Don’t Budge
Today’s Passages – James 2 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 106 – 110; Proverbs 22)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Micah 6:8
Read the “1222 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” (James 5:8)
As I was reading this morning, my attention was drawn to the word “stablish” in verse 8. The context of this verse regards the believer enduring persecution and suffering seemingly at the hands of unbelievers. Verses 1 – 6 of chapter 5 are written to the rich oppressors of the world, but then, beginning in verse 6, the focus of the discussion is changed from the oppressor to the oppressed. James encourages these first century believers to be patient; to stay with it. I did a little study on the word “stablish”. The word means to establish, to strengthen, or to fix resolutely. It means not to budge, not even a little bit. James is admonishing these struggling believers to be resolute in their faith; to strengthen their resolve, so that they will not turn back.
Too many believers today are turning back. Too many are quitting. Recently, I have observed many that have thrown in the towel on their faith. In some cases, it was the allure of the world that pulled them away; but I have also seen many who became discouraged because of a trial that they were going through. It seems that they were not “stablished” in their faith. I like what Isaiah said regarding our Lord Jesus: “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” Jesus was resolute, unmovable and unwavering in his fulfillment of God’s will. As His followers, we need to be just as resolute, just as fixed in our faith. It is easy to have strength on the mountaintop but we often waver when we get into the valley.
James admonished the believers to stablish their hearts. God would not command us to do it unless it was something that we could actually do. But how? What can we do to strengthen our faith? I believe that there are three steps that we can take that will help us to remain fixed in our service and devotion to Him:
1 Stay in His Book – “Faith cometh by hearing” The Bible will strengthen our faith. Read it, study it, memorize it, hear it preached.
2 Stay in His House – Get around a group of people that are “stablished” themselves. Stay away from the negativity and naysayers. Run with people in your church that are fixed in the right direction.
3 Stay in His Service – What I mean by this is be actively involved in serving others. If you have people that are depending on you, you will not be as tempted to get off track. If you know that people need you, and are following you as you follow the Lord, you will not want to let them down.
We need a whole lot more solid Christians in these last days who are stablished, fixed, resolute in their faith and devotion to the Lord. Why not ask God to help you be one of them.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Posted in Thoughts from James by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
The Parable of the Orange Tree
Today’s Passage – Hebrews 12 – James 1; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 101 – 105; Proverbs 21)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 19
Read a previous post from this passage – “We Talk Too Much, But Say Very Little”
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” – (James 1:22-25)
One of the frustrating things about the ministry is the lack of application we see in the lives of people from the truths that are being preached and taught from the Bible. For example, I can preach a message on soul winning and hear people say “Amen!”, with some of them complimenting the message on their way out; but then see few actually talk to people about the Lord. I can teach on the need to be separated, and again have the congregation appear to be in agreement, but then see little change in the area of separation. I see people go to the altar week after week under obvious conviction about a truth that was preached that morning, yet go out and do again the same things that they were convicted about.
We need to do more than just agree with God. We need to put into practical application the things that He is revealing to us from His Word. I am beginning to make it a habit now at the end of my messages to ask people what specific actions they are going to take as a result of what they have heard. Agreeing with God about the need for soulwinning or even feeling bad about people dying and going to Hell is useless, unless you actually decide to go soulwinning and then do it; but a specific, tangible decision that will lead to a change of action is necessary. Isn’t this what true repentance is? Isn’t it a change of mind and attitude that leads to a change in action?
Let’s not stop coming to the altar, but let’s not leave the altar until we have found out what God specifically wants us to do with what He has taught us. Unless actual change takes place, all of the conviction and contrition in the world is really just vanity.
Years ago, I heard a preacher tell us the following parable, which I believe perfectly illustrates this point:
The Parable of the Orange Tree by Dr. John White
I dreamed I drove on a Florida road, still and straight and empty. On either side were groves of orange trees, so that as I turned to look at them from time to time, line after line of trees stretched back endlessly from the road. Their boughs were heavy with round yellow fruit. This was harvest time. My wonder grew as the miles slipped by. How could the harvest be gathered?
Suddenly I realized that for all the hours I had driven (and this was how I knew I must be dreaming) I had seen no other person. The groves were empty of people. No other car had passed me. No houses were to be seen beside the highway. I was alone in a forest of orange trees.
