For me personally, I am most likely in the latter years of my life.  Now, I am 71.  Not exactly ancient, but no spring chicken either. Now, no one knows how long they will have. I may live to 90 +. But, like most men my age, I have reached the point where I comprehend there is most likely much less in front of me (here, on this side) than there is behind me. I’m not morbid, just a realist. But, I will say I am more aware, and I think from the LORD, that I don’t want to waste what days, time, moments I may have doing stuff that doesn’t really matter.

For me that has involved considering things like giving less time to some avocational interest and changing some routines and schedules. And, to seriously and prayerfully consider if, and how, I should give more of myself and my time to the purpose and Kingdom of God. It seems the obvious answer to that is that I should “just do it”, right? I mean He wants my all, right? But, the issue is a bit deeper because I learned years ago the difference between a works/performance orientation and resting in Him. You see, I can dream up all kinds of good stuff to do.  There is no shortage of needs to fill and fix, and stuff to do.  And, I can work myself into exhaustion trying to work for God and the Kingdom. But, that will not accomplish His purpose. It will only frustrate me. You see,  I don’t serve needs and the stuff that it seems has to be done. I serve the LORD. He wants me to work with Him, not for Him.  So, I must hear from Him and do what He is asking/directing (often in the moment) if I am to be effective and work, that is co-labor, with Him in what He is doing.

Many have heard me wax eloquent too many times on the difference between Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Martha scurrying about to serve the way she thought He wanted and needed. Mary, sitting at His feet so she could hear and know exactly how He wanted to be served.

I suppose the point is that nothing is constant but the Faithfulness and Love of the Lord… and… change.

Solomon said  there is a season for everything.

[Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NASB95]

1 There is an appointed time for everything. 

And there is a time for every event under heaven–

2 A time to give birth and a time to die; 

A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

3 A time to kill and a time to heal; 

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; 

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; 

A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

 A time to keep and a time to throw away.

7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; 

A time to be silent and a time to speak.

8 A time to love and a time to hate; 

A time for war and a time for peace.

So He makes the point that there are seasons in life. And, just as we experience and tolerate climatological change every few months. So, do we have to adjust to seasons of change in life, ministry, work, relationships

However, our eternal God is immutable. He does not change. He moves in each season, and through each season, and reveals Himself in all seasons. He put seasons in His creation, I think, to  show us that, although He as creator is immutable, He is always creating the new, bringing life out of death, and rejuvenating, restoring and giving the new beginning. His mercies are new every morning, although His judgment is just. His faithfulness is everlasting and His love endures forever.  

Even in the midst of judgment He speaks through Malachi that although He will bring just judgment, because He is faithful in covenant they will not be consumed or destroyed.

[Malachi 3:5-7 NASB95] 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely, and against those who oppress the wage earner in his wages, the widow and the orphan, and those who turn aside the alien and do not fear Me,” says the LORD of hosts. 6 “For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 “From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept [them.] Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

We can rely on His immutable nature and His faithfulness, even if we have changed for the worse, or missed the season we are intended to be in.

[Hebrews 13:8 NASB95] 8 Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday and today and forever.

Because I can trust Him in His immutability, I can also trust Him when I am in transition, or when the season is in transition and it seems everything is simply changing. Over the years I have had to learn to discern the season I am in and move through transition and change.   I would be lying if I said I hadn’t missed it, at least a time or two, and moved, literally from one place to another, when I shouldn’t have, or tried to move into and make things happen out of my passion rather than His direction.  But like the climatological seasons, He does give us signs when seasons are changing.  The Spirit moves like the wind and we do not know where it comes from or where it is going, but we can discern its direction.

For me, a lack of peace and mental unrest is a sign. When peace leaves, and unrest invades my mind, my will, my emotions (my soul), I can be sure I have moved away from Him and His season/purpose. I have pulled my head out of the yoke while walking with/beside/alongside Him and gone to pull the load on my own and do my own thing rather than His.

[Matthew 11:28-29 NASB95] 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS“

There often seems to be a struggle between following the Written Word of  God or following the Holy Spirit. But, I’m convinced that that is a subject of  argument between believers, or sometimes in our own minds, that the adversary exacerbates for the sake of confusion. “What’s more important, God’s Written Word or the Holy Spirit?” he will say.  It is a false question to distract our focus from what the LORD is speaking to me now through both. The Holy Spirit reveals what is in the Word,  and He speaks.  May God give us ears to hear and a heart to understand (to obey/do what He speaks) whenever and whatever He speaks.

Back to where I began.  You may, like me currently, sense there are changes coming or needed and want to discern the season you are in. And, then move in it.  Seek Him! He will answer! Because our God is immutable He is truly God for all seasons. And He, by His word, and His Holy Spirit in us, can equip us and move us into any season.  Or, He can make us men/women/people for all seasons.    

That is an excellent thing to contemplate. Sometimes, perhaps most times, it is less important to comprehend the season you are in, but to simply be prepared to go through, with and in Him, whatever season, and in any season.  Paul exhorted Timothy to be ready in season and out to preach the word, reprove, rebuke, exhort, instruct. Being prepared will mean you have to be trusting Him, co-laboring with Him, enabled by the Spirit and grounded and confident in His Word to do anything.

Solomon after he outlined the various seasons recorded

[Ecclesiastes 3:11-12 NASB95]

11 He has made everything (beautiful) appropriate in its time. 

He has also set eternity in their heart, 

yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. 

12 I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime;

Let us keep focus on what God is doing in the moment, in the now. He has been working from the beginning and will unto the end, that day. He will complete the good work He has begun in us. He will complete good works He wants to do through us as we walk with Him.  We may not see or comprehend all that He has done until the other side

Do not forget that everything is beautiful in its time. All seasons reveal Him and His nature and character. All hold a full dose of His beauty if, and when, we understand the appropriateness of the time we are in. If we discern the season and what God is doing.

Finally, think about this!  As He is immutable and eternal…. and, He has set eternity in our hearts. That means there is an understanding, or at least a sensing,  in us that there is more than this present time and moment.  Eternity is in our heart and we, as believers, may even long to step into it, not fearing it and what is beyond.  But in some sense we already have in Him. But,  this time and moment is where we are, and where we live, and He has purposed us for just such a time as this, to reveal Himself through us in it, for He is in it and working in us as well.

 As James says we may be a vapor that appears and vanishes away. Or, as the songwriter says, we are like a flower quickly fading, or a wave tossed on the ocean. But as they each have purpose and impact in His creation and in their season. So, do we in Him. So let us rejoice and do good in Him, whatever the season, for there is nothing better.

So I share that to say that I am not an alarmist. I know a God who is in control. He has had a plan before the foundation of the world, and He is moving through His times and purposes. Because He is eternal (outside of time, holding eternity past in one hand and eternity future in the other) And because He is Omniscient (knows all things and all beings) He cannot be surprised. He knows ,and calls, the end of a thing from before its beginning. That gives me peace and confidence in the face of challenge after challenge in life, and in the face of “existential” threats and chaos that seem to loom before me.

That said, I believe it foolish for the church/believers to take a que sera sera  (whatever will be will be) approach to  life, and particularly others, around us. And,  especially the generations behind us.

