A Lifetime With One Bible

A note to our readers: I originally planned a series of articles on the subject of, "A Lifetime With One Bible," but decided to bring it in one, a taster, so to speak.

I have spent all my Christian life these past fifty-five years with one Bible. While others spent countless hours comparing various translations, I was burning the night oil comparing scripture with scripture. I did not come to believe the Bible I hold to be the very Words of God, preserved for the English speaking people, because I was told it. I felt from the beginning of my walk with God that if this old beloved Bible I hold in my hands, and is so dear to my heart as it was our forefathers, was in truth, the infallible Word of God, then it must of necessity stand on its own two feet (Testaments); IT MUST PROVE ITSELF, without any help from any well intentioned religious Uzzah.

I observed early on those Fundamentalist and Evangelicals who criticized the Church of Rome for saying they were the only interpreters of the scriptures were guilty, in type, of the same error. They incessantly ran to Greek and Hebrew scholars for their final authority as to what the scriptures taught. And if not that, going to the many translations to glean out of each what he or she believed to be God's pure Word; thereby privately interpreting the scriptures, which God says is a no-no. I observed each would pick and choose what he or she believed to be God's Word, the problem being, each chose a portion another would say is not in the original, which does not exist.

The following are just a few of the many things God has used to show me personally and convince me He has only One Book! Therefore making me a man of One Book.

 1. The so-called archaic word "spue" in Rev. 3:16 is interpreted in Lev. 

     18:25,27-28 as "vomit."

 2. One does not have to go to the Greek or Hebrew to find that Christ 

     means "anointed one." Compare Psa. 2:22 with Acts 4:26.  

 3. You need not go to a dictionary to find what "succour" means. Compare    
    2 Cor. 6:2 with Isa. 49:8. It means, helper.

 4. There is no need to go to the Greek to find that the word "church" 

     means "a called out assembly," (Look up Acts 7:38 and Ex. 16:3).

 5. The Greek and Hebrew authorities tell us "inspiration," referring to the 

     Word means, "God breathed." But God's final authority tells us this in 

     the English: 2 Tim. 3:16 and Psa. 33:6.

 6. As to the word "testament" meaning "covenant," just compare Heb. 

     9:19-20 with Ex. 24:8.

 7. And that difficult passage about prophecies failing in 1 Cor. 13:8 is 

     cleared up in Psa. 12:1, where you find "fail" and "cease" are used         

     interchangeably. Therefore, prophecies will fail to be, or if you 

    prefer, cease to be. 

This brief article is presented, as all my articles, to get you to think on your own, whether you agree with me or not. Please, for your own sake, think, think, think! 

Short Prayers

If "Jesus wept," is the shortest text in the Bible, most certainly, Peter's, "Lord, save me," is the shortest prayer. David prayed a similar prayer, but with five brief words added (Psl. 3:7a). In Jesus teaching on prayer we find we are not heard for our much speaking. The false prophets prayed from morning till night with no answer; Elijah's sixty-three worded prayer brought fire down from heaven. The wise man's admonition, "Let thy words be few," could be appropriately applied here. The Lord commended the Publican's five-worded prayer over the Pharisee's thirty-four.

Usually brevity is best not only in conversation and writing, but especially in prayer. Just as in writing, so in prayer, any word we can do without is better omitted. It is wise to do away with ornamental words, God is not impressed with them. As someone said, "Those who pray longest, have least to say." And A.W. Pink adds, "Long prayers are usually windy prayers." We need to tell the Lord what is in our hearts in as few words as possible. Many of us, I'm afraid, just like to hear ourselves talk. The old-fashioned phone, when we paid by the minute, helped us to keep it short and to the point.

When I returned to Ireland the second time with my wife and our two youngest children, to say the very least, it was a long, tedious, and trying journey. When we arrived at Belfast airport, we had to go through customs, and because of the "troubles," as they called them, they were very strict. When we presented our passports to the clerk, she looked at me strangely and said, "Sir, these passports expired last year; I'm sorry you'll have to return to your original point of departure, and have them renewed." I was so tired, I hadn't slept in over sixteen hours, the children and Salle were exhausted. I bowed my head and said, "Lord, change her." Immediately, I heard the approval stamp go down four times on each of the passports. Then she said, "I'll let you through this time, but get these passports renewed." Short prayers are by no means ineffective!