But, at last, I saw some orange pickers. Far from the highway, almost on the horizon, lost in the vast wilderness of unpicked fruit, I could discern a tiny group of them working steadily. And many miles later I saw another group. I could not be sure, but I suspected that the earth beneath me was shaking with silent laughter at the hopelessness of their task. Yet the pickers went on picking.
The sun had long passed its zenith and the shadows were lengthening when, without any warning, I turned a corner of the road to see a notice “Leaving NEGLECTED COUNTY – Entering HOME COUNTY.” The contrast was so startling that I scarcely had time to take in the notice. I had to slow down for all at once the traffic was heavy. People by the thousands swarmed the road and crowded the sidewalks.
Even more startling was the transformation in the orange groves. Orange groves were still there and orange trees in abundance, but now, far from being silent and empty, they were filled with the laughter and singing of multitudes of people. Indeed it was the people we noticed rather than the trees. People and houses.
I parked the car at the roadside and mingled with the crowd. Smart gowns, neat shoes, showy hats, expensive suits, and starched shirts made me a little conscious of my work clothes. Everyone seemed so fresh and poised and gay.
“Is it a holiday?” I asked a well-dressed woman with whom I fell in step.
She looked a little startled for a moment, and then her face relaxed with a smile of gracious condescension.
“You’re a stranger, aren’t you?” she said before I could reply, “This is Orange Day.”
She must have seen a puzzled look on my face, for she went on, “It is so good to turn aside from one’s labors and pick oranges one day of the week.”
“But don’t you pick oranges every day?” I asked her.
“One may pick oranges at any time,” she said, “We should always be ready to pick oranges, but Orange Day is the day that we devote especially to orange picking.”
I left her and made my way further into the trees. Most of the people were carrying a book. Bound beautifully in leather, and edged and lettered in gold, I was able to discern on the edge of one of them the words: The Orange Picker’s Manual.
By and by I noticed around one of the orange trees, seats had been arranged, rising upward in tiers from the ground. The seats were almost full-but as I approached the group, a smiling well-dressed gentleman shook my hand and conducted me to a seat.
There, around the foot of the orange tree, I could see a number of people. One of them was addressing all the people on the seats and just as I got to my seat, everyone rose to his feet and began to sing. The man next to me shared with me his song book. It was called: Songs of the Orange Groves.
They sang for some time and the song leader waved his arms with a strange and frenzied abandon, exhorting the people in the intervals between the songs to sing more loudly.
I grew steadily more puzzled.
“When do we start to pick oranges?” I asked the man who had loaned me his book.
“It’s not long now,” he told me. “We like to get everyone warmed up first. Besides, we want to make the oranges feel at home.” I thought he was joking but his face was serious.
After a while a rather large man took over from the song leader and, after reading two sentences from his well-thumbed copy of the Orange Picker’s Manual, began to make a speech. I wasn’t clear whether he was addressing the people or the oranges.
I glanced behind me and saw a number of groups of people similar to our own group gathering around an occasional tree and being addressed by other large men. Some of the trees had no one around them.
“Which trees do we pick from?” I asked the man beside me. He did not seem to understand, so I pointed to the trees round about.
“This is our tree,” he said, pointing to the one we were gathered around.
“But there are too many of us to pick from just one tree,” I protested. “Why, there are more people than oranges!”
“But we don’t pick oranges,” the man explained. “We haven’t been called. That’s the Orange Picker’s job. We’re here to support him. Besides we haven’t been to college. You need to know how an orange thinks before you can pick it, successfully orange psychology, you know. Most of these folk here,” he went on, pointing to the congregation, “have never been to Manual School.”
“Manual School,” I whispered. “What’s that?”
“It’s where they go to study the Orange Picker’s Manual,” my informant went on. “It’s very hard to understand. You need years of study before it makes sense.”
“I see, I murmured. I had no idea that picking oranges was so difficult.”
The large man at the front was still making his speech. His face was red and he appeared to be indignant about something. So far as I could see there was rivalry with some of the other “orange-picking” groups. But a moment later a glow came on his face,
“But we are not forsaken,” he said. “We have much to be thankful for. Last week we saw THREE ORANGES BROUGHT INTO OUR BASKETS, and we are now completely debt free from the money we owed on the new cushion covers that grace the seats you now sit on.”
“Isn’t it wonderful?” the man next to me murmured. I made no reply. I felt that something must be profoundly wrong somewhere. All this seemed to be a very roundabout way of picking oranges.