We all know, I trust, enough about the nature of God to comprehend His love, grace, mercy, sovereignty, eternal, omniscient,  and omnipotent attributes among others. Including the reality of His just judgment, purity and holiness.  But often, I find believers not giving His eternal purpose in and through us much thought.  Once they comprehend, and are grounded in, His love and grace and understand they are saved (out of judgment and wrath) because of it, they rarely give Him or His purpose in them a second thought.  Unless, of course, a loved one or themselves is ill or in need of something. Oh, they may religiously “go” to church or tithe. But daily function in His purpose, or seeking it in their daily situations is not normative for them.

Many tend to rest, as they should, in His grace and mercy based much on the foundation of these very familiar verses in Ephesians 2.

[Ephesians 2:4-9 NASB95] 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

This passage, and particularly verses 8-9, give us rest in His mercy in Jesus, and make it clear that we can never work to earn salvation or righteousness.  Praise the Lord!  His mercy endures forever!

The thing that has concerned me for a long time is that many believers never consider the context  of the next verse in Paul’s letter to Ephesus.

[Ephesians 2:10 NASB95] 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Why did He save us?   Because we are His workmanship. He created, infact, created us in Christ Jesus (had us redeemed from a fallen creation, reborn, born again) us for a purpose.  What was the purpose He saved us unto?Good works!  But, do note, not good works unto or earning salvation or righteousness.  Or, good works we dream up, initiate, purpose in ourselves, to somehow curry favor and brownie points so we can boast in “what a good boy am I!”  NO!   But, Good works which He/God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

He did not save us in Christ for our pleasure alone.  He did not save us in Christ to save us from hell, just judgement, and for a fire escape. Or, that we could just sit by placidly in His  salvation and righteousness in Christ.  Nor did He save us to work FOR Him.  He saved us to work WITH Him in His purpose.  (another familiar verse: [Romans 8:28 NASB95] 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose.)

We are saved NOT FROM SOMETHING, but UNTO SOMETHING. Namely, to co labor with Him/God in His purpose in Jesus Christ! Doing not our own thing, but the good works He has prepared specifically for us since before our salvation, perhaps before the foundation of the world. 

If this is so, is there any pursuit you can chase after that is better or more fulfilling than knowing Him and co-laboring with Him in His purpose.  Let us not sit in grace unto salvation alone! But, move in that grace and salvation unto knowing and serving Him in daily function in what He gives us to do and directs into. Develop a desire to first hear Him, seek Him, and then walk beside Him in doing what He is doing.  The question is not “What would Jesus Do?” in a situation. It is “What is Jesus doing in this situation, and does He want me to co-labor with Him in that, in the now?”   In Luke 10,Mary chose the good part, she sat at His feet listening to Him, getting to know Him, so that she could serve Him in the way He desired!  Martha tried to serve Him out of her own initiative and purpose, serving what she perceived to be the need, and found only frustration and judging of others.

So what does this have to do with existential threats and sounding an alarm on being a generation away from extinction?

Perhaps it is because I came to Jesus in the great Jesus movement of young people in early 1971.  Perhaps it is because, at 71 now, and with 5 grand-guys so far, I am concerned about their future, the future of the church, and our country. And the impact the current generation will have on the future. It may be the real existential threat.   I do see us losing ground particularly among young people, and especially the generations behind my own son and daughters. The culture has changed a great deal.

And I know that Jesus issued a word/warning about being salt and light.

[Matthew 5:13-16 NASB95] 13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty [again?] It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does [anyone] light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Salt was a preservative in those times, as well as a taste enhancer. It was needed to preserve and cure meat without refrigeration.  But when it lost its effectiveness it was thrown out and  trampled under foot.  Hmmm… doesn’t take much to see the application to the modern church in the west, does it.  

Then, when He speaks of light, we find a reference to those pesky GOOD WORKS again, the ones that Glorify God (not ourselves).

[Luke 14:34-35 NASB95] 34 “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 “It is useless either for the soil or for the manure pile; it is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

[Mark 9:50 NASB95] 50 “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty [again?] Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

We are here, and in a time such as this for a purpose. His purpose. If we become useless as a preservative, or in holding up a standard for righteousness, or manifesting His love and co laboring in HIm in doing His works, the results of that are clearly outlined  in words in red here.

This exhortation is not to work FOR Him or For something out of your own passion. But, to prayerfully consider what He is sitting before you each day and each situation.  The Holy Spirit is there to guide, enable, and empower.  And the exhortation is to seriously consider ways, particularly, to reach a younger generation that is increasingly un-churched, godless, and uninterested in being so.  

If we cannot offer hope and truth. There will be none. 

Mary recently passed along to me “A Statistical Glimpse Into the End Times” from Messianic Christian teacher Jonathan Cahn (author of The Harbinger and others). I’ll excerpt a bit of it here:

 It’s one of most overlooked realms with regard to getting a glimpse of what is to come – statistics. But by looking into what is taking place among the young generation, we will have a glimpse of what the future will bring.

Where is the young generation at regarding God, faith, the Bible, and Jesus? For the first time in Western civilization since the beginning of the faith, the majority of young people in the West consider themselves something other than Christian, other than even nominally Christian.
    

What about society, marriage, sexuality, and family? For the first time ever, one quarter of the American population under 40 is not married. The majority of young women in America don’t want to become mothers. The percentage of American children born outside of marriage stands at around 40%, almost one out of two, and the percentage of people identifying with something other than heterosexuality is not 1%, 2% 5% but, among young people, a staggering 28%!

What about Israel? America has always stood as Israel’s strongest ally. But that, too, is changing. In the wake of the October 7th attack on Israel, one would have expected a surge of support for the Jewish state. But among the young, something else happened. Between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas, young people favored Hamas! In fact, support for Hamas was so strong among the young that it approached majority status. In fact, about two thirds of young Americans now see Jews as oppressors!

Let’s put together the puzzle pieces. Apart from a revival and the hand of God to reverse these things, the America of the future will not be a “Christian nation,” it will not even be culturally Christian, it will not even be nominally Christian. It will be un-Christian, non-Christian, and perhaps even anti-Christian. As far as marriage and the family, there will be less of both. More and more children will grow up having no idea what marriage is. More and more adults will be alone. …. over one third of Americans, will see themselves as LGBT… 

Finally, America, the last great ally of Israel, will no longer be so. Israel will find itself increasingly alone.

What does this all mean? It means the Bible is true. What it said would take place in the last days – is now taking place. All the more we need to pray for this generation, spread the Gospel to it, and stand strong. Let us make it our resolve to do all three this month, and may God greatly bless you as you do!

I can add little to that exhortation,  or the spiritually bleak future it paints for my grandchildren.  But to say that I am not filled with fear and anxiety. No, I am confident in my God, and even more confident in His purpose being made manifest through us as salt and light…. if we will but  turn our attention to Him and that purpose, and let Him direct our individual and corporate steps, empowered by His Holy Spirit, and emboldened to stay salty even when culture would love to trample us underfoot.  

May we consider our God’s love of a generation indoctrinated in forms of darkness and in truth that is relative and spoken of  as “my truth” rather than “the truth”.  They are not without hope, and not without access to the truth. But we hold that hope and access to the truth.  But, if we cannot ,or will not, share and manifest truth and hope in word, and in the good works He has preordained for us, then there will be none. 

Pray…because salt and light is needed, and Jesus has proclaimed that you are the salt and light of the world.

Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, pray, and do what He directs and gives you to do without fear.  Serve the lord with boldness. 

[Acts 4:13, 29, 31 KJV] 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. … 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, … 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

[Philippians 1:20 KJV] 20 According to my earnest expectation and [my] hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always, [so] now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether [it be] by life, or by death.