Let Bygones Be Bygones

The maniac of Gadara did not spend the rest of his life in the grave yard once he was forgiven. He buried his former life there in the tombs and then threw away the shovel. He never even returned to put flowers on that miserable gravesite. Evidently he knew digging up unpleasant memories of the past gives out a worse stench than when originally buried.

We should not constantly be remembering things which God said He has forgotten. I’m told most patients in mental institutions are there because of something they cannot, or will not, forget in their past. Thus, it drives them crazy. Certainly there are consequences for past sins, but never is there condemnation once we have asked for forgiveness. What God forgives He forgets!

We cannot move on with our lives still wrapped in our grave clothes. Leave them at the grave. Both Lazarus and Jesus did!

A Saint Overwhelmed...About What?!

 "Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me." The word "overwhelmed" is found only in the book of Psalms, seven times in seven verses. Both saints and sinners are referred to in the experiencing of it. In five of these seven times, David is speaking personally of his own situation.

God's child can be overwhelmed by many things: prolonged darkness in their spiritual life; firey trials, seven times hotter than they've ever known; an unexpected personal revelation of a dreaded disease, etc. But there is one unmentionable, for to discuss it one would not come across as being "spiritual."

I speak of being overwhelmed by the scriptures. All of the demands and commands seem unreasonable at times, and not only that, but unreachable. How many of us feel as Paul, "...for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." 

A characteristic of all true children of God is a longing to be sinlessly perfect, that they might not ever again grieve their blessed Lord. But in spite of this deep seated desire, the dirt remains, ingrained in our old nature, leaving us overwhelmed with guilt and grief, all our efforts seeming to fail.

But thanks be to God, "Like as a father pitieth his children,so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." David knew, in spite of God's high standards, He still gives His children elbow room, wiggle room, if you please (Psa. 119:96).

Our Lord put the bar high, knowing we'd never clear it in this life; but also knowing those who give it a try, get closer than those who give up the attempt. The Apostle tells us he would never be perfect in this life, but he would still strive and keep reaching for it.

Remember, God knows what you would do if you could do it.

Open Windows

“[Daniel] went into his house; and his windows being open...” As my dear old mentor used to say, “Daniel had religion with windows in it.” We’d say today, his life was “an open book.” Or, “He lived in a glass house.” He was not intimidated by those he knew would misrepresent his Christian character. He was secure in his God. He was not a sinless saint, but was a sterling one. What you saw was what you got. There were no skeletons in Daniel’s closet—only God.

Though some will abuse and misuse it, when they see into the secrets of our lives, God will not. When we open the windows of our souls, and we look across the way, we find God’s window open in Heaven; and His delightful smile is toward us. And we will always find it to be so when we look toward our Spiritual, Heavenly Jerusalem, rather than an earthly, carnal Babylon for help.

As Noah of old, we only need one window in our lives, if it's an upper window !

A Tug of War

For a spiritual person it is not difficult to discern and choose between right and wrong. The real tug of war comes when you have two rights before you. Either way you go would be acceptable. An example of this would be Paul’s principal that he laid down to the Corinthian believers concerning a question they had. They were inquisitive to know whether the eating of certain meats was right or wrong. His practical answer was “…for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.” He goes on to tell them that as long as it doesn't infringe upon another, and does not have sin ingrained in it, they could do what they will. It was their choice. Either way God would accept them.

I find when I am in such a situation, the devil will condemn whichever way I take. That is, I’m damned if I do, and damned if I don’t. This tactic keeps one from peace of mind and the enjoyment of life. Satan is an expert at creating a crisis condition out of a nondescript situation. Most of our double mindedness comes from having to choose between two good things. To remain passive when you are presented with your choice of either a creamy vanilla ice cream cone, or a tantalizing milk chocolate, is to remain in a state of being neutrally miserable. Grab one or the other, and enjoy it in God’s name. And I really don’t think He would consider you double-minded if you took a dip of each.