The large man was reaching a climax in his speech. The atmosphere seemed tense. Then with a very dramatic gesture he reached two of the oranges, plucked them from the branch, and placed them in the basket at his feet. The applause was deafening.
“Do we start on the picking now?” I asked my informant.
“What in the world do you think we’re doing?” he hissed. “What do you suppose this tremendous effort has been made for? There’s more orange-picking talent in this group than in the rest of Home County. Thousands of dollars have been spent on the tree you’re looking at.”
I apologized quickly. “I wasn’t being critical,” I said. “And I’m sure the large man must be a very good orange picker – but surely the rest of us could try. After all, there are so many oranges that need picking. We’ve all got a pair of hands and we could read the Manual.”
“When you’ve been in the business as long as I have, you’ll realize that it’s not as simple as that,” he replied. “There isn’t time, for one thing. We have our work to do, our families to care for, and our homes to look after. We . . .”
But I wasn’t listening. Light was beginning to break on me. Whatever these people were, they were not orange pickers. Orange picking was just a form of entertainment for their weekends.
I tried one or two more of the groups around the trees. Not all of them had such high academic standards for orange pickers. Some held classes on orange picking. I tried to tell them of the trees I had seen in Neglected County but they seemed to have little interest.
“We haven’t picked the oranges here yet,” was their usual reply.
The sun was almost setting in my dream and, growing tired of the noise and activity all around me, I got in the car and began to drive back again along the road I had come. Soon all around me again were the vast and empty orange groves.
But there were changes. Something had happened in my absence. Everywhere the ground was littered with fallen fruit. And as I watched it seemed that before my eyes the trees began to rain oranges. Many of them lay rotting on the ground.
I felt there was something so strange about it all, and my bewilderment grew as I thought of all the people in Home County.
Then, booming through the trees there came a voice which said, “The harvest truly is plenteous but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest”, that he will send forth laborers. . .”
And I awakened – for it was only a dream!
Posted in Thoughts from James by Phil Erickson with 6 comments.
The Saturday Morning Post – My Worst Enemy
Today’s Passage – Hebrews 10 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click hereto view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)
Good morning. This is about my worst enemy. Actually the devil is our worst enemy, but excluding that snake, I guess this is about my other worst enemy. My worst enemy has some things in common with our worst enemy. He does not want me to hold fast my profession of faith, he would rather see me wavering. He would rather me crawl into a shell than to provoke others unto love and good works. And as the day approaches, he seems to be working overtime. The apostle Paul even wrote about him…
“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:15-25)
My worst enemy is me. While reading Proverbs 16, I got a solution for suppressing my worst enemy, even sending him into remission…
“When a man’s ways please the Lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” (Proverbs 16:7)
According to this verse, God’s Word, and God’s Word is truth, if my ways please the Lord, He can even make my enemies to be at peace with me. How can we please the Lord? Have Faith…
“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.”(Hebrews 11:6)
And where do we get faith from? From God’s Word…
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”(Romans 10:17)
And how do we know if we have heard God’s Word? Think about your kids…
“Go clean your room!!!!!!!!!!”, you scream.
Is it clean? If it is clean, your kids heard.
God gives us things to do in the Bible. Are you reading your Bible on a daily basis. That would be a good place to start. Do you pray daily? The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. How about soul winning? He who winneth souls is wise. Do think it would be wise to leave a tract with the gas station attendant. How about sending a tract back in the “junk mail” you get. The postage is already paid for too. It’s all part of the Great Commission . Do you think it would be pleasing to God? We are to provoke one another to good works. Are you?
“When a man’s ways please the Lord , he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”(Proverbs 16:7)
Peace.
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
Living by Faith
Today’s Passage – Hebrews 10 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Isaiah 51:11
Read the “1220 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read previous posts from this morning’s reading passage – “Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy“.
“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”(Hebrews 10:38)
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, andthat he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
Hebrews chapter 11 is the great “Hall of Faith” chapter of the Bible. In it, God gives example after example of men and women who lived by their faith. They may have stumbled at times, and some may even have fallen a time or two in their lives, but mostly their lives were characterized by their faith in God. What does it mean to live by faith? What exactly is faith? These are questions that few people in our world truly understand the answers to. Is faith just a mere acknowledgement of the fact that there is a God out there somewhere, or is our faith supposed to be more tangible than that, perhaps more substantive?