[1John 4:17 KJV] 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Recently I have followed some online postings of a Contemporary Christian Music artist, who shall remain nameless here, that I have appreciated since the 70’s.  His music and ministry have always presented the gospel, and very often  have been the voice of challenge and call to the church to walk out  authentic Christianity under His Lordship. 

However, recently His posts have surprised Mary and I because his dogma has turned legalistic and exclusionary to the point it seems his true goal is to disqualify any one that may take issue with his interpretation of scripture from his reformationist “sola scriptura” foundations.  It saddens me that such a powerful voice has been turned toward doctrine for the self perception sake of being right.

Those that know me well know that I love the scriptures and I certainly embrace the scripture as the only infallible source of authority for faith and practice.  I would certainly also agree that we are saved and justified by faith alone, through grace alone, through Christ Jesus alone, and unto the glory of God alone.  This is all well and good for foundations.  

My question has always been in any discussion of  the “five solae”; where is the Spirit? That said, and as my Christian artist friend unfortunately proves; The interpretation of truth does not come from intellect and study, or knowledge mixed with devotional passion to it.  I fear, in his case, he may have ceased to worship the Lord of the scriptures, and began to worship the scriptures themselves.  This inevitably leads to the kind of Pharisaical  approach to judging righteousness that  caused them to lay burdens on others they could not live out themselves and to reject He who was the WORD made flesh and dwelling among them.  Jesus confronted this  in a scene from John 5:

[John 5:37-47 NASB95] 37 “And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. 38 “You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. 39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 “I do not receive glory from men; 42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves. 43 “I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the [one and] only God? 45 “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47 “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

Jesus makes it clear here that is possible to search the scriptures and never hear the the voice of the God who gave them as an infallible source of revealing His nature, and end up without His word abiding in you.  The scriptures do not hold life; Life is in Him whom they testify of and reveal, and it is in coming to Him and relationship with Him that you enter into and have life.  In the end the scriptures are a tutor and will be the judge to convict those that have not come to faith by hearing His voice and seeing His form in them. 

His revelation requires, and comes by, a faith that comes from hearing,  and that faith is not of yourself. It is His gift of grace and by the Spirit. 

[John 16:7 NASB95] 7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

[John 16:13-15 NASB95] 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose [it] to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose [it] to you.

The Holy Spirit has come and been given to us as an advantage. He guides us into all the truth.  When we rely on our own, or some others, interpretation of the truth we are prone to legalism, judgement, and error coming from intellect. When we rely on the Holy Spirit to speak, He reveals and delivers Jesus every time. As Jesus did nothing of His own initiative (John 5:30, 8:28, 8:42, 14:10) but only what He saw the Father doing, so the Holy Spirit speaks nothing of His own initiative, but what He hears from the Father/Son  so disclosing the will and nature of God. He glorifies Jesus  and gives us what is His and in Him. 

So to stay out of the Pharisaical paradigm, develop an ear to hear, and heart to understand (a willingness to obey His Lordship directives), and look to see Jesus in what the Holy Spirit reveals in the scriptures, and as you find life in Him.  Don’t miss the point of the word, life is not found in the rule and regulation of legalism, but in HIm whom it reveals and the Spirit of life. 

In Luke after the resurrection a few disciples got a taste of His revelation of Himself in the scriptures

[Luke 24:27-32 NASB95] 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. 28 And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is [getting] toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined [at the table] with them, He took the bread and blessed [it,] and breaking [it,] He [began] giving [it] to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

Believers should revere the scriptures and their authority for they are often used by the LORD and the Holy Spirit to bring us into relationship and personal contact with the incarnate WORD (John 1).  We see Jesus revealed in them. They do testify of HIm most clearly. 

The word of the new covenant is written on our hearts and the power to live by it enabled by His Spirit now within us.

[Ezekiel 11:19-20 NASB95] 19 “And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.

[Ezekiel 36:27 NASB95] 27 “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

[Jeremiah 31:31-34 NASB95] 31 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 “They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,”declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Yes, the scriptures are a foundation for just judgment, correction, and confrontation of sin. They are infallible. But, unless mixed with, and administrated by, the Holy Spirit  within us they will not bring life or a complete revelation of His nature. They can (and often do when administered by men) when only intellectually studied and understood lay heavy burdens upon us, and beat us down and into death, rather than becoming the joy and source of life in revealing Jesus they are meant to be.

Contemplating God requires His unveiling of Himself. The letter to the Romans speaks of witnesses in creation, the law, and the nature of man.  But to know His nature we must see Him revealed in resources we can trust. And, His written revelation is there for us.

[2Timothy 3:14-17 NASB95] 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned [them,] 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Paul instructs Timothy to continue in what he has learned from the sacred writings that have given him wisdom and brought him to salvation through faith in Jesus. And, speaks of Scripture as inspired by God, and so being reliable for the kinds of just jugement, correction and reproof sometimes needed for training and equipping others. 

[2Peter 1:17-21 NASB95] 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”– 18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 [So] we have the prophetic word [made] more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Peter had heard God’s voice from heaven revealing Jesus and saying “This is my Son… Hear Him!” And then indicates that Scripture is inspired, and prophecy given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is reliable and from God.

In Acts 17 Paul and Slias discovered Berean Jews who had “received the word with great eagerness examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore many of them believed,….”  They heard the gospel and then were checking the revelation of Jesus out in the scriptures. 

May we be those who are constantly looking for Jesus in the Word and finding Him revealed with truth in the Holy Spirit.  May searching for Him, and finding HIm there, be a joy and delight to us and one we can share revealing Him to others. 

The length of Psalm 119 reveals a love for the precepts of God and His word. It can be a delight and joy. May our handling of it be so to ourselves and others rather than a bludgeon. Under the Spirit it can, and will, be uncompromised, but it will always be glorifying Him (Jesus)  and taking of His and disclosing it to us.

When we meet, we normally open with a light breakfast buffet, and invite you to feel free to bring something to share or not. There is always plenty.  Around the table there is good conversation as we share our lives and invite Jesus to be central in our gathering.

Gatherings are open and participatory where all are free to share whatever God has put on our hearts. There may also be various times of prayer, and we typically have times of sharing scriptures, and times of  singing chrouses, hymns and spiritual songs.

There is no leader, nor worship leader, nor “pastor”, nor any hierarchy. Ministry comes out of the Body, as we all seek to follow Jesus and the Holy Spirit in encouraging and helping one another walk with Him and love and serve one another.

Children are welcome although there is no program specifically for them.  Children under 10 or so  play together while we meet, older children joining us as a part of our gathering.

What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.  1 Corinthians 14:26

He (God) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him (Jesus) as head over all things to the church, which is His (Jesus) body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23

 Today a reminder to find rest, your sabbath, in Him/Jesus.

The writer to the Hebrews has much to say about the Sabbath and rest (see Hebrews 4). I will not go into detail here. But from the passage it is clear that there is a rest for the people of God.  And, that His people enter it and stay in it by a relationship of righteousness, which is a gift, by faith, And, they move out of that rest by disobedience coming from unbelief,no faith

[Hebrew 4:9 NASB95] 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

[Hebrews 4:1-4,NASB95] 1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh [day:] “AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS“;

[Hebrew 4:6, 10-11 NASB95] 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, … 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through [following] the same example of disobedience.