Mistaking Your Enemy

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

It is hard to hear the truth about oneself, but many of us do not realize, it is just as difficult, (in many cases) for those who tell us the truth. As the Second World War medic told his trainees, “If you're not willing to hurt them, you can’t help them.” When those stinging, truthful, words come from the lips of loved ones, friends, and acquaintances, we need to remember the wise man's words: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

We Christians are a strange breed. We love to show our pseudo-spirituality by telling others of our unworthiness, but when someone else says the same thing to us, inwardly, we are enraged at the speaker. The sad truth is, most, if not all of us, do not believe a word we say about our condition. But by presenting this “shew of humility,” we believe people will hold us in a high position with the spiritually elite. It's important for us to be important!

Rather than deny that unwholesome man or woman we’re told we represent, we’d rather live in self-denial of him or her; and in place set up a “straw man.” But such will go up in flames at the Judgement Seat of Christ, leaving us with nothing but ashes to account for our lives lived here on earth. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, there is a well-known line that says, “To thine own self be true.” That is, be yourself; be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception. Don't put a mask on each morning.

Remember, when someone else deceives me it is without my consent; but when I deceive myself it is with my knowledgeable permission.

What Jeremiah and Paul Had in Common

God challenged Jeremiah, saying, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." And over six-hundred years later, Paul wrote, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." Each of these men had two things in common: Firstly, both were shut-up, shut-in, and shut-out from any type of outward ministry. They were placed in impossible situations. And secondly, this twosome believed there was no restraint on God's part in such dire conditions, no matter how impossible it might seem!

I read a little pamphlet years by a hyper-dispensationalist, who said the only prayer promise today for the Gentile Christian, in the Church age, is Philippians 4:6-7. We are, said he, to simply make our request known to God, and not to necessarily expect an answer to our petitions. Answers to specific prayers were to the Jewish Nation alone. But this is not what Paul taught his Gentile converts. Listen to him as he enlightens and encourages believers at Rome: "Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also." 

Those early New Testament Christians would have joined us, I'm sure, in singing, "It is no secret what God can do; what He's done for others He'll do for you." Part of that faith that pleases God is believing He answers prayer, not just hears it. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." The Psalmist tells us, "Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them."

And He will us also, dear ones! For their God is our God.

Thoughts On God's Blessed Man From Psalm One

The following notes are from my recent devotional study of Psalms 1:1-3 on God's Blessed Man (or Woman). Hope they will lift you spiritually as they did, and do, me.

Introduction to the Book of Psalms. 

Psalms is the Praise and Hymn book of the Bible. Hence, Let us praise Him in song. The word Praise is found over 150 times in the 150 Psalms. It's the hymn book of the Jewish Nation; also it was used by the early Church as such (1Cor.14:26; Eph.5:19; Col.3:16.

Luther said, "It is the Little Bible";  and Jerome: "It's the Bible within the Bible."

There are 150 Psalms, 2,461 verses, and 43,743 words. (KJV)

Psalms covers a full range of emotions; therefore, there is a Psalm for every condition.

Psalm 1:1-3

(1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Comments.

  

  1. In verses 1-3 we have the second Adam depicted. In verses 4-6, the first Adam.

  2. The Man Christ Jesus is the "Blessed Man."

  3. God wants to bless our lives, but we must be blessable. (Warren Wiersbe).

  4. The man of the world walks, stands, and sits; whereas, the man of the Word sits, stands, and walks. Our stand and walk is a result of where we're seated. "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." We are always to begin from our sitting position! Like Mary, from a resting posture. 

  5. When Peter fell he: "followed afar off" (walketh); "stood at the fire" (standeth); "sat down among them" (sitteth). 

  6. The blessed man walks, not in the council of the ungodly, but after His (God's) commandments.

  7. David delighted being "in" the law, not "under" it.

  8. David only had the 5 books of the Law to delight in; we have 66.

  9. God's Word is his meditation, not only throughout the day, but during the night season. "Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word."