Faith begins with God and is strengthened by the Word of God. God puts something inside all of us that draws us toward Him. He begins the process. He reveals Himself to us in a variety of ways: through creation, through the testimony of others, through a vacuum in our soul that somehow we know can only be filled by Him. If we are truly drawn to God, then we will also be drawn to His Word. His Word will strengthen our faith in Him. I have never seen God. Everything I know about God, I have received from His Word, and something inside of me tells me that His Word is true. I know that not everyone will receive this work of faith in their life. Most will resist and reject the clear evidences of Himself that God places in and around them.
Now, once I have received the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, I must also choose to walk by faith; live by faith. All this means is that I trust the principles, prophecies, and promises contained in His Word and I regulate my life around them. For instance, God’s Word tells me in Hebrews 10 that I am to assemble together with my brothers and sisters in Christ. If I am walking by faith, than I will yield my life to that principle because I believe God and want to obey His will. The degree to which we obey God seems to be directly related to the degree that we believe God. Now the alternative to a life of faith is a life that is lived according to our own human reasoning and desires. The problem with reasoning is that it is constantly changing and when it is in disagreement with the principles found in God’s Word (which it often is), it will lead to error and heartache.
Christian, as we approach this new year, let us resolve to strengthen our faith through time spent with God daily in His Word and then let us yield to the principles that He gives us to live by. I think you will find that by doing so, not only will you see more fruit in your life, but you will also find more fulfillment. Through the years, I have learned to trust God; to live by faith. I remember that there were times in Bible College and in the pastorate that my faith in God was tested, but God always came through. He always provided for my family and He always did everything that He promised that He would do, and each time I trusted Him, my faith was strengthened. Sometimes, people never get to the point of having great faith because they fail to trust God in the little things of life. All I can say to these folks is that you can trust God. He will deliver. He will bless you far more abundantly than you can even imagine, but you have to come to Him in faith, because faith is the only thing that pleases Him.
Posted in Thoughts from Hebrews by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Moving On to Spiritual Maturity
Today’s Passage – Hebrews 5 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 91 – 95; Proverbs 19)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Isaiah 40:31
Read the “1219 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” – (Hebrews 6:1-2)
The foundation of a house is very important. In fact, it is the most important part of the house because if it is not strong, the rest of the structure will not be able to stand for very long. However, if we are going to have a complete house we must build on top of the foundation. So, in order to have a house, we have to build beyond the foundation.
Kindergarten and grammar school are also foundational in the process of education, but if a student is going to learn all that he needs to know in life, he will have to enter into middle school, then high school, and possibly even higher education. Now this does not mean that we will never re-visit the things that we learn in grammar school, for those truths are the building blocks for everything else that we are going to learn in life. A knowledge of basic mathematics is necessary in order to do algebra, geometry, calculus, and accounting. Similarly, the basics of grammar and word building are necessary in order to effectively and intelligently communicate on an adult level.
A small child who is only about two-and-a-half years-old likes to play with pretty simple toys. He can even content himself with spoons and spatulas, and pots and pans. However, he won’t enjoy these things for very long as he will want to move on to bigger and better things. His world will enlarge. He will move beyond the confines of the house, and begin to explore the back yard, and eventually he will enter into the world, exploring and learning about all that is out there. He will not stay a toddler forever.
The passage above from Hebrews 6 teaches us this same principle, but the application regards our spiritual life. Too many Christians never grow up beyond the foundational truths of salvation. Now don’t misunderstand me, I love thinking about my salvation, and I re-visit those foundational truths often, but I also moved on beyond those foundational principles. At the end of chapter five, Paul rebukes some of his readers for their lack of growth:
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” – (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Don’t stay a baby Christian. Grow up. Take those foundational principles of Christianity and incorporate them into a deeper walk with God. The only way that you will be able to do this is to be daily in the Word of God, and weekly in the services at your church where the Bible is preached and taught. Resolve that in the new year you will read through your Bible and that you will be more faithful in your church attendance. Don’t miss any opportunity that comes your way that will help you grow up in the Lord.
You will also need to put to use (exercise – v. 14) what God shows you. Take advantage of chances to participate and serve in the ministry. By serving, you are exercising and putting into practice what you learned in the classroom.
There is no excuse for not growing, especially if you are part of a church that is flooding its members with opportunities to serve and grow. Get involved. Grow up in the Lord. Move on to bigger and better things spiritually.