Much more to  flesh out here, but for now, I will leave it for your prayerful consideration and revelation by the Holy Spirit.

Suffice it to say for now that Jesus has become our Sabbath rest from works and the law for righteousness.   It is so easy for us in our culture and in the western church to be pressed into a performance orientation through our own strength and abilities. And yet the way of the Kingdom is to trust His provision and completion and labor only with, and in Him, and under His direction and strength.

Jesus is God’s provision and completion.

Sabbath means to rest, cease, desist. It comes from Shabat – He rested.

[Genesis 2:1-3 NASB95] 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

Adam was set in the Garden in righteousness/right relationship and full provision in God completeness of creation. He could freely take of it all.  Let us keep in mind that Adam could have come to the tree of life as well, but apparently never did.

Why did God rest?  Not because He was weary or tired!  But because  He was finished!   God rested in His completion. The Sabbath was set apart as a time to acknowledge and trust His completion, His provision, and the work of HIs hand.

Adam lost the  access to complete provision by disobedience and afterward earned bread by the sweat of His brow.

[Genesis 3:17-19 NASB95] 17 Then to Adam He said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’; Cursed is the ground because of you; In toil you will eat of it All the days of your life.  18 “Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
And you will eat the [fn]plants of the field;19 By the sweat of your face You will eat bread, Till you return to the ground, Because from it you were taken; For you are dust, And to dust you shall return.”

In Exodus Sabbath, provision and disobedience are once again linked.  

[Exodus 16:1-5 NASB95] 1 Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. 2 The whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3 The sons of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. 5 “On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.”

Complaints over God’s leading them and their provisions, and what to eat. They expressed, not love and thanksgiving, but a desire to return to bondage in Egypt, representing the world’s systems.

This, then,  results in a test of obedience and trust in His provision, as He  purposes to provide bread raining from heaven.

[Exodus 16:22-30 NASB95] 22 Now on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 then he said to them, “This is what the LORD meant: Tomorrow is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses had ordered, and it did not become foul nor was there any worm in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26 “Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, [the] sabbath, there will be none.” 27 It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. 28 Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions? 29 “See, the LORD has given you the sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

Sabbath was instituted that they might know their God is able to supply and provide beyond their labor, and without their being in bondage to the world. He is the God who provides and sanctifies. He can be trusted to supply even in your rest, and your trust leading to obedience.

By the time of Jesus the sabbath had become a burden, not a rest. Religion and tradition had turned to the burden of trying to respond to rules, regulation, and the law and traditions of men.  Jesus dealt with such interpretation in an amazing way.

[Mark 2:23-28 NASB95] 23 And it happened that He was passing through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples began to make their way along while picking the heads [of grain.] 24 The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and his companions became hungry; 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar [the] high priest, and ate the consecrated bread, which is not lawful for [anyone] to eat except the priests, and he also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath! He is the Lord of rest.  His disciples are afforded grace and provision out of their being in relationship to Him. Religion, without that relationship, breeds intolerance and bondage.

Matthew also records this incident, even indicting the priest of breaking the sabbath.

[Matthew 12:3-5, 7-8 NASB95] 3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, 4 how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? 5 “Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? 6“But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 “But if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.“

Jesus refers to the eating of the show bread in the tabernacle. One loaf for each tribe signifying the provision and inheritance of the God’s people, the family of God. Bread of an everlasting covenant offered in sacrifice and given to the priest to eat in the Holy Place.   It was a type of Jesus who would be sacrificed to become the bread of life to those who have become a holy nation of priests to and through Him.   In communion we remember His sacrifice which resulted in provision and initiated a new and eternal covenant with His own. We consume the bread symbolizing our priesthood and the blood of our covenant.

In verse 5 here  the priests were indicted for performing a WORK of service. But the indication is they were innocent. How are they not guilty?

In verses 6-8 Jesus reveals and speaks of Himself saying that He is greater than the temple here. He is the Lord of the Sabbath.  

As such He is our provision, our Sabbath, the master of creation and completion. He was in the Father creating and He was in the Father completion. His final work, His final word. His rest.

The rest/Sabbath was established that we might remember God as He that gives full provision, the God Who has set us apart for Himself. In Jesus we may rest in salvation, redemption, justification and righteousness. The priest were not guilty for the Lord and that sacrifice to Him was their portion, just as Jesus is our portion.

Make no mistake about your rest in Him.  Also make no mistake about the place of obedience in terms of its part  in that rest.  Your labors in your own strength and initiative to work for or earn righteousness are over. You have the gift of righteousness that comes by faith.  Your Co-laboring with Him, not for Him, and in His strength, being yoked to Him, are now in place.

[Matthew 11:27-30 NASB95] 27 “All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal [Him.] 28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

In this familiar passage Jesus invites the weary, tired, and burdened to come. He will freely give rest.  The how-to  is next!  TAKE MY YOKE upon you.  An interesting symbolism. A yoke is an element for work. It was used to tie/bind oxen together to pull the plow, or a loaded cart.  But, Jesus says if we take His yoke on we will find rest for our souls.  He then doubles down describing His yoke as easy and His burden as light. You will not be heavy laden.  

If your head is in the yoke (of His Lordship), tied and bound to Him, and others also in Him, you simply walk beside Him, with Him, and He does the heavy lifting and gives direction.  If you feel anxiety or lack of strength, check yourself.  You may have pulled your head out of the yoke of His Lordship to do your own thing.

Many think coming under His Lordship is wrought with potential burden. It is not. It is freeing. In that place we find true freedom, strength, clear direction, and rest. It is not the place of  religion and works, but  the place of liberty in Him to serve at His direction and in His strength. As Pauls says. His strength is perfected in our weakness. (see 2 Corinthians 12:9)

So much of our Western church structure has, unfortunately, been built on manipulating people and playing on their need for significance. Like our culture overall overly stressing a performance standard and orientation.  It lays on people’s lack of performance and into laying a burden of guilt, shame, and fear.   When you know you are loved by God.  You can’t be played. To the degree that you comprehend the fullness of God’s love in Jesus, to that same degree will you manifest His Kingdom, submitting to His Lordship and be able to keep his commandments to love and serve.

The church is to be a community of servants of Jesus and each other in love. Not a community of self initiated and inspired overachievers pushed to perform.  It is the community of those loved by the Father.  Out of His love comes an ability to genuinely love and care for others, rather than just hold them to standards and behavior founded in the rote or religion/expectation and written regulation. Living like we are not loved, but must perform, creates continual dysfunction in families, and in the family of God.  When people comprehend the fullness of His love in Christ, they will manifest the Kingdom, they will increasingly live out His new commandment to love one another and produce the community/church that comes from that understanding and knowledge of Him.

Again the scriptures making the inextricable link between sin and death and resurrection life clear in Paul’s letter to Corinth:

[1Corinthians 15:13-14, 16-17 NASB95] “13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. … 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”

The death….and resurrection…. of Jesus sealed both our forgiveness and gave us the power of resurrection life, that is eternal life.

Jesus told Martha: [John 11:25-26 NASB95] 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die.Do you believe this?”

This is the heart of the gospel as the portal to life in Christ Jesus. If we believe in Him, THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE, we 1) receive forgiveness of sin, being freed from the power of being a slave to sin and its wages death, and 2) are released into resurrection power for life by the Holy Spirit.