10. This tree by the rivers of water was not wild. It was put there by God, chosen and placed there on purpose by His good pleasure. If it's not of God's planting, it will be rooted up.

11. "Rivers," not river of water; those blessed of God are not dependent upon one source. We, like the tree roots saturated with the waters, are to be soaked in the scriptures.

12. A precious cross-reference on the power of the Word in our lives is in Job 14:7-9.

13. Isaiah speaks of the blessed man and these rivers of water. "And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land"; (See also John 7:38). Has my life gone dry? "for the rivers of waters are dried up." (Joel 1:20) 

14. Our fruit is seasonal, but our leaf is continual. God's blessed man (or woman) is an evergreen tree. You can always find shade under their leaf, no matter how hot things get. And there is never any fear it will disappear as Jonah's.

15. He may not prosper materially but he or she will always prosper spiritually; compare verse 3 with Joshua 1:8.

16. The sad conclusion for the man or woman of the world is in verse 4, "The ungodly are not so." Poor carnal souls, it just ain't so with them, says the Lord.

My prayer is that the Good Lord will bless these thoughts to your head, heart, and soul. AMEN and AMEN! (rds)

Swords in the Saint's Life

“Who through faith…escaped the edge of the sword…And others…were slain with the sword.” The latter in our text had the same faith as the former, yet, while the one escapes the pain and unpleasantries of life, the "others" endure them.

David escaped Goliath’s sword, but eighty-five of God’s innocent priests were slain with Doeg’s sword. And what of James, who was slain by the sword at Herod’s command? Yet, his dear, long-time friend, Peter, escaped the same tyrant’s blade.There is no answer to this dilemma, other than God’s individual plan for each life.

I think Matthew Henry’s statement is pertinent here. He writes, “The swords of men are held in the hand of God.” We must learn to look past the human instrument to the Sovereign Hand that controls it. This way, we can always be assured that though they might have thought it for evil, God meant it for our good.

“God, be thou exalted, and, if need be, do it at my expense.” (A.W. Tozer)

When There is No Encourager

"And David was greatly distressed...all the people was grieved...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God."

Some of us born with predominately melancholy temperaments are admittedly more prone to discouragement than others. Yet this plague of the spirit touches any and all, to some degree. From the richest to the poorest, from the most intelligent to the most ignorant, from the secure to the insecure, each had his or her bouts of experiencing this dark night of the soul. If darling David, a man after God's own heart, a man of great position and wealth, had problems with it, then none of us can expect to be exempted from its disheartening presence in our lives from time to time.

There will be intervals in our earthly journey when all those around us, as in David's case, are in the valley of despair themselves, and cannot be looked to for any type of lifting up of our drooping heads. What is one to do at such trying times? I like the remedy Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones prescribes. He tells us in his book Spiritual Depression, there are times when we must simply take ourselves by the nape of the neck, shake ourselves, and give ourselves a good talking to. As my Granny used to say, "You need a good talkin' to!"

He gives David as an example at such times."Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance," (Psalms 42:5,11; 43:5). It's never hopeless if we have, "The God of all hope!" Therefore, as David, we can praise Him by faith during those times when the sun goes dark, being assured He is hidden behind the cloud. Clouds do not last, but pass in time, and the bright shining of the sun always returns.

Thank God, in heaven, every day will be a cloudless day! 

Extravagance Commended

The definition of the word extravagant is: “going beyond reasonable limits; excessive.” The disciples criticized Mary for the extravagance she showered on Christ, but our Lord commended her. Nothing is ever wasted that is done for Him. Mary didn't hold back her best; she gave one hundred percent. She kept nothing in reserve. Christ was going to give His all for her, and she felt she could do no less for Him. Mary was not commanded to give her all; she was constrained by her love for him to do so. 

One never has to be concerned with going to extremes when it has to do with Jesus Christ. You can never give too much praise, worship, adoration, and service to Him. We will always come miserably short. I am cautious with saints who are cautious about giving their all to Christ.

The transaction is not complicated; it’s childlike. It is simple and marvelous. It’s staking your all on Jesus Christ and His Word. It is risking everything on God. Or, as Oswald Chambers wrote, “Bank all your faith in Christ, and damn the consequences!”

