It began with just a few men. They didn’t know exactly what kind of damage they were about to inflict on their own reputation— for all eternity. There’s an intense account found in Acts 15 where we’re introduced to “some men” and they’re on their way from Judea. They begin to teach,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas rise to the challenge and they debate them fearlessly, but the damage had already been done. The argument had not only confused them but it stirred up the entire group to the point that it was decided to take matters to the very top. Off they went to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
HERE’S WHAT WENT DOWN
Paul and Barnabas hadn’t lost faith and in fact, they proclaimed what God had done for the Gentiles to all who would listen on their trip. The news of God’s grace to all races and nations brought them great joy. In Jerusalem the apostles and elders had gathered to deal with the conflict. It didn’t take long for the group to separate into two teams with two different beliefs about God’s will for us all. It was at this moment where Peter stands up and begins to speak. He explains that God knows the heart of all of us. He’s always known this!
HERE’S HOW IT HAPPENED
The Spirit had descended on the apostles to prove that there is no discrimination between Jews and Gentiles. The demand for proof is always in our hearts, and so the Spirit demonstrated miraculous powers to give credence. Peter would explain that under the Jewish law, even Moses and the greats couldn’t bear the load. It wasn’t sustainable, and it wasn’t meant to last.
It’s verse twelve that gives one some additional insight. It says,
“And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done though them among the Gentiles.”
HERE’S THE POINT
How do we solve our conflicting views that spring up in our midst? There’s only one effective way to do so and that’s to take our matters of division to the top. Not preachers, teachers, deacons, or elders, but to the very top. But if God is going to speak, we’ve got to be quiet. The assembly went silent. Everyone there, no matter what their belief decided to listen. Speaking over each other never solved a problem and this is true on a congregational level, and a personal one.
HERE’S A QUESTION
How many times do we fall victim to the bias assembly of thoughts in our own minds when reading God’s word? It can be difficult to hush those voices, but it’s when we do that real, positive change finally has a chance to take root.
Asaph was a spiritual Renaissance man, a musician (1 Chron. 15:17-19), a worship leader (1 Chron. 16:4-15), a prophet (2 Chron. 29:30), and a poet, whose inspired work is found in twelve of the psalms in the book of Psalms. In numerical order, Psalm 50 comes first. In that psalm, he addresses the whole earth (1-6), His people (7-15), and the wicked (16-23). He establishes His right and power to judge “His people” (4)…”for God Himself is judge” (6). He tells His people that He wants their true worship (7-13), and by giving it they would find a responsive, protecting God (14-15).
How He ends the chapter is jarring! He addresses “the wicked” presumably from among His people. They tell of His statutes and His covenant is in their mouths (16), but they are worldly to the core. They hate His teaching and His Words (17). They love to hang out with dishonest, dishonorable people (18). Their tongue is an unruly evil (19-20). This is a comprehensive and graphic picture of the hypocrite. What emboldened them to live in such an audacious way? God’s silence (21). They thought they were getting away with it because God did not respond to this as He did with Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:1-3), Korah and his clan (Num. 16), and Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:7). He says, “These things have you done and I kept silence….” (21a). God explains how one can perceive the lack of immediate punishment as an endorsement of a lifestyle or a mindset, saying, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil” (Ecc. 8:11).
This can cause us to bring God down to our level, to think that He thinks like we think and that He feels like we feel. “You thought I was just like you” (21b). If one is tolerant of sin and permissive of a sinful situation, he or she may naturally think God will overlook it. If one is willing to accept in fellowship a person who is living in rebellion against God’s will, he or she may conclude that God does too. This leads to rationalizing and embracing things God, in His Word, has already declared His thoughts and feelings about. That is why He says, “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). Like in Psalm 50:21, Isaiah reminds us God’s thoughts and ways are not ours (Isa. 55:8-9).
God longs for a relationship with His people (22-23), but it will be on His terms. If we forget God, the result is frightening (22), but if we honor Him with righteous living He shall “show the salvation of God” (23). For this to occur, we cannot bring God down to our level and think that because we want to endorse willful sin He does, too. There is an enormous difference between wrestling with sin and wallowing in it. The one He sees with compassion, the other He sees with condemnation.
I found an old commercial promoting kudzu for groundcover while researching my family’s history on Newspapers.com, an Ancestry.com extension. Given the plant’s current status as an invasive species plaguing the southeastern United States, this revelation made me laugh. This year, particularly, has seen a remarkable increase in the kudzu crop.
Looking through historical documents, I discovered that kudzu first appeared on American soil in 1876 during the Centennial International Exhibition. This exotic vine proudly displayed in the Japanese pavilion at the World’s Fair in Philadelphia, captivated spectators so much that it was quickly renamed the “Jack and the Beanstalk vine.”
Early twentieth-century newspapers like The Boston Globe recommended kudzu for backyard gardeners, praising its rapid growth, pleasant aroma, and low maintenance requirements. By the 1950s, however, the federal government was forced to acknowledge the drawbacks of kudzu’s rampant spread, a species they had promoted for decades for erosion control. The USDA designated kudzu as a weed in 1970 and was redesignated as a “noxious weed” in 1997.