[Romans 6:6-9 NASB95] 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him,] in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

[Romans 8:2 NASB95] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

But lest we simply fall into the trap of thinking we only taste this resurrection power once we lay down this mortal coil/body, let us look  a bit harder at Romans 8 (too much to go into in depth here giving consideration to much of the chapter, but do consider couple of verses).

[Romans 8:9-11 NASB20] 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

We are not living in the flesh but in the Spirit, or by the Spirit, Who is now dwelling in us and enabling, giving us the power, of resurrection life. The apostle says that although our body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive and righteous. And, perhaps most importantly, if the Spirit of Him (the Holy Spirit/God) who raised Jesus is dwelling in us, He (God) who raised Jesus will give life to our mortal bodies by His Spirit. This is not pie in the sky after the mortal has been laid 6 feet under or in the cave/crypt. It is the power of resurrection life in Jesus in the now.

To make the point crystal clear in our understanding, the following verses in the scripture make it obvious that we are not to live under the power of the flesh.  We do not have to do that, we are not obligated to. For we are no longer, as Jesus said to the Pharisees, “of our father the devil”; We have, after death and resurrection, been adopted as sons and cry “Daddy” to our true “Father”.

[Romans 8:12, 15 NASB20] 12 So then, brothers [and sisters,] we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– … 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons [and daughters] by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Now, l admit that I do find myself often frustrated by failings in the flesh and in my propensity to sin.  But I also find I am never under condemnation, but rather under the loving and gentle conviction of the Spirit who gives me life. And, who, like Jesus dealing with Peter in John 21,  tells me that that although I have failed, He has not given up on me. And, that while my love that may now only be phileo deep, that He is faithfully working in me so I will give the  full measure of agape love for Him that requires my laying down my life.

I, and I dare say, most of us in the church, must embrace the truth that our release from sin and death is real and now, not simply future and, that the power of resurrection life is available now to me IN Christ. Life is in the person of Jesus as I abide, dwell, and live in Him, and His Spirit abides, lives, and dwells in me.  God has begun a good work in me through faith in Jesus and the power of the resurrection, and He is committed to completing it (Philippians 1:6). 

Our victory is in knowing that He is the resurrection AND the life!  I think that is why He asked Martha “Do you believe this?” (and then proved it with her brother). She could talk about deep theology with Jesus, about His being the Christ, the Messiah, and about the resurrection on the last day. But, like most of His followers, she was missing that He was the resurrection AND the life…and not just on the last day, but right now, in the moment.  Resident/Dwelling within us, and ever with us, is the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus, giving life to our mortal bodies. Do we believe this?  Jesus gives life to whom He wishes.

[John 5:17, 21 NASB95] 17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” … 21 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

As referenced above, in Christ we have been adopted by our true Father and we are children of God. It is our faith, faith which is initiated by God’s His revelation and His word not of ourselves, in Jesus as our life that gives us triumph and victory over sin, death, the flesh in the world.

[1John 5:4-5 NASB95] 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This unwavering trust in, and knowledge of, Jesus as resurrection life gives us a perspective that releases all fear, even of death, and causes us to comprehend that all things (yes, all things) are working for our good in Him – Once again Romans 8:

[Romans 8:28, 35, 37-39 NASB95] 28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to [His] purpose. … 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Now I would be remiss here if I didn’t mention that resurrection power is also inextricably linked to death.  In order for resurrection power to be experienced, there must be a death.

In our case, in Jesus, we will not taste mortal death, but the cross is still a reality for the believer.  It was for Him. It is for us. If we are to move into the fullness of the power of resurrection something in us, our propensity to be given to the flesh, must die for the love of Jesus, and for us to live for, and in, Him.

In Luke 14 25-33 Jesus outlines the cost of discipleship saying in three different places in these few verses essentially: unless this/that… you cannot be my disciple.  It can really be summed up with this one statement in that passage.

[Luke 14:27 NASB95] 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

The cross is the place where we lay down our flesh, our desires, our desire to rule, our fears, our lust, our sin, our rights, and die to ourselves to live unto Him and under His Lordship.   Note in Luke 14:27 picking up your own cross precedes and is simply a part of coming after/following Him.

Paul made it clear to truly know the power of His resurrection we must taste His suffering.

[Philippians 3:8-10 NASB95] 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from [the] Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which [comes] from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Let us rejoice and live in the now reality of the power of His resurrection, even if we sometimes, in the now, also face, and must embrace, the fellowship of His suffering.  For the truth is the power of sin has no right to us or to make us its slave. Death is vanquished and eternal life is ours.  Jesus is our conquering King.

For further consideration:

[Rom 6:3-7, 11-14, 17-18 NASB95] 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with [Him] in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [in the likeness] of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him,] in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. … 

11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin [as] instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. ... 

17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

We WILL NOT meet on Sunday. Taking a one week hiatus this week. Many of us are traveling this weekend. May the LORD bless you with finding good fellowship and encouragement  with saints someplace this  week.

When we meet, we normally open with a light breakfast buffet, and invite you to feel free to bring something to share or not. There is always plenty.  Around the table there is good conversation as we share our lives and invite Jesus to be central in our gathering.

Gatherings are open and participatory where all are free to share whatever God has put on our hearts. There may also be various times of prayer, and we typically have times of sharing scriptures, and times of  singing chrouses, hymns and spiritual songs.

There is no leader, nor worship leader, nor “pastor”, nor any hierarchy. Ministry comes out of the Body, as we all seek to follow Jesus and the Holy Spirit in encouraging and helping one another walk with Him and love and serve one another.

Children are welcome although there is no program specifically for them.  Children under 10 or so  play together while we meet, older children joining us as a part of our gathering.

What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.  1 Corinthians 14:26

He (God) put all things in subjection under His (Jesus) feet, and gave Him (Jesus) as head over all things to the church, which is His (Jesus) body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23

Some are traveling this week to witness the last Total Solar Eclipse over the U.S. in most of our lifetimes.  So with that…

[Psalm 19:1-6 NASB95] 1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. 6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

[Genesis 1:1, , 14-15, 17 NASB95] 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. . … 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. … 17 God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,

[Romans 1:18-20 NASB95] 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 that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The scripture makes it clear God has made Himself evident in His creation! In Psalm 119 specifically declaring His glory and the work of His hands in the heavens.   When you look at the sun, do you see the BRIDEGROOM exiting His chamber rejoicing as a strong man ready to run in His purpose?  Rejoice O bride of His glory, and run with Him rejoicing in the fullness of His love and purpose.

In the Great Exchange “God made Him (Jesus) Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him”  (2nd Corinthians 5:21)

But, as Paul made quite clear in his first letter to Corinth, that “exchange” would, and could, not have been complete outside of the resurrection.  [1Corinthians 15:13-14, 16-17 NASB95] “13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. … 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”

Make no mistake, the resurrection of Jesus is central to our  faith, for His victory over sin was to complete His victory over the final adversary, death. The two are inextricably linked. Sin had to be paid for, and rendered powerless, so victory could be established over death rendering it powerless as well.

[1Corinthians 15:55-57 NASB95] 55 “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Romans 5:12 NASB95] 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned–

[Romans 6:6-10 NASB95] 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him,] in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

[Romans 8:2 NASB95] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

[James 1:15 NASB95] 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

[1Corinthians 15:24-26 NASB95] 24 then [comes] the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.

It is for this reason Jesus could boldly proclaim that faith in Him, believing in Him as the resurrection and the life was prerequisite to being lifted out of judgement we are already under, and gaining eternal life.  Life forever!