“18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
PS – I need to warn you about one more thing. If you do decide to grow up and move on in your spiritual walk, you will be leaving behind some of your friends that will not choose to take that journey with you. That’s OK, though. You will find many more friends that will share your vision as you move further down the road. Don’t let anything or anybody hold you back from the journey of faith that God wants to bring you on.
PSS – Let me encourage you older folks – never stop growing and learning in every area of life, not just spiritually. Whatever you do, do well and do it with all your might. Keep learning and growing in your field; keep learning and growing in the things that you enjoy doing.
When I began my spiritual journey many years ago, I “hungered and thirsted” after anything that I could that would bring me closer to spiritual maturity. I was reading voraciously and attending any services and studies that I could. I was growing very quickly. I would love to be able to say that my rate of growth remained the same throughout the decades that I have been a believer, but it has not. I often need revival and reminders such as this post that will encourage me to move on in my relationship with the Lord.
Questions to Reflect Upon
- Where in your spiritual life are you still relying on ‘milk’ instead of ‘strong meat’?
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What one step could you take this week to grow in grace and knowledge of Christ?
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Who in your life is further along in spiritual maturity that you could learn from?
Posted in Thoughts from Hebrews by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Christ is Better: An Introduction to the Book of Hebrews
Today’s Passage – Philemon – Hebrews 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Proverbs 27:15
Read the “1218 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “Paul – A Peacemaker, Problem Solver, and Picture of Christ.”
“1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. … 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. 10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:” (Hebrews 1:1-4, 8-10)
The readers to The Epistle to the Hebrews are apparent in the name. Hebrews is written to Hebrews. People who had been brought up in Judaism and converted to Christianity needed to be reinforced in order to keep them encouraged and to prevent them from the temptation of turning their backs on Christ and going back to the traditions that they were raised in. Imagine the man that grew up in a Jewish home: everyone he knows has believed the same way for his or her entire life; his family in many cases has disowned him, his friends have now left him, and his business associates will no longer trade with him. This type of sacrifice is something that we cannot completely understand in the culture that we live in today. He begins to wonder, is this sacrifice really worth it? Is this Christian religion truly the religion that Abraham and Moses and David looked to? Is Jesus really the Messiah? The Letter to the Hebrews reassures the Jewish believer that he is exactly where he needs to be.
It also gives the Jew who is not yet a Christian something to think about. Christianity had caused quite a stir in the first century. There were many Jews who were giving closet consideration to the doctrines of Christ. This Letter would answer many of their questions and would give some the faith that they needed to yield to their true Messiah.
Many (including me) attribute this letter to Paul, but the letter was actually written anonymously. Though the human author is unknown, the divine Author makes His supremacy clear. The Letter to the Hebrews can be divided into three key sections:
1 The Person of Christ is Better (1:1 – 2:4)
2 The Principles of Christianity are Better (2:5 – 10:39)
3 The Practices of Christians are Better (11:1 – 13:25)
You might ask – better than what? – Better than the shadow that they had in Judaism. Christ was the substance – the Old Testament worship system was filled with shadows and types that were mere pictures of the reality. The Old Testament Temple was merely a type of the true temple in Heaven. The sacrificial system pictured and pointed to the true sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary.
Key Words and Phrases in Hebrews
- Better – 13 times (Hebrews 1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24)
- Perfect, Perfection, Perfected – 12 times (Hebrews 2:10; 5:9; 6:1; 7:11; 7:19; 9:9; 9:11; 10:1; 10:14; 11:40; 12:23; 13:1)
- Let us – 12 times (Hebrews 4:1, 11, 14, 16; 6:1; 10:22, 23, 24; 12:1; 12:28; 13:13; 13:15)
Note – The Law said, “Thou shalt”, or “Thou shalt not”; the New Covenant says, “Let us.”
- heavenly – 6 times (Hebrews 3:1; 6:4; 8:5; 9:23; 11:16; 12:22)
- eternal (5 times – Hebrews 5:9; 6:2; 9:12, 14, 15) and for ever (9 times – Hebrews 1:8; 5:6; 6:20; 7:17; 7:21; 10:12; 10:14; 13:8; 13:21)
The Deity of Christ
Beyond these repeated themes, Hebrews wastes no time establishing Christ’s full deity. We would be remiss in this brief introductory discussion of Hebrews if we did not point out that this book clearly teaches the deity of Christ. Right out of the gate, in the first chapter there are several references that point to the fact that Jesus is God. For instance, it clearly establishes Christ as both the Creator (“made the worlds – v. 2) and Sustainer (upholding all things by the word of his power” – v. 3) of the universe. The Son is even referred to as “God” by the Father in verse 9. The writer also declares that Christ is the “express image” of God (χαρακτήρ – charaktēr – v. 3), meaning that everything that God is was expressed in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Christ and Christianity are better than all that Judaism could offer, because the “Author and Finisher” (Hebrews 12:2) of the Christian Faith is God incarnate; God in human flesh. As we study Hebrews, let’s remember that following Christ isn’t just ‘different’—it’s eternally better. What area of your life needs the reminder that Jesus is superior today?
