And who is like Your people, like Israel, the one nation on the earth whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people, to make for Himself a name-and to do for Youself great and awesome deeds for Your land-before Your people whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, the nations, and their gods? (2 Samuel 7:23 NKJV)

This is one of my favorite moments in Old Testament history.  It is a great moment in David's life.  Instead of pouting that God has denied him the right to build the temple David goes before the Lord in submission and gratitude.  Included in his prayer is gratefulness for what God has done for Israel. God has redeemed for himself a people. He has delivered them from Egyptian bondage.  By this action he made a name for himself. 

While Israel was blessed above all the nations Christians are blessed above all people. Israel was delivered from Egyptian bondage, but Christians are delivered from the bondage of sin (Titus 2:14) and the threat of death (Hebrews 2:15). 

When God led Israel out of Egypt he did marvelous things for them such as parting the Red Sea. For our eternal redemption, God commended his love toward us by the death of his Son (Romans 5:8). By the power of the Holy Spirit, he revealed and confirmed this incredible story of love. Just as God made a name for himself in the redemption of Israel he also purchased a people by the blood of his Son “to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:6). Jesus through his humility acquired a name that is above every name (Philippians 2:9-11).

What a marvelous thought that God intervened powerfully in the nation of Israel to nurture her, patiently enduring her stubbornness to ultimately produce a Savior for the world. Thoughts of the rich blessings enjoyed in Christ should bring us to our knees and call us to say: “And what is my house, that You have brought me this far” (2 Samuel 7:18)?

By George Slover

as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, (1 Peter 2:2)

How are God’s people to live in the world without living like the world?  How are they to lead holy lives?  (I Peter 1:15, 16)  An important aspect of holy living is spiritual growth!  Living the sanctified life comes in progressive stages that take one from childhood to maturity.

So, how is one going to mature as God wishes?  Peter offers two keys to spiritual growth:  1) lay aside any sins that may hinder the process, and 2) desire the sincere milk of the word.  It is the later that I want to focus on.

Peter tells us that the word of God is necessary for spiritual growth.  God’s word, the spiritual seed, is the basis for holy living!  By obeying this truth, souls have been purified, and they’ve been born into the kingdom of God.  Christian growth depends upon the proper use of God’s word.

The word of God is food for the soul like milk is for infants.  It can provide the spiritual nourishment essential to the process of maturing.  It contains all of the necessary nutrients.  God’s word is a source of spiritual life.  It is an “incorruptible seed that lives and abides forever”.  It has the power to create and sustain a relationship with God when planted in an honest heart.

Therefore, our spiritual growth depends upon our desire for God’s word.  The imagery here is like a baby longing for nourishment.  Like it or not, we must use our intellect to receive it and digest it.  Like a baby crying for mother’s milk, we are to crave the milk of the word.  This would include daily reading, meditation, and application.

Experiencing God’s word in our life is sweet to taste:  “if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious”. (1 Peter 2:3)  Peter does not imply doubt here, but supposes that they have tasted, and urges them on the ground of the first taste, to long for more.


God has not given us a hope that can never be realized.  He also gives us his word which moves us to conversion and then, if we crave it, sets up shop within us and goes to work preparing us for the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

By George Slover

 

So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, (Haggai 1:14)

During the rule of Cyrus, the Persian, God allowed a band of Jewish exiles to return to Judah to rebuild the temple.  However, apathy and discouragement hindered the progress.  Thus, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubababel and Joshua, their leaders, and the spirit of the people to complete the project. 

The message of Haggai, the prophet, mingled with obedient hearts, resulted in the remnant fully surrendering to the work.  No one had to be coerced against their will.  The people came and did the work without a grudge or indifference.  There was not a slacker among them. 

There are obstacles that often hinder the work of Christians.  Our progress may be hindered by a failure to recognize our priorities, a failure to appreciate our talents, or opposition from our enemies.   There are times when Christians need to be stirred up. 

Instead of concentrating on God's house, (Haggai 1:4) the people had been tending to their own houses.  Some had allowed memories of the glory of the former temple to discourage them from the work before them.  In Haggai’s stirring exhortation he reminds them that “God is with them.” 

There are times when Christians become depressed and discouraged.  We must recognize our priorities, acknowledge our talents, focus on the great heavenly reward God has promised, and accept God's gracious assistance. 

God wants us to get busy with His work.  Just as he gave these Jews courage, he will do the same for us today.

By George Slover


 

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1 Corinthians 15:9.10)

When Paul visited Corinth, he preached the simple gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It was the acceptance of this message by which he and his audience had been saved.

Such a remarkable story as the resurrection of Christ needed witnesses. Among these witnesses was Paul: “one born out of due time”. (vs.8) He was chosen to be Christ’s special instrument to preach to the Gentiles. The previous life before his conversion, coupled with those who tried to discredit his apostleship, prompted Paul to engage in the practice of humble assertion.

The life of Paul was certainly marked by courage. He did not shirk his duty to God regardless of the threat. When his apostleship was in question, he boldly defended it. He did this knowing his powerful testimony could lead others to the Savior.

Paul’s boldness was coupled with diligence: “I labored more abundantly than they all”. Truly devoted disciples are hard workers – giving their all for the cause of Christ. They’ve made great sacrifices, untouched by circumstances, good or bad to minister to others the soul-saving message of Jesus. Others profess to believe, but either does very little, or shout to the world the great sacrifices they made for the Lord.

However, Paul describes his ministry with words of humility: “by the grace of God I am what I am”. He found shame in having persecuted the church. If each disciple would candidly look at their own life they would also say: “by the grace of God I am what I am“.

Few Bible authors are given more to paradox than Paul. He was eager to boldly defend the cause of Christ and the authority of his apostleship that bolstered the message. He claimed pre-eminence in the labor that involved long journeys and many hardships. Yet he was quick to add that the fruit of his labors was due to the grace of God.

Truly great disciples will see things as they are. As they grow in the Lord, God‘s power seems greater and greater, and their accomplishments seem less and less. They zealously labor in the Lord, but give all the glory to Christ who is all and all.

By George Slover 

If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 58:13-14)

The Sabbath was given to Israel as a day of rest, and to remind them of how God made the heavens and the earth in six days, but rested on the seventh day.  The Lord stated:  "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27)  How wise of God to provide a special time for bodily rest and spiritual reflection.

Unfortunately, the Jews, in various ways abused the Sabbath law.   The more worldly Jews kept its observance to a minimum.   As long as they were keeping its ceremonies, they felt justified in pursuing secular occupations and peddling merchandise.  (Nehemiah 13:15,16)  On the other hand the legalists criticized Jesus for even healing on the Sabbath.  (Mark 3:1-6)

In our text, God is pleading with Israel to approach the Sabbath with the right attitude.   God is exhorting them to turn from their own pleasures and find delight and satisfaction in its observance.   While Christians are not commanded to keep the Sabbath, there are still important lessons that we may apply to our service to God. 

They were to treat the Sabbath with reverence and respect.   The Sabbath law was given to them by God, and it was wrong and disrespectful for them to observe it according to their own pleasures.   Do you think God is pleased when churches direct the worship service to please the carnal man rather than God?  Certainly not! 

They were to find delight in the Sabbath law.   “Do not seek your own pleasure but find delight in doing the Lord’s will”.  Rejoicing in God's work should be an oasis in the wilderness of life - a foretaste of heaven, a real satisfaction to the soul. 

God is pleased when our work and worship is focused on him.  We must rejoice in work than that is not ours but God's.

By George Slover