[John 11:25-26 NASB95] 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

[John 3:16-18 NASB95] 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Yes, as Martha responded in John 11 when asked the questions above; He is the messiah and savior, even the son of God. (“Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”) The historicity all lines up with the prophets.  But He is so much more, and our faith is in Him risen as conquering King over death.

Giving mental assent to the historicity of Jesus as a great teacher, or that He lived and even was crucified, or was even possibly the Jewish messiah, is not faith.

His resurrection makes Him Lord, King, Conqueror like none other. Suffering lamb slain in humility, is now Risen and Enthroned King with glory and dominion forever.

[Hebrews 2:9-11, 14-15 NASB95] 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, [namely,] Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one [Father;] for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, … 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

[Philippians 2:8-11 NASB95] 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[Colossians 2:9-15 NASB95] 9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, 10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; 11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

God disarmed powers and principalities through Jesus tasting death,…and He triumphed over them through the public display of Jesus’ resurrection conquering sin and death.  We were gloriously “raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him (Jesus) from the dead.”  We now manifest His glory and His victory to principalities and powers/rulers and authorities as His body, the church, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.

[Ephesians 3:10-12, 21 NASB95] 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly [places.] 11 [This was] in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. … 21 to Him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

[Ephesians 1:19b-23 NASB95] 19b ….[These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places,] 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

HE IS ALIVE!  HE IS RISEN!  RISEN INDEED! And we have the honor and responsibility of having Him be exhibited as such through us to one another, the world around us, and to principalities and powers above us. Let us remember His sacrifice in our passover/communion. But, let us celebrate His resurrection as the Lamb of glory (Revelation 56-13).

[Matthew 21:9 NASB95] 9 .…. “Hosanna to the Son of David; BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; Hosanna in the highest!”

Recently in reading the Gospels  a few phrases and things about the descriptions of this event  struck me.

Here is the complete account from Mark 11:  (It is also found in Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-40 and John 12:12-19) 

[Mark 11:1-11 NASB95] As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, 2 and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied [there,] on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it [here.] 3 “If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.” 4 They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. 5 Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They spoke to them just as Jesus had told [them,] and they gave them permission. 7 They brought the colt to Jesus and put their coats on it; and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their coats in the road, and others [spread] leafy branches which they had cut from the fields. 9 Those who went in front and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD; 10 Blessed [is] the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem [and came] into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany with the twelve, since it was already late.

It begins here with a directive from the Lord for two of his disciples to retrieve His ride, going into the village, to find a colt that has never been ridden.

Mark and Luke, for some reason, don’t  record this “colt” is not a highly prized steed but the foal of a donkey. John, whose gospel often gives us information others left out, does record that information and that it was a fulfillment of prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) as does Matthew mentioning the donkey and prophecy.

[John 12:14-16 NASB95] 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF ZION; BEHOLD, YOUR KING IS COMING, SEATED ON A DONKEY’S COLT.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.

The disciples are told to untie the donkey, and if asked what they are doing to simply say “the Lord has need of it”.  This phrase stood out to me.  All the accounts but John’s record it.

Sure enough, the  disciples, whom Matthew says went and did just as the Lord had instructed them found things and responses just as He said they would. Mark indicates they went away and found things just as Jesus told them. They found the colt tied, and they were asked in our terms  -“Hey what are you doing?” – and they responded just as He told them to “the Lord has need of it”.  And, just as Jesus had indicated would happen,  the immediate response was the release of the colt to them for His purpose. The Mark account says they were questioned by “bystanders” who gave them permission. The Luke account calls them owners, but does not record the specific verbal response.

Had Jesus prearranged this loan? Some would say that is probably so. I tend to think not. Jesus would ride in on a borrowed donkey arranged by the intent and purpose of God from way back in Zecharia’s day. He would celebrate the passover in a borrowed room.  He would be buried and resurrected from a borrowed or donated tomb. He knew the plans and provision of His father.  When He sends the disciples He knows the will of the Father and exactly what they will find, what they will encounter, and what the responses would be.

This should give us great encouragement as His disciples to move forward on whatever He speaks to us to do, and to say what He instructs us to say. He, and the Father, are not making up things as He goes. He has a purpose and a plan, often very detailed and revealed to us, His disciples, as in this case.  But, sometimes the revelation of plan is not quite so clear.   Have confidence at His word and instruction either way!

I also love this phrase “the Lord has need of it”.  They had to think, “Hey it’s going to look like we are horse/donkey thieves!” And, His cool preparation  for them is just this phrase.  Can you trust what He gives you to say in situations you find yourself in at His direction?  Yes!  Yes you can!  

I also love that the bystanders/owners evidently understood the import or authority of that phrase, and without question gave what they had that He needed.  There was no “wait just a minute, Why?” , “When is it coming back” ,”Oh, you don’t want that one, he ain’t even broke yet” , or “Wait… if it’s for the LORD, let me give you this stallion over here, He’ will look much better and be more comfortable in a Cadillac.”  May we like this one, comprehend what He is requiring and yield to giving/loaning it to, and in, His purpose. May we understand He has all the resources of creation and eternity at His hand and is asking, not because He has true “need”, but is looking to give us opportunity to serve Him in His present purpose. He could have entered Jerusalem in a Blackhawk helicopter, but God had other plans and people in place for His purpose.

I think it notable that Jesus, and the Father’s, plan was for this entry into Jerusalem to be on this animal. This wasn’t Jesus’ first trip to Jerusalem, but it was perhaps His most important. Because, for the first time He would allow the crowds to treat Him as, and call Him, Messiah and King. And, it would be, and was in these passages, obvious to the Jewish leaders at the time.

But, He would not enter as the conquering King ,or as a Roman General, of that day, seated on a glorious bejeweled saddle and wearing a victor’s crown on a valiant steed with His victorious armies ordered in formation behind Him.  He would enter on a humble foal of a donkey. This as yet unridden animal would not have been groomed and cut and prepared for parade.  He had no glorious gate or saddle fit for His back. He was a sign of humility, and could have been seen as laughable. It probably was by some. I wonder what Simon, who had been a Zealot subversive, thought.     Anything but triumphal as an entry. That is somewhat of a misnomer.  But the donkey and His humility represented much more.

It is interesting that Jesus called for an “unbroken” colt, with no fear of mounting and taming him.  And that He would enter upon the back of a notoriously stubborn and hard to rule animal heretofore untrained. This ride would show His Lordship over all creation, riding a previously unbroken animal.  It would also speak how His humility would provide and lead to exaltation, and establish His Lordship over a stubborn people, and their unbroken will.  His triumph would not exhibit violent conquest, but submission gained by love, the authority of God, and the coming of a kingdom rule to establish peace that is ever increasing. Too much illustration and symbolism regarding Israel, and for us, here to go into.  Let the Spirit lead you into excavating that.

The next segments of this passage in Mark speaks of them fashioning his saddle of their coats (outer garments).  And, of  people laying those garments down in the road before Him, along with other vegetation and the palm waving which was customary for honoring victors

Coats, outer garments, were highly valuable in those days. As they were not just robes of covering and raiment, but they were how you were kept warm at night sleeping. People did not undress for sleep but wrapped themselves in these garments. The scriptures in Exodus and Proverbs (and I think elsewhere) speak of holding a man’s garment as surety/security against a loan you were making to Him, and that you had to return it to him by sunset so he would not be naked and cold.  The point is these garments expressed laying down something of great value to you to honor a great King, General or Conqueror. They speak of you being humbled before Him, and His being exalted and honored by you, in this kind of sacrificial act.  

