Moment With The Master
Moment With The Master
The Will of God
Wednesday, August 10, 2022For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:” (I Thessalonians 4:13)
The phrase “will of God” not only refers to God’s commandments, but also that in which God delights. In verse one he says, “we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God.” He then proceeds to describe the kind of life in which pleases God.
Mankind was designed for holy living. He is to exercise self-restraint, abstaining from fleshly passions. God has not called us for the purpose of unclean living, but purity! This is God’s will! This is God’s delight!
How grieved and disappointed he must be to look upon the conduct of humanity! From the beginning of time until now the general behavior of man is not a pretty picture. How disgusted he must be with those who flaunt their animal-like behavior. What an ugly portrait!
However, since the beginning of time there has always been a remnant of faithful ones striving to fulfill God’s desires. Though they are not perfect, they are living holy lives that please God. They are a work of beauty in a world of ugliness.
It has been my fortune to have known a few of those individuals. The list includes teenage boys and girls who are keeping themselves from those defilements that are tempting their peers. It includes elderly men who come to the late stages of life full of joy, love, and hope instead of bitterness. And there are elderly women whose bright smile and innocence is a striking contrast to those who have lived the hard life of unrighteousness.
These shine as lights in a world of darkness! In these God must truly take pleasure!
George Slover
A Father With His Children
Tuesday, August 02, 2022“as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)
Here Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his genuine concern for them. His sincerity was demonstrated by his refusal to use flattery to gain their approval. Paul’s only motive was to win them to the Lord!
In verse 12 Paul likens himself to a father with his children. Being a father of two, I know exactly how Paul felt. The three verbs Paul uses (exhort, comfort, and charge) vividly describe the action of a godly father. Let us look at these three verbs.
To “exhort” (Greek word parakaleo) means to come to the side of as a helper. Fathers, your children need more than just punitive discipline. They need you to be like a coach standing on the sideline and urging them to finish strong. They need your listening ear in late night talks.
“Comfort” is not used here in the sense that we use the word today. The word means to persuade. There is a tone of urgency in the gospel message. Paul might say, “I beseech you”. In the heart of every godly father is an anxious longing to know that his children are walking with courage, integrity, and decency in the holiness of God.
To “charge” is to urge. This is a word of discipline – a robust, masculine word. Fatherhood is not for sissies! However, it involves more than commanding and certainly not nagging. It is constantly coaching, gently pushing the child in the right direction
Life can be cruel. The world has a strong pull. The choices children make will be grave! Fathers, your children need your support. God entrusted you with precious children. Your job is to mold them into God honoring adults.
George Slover
God’s Workmanship
Tuesday, July 19, 2022For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."(Ephesians 2:10)
There are some who have the wonderful talent of writing poetry. The words just seem to flow easily from the heart to the pen. The poet can paint a wonderful portrait in words. They can stir such emotion as loneliness, strength, excellence, perseverance, sorrow, anger, or admiration. Did you know that God is a poet? His product is written on tablets of the human heart. (II Corinthians 3:2,3)
In the above passage the word “workmanship” is translated from the Greek word poieema. It is obviously the word we transliterate “poetry”. Paul says God’s people are his poetry. Anyone who walks by the works God has appointed in Christ manifests a life written by that hand of God!
The meter of this poem is guided by such themes as love, (Ephesians 5:2) and light (Ephesians 5:8). Each verse and line should include traits of honesty (Ephesians 4:25), hard work (Ephesians 4:28), purity (Ephesians 4:29; 5:4), and kindness (Ephesians 4:32).
Christianity is not a way of doing special things. It is a special way of doing everything. The Lord puts significance into the simplicity of life. We are His workmanship. We are His poetry.
By George Slover
Heart of the Messiah
Tuesday, July 12, 2022Then I said, "Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart." (Psalms 40:7-8)
The above expression is also repeated in Hebrews 10:7, 9. The Hebrew writer applies these prophetic words to the sacrifice of Jesus. These words not only describe the Lord’s willingness to be sacrificed for the redemption of man, but also describe every phase of his earthly existence!
The will of God was the chief thought of his heart. At the tender age of twelve Jesus’ desire was to please God. When Joseph and Mary found him in the temple in the midst of the teachers, his answer to them was, “"Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49) The heart of the Messiah was revealed (Matthew 3:15) at his baptism, at his temptation (Matthew 4:4), and on and on. His daily, hourly work was to do the will of the Father. (John 5:19)
The will of God was the supreme joy of his heart. It was because of his generous offering that man is given the opportunity of sanctification and salvation. Because of his sinless life he perfectly filled up the plan of God for human redemption. Without one charge of guilt against him, he suffered a criminal’s death. This he did joyfully (Hebrews 12:2) knowing what it would accomplish.
As his disciples we are called to follow his steps. (I Peter 2:2) The will of God must be our consuming passion. No matter what we may suffer, we must do it joyfully knowing that our reward is in heaven. (Matthew 5:11, 12)
George Slover
The Purity of Jesus
Tuesday, July 05, 2022Then He said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven. And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Then He said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.’" (Luke 7:48-50)
The words above – “your sins are forgiven” are the sweetest words God could ever utter and man could ever hear. The knowledge of being forgiven is truly a blessing. But there is another important lesson we learn from this great story – it is a revelation of the character of the one that spoke those words!
During Jesus’ second year of public ministry he was invited to the home of Simon, a Pharisee. The exact reason for this invitation is not revealed. Perhaps Simon saw potential in Jesus or perhaps he was just curious. After the guest arrived an uninvited visitor comes into the room. This woman, rightly identified as a sinner, throws herself at Jesus’ feet. She anoints his feet with a precious ointment and wipes them with her tears and her hair. Simon and his other guest are scandalized by her presence. Every eye in that room was focused on her, but the eyes of Jesus. Jesus appreciative of this woman’s devotion and disappointed in the attitude of Simon is instead looking at Simon!
One can only imagine how Simon must have felt when Jesus gave that piercing look and said, “Simon, I have something to say to you”. The important lesson here about gratefulness is illustrated by both a parable as well as the conduct of the woman. However, the pure motive of Jesus is also revealed.
Jesus is the only one in this setting that seems perfectly comfortable. He, unlike Simon and friends, has no agenda except to redeem man from sin. He has perfect love and appreciation for the woman’s undivided devotion. He has genuine concern for Simon and his hypocrisy. How many times in Jesus’ ministry did he touch a heart by saying, “your sins are forgiven, go sin no more”? How many times did convict the sinner with piercing words?
So what about my life? He is to be my example! Have I so distorted the image so that I can pursue my selfish ambitions? Jesus did not just die so that I could be forgiven! He gave me the challenge of a higher life! He wants me to be pure in heart just like him!
By George Slover, Jr.