The Night Light

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world"..."Ye (Christians) are the light of the world..."

 There is no contradiction here, no more than saying the sun is the light of the world, then adding, the moon is the light of the world. That is, until the world gets between the two, then the eclipse, and the shadow comes. We saints, like the moon, also get our light from the Son. But when we allow the world to come between us, darkness. 

An old woman had a parrot she taught to say "Good night," when putting him in his cage of a night. And to say, "Good morning," when she took him out of the cage in the morning. One night she said, "Good night, Polly," and the bird answered, "Good night." That next morning, as usual , she said, "Good morning Polly," to which the parrot answered, "Good night." Unknown to the woman, during the day sometime, the cat had clawed out the bird's eyes. There would be no more "Good mornings"; only sad "Good nights."

The god of this world will blind us with the things of this world if we are not careful. It is then that "all that are in the house" are in danger of stumbling, for the nightlight will have gone out. And not only this, but the lost without will no longer "see our good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Is it any wonder Paul challenges the saints at Philippi, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." I don't think it would hurt any of us to daily remind ourselves of this, by singing the little children's song, "This little light of mine."

In London, England, in olden times, there was a blind man who carried a lantern with him at night, whenever he went out. Someone mentioned that it didn't do him any good. He replied, "I know, but it keeps someone else from stumbling over me." 

The Humanity of Jesus Christ

"And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.”

Our scripture is just one of a score that proves both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ. The human side of Him needed rest, while His divine side rebuked the elements. Our Lord was all God, and at the same time all man. Thomas refers to Him as, “My God,” and Paul as, “The man Christ Jesus.” He was, is, and will forever be, the God-Man!

We can learn much from Jesus’ humanity. Although He was without sin, yet He was like unto us in all other points. He never apologized for His human limitations, for He understood they were part of humanity’s make-up. It was part of being identified with the human race. In spite of the Divine nature within Him, while on earth, there were certain restrictions because of His humanness.

I've mentioned on many occasions in my writings something my pastor son Andrew said to me some years ago. It brought about a great turning point in my spiritual life, and for this I’ll be forever grateful to him. His comment was, “Dad, we cannot run from our humanity.” Jesus never attempted to divorce Himself from His, yet many of us spend a lifetime trying to separate ourselves from ours.

We need to learn to give some elbow room to that human being known to each of us as “Me.” Yes, we have a divine nature that indwells us, but at the same time there is and always will be, as long as we abide in the flesh, a human nature also. And along with this, comes limitations. As our beloved Paul states, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

If the apostle understood this, you can be assured our precious Lord does. (Matt.26:41,b)

The Inconsistencies of Life

I think most if not all youth, when becoming conscious of life and living, are idealists. We are all, for the most part, dreamers during our early stages; fantasizing occupies a large part of a youngsters thinking. Both the young lad and young lassie pretty-well have their whole life planned out. This unrealistic, starry-eyed romanticizing is expected and accepted in children. But as Paul says, "When I became a man (mature), I put away childish things." 

Early in life, one finds that keeping all your ducks in a row is not only improbable, but impossible. Yet in spite of this, many enter adulthood refusing to accept the fact life is inconsistent, full of ups and downs. It can be like a roller coaster ride, at times. God early on, intentionally it seems, upsets our apple carts that we may learn this important lesson. Read the life of David in the Psalms to see the inconsistencies of life. Remember, it's David's autobiography; and for our learning. 

We need to be careful we do not carry our child-hood dreaming into our Christian life. All our plans are to be given up at conversion for His. If not, then we are in for a frustrating and tormented life, always seeing our hopes, plans, and wishes vanish like a morning cloud which goeth away. In Job we read, "When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkness." This is not being pessimistic, but realistic. 

The Spiritually mature know how to roll with the punches, so to speak. They know all the sand castles they've concocted will dissolve with the first big wave of adversity! Therefore, they have given up their plans for HIS plan.

In Defense of the OldTestament

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." This one statement should forever dispel the notion the Old Testament has no relevance for us today. Jesus authenticates it by the fact there were no other scriptures than the Old Testament when He uttered these words. 