Jesus sat on these coats, and rode over these coats, as He entered on a humble beast.  But, in this way, people were giving Him honor and praise and recognizing His worthiness as one coming from God.  Are we willing to lay down that which we value and may well need ourselves,  and be stripped before the King in humility, and give Him praise for who He is and for, but not just for, what He has done.

They were giving praise from Psalm 118:

[Psalm 118:26 NASB95] 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

Here is more of the prophetic context –

[Psalm 118:20-26 NASB95] 20 This is the gate of the LORD; The righteous will enter through it. 21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner [stone.] 23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, do save, we beseech You; O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity! 26 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD; We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.

The last observation of Mark is that Jesus entered Jerusalem [and came] into the temple; and after looking around at everything, He left for Bethany. It would be interesting to know what was in the mind and thoughts of the Lord Jesus after such an eventful and prophetic day.   I found the phrase  and after looking around at everything, …..He left for Bethany very interesting. Particularly in the light of the next day.   Jesus took it all in, and I am not sure, even as crowds proclaimed Him as Messiah, that He was impressed and pleased with what He saw.    He looked and left… for the friends, and comforts of them, in Bethany.  

The next day we read of the cursing of the fig tree, and the cleansing of the temple of moneylenders, and confronting the Pharisees with parables so pointed, and understood by them, that they sought to seize Him.

Sometimes in His purpose we can experience a foretaste of glory. And, that can sometimes be followed by a time of discouragement and challenge at how things may seem. Let us be discerning of His purpose in all that is happening around us, and what He has called us to be and to do, understanding He is working His purpose/His good pleasure out through us as His own.  Keep in mind “The Lord Has Need of It.”  

[Philippians 2:13-16 NASB95] 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [His] good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

And, yet the scriptures speak to its benefit when under the hand of the LORD (or sometimes a parent). 

A few examples, primarily from Solomon and Proverbs and one from Ephesians. Then, we will look at a text from Hebrews.

[Proverbs 3:11 NASB95] 11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof,

[Proverbs 12:1 NASB95] 1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid.

[Proverbs 13:1, 18 NASB95] 1 A wise son [accepts his] father’s discipline, But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke (reproof). 

… 18 Poverty and shame [will come] to him who neglects discipline, But he who regards reproof will be honored.

[Proverbs 15:5, 32 NASB95] 5 A fool rejects his father’s discipline, But he who regards reproof is sensible.

… 32 He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

[Proverbs 19:18 NASB95] 18 Discipline your son while there is hope, And do not desire his death.

[Proverbs 22:15 NASB95] 15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

[Ephesians 6:4 NASB95] 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

It is very interesting to note that these proverbs usually tie discipline to reproof. I think there is a reason for this. We “hear” discipline and think of it  as forced correction or “punishment” involved for wrongdoing or disobedience.  It is easy to move in, and to mete out, discipline. And, for one to be forced to receive it.  Reproof however is where the wisdom and understanding lie and come into play. To reprove is to confront directly, but gently and with kindly intent. It is where the true learning is, and where change is initiated, if it is received.  As we consider these couplets in proverbs, the disapproval may be strong, requiring discipline, but it is in listening to the reproof that brings wisdom and understanding. The finding of fault and guilt is not the point! Correction of the course we are taking, of behavior, and change from gaining wisdom and understanding is.

Are you aware of  the benefits of getting a little spanking motivated by a Father’s love?  I must say, I have been aware of it many times, as a child of my parents, and as a son/child of God (as an adult). And, it was never, what I would call, truly enjoyable.  But it has gotten my attention, and has turned my heart toward Father God/,father,mother, and His/his/her love, and toward right and righteousness. Learning by it, and its rewards, have shaped, and continue to shape, me in turning towards Him as I see His love and concern for my good. 

Just a note on my own experience having to dish out discipline and reproof as a dad, as a business manager, and as a pastoral/leader/elder over the years:

As a parent, my kids (who are all adults now) received a spanking (corporeal punishment -generally by belt, and never my hand because I wanted my hand to communicate caress and love) for two things. Lying, not suspected but caught provable lying, and direct disobedience (as in; me telling or asking them directly not to do something, and then them going right on to do that thing or behavior). These events, and I tended to turn them into events by the process (a trip to the bedroom or private place, bending over, etc . etc) so they could understand the seriousness of the lie, their integrity, or their disobedience, were always followed by hugs, kisses, and conversations about love and care for them, and what could be learned from this situation and the event. (The will generally, begins to show itself at about 2 or 3, and dealing with it early is much easier than later) Exercised early in their lives to break their will, not their spirit, leaving their Spirit intact and them confident of my love for them, and confident of our trust in each other, discipline served us and our family well, saving us much headache with exercised will later in adolescence. And, it resulted in children of respect, generally good character and integrity, and with a good understanding of how to appeal to authority properly without revolution and rebellion.  Were they perfect kids? No! Did they grow up into perfect people? No! Were they above average and of strong character and values?  You can be the judge of that, if you know them.  But, I am very honored by them, by far and in large part. Mostly honored  that they know Him, love Him, and most are trying to walk with Him as adults.  By His grace, not my excellent parenting, they have acquired much grace, wisdom, understanding, and honor among their peers, I think in part due to His discipline, even if early on at my hands… I mean belt.

As a manager of broadcast facilities for many years, I was involved a great deal in hiring and ….occasionally disciplining,… and then, not too often, if improvements weren’t accomplished, firing people.  

I found when dealing with adult, at-will employees, clear and documented communication was key.  As a general manager I managed both on-air talent, and sales staff.  This sometimes required different approaches. And, different approaches to different persons/personalities. What motivates one will not motivate another sometimes  But in either area, clear communication of what was expected and desired was key. And, I don’t mean just clear to me that I communicated it, but clear to the point that we both understood clearly the expectations and desires. And, the employee understood that I was on the team, with and for them, to help if they needed it.   When I first  started managing I was quite young myself, and wanted everyone to like me, so rather than demand things I would approach as a friend saying something along the lines of  “Tom , if you can, it would be great if I could get this  later today”. It was clear, I thought, and wasn’t too demanding. It also rarely worked, I rarely got what I wanted when I needed it. I found performance meets your expectations with adults.  So, I learned, for results, I had to be more clear and direct in my management style; “Tom, I want this on my desk at 3 today”. Generally that worked well.  I still maintained a friendly basis to the relationship because I gave an opportunity for conversation about appealing, or for a good excuse. I’m still here to serve and help. In fact, in most cases the “friends” aspect was enhanced because communication was clear and specific, leaving little room for misunderstanding. 

I also understood a biblical principle that I applied in managing. While the world was reading dress for success and learning IBM winning through intimidation. I was applying the biblical principle that submission is gained by love.  God doesn’t force us to do, or into, anything. He loves us into doing what is His desire and is in His purpose.  Will He discipline us? Yes!  Force us? Unlikely, although the consequences may have us rethink disobedience or complying, as what He desires is generally for your good and the blessing comes our of a response of obedience.     

Communication that is direct and/or requiring of us can be delivered, and received, as from a tyrant.  Or, it can be delivered, and received, as direction and wise counsel, and help in decision making, from one that loves and cares about you.