What does “better” mean to you in your walk with Christ?
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
Christmas Decorations
Today’s Passage – 2 Timothy 3 – Titus 3; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 3:1
Read previous posts from this passage – “Sometimes You Have To Stand Alone,“ and “Perilous Times.“
Read the “1217 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.“ (Titus 2:6-10)
Notice in verse 7 the phrase, “shewing thyself a pattern,” and then also, “shewing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity.” Notice also in verse 10 the word, “adorn.” The Greek word that is translated “adorn” here in Titus 2:10 is the word “kosmeo,” which means to arrange in order, or to decorate or ornament. Sometimes kosmeo is translated into the word “garnish”:
“And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;” (Rev 21:19)
The precious stones referenced in Rev 21:19 are ornaments and serve to make Heaven more beautiful. In fancy restaurants they will garnish the plates of food, which makes the presentation of the food more appealing.
We understand what it means to adorn, garnish, or decorate. This is the time of year that we talk a lot about decorations and ornaments. My wife Cindy loves to drive around and look at the Christmas light displays with all the beautiful decorations that brighten up our lives during this wonderful season of the year.
More than any other time of the year, Christmas is the time for decorations. We decorate our homes with lights. We buy Christmas trees and decorate them with ornaments. We adorn our presents with colorful wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. At the church, we have beautiful poinsettia plants, and a Christmas tree with lights and bows. There are wreaths on our front door. These are all ornaments or decorations. They are designed to reflect in a visible, outward way, the spirit of the Christmas holiday.
Our text today in Titus 2 tells us that there are ways that we can “adorn” in a visible way the doctrine of the Saviour that we have received on the inside. We can make God and the Christian faith look good to those around us. Adorning or garnishing or decorating the doctrine of God is the best kind of decoration that we can display, not only at Christmas, but also throughout the year.
By adorning the doctrine of God we glorify the Lord, which is our primary job while here on this earth:
“Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.” – (Psalm 22:23)
“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” – (Psalm 34:3)
By adorning the doctrine of God, we will also be more effective as His ambassador to this world:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – (2 Cor 5:17-21)
How can you adorn the doctrine of God? How can you make your faith in God look good to this world?
- Stay faithful to God – the world can see if you are faithful or not. Put God first in your life. Don’t let anything take the place of God in your list of priorities. Your job cannot come before God. Your hobbies cannot come before God. Your relationships with anyone else, including your family, cannot come before your relationship with God.
- Live separately from the world – when the Christian participates in the ungodly practices of this world, he does the exact opposite of adorning the doctrines of God. He detracts from glorifying God and will be ineffective as God’s ambassador.
- Speak the truth in love – look for opportunities to tell people about the wonderful grace of God.
- Look for ways to love and bless people.
This Christmas season, which of these four ways will you focus on to adorn the doctrine of God?
There is a lot of ugliness in our world, even at Christmastime. The Christian has been given the wonderful privilege and awesome responsibility of countering the darkness and brightening up the world he lives in by “putting on Christ” (Romans 13:14) and adorning the doctrine of God. Magnify the Lord; make Him look good, big, and beautiful to the people around you.