Paul tells us the Old Testament was: "for our learning; our ensample; our example; for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." He goes on to say, referring to the Old, for that's all he had at the time, that they were "the Sword of the Spirit", and by hearing them is how faith came to the early Believers. Also, when he spoke of "the comfort of the scriptures", the reference was to the Old Testament. 

To quote my minister son, Andrew, "All the Bible for all of life." I say, to take away the one is to rob God's children of the other. You give them only half a loaf of bread when our Father intended us to have a full loaf. As David gave to each of his followers, "one loaf of bread," so God gives to His followers.

We used to sing a little chorus, "Every Promise in the Book is Mine": I still sing, as well as believe it! New Testament Believers, throughout, appropriated Old Testament promises. IT IS ALL THEY HAD! 

Jesus "opened the scriptures," (in reference to the Old Testament), let's not be guilty in closing them.  

The Archaic Anointing

Different groups use various terms to describe it. This has been true in every age. It has been referred to as: the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the fullness of the Spirit, the anointing of the Spirit, the special enduement of the Spirit, and filled with the Spirit; but however it was referred to they all meant one and the same thing, the mighty power of God coming upon a man or woman. Today one is seen to be “religiously incorrect” to use such terms.

I knew of an old preacher years ago who referred to this experience as a crisis that becomes a process. It is simply coming to the end of yourself and wanting the  power of God more that all else. It’s like a man dying of thirst in a desert who gives up everything for a drink of water. I have observed in our day, not many Christians are thirsting for God and His power. Is it any wonder then that their lives are like a desert?

I like the story of the old Indian who went to hear a speaker of great reputation. When asked what he thought of his talk he replied, “Big thunder, much wind, no rain.” How about you? Do showers of blessing follow wherever you go?

A preacher who has a well prepared message is ill-prepared without Holy Ghost anointing!

Bullies in the Christian's Life

I read that at one point in John Wesley's life he had an eating problem. He is purported to have said, "Food is not going to bully me!" As a result, he ate nothing but potatoes for the next two years to prove his point. I do not necessarily agree with this solution, but I do believe we need to stop the bullies in our lives. As long as we cower in a corner and give them their way they will continue to push us around all of our lives.

Peter tells us, "...for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." Scripture teaches the saints are to be the overcomers. Paul wrote, he would not allow himself to be brought into bondage even to things that were lawful (legitimate). Good sometimes can be a greater enemy than the bad. As to the things of the world, too much of a good thing can become harmful, even distasteful. 

Many of us are way too "Spiritual" when it come to our physical cravings. I like something J.I. Packer said in his introduction to John Owen's book, Sin and Temptation. "I nowadays think the way to deal with temptation is at once to say "NO!" And with that to ask the Lord for strength to keep saying, "NO!" I have found doing this and meaning it, works far better than quoting many scriptures without meaning it.

In India, I'm told, they tie baby elephants to a straw chain to hold them. When older and grown, they never try to free themselves, having come to believe they do not have the power to do so. 

Dreaming Can Be Devine

“And Joseph dreamed a dream...” If you’re familiar with the story, then you know this young man got into a lot of trouble with his brethren because of the dreams he had. Even for us today, speaking allegorically, there is a price to pay for having Divine dreams; as Joseph's cost him. Nevertheless, we should dare to dream, even to old age (Joel 2:28). Once it is discerned that the dream is of God, nothing should divert our attention from seeing it come to fruition.

On the other hand, let me caution all those who have a dream to make sure the ingredients of that dream have come from God. For this is what real dreams are made of. Be careful your dreams are not of your own making. “Neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.” We need to be dead certain that God is the Author of our dreams. If He is not, they are only fantasies. Any dream that does not have God’s glory for its goal is not from Him.

God is the only Person who can interpret dreams; He is also the only one who can fulfill them.

Wishing Doesn't Make it So

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."

This is a brief but unusual salutation. Bible students are more familiar and used to it being: grace, mercy and peace. Nevertheless asking about or showing a concern for others' health in greetings, whether it be personal or in correspondence, was standard. We pretty much follow this pattern in our own culture. We say such things as, "How are you?" when meeting a friend. And in a letter, "I trust this finds you in good health." 