[Proverbs 15:1 NASB95] 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

[Proverbs 16:24 NASB95] 24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

[Proverbs 27:9 NASB95] 9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

Finally, as one that has been involved in house church for far more than a decade, I can tell you I have no heart for hierarchy whatsoever. But, also as one that functioned in more traditional church “leadership” situations for a number of years, I was involved a few times in what is called “church discipline”,  and once or twice in removing one from fellowship for a time. Let me just communicate that the approach to this is not, and cannot be, from punishment for an offender. It must be from love and concern for the offender, and for the protection of other saints.  And, the goal is always…ALWAYS…restoration. RESTORATION to fellowship, and restoration to relationship in good standing with God and with brothers.  I will not go into a long biblical explanation here. This discipline should be rare, and unnecessary, if we are loving and serving one another well as His body.  But the goal in confronting your brother or your sister, should it be necessary,  is always reconciliation and restoration of relationship.

All that shared. Let us consider what the writer to the Hebrews had to say regarding discipline. It is based in a Father’s love of His son(s).

[Hebrews 12:1-11 NASB95] 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” 7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom [his] father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He [disciplines us] for [our] good, so that we may share His holiness. 11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

The exposition here first makes reference to all those who moved in faith in obedience to God who have gone before, a great cloud of witnesses, he has just numbered in chapter 11. Then he asks us to set our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter/completer of the faith who, for the “joy set before Him”, endured the suffering and shame that was rightfully ours, and has now come into the glory of being seated at the right hand of the Father. It was His joy to suffer, not just to be seated and restored to glory, but to bring many sons of faith to His Father, and please Him in His purpose.

He then exhorts us regarding the benefits of discipline and reproof under the Fathers love and loving hands. The first benefit is that this discipline is a sign of our acceptance as sons, and of His love for us, quoting an exhortation that was familiar to them:

 MY SON DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES.

Again, he appeals to understanding the sign of being a son that comes under discipline in love is, in fact making the curious statement that  “it is for discipline that we endure. I think indicating by that statement it is by and through discipline, at His hand,we learn and grow.  He comes directly to the point with “God deals with you as with sons;“, He couldn’t be more clear about the point of being sons. And, then rhetorically asks; for what son is there whom [his] father does not discipline?

His next point is even more clear. if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Think about it.  Do you discipline other people’s children? No. But, you discipline your own children. So his point is that if you are not receiving some discipline and reproof from time to time from Father God,  you may want to ask if you are legitimately His son

May this put us in mind of our Lord Jesus of whom this author earlier wrote: [Hebrews 5:8-9 NASB95] 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation

If He, as the only begotten Son of God, suffered and learned as man, should we expect something different?

There is,  then, an appeal to consider the discipline of earthly fathers who did what they thought seemed best for our good. But, our Heavenly Father is working in us, not just for our “good”. But, for us to share His character; so that we may share His holiness.  Wow!  Astounding that He would, in His love, want us to be transformed into sharing one of His attributes that seems so far removed from what we often see we are. But, we should not be surprised too much, as  it is the exhibition of the fullness of His love in Christ  that He is out to show through us as well.

Finally appealing to our emotions he relates that discipline can seem sorrowful, not joyful. But, understanding that we are sons, that we are loved, in the midst of it, can fill us peace that He is growing, showing, and sharing with others, His fruit of righteousness through us, and in how He deals with us, as sons.

[Galatians 4:4-7 NASB95] 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.

[Romans 8:14-19 NASB95] 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with [Him] so that we may also be glorified with [Him.] 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

In 1 Corinthians 12  he outlines the concept of body ministry with each one having a place and various gifts.

[1Corinthians 12:1, 5-7, 12, 18, 31 NASB95] 1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. … 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all [persons.] 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. … 12 For even as the body is one and [yet] has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. … 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. … 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts…

And in Chapter 14 we find exhortations regarding prophecy and tongues, order in church, and the end of it all  being edification. The building up of one another.

[1 Corinthians 14:1-3, 39-40 NASB95] 1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts,] but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in [his] spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. … 39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

Keep in mind the original manuscript did not have Chapter and verse separations. But, the last sentence of Chapter 12  speaking of love says; And I show you a still more excellent way. And the first verse of Chapter 14 speaking of love says; Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts.

Sandwiched nicely in between is his exhortation to love and manifest love as the greatest, and greater than all gifts, and as the foundation from which any and all gifts must operate under the Spirit.

 [1Corinthians 13:1-2, 13 NASB95] 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. … 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

It is interesting that he specifically outlines some spiritual gifts (tongues, prophecy, and faith) as he opens his remarks on love. And at the end of those remarks on love, for our understanding, he emphasizes that even faith and hope will be eclipsed by the effects of love.  Note: this is not warm-fuzzy, ooey-gooey-mushy, feelings or inch deep tolerance and ecumenism unity of the religious or brotherly kind he is referencing.  It is God’s love, biblical love, Greek term agape, which is costly and often measured by sacrifice.

Also, note that this love is not simply doing good or being nice and kind, being a “good” person,  even if that should result in costing you your life.  For he also records:

[1Corinthians 13:3 NASB95] 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed [the poor,] and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

After outlining these opening statement regarding what love isn’t he then exhorts us to it, by defining and outlining what is is with this:

[1Corinthians 13:4-8 NASB95] 4 Love is patient, love is kind [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,] 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails;

Then he returns to the comparison of this greatest among gifts to the church, and of the attributes of Christ to be made manifest in her, and her gatherings, by emphasizing once again the preeminence, if you will, of love.  Indicating love is the manifestation of the perfect that is Jesus, and is in knowing the fullness of Jesus, and that is the sign of maturity in us as individuals and corporately as the church in Him.

[1Corinthians  8b-13 NASB95]  but if [there are gifts of] prophecy, they will be done away; if [there are] tongues, they will cease; if [there is] knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.

Let us not forsake manifesting Him in all ways, and being directed and used of the Spirit to edify one another into His fullness and purpose, in our various gifts under the direction and order of the Holy Spirit. But, in doing so, may we also pray to excel in service through love, without which we are nothing.

Here is the complete context of 1 Corinthians 13, and then, a definition of Biblical love I have found that has served me, and others, well over the years.

[1Corinthians 13:1-13 NASB95] 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have [the gift of] prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed [the poor,] and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,] 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails; but if [there are gifts of] prophecy, they will be done away; if [there are] tongues, they will cease; if [there is] knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

True love is based in commitment, which is a word not found in the scriptures, but  that is closely related to (and perhaps the same as)  faithfulness in the nature and character of God.

Biblical love is the decision to act toward a person, group or situation in a particular way, no matter what, because you know that is what God has asked you to do. 

Love, then, is a decision of the will, not an emotion or warm fuzzies. It is not based in how I may feel.  As such it is a response of obedience to God, that is why, from a Biblical perspective, Love is commanded.  You can’t command emotion. But the scriptures do command love.

[John 13:34 NASB95] 34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
[John 15:12, 17 NASB95] 12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. … 17 “This I command you, that you love one another.
[1Peter 1:22 NASB95] 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
[1John 3:23 NASB95] 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.
[1John 4:7 NASB95] 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

[Matthew 5:44 NASB95] 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
[Luke 6:27, 35 NASB95] 27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, … 35 “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil [men.]

[Ephesians 5:25 NASB95] 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
[Collosians 3:19 NASB95] 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.