to impress others. Instead, our prayers must be genuine attempts to communicate with and please God.

1/ “Truth for Today Commentary, Matthew 1-13” by Sellers S. Crain Jr. Resource Publications, Searcy AR.

by John Henson

What is it, or who is it that steals our thankfulness away? I know for a fact we don’t wake up in the morning and think to ourselves, “today, I will make the executive decision to be ungrateful for everything in the world.” Therefore, since it is not an intentional problem, there must be some underlying factor that steals away our ability to be thankful. Sometimes it can even be seen in our prayers. One of my struggles that I strive to extinguish is the typical generic prayer of thanks – “Lord, thank you for all the many blessings.” God has gone above and beyond in providing for me and I need to take more time to be grateful for the details. I believe the underlying problem of ingratitude is simply entitlement. Let me explain through the example of Ahab in 1 Kings 21:1-4.

Ahab was your typical king (save your comments about the author of this article). He felt like he was entitled to practically everything. In 1 Kings 21:1, he saw that there was a vineyard next to his palace. He obviously left his manners elsewhere because he approached the owner and demanded “give me your vineyard…because it is near my house” (1Kings 21:2). The owner responded and told the king it would violate the law of God to give up this vineyard according to Numbers 36:7. The King’s response was as expected. According to 1 Kings 21:4, the king went to his room, pouted on his bed with his face turned away and refused to eat food. Even adults are not immune to throwing tantrums.

There are a plethora of lessons that can be learned from the chapter, but rewind and go back to 1 Kings 21:2. King Ahab tried to barter with the owner of the vineyard and told him, “I will give you a better vineyard, or its value in money.” Obviously Ahab wasn’t lacking in his wealth. The king had COMPLETELY forgotten what he had in his possession because he was so focused on obtaining this one thing.

So often, our sense of entitlement steals away our ability to be grateful for the people and blessings around us. I think entitlement is subjective to the stage of life you’re in as well. I don’t know your personal situation, the ins and outs of your life, but if you sit down and be honest with yourself, what are some things that you feel entitled to? A job? Waking up? A spouse? Friends? This entitled mindset often becomes the antagonist of the brightness that comes from God’s current blessings.

Tyler King

“The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;

He who watches his way preserves his life.”

(Proverbs 16:17)

The story is all too common.  A fatal car accident takes the lives of all the inhabitants.  Authorities surmise that the driver missed the sign about danger ahead or failed to navigate the turn.  Frequently the story ends with a word of caution: Be careful!  Be on the alert!

Sadly, many do not know that there is a spiritual highway as well.  Each of us are cruising down that highway.  If we are in Christ, then we are the “upright” that Solomon mentions here.  The upright are those who have determined to live according to God’s divine standards.  Their goal is to serve Him and to be obedient to His word.  Their decision to put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:27) meant that they are now on the path of light (1 John 1:7).  Yet it would be a serious (read: fatal) mistake to think their lives are now on cruise control.  There are warning signs that there are evil men ahead.  The upright notice the sign.  They are “watching their way” and make sure they stay on the highway that steers clear of these evil men.  (Note: “evil” men are those who have no regard for God or His word.  They live for self, doing all that which is abhorrent to the holy God).  Consider the powerful lessons from this verse:

First, our lives are a journey.  We are on the “highway” of life.  Every highway has a destination.  Which highway are you on?  Hopefully it is on the highway “of the upright.”  You get to choose which highway.  Choose wisely!

Second, there are dangers ahead.  Certainly we are not naïve to the fact that every road has its dangers.  So also is this the case with the highway of life.  There are evil men ahead and we must depart from the road that would lead us to them (Psalm 1:1).  What kind of evil dangers are on the road ahead?  They might be found in the movies we choose to watch or the music we listen to.  They could be in sinful activities or being with sinful people.  The spiritual clearly see the sign: “danger! Avoid!”

Third, the spiritual pay attention.  Peter told the first century Christians to “be on the alert!” (1 Peter 5:8).  Jesus also taught that we should “be on the alert” (Matthew 24:42).  In this proverb the upright person “watches his way.”  He knows there are potential dangers ahead and is looking for them.  He will not be caught by surprise or will be unprepared.  Paul would say that the upright have prepared themselves for the dangers ahead by equipping themselves with the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17).  Paul issued a warning in 1 Corinthians 15:33: “Do not be deceived: evil companions corrupt good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).  How many have failed to heed that warning?