The health and wealth gurus, along with many of the tell-evangelists use this scripture to promote their healing ministries, attempting to convince sincere and misguided saints they should never be sick, and if so, that God does not want it so. The result is long healing lines of sick folk, while the shyster lines his or her pockets with their silver. As P.T. Barnum is purported to have said, "There's a sucker born every minute."  

But John is only saying what, for example, every pastor says to his flock around the holidays, "I wish all of you a Merry Christmas," realizing in reality this will not be true in many of their cases. But that is his longing, his desire, his deepest wish. It is a general statement, not a factual reality. 

If good health and lack of any physical sufferings in a saint's life is an indication of being spiritual and of great faith, then the likes of Job, Paul, and yes, I say it reverently, our own blessed Lord would be left out. 

Wishing never abdicates God's Will for one's life!  

Routine

Customary, regular, habitual, unvarying, unimaginative, rehearsed, repeated, common-place, dull. One thing you cannot associate with any of these words is excitement. This list of bland words is various definitions of the word “routine.” True, there are high points in life, but these experiences are intermittent. For the most part, every day life is routine.

Many do not understand our lives are not lived on the mountain peaks, but in the valleys. There are those who mistakenly look at the mountain peak experiences of the Bible and see them as being close together. But, actually, there is a long valley between each. This valley is called, “The Valley of Routine.” In it you will find the “same-old, same-old.” Jesus walked it thirty years as a common laborer. He knew what it was to live a routine life.

Routine is not rut; it’s life. Get used to it, and make the best of it.

Habit/Tradition

I haven't taken time to look up the dictionary's definition of these two words (habit/tradition); I wanted to be a little 'Sandlinesque' in this article, so please forgive me. To me, the word habit brings to mind such descriptive words as personal or individual. Whereas tradition, to my way of thinking, carries a wider meaning, that being public and collective. A habit can be bad or good, and so it is with tradition. 

But even when one or both of these are found in a good context, they can be turned into the opposite. For example, Bible reading or prayer; when one thinks he or she cannot break the traditional or habitual mold they've always been accustomed to, then it becomes a weight in one's life. Strictly observing and adhering to the status-quo, you can be slowed to a stop. To put oneself under a law where no law is, is truly being a legalist! 

There's a way to tell when it is a man-made law or a legitimately scriptural one. David tells us God's commandments are "exceeding broad." He gives us elbow room, remembering we are but dust. On the other hand, man-made laws and rules are confining; there is no wiggle room to be found in them, for one's humanity is never considered. 

Interestingly, after God laid down His Law, the Decalogue, He followed it by the sacrificial offerings, providing for all who break it. There is no such provision when you break man's, or those we have self-imposed upon ourselves.

GOD IS GOOD

There are many who have a problem reconciling the goodness of God with all the pain and suffering in the world. The former stems from the Holy character of God, the latter is the result of the fallen state of man. No sensible person would blame a morally upstanding parent, who was a wonderful father or mother, for a grown child who contacted a loathsome and incurable disease as a result of a willful life of debauchery. 

I used to preach in a church in Virginia, where whenever I would mention God was good, in unison the whole assembly would shout, "All the time!" From my Spiritually enlightened readers, I hear a hearty "Amen!" Darling David had his share of set-backs, disappointments, and ups and downs, yet all he could ever speak of was how good God was. Read the Psalms. You'll find such statements as, "Thou art good, and doest good"; "Truly God is good."

The scriptures tell us His goodness is: Great; Abundant; Rich; Satisfying; Enduring; and Universal. We read in His Word, "The Lord is good to all"; that is, both to the saved and unsaved." A good companion passage is, "He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. I say with the Psalmist, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness." 

Let none of us who know and love the the Lord ever forget one of the Bible's great truths. Satan's first temptation to our parents was to get them to question the goodness of God. Don't you fall for it! No matter what difficulties are transpiring in your life at this particular time. 