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Healthy Christian Growth
Today’s Passage – 1 Timothy 4 – 2 Timothy 2 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 76 – 80; Proverbs 16)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 121
Read the “1216 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Read a previous post from this morning’s reading passage – “Where Would Our Church Be Without the Young People“
“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” – (2 Timothy 2:2)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – (2 Timothy 2:15)
“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.” – (2 Timothy 2:23)
There are many factors involved in the spiritual development of a Christian, but I think 2 Timothy 2 shows us three keys to Christian growth:
- A Christian must be steadfast in his faithfulness (v. 2). Paul entrusted truth to “faithful men” who weren’t yet fully mature but were dependable and teachable. When we refer to this verse, we often use it to teach that the church must be concerned about teaching the doctrines of the faith and training the disciples of the Lord. We would certainly not dispute that those are two very important functions of the local church. However, I would like to draw attention to the fact that the teaching and the training can only be done with faithful men (and women). When I first trusted Christ as my Saviour many years ago, I did not need anybody to beg me to come to church and get involved in the things of the Lord. I had a desire on the inside to grow and serve. I certainly was not perfect by any means, but I was faithful. Faithfulness isn’t perfection – it’s availability and reliability. I just needed somebody to show me the way and give me something to do. We often blame the church for not teaching and training as it should, but I believe that if there is a hungry soul out there in the pew, God will supply someone to train them. The bottom line to this point is that if you are going to grow in the Lord, you must stay faithful and thirsty for the things of God. Faithfulness involves more than just showing up – it’s enduring and remaining loyal even when it costs something, as Paul illustrated with the soldier (vs. 3–4), the athlete (v. 5), and the farmer (v. 6).
- A Christian must be studious (v. 15). Studying requires much work, and it must be done on purpose. If spiritual growth is going to take place in the life of believers, they must diligently apply themselves to being students of the Bible. Obviously, this will include faithfully attending all the services and Bible studies in the local church, but it also means that personal reading, meditation, and study be done daily. With all the resources available today (Logos, Blue Letter Bible, E-sword, etc.), there is really no excuse for not digging in deeply in your Bible study.
- A Christian must not get sidetracked. On the surface this may not seem too important, but I have seen more Christians go down the tubes because of this than anything else. Lack of study will cause a slow and steady decline in growth but getting sidetracked will bring about a swift demise. What do I mean by getting sidetracked? Well, it could mean getting distracted by something in the world, but it also often happens because the believer starts pursuing one issue of the faith. They become a one-issue Christian, and by doing so they lose balance, and balance is important to Christian growth. Paul said that he declared “all the counsel of God.” People who lose balance tend to major on minor issues and thereby lose sight of the bigger picture. They can become argumentative in their support of their pet issue. Be careful that you don’t get sidetracked. Instead of majoring on minors, pursue the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27), keeping Christ and the gospel central while growing in the whole range of biblical truth. In v. 14 and in vs. 24–26, Paul also warns against quarreling about words and calls us to be kind, patient teachers who correct opponents gently.
It ought to be the goal of every Christian to continue to grow spiritually until the Lord takes him or her home to Heaven. Ask yourself today: Am I faithful in gathering with God’s people and staying thirsty for Him? Am I diligently studying His Word daily? Am I keeping my focus on the whole counsel of God without being derailed by lesser things? Commit these three keys to the Lord in prayer and watch Him produce steady growth and fruitfulness in your life.
Posted in Thoughts from 2 Timothy by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.
More Than Just Preaching
Today’s Passages – 2 Thessalonians 1 – 1 Timothy 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read – Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105
Read the “1215 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;” (1 Timothy 1:12)
I have always been very fond of this verse. Paul knew that he had been given an awesome privilege when God called him into the ministry, and I am very conscious of the fact that my calling is just as special and important as Paul’s. I notice also from this verse that Paul didn’t say that God called him because of his qualifications except for the one thing that God found in him, which was faithfulness. God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called and He often calls those He finds faithful.
Paul’s words remind us that ministry isn’t earned by merit but received as a gift—and with it comes great responsibility. So, what does it really mean to be “in the ministry”? What does a minister do? Is it just standing in a pulpit delivering a sermon on Sunday morning? My friend, it is so much more than that. Let me share with you some thoughts regarding what the ministry entails:
- The Ministry Is About People– People have all kinds of problems and needs. A true minister of God does not use people as to fulfill his desires or goals; rather a minister recognizes that he is called of God to serve the people and to give them what they need spiritually so they can have the very best of God’s blessings upon their life. A minister does not try to be God to the people but rather tries to bring the people closer to God.
“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” (2 Cor 12:15)
- The Ministry is About Prayer– Many of us in ministry must confess that prayer is the area we most need to grow in. According to Acts 6, the apostles felt that their primary duties were “to give [themselves] continually unto prayer, and the ministry of the word.” That would be a pretty good starting point for preachers today. We need to pray for our people, our churches, our communities, and our country.