Fourth, paying attention saves lives.  Solomon said that the upright, who steers clear of evil and watches where he is going “preserves his life.”  Judgment Day is coming and we will give an account for the road we chose (John 5:28-29; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11-15).  If we have lived upright lives and avoided evil, we will hear God’s welcome into His presence (Matthew 25:34).

The fool will not heed the wisdom found in this proverb.  They “despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Let us be wise and consider carefully the spiritual road we’re on.  Is that road bringing us to where we want to go?

Denny Petrillo

Drives returning home after Wednesday evening services are typically uneventful. Last Wednesday was vastly different than what I typically experience on my commute from mid-week Bible study. The tragic experience I came upon made me ponder a few things of spiritual importance.

As I was topping a hill on the way home, I saw a motorcycle laying in the ditch. Just a bit further down the road, there was a white car that had wrapped itself around a tree. Since my eldest son typically drives himself and his brothers to and from church in his car, my concerns were immediately raised. He too, drives a white vehicle.

As I pulled over to look at the car, it became apparent that this was not my son’s vehicle (much to my relief!). I walked to the vehicle and enquired of those standing around the pinned driver, “Are you all aware of the motorcycle that is in the ditch at the top of the hill?” Their relatively calm response to the car wrecked at their tree line turned into sheer panic as I and three others ran to the top of the hill to see what had happened.

When we approached the location where the motorcycle wrecked, I braced myself for what we might see. It became apparent that the rider was thrown some distance from the wreckage after the car, now embedded in the tree line, had hit him. I tried to check for a pulse and called out to the man several times, but there was no response.  He was dead.

To compound the tragic nature of these events, I later learned that he was hit and killed right in front of his home. A few seconds earlier or later, and he would have been safe and sound in his home. It is amazing what a short amount of time might mean in the grand scale of things.

As we go through our daily routine, we must keep in mind that we have one day less to accomplish certain things. The book of James speaks about the brevity of life. James 4.13-17 says,

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

For a moment, it would serve us well to consider the words of James as they pertain to time and serving God. To put it succinctly, we do not know what tomorrow holds, time is short, boasting about the time we have is arrogant, since we do not know how much time we have left, we must “do good” while we have opportunity.

No person knows what will happen in the future. Unlike what some would have us to believe, there is no such thing as one who can tell the future. As God’s people, some certainties regarding time are provided in His holy writ. We know that we will one day pass from this life unless Jesus returns first. Hebrews 9.27 says, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”  These are two appointments we must keep, and no person can escape from them. The only thing we can do about time is to prepare ourselves. We know the Master is coming back, so we must always be ready for His return.

To this, we would add that the Bible teaches that time is very short. This is something that Job understood. Job 14.1-2 says, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.” If we have lived for any length to time, we understand the words of Job. Job further informs us that those few day are “full of trouble.” The fact of the matter is, this world is not were we really want to be. We become so enamored with this oblate spheroid that we forget how beautiful and care-free Heaven will be. Ultimately, this earth is not where we should want to be.

Since time is short and uncertain, it is arrogant to boast about what we will do in the future. Reasonable people plan on not being here tomorrow. We buy life insurance policies to take care of our families when we are gone, because we know that one day we will die.

We should use the same logic in obeying the gospel and being about the work of the Master.

“For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2 Corinthians 6.2.

For whatever reason, people always believe they will have more time to obey God’s word. Of all things that one might chose to procrastinate on, obeying the gospel should not be one of them!

Since time is uncertain and fleeting, we must “do good” while we have the opportunity. Every day moves one closer to his eternal destination. While we have time to engage in good works for the benefit of others, we must be willing to do so. The only things that will last and endure beyond our death are spiritual in nature. If we have friends or loved ones that we want to study the Bible with, we had better take advantage of it while we have opportunity. Those opportunities will one day vanish away.

By Johnny O. Trail

Betrayal is difficult to overcome. Perhaps a close friend has lied to us. Or someone we trusted deceived us. It could be that the spouse we loved and trusted betrayed that trust. Close friends sometimes turn against us.

In the case of Joseph it was that his brothers sold him into slavery. They had wanted to kill him but settled on getting rid of him. Can you imagine what it would have been like all those years in bondage, then in prison, and then as the second most powerful ruler in Egypt, your new country?