"GOD IS GOOD"  

Obscurity's Reward

“Made in the likeness of men.” Any spiritual person studying the life of our Lord soon realizes it is a portrait of their own. I’m not referring to His Deity, but His Humanity. When one steps back and looks at Jesus’ life panoramically, he or she notices a strange, but common, pattern to their own. When the Christian sees the overall picture, they are conscious that their own life falls into the same mold of that of their Savior.

First we have those long years of preparation. This is followed by entering public life. Then there is a brief time of popularity, when we ride the crest. But this is short lived. The crowd’s “Hosanna’s” soon die out and we are left with a few loved ones and true friends. This last stage of life—that of obscurity—can be our greatest.

His last days were spent with His faithful few. It was during this time, away from the clamor of the crowd, that He taught them the deep things of God. Having completed this, his closing ministry, His friends were then able to minister to Him in His final hour.

May God grant each of us older saints, during the closing years of our lives, to pass along to those He has placed around us the real issues of life. It is then that we can say in our final hour with satisfaction, “It is finished.”

For the Elect's Sakes

"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."

I do not want to argue whether it is free will or God's arbitrary will in an individual's salvation. Nevertheless, it is undeniable, one of the many words God uses throughout the scriptures to describe His people is the term "Elect." Whether Israel or the Church, God has always had but one people. There are not two elects!

Some would rather labor debating sovereignty and free will than answer the searching question, "What am I willing to endure for God's Elect?" Paul's answer was all inclusive, as found in his words "all things." He had proved this on many occasions: by being shipwrecked, thrown into prison, etc. In each incident God's elect were involved.

We hear much sentimental jargon today about being, "Christ-like." I would remind my readers, Jesus was the ultimate in suffering for the "Elect's Sake." He poured out His soul for God's elect. In Christ's case, and Paul's, these chosen were anything but lovable and deserving. On the contrary, we were filthy and abhorring in God's sight.

Addendum: Early this morning (Sunday), I received a call from a dear saint who sat under my ministry when I was pastor, years ago. Saturday, she was rushed to the hospital with acute pneumonia. This morning she was reading my new devotional book, "Breakfast With the King." The nurse asked what she was reading, and when told, she requested it be read to her. The article was about being amazed with Christ. As a result the nurse was saved. My friend thanked God for her situation and its glorious result.  

Making Progress

I remember reading somewhere in C.S. Lewis’ writings about one making progress in his or her life. It goes something like this. If you get off on the wrong road, no matter how far you go, that is not progress. To go back to where you took the incorrect turn and continue on, that’s progress. And, he adds, the man or woman who turns back soonest makes the speediest progress.

I have said to wayward souls in the past, “Begin again from where you’re at.” But I was mistaken; what I should have said is, “Start from where you got off.” The advice of the former only changes ones attitude, not their direction. They’re still on the wrong road. God’s way is to come back to Bethel and start over from there. Jacob found this to be true.

You can’t go on until you have first come back.

Learning to Pray

The best way in learning to ride a bike is in riding a bike. The best way in learning to pray is to pray. With all the falls one may encounter, if he or she persists, they will achieve their desired goal in either one. The perennial proverb, "Practice makes perfect," is certainly true in the case of prayer.  

Don't attempt to understand prayer and its workings, before you do it, any more than you would the digestive system before you eat. It's better experienced than explained. The Christian life is made up of scores of unfathomable doctrines we cannot comprehend before we enter our heavenly class room. Nevertheless, until then, we accept them by faith, and act upon them. 

Jesus taught distinctively that prayer has to do with FATHER and child. In our vast family there are the theologian and and the novice; the intellect and the illiterate; religious Jews and non-religious Gentiles; the city-fied and the country-fied; as well as the eloquent and the crude. But the FATHER knows each of His children and their innermost longings; even those they can't seem to be able to articulate at times.

Let us follow the example of the newly converted little Irish boy. He said he didn't know how to pray, so he said his alphabet, trusting God to put it into words. This was exactly what the great apostle Paul taught. After years of being saved, this seasoned saint wrote: 

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that 

searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he

maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." 

Pray as you can and don't try to pray as you can't!