“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
- The Ministry Is About Perspiration– There is work to be done. The Bible says that the office of a Bishop is a good “work.” Many full-time servants of God are lazy. They get up late, eat too much, and go home early. It will take a lot of work to be effective as a minister. There is soulwinning, visitation, hospital visits, administrative work, counseling, cleaning, planning, building, etc. Preachers ought to be up early and on the job before the world gets up. Satan never stops working to advance his agenda.
“7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thess 3:7–10)
- The Ministry Is About Preparation– The pastor should spend hours in the study, preparing to feed the flock that God has entrusted them with. His people deserve fresh bread from Heaven that came directly out of time spent with God in study and in prayer. Sometimes, it is easy to get lazy in preparation. We can quickly throw some “fast food” together to serve our people but God expects more out of His ministers. Work, pray, and study so that God’s people will be fed gourmet meals from the pulpit each week.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim 2:15)
I hope that you can see now that the ministry consists of so much more than is visible on the surface. What a privilege it is to serve such an awesome, wonderful, omnipotent, and merciful God. What has God called you to do? If you have been called to a ministry, it is because He found you to be faithful; but are you still faithfully fulfilling what God has called you to do? Let’s commit today to renew our faithfulness in whatever ministry God has entrusted to us, asking Him for the grace to abound more and more.
Posted in Thoughts from 1 Timothy by Phil Erickson with 4 comments.
Study to be Quiet
Today’s Passage – 1 Thessalonians 1 – 5; (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)
(Second Milers also read –Psalms 66 – 70; Proverbs 14)
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32
Read other posts from this passage – “What’s Right With It,” and “What’s Your Reputation Like?“
“9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)
For more information regarding the historical context of the Thessalonian Letters, click here.
Many of us are drawn to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and its glorious promise of the rapture. But the verses just before it (4:9-12) give us something equally vital: clear, everyday instructions for how we should live while we wait.
- Increase in Brotherly Love (vs. 9 – 10)
The first thought that I want to pull from this passage comes from the phrase “more and more” found in verse ten. We see this phrase also in verse one where Paul encourages them to “abound more and more” in their walk (behavior or lifestyle) and in pleasing the Lord generally. Here in verse ten, Paul is admonishing them to increase in their love for each other.
“34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)
Notice that the Lord said that this is how the world will know that we are truly believers. Paul commends the Thessalonians here for the love that they already had for other believers, not only within the city of Thessalonica but also throughout all of Macedonia, which included Philippi and Berea also.
- Living Quiet, Honest, and Diligent Lives (vv. 11-12)
The second thing that we see from these verses is Paul admonishing these believers to live honest, quiet, and simple lives, and to be hard working. The verb translated “study” (φιλοτιμεῖσθαι from φιλοτιμέομαι – philotimeomai), implies ambitious effort—making something your honorable goal. Paul is telling them that needed to work at this; to try hard to do it.
The phrase “to be quiet” (ἡσυχάζειν from ἡσυχάζω – hēsychazō) means to cease or to rest, or to “hold your peace.” It is interesting the entire phrase “study to be quiet” could mean “work at resting” or “work at not working,” which is certainly strange, but what Paul is saying here is that they should work at being quiet.
Paul is urging them to make it their ambition to live quietly, to mind their own affairs, and to work diligently with their own hands. In an age of constant social media noise, outrage cycles, and performative busyness, striving to be quiet means curating our words, avoiding unnecessary controversy, and focusing on our own responsibilities.
- Why It Matters While We Wait
The idea of this whole passage is that these Thessalonians believers were to be a testimony to the world around them through their hard working, quiet, and honest lives. And Paul promises that besides being a good testimony to their neighbors, they will also be self-sufficient. They would “have lack of nothing.”
The Greeks were not typically fond of manual labor and hard work was often done by slaves. Paul set an example by working as a tentmaker to support himself. He will address this problem again in his second letter to them, where he rebukes some for not working at all:
“6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. 7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; 8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” (2 Thessalonians 3:6-12)
Paul’s stronger words in his second letter show how seriously he took this issue—and how relevant his counsel remains for us today. It is important, however to also point out that some people today face the opposite temptation—not idleness, but workaholism or hustle culture. Paul’s balance reminds us that faithful work honors God without becoming an idol.
- Questions to reflect upon:
- Where am I tempted to be anything but “quiet” in my speech or online presence?
- How can I grow “more and more” in practical love toward fellow believers this week?
- Am I modeling diligent work in a way that commends the gospel to outsiders?
Revised 12/14/25
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with 3 comments.