It is of note that Joseph never tried to communicate with his family back in Canaan after he was in a position to do so. Although there was not a postal service as we have today and travel was much more difficult, it wasn’t that it was impossible to do so. As the second in command to the ruler of Egypt, Joseph would have had the means at his disposal to pretty well do what he wished. But he didn’t. I get the impression that he didn’t trust his brothers and, not knowing whether his father was still alive, he wasn’t willing to make contact with them.

But when he saw his brothers appear before him to purchase grain during a famine he could barely contain himself. Despite all they had done to him they were still family! But he didn’t trust them and put them through a series of ‘tests’ to see if they were still the same brothers who had sold him into slavery or if they had changed over the years.

When they made the second trip to Egypt and had brought his full brother Benjamin with them, it was all he could do to contain himself. He saw from the way they treated Benjamin, undoubtedly his father’s favourite once Joseph was gone, it was time to reconcile.

“Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, ‘Make everyone leave my presence!’ So there was no-one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph! Is my father still living?’ But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.” (Genesis 45:1-3 NIV)

Can you imagine how his brothers felt? That they felt guilt for what they had done can be seen in their conversations during their earlier visit. Now the brother they had treated so badly ended up being the ruler they had been dealing with who had treated them so harshly. What would he do to them now? No wonder they were terrified!

Joseph, of course, was not seeking revenge. In fact, he saw everything that had happened to him as being the hand of God who was taking care of his family (see verse 8). He was now in a position to rescue his family from the famine and he immediately made arrangements for them to come and live in Egypt.

Reconciliation is difficult, especially when you have done something wrong. Yet this is what God wants from his people. It takes that first step of one being willing to talk to the other and apologize for what they have done. It is amazing what can happen from there!

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

This is why Jesus came: to provide reconciliation. When we are reconciled to God through our sins being forgiven, we then have a basis to be reconciled with the people around us.

Be willing to take that first step and correct the wrong we have done. As Joseph’s brothers discovered, the benefits are worth it!

by Jon Galloway

In Exodus 33:12-23, Moses reaches a critical point in his relationship with God while making intercession for the rebellious Israelites. In a profound statement of faith (and gumption), the prophet requests, “Please show me your glory” (18). In other words, “God I want to see all I can of you. I want to be awed by the wonder of your presence.” The LORD honors Moses’ request, but with some critical amendments. According to God, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (20). The alternative is that God would place Moses in a crevice of rock and shield his eyes while passing by. “Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen” (v. 23).

Have you ever wondered why it is that God’s face cannot be seen by men in this context? Traditionally we have explained it as God’s presence being too overwhelming for human eyes, and that is most likely a true reason. However, would we suggest that God’s back is somehow less glorious? Is it accurate that the omnipotent, omnipresent YHWH has a less powerful direction that humans can tolerate seeing? Perhaps the anthropomorphism of Exodus 33 has another purpose.

Gregory of Nyssa, a 4^th century theologian, saw a connection between this account and Jesus’ call to “follow me” (Mt. 4:19, 8:22, etc.). He writes:

But when the Lord who spoke to Moses came to fulfill his own law, he likewise gave a clear explanation to his disciples, laying bare the meaning of what had previously been said in a figure when he said, If anyone wants to be a follower of mine and not “If any man will go before me.” And to the one asking about eternal life he proposes the same thing, for he says, Come, follow me. Now, he who follows sees the back. [emp. added]

So Moses, who eagerly seeks to behold God, is now taught how he can behold Him: to follow God wherever he might lead is to behold God [emp. added]. His passing by signifies his guiding the one who follows, for someone who does not know the way cannot complete his journey safely in any other way than by following behind his guide. He who leads, then, by his guidance shows the way to the one following. He who follows will not turn aside from the right way if he always keeps the back of his leader in view.[1]

 Gregory’s point is that the only way to truly behold God’s glory is to humbly, submissively follow Him as our ultimate guide. Standing face-to-face with God (in this idea) is tantamount to obstinance or defiance. And frankly, anyone who tries to go toe-to-toe with God is going to lose that battle. Or, to put it as the LORD did, “for man shall not see me and live.”

However, falling in line behind God and gazing at His back means we are allowing Him to lead the way. Through humble obedience we will experience His as fully as our feeble minds can. We will behold Him and all His goodness, ironically, not face-to-face, but by viewing God’s back.

[1] Gregory of Nyssa: The Life of Moses. Trans. by Abraham Malherbe and Everett Ferguson. 1978, Paulist Press: New York. 119

Cory Waddell