This story of kudzu—initially celebrated, then reviled—resembles the Parable of the Mustard Seed, which appears in Matthew 13.31–32, Mark 4.30–32, and Luke 13.18–19. Jesus uses The mustard seed in this parable to demonstrate the profound potential that can emerge from humble beginnings.
In the parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of Heaven, God’s divine rule, to a mustard seed. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, when planted, it grows into the largest of garden plants, even becoming a tree. This tree then becomes a haven for birds, providing shade and a place for them to nest in its branches.
The mustard seed’s growth, from small to great, signifies how God’s kingdom begins as a tiny seed in our hearts and develops into a powerful influence. Similarly, kudzu started as a tiny seed in the United States and grew into a major ecological force. Instead of providing a haven, it became an uncontrollable pest, engulfing large areas of the southern United States.
So, what can we learn from the Parable of the Mustard Seed and the story of kudzu? Both teach us about the potential consequences of small beginnings and remind us to consider the possible long-term impact of our actions. We have the free will to choose our efforts. Let’s aim to plant excellent seeds that enrich our environment through activities that align with the divine and benefit the world (as taught in Luke 8.11).
I Timothy one ends with 19, “Continue to trust God and do what you know is right. Some people haven’t done this and their faith is now in ruins. Hymenaeus and Alexander are men like that. I have given them to Satan so they will learn not to speak against God.”
This is a difficult passage, but not the only time Paul has used the phrase “given them to Satan.” He also said this in I Corinthians 5.5, which gives us more insight into what this might mean.
The member in I Corinthians 5 was handed over to Satan for physical punishment so that he could be saved at the end. This appears to be very similar to what Satan was allowed to do in the book of Job — though in these situations, it appears that he has the power to punish Christians physically when they have one foot in the world and one in Christianity, but with a lot more weight on the foot that’s in the world.
This obviously doesn’t happen to every — or probably even most — Christians who fall away, but I Corinthians 5.5 gives us at least some hope for those who end up in Satan’s hands. This passage uses a phrase that likely means, “I have given Satan permission to kill this person.” But it doesn’t end there: “…so that their spirit will be rescued in the day of the Lord.” The original word used here (ινα or hina) means, “Resulting in,” or, “So that”. It’s used to describe the purpose or intended result of something.
Perhaps this means that God’s grace will allow some Christians’ physical lives to be lost before they reach the point of no return, ultimately saving their soul. After all, God doesn’t want anyone to die spiritually, but for everyone to be converted (II Pt 3.9), something repeated by Paul in I Timothy 2.4. Even in judgment God shows mercy!
As Christians it can be easy to lose sight of what our purpose is now that we have been justified through Christ. We are offerings to God. Romans 11:36 says, “from God and through God everything exists.” Now present your bodies a living sacrifice to THAT God. So that your life is acceptable to THAT God. Renew your mind so that you will prove what the will of God is.
You know when you buy toys for your kids or grandkids often times on the package in fine print are these words, “Batteries not included.” Do you know what that means? It means that you get the toy, but the power to make it work is not included. That is not the kind of gift that God gives. God’s gift of holiness includes the power of the fullness of the Holy Spirit – the power to make it work.
We are different from the rest of the world (Rom. 12:2). I am not an offering to me.
A sacrifice is “an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.” What is worthy of your sacrifice? What is worth the sacrifice of your life? For way too many in the world it’s not God and I’m convinced it’s because they just don’t understand who HE is.
Will I sacrifice my life to my job? My spouse? Family? Who is it that is worthy of my soul? If any of those things pull you away from the One that holds your breath and life in your hand and determines your eternal destination, you’ve made a costly and foolish mistake. A truly faithful christian is one that lives as an offering to God.
God offers us something that nothing in this world can, He offers transformation that prepares us to be in His presence. God knows what we need and He has offered it.
I found some advice for those of you that are married, what not to buy your wife…Don’t buy clothing that involves sizes. The chances are one in seven thousand that you will get her size right, and your wife will be offended the other 6999 times. Avoid all things useful. No mops, brooms, Clorox wipes, etc.
Don’t buy jewelry. The jewelry your wife wants, you can’t afford. And the jewelry you can afford, she doesn’t want. Finally, don’t spend too much. “How do you think we’re going to afford that?” she’ll ask. But don’t spend too little. She won’t say anything, but she’ll think, “Is that all I’m worth?”
Unlike shopping for your wife, God knows exactly what we need. He knows our struggles. He knows our battle with sin, so He offered salvation. So will we recognize who we are and what God has done to make us who we are today?
Your heart is only a little bigger than your fist and it weighs a mere 7-15 ounces. Despite its small size on the outside, on the inside, in that figurative heart, you’ll find a massive stadium. There are battles that take place in this stadium on a daily basis. In the movies the good guy will always win, but in this arena? It depends on who is stronger. The Bible gives us several vivid descriptions of what goes on inside the heart, so let’s explore that.
Dead Giveaways
A cheerful disposition can be the sign of a healthy heart according to Proverbs 15:13. This tells us that our outward appearance can give away our interior.
Check out this section of scripture to see that in action.
Crazy Train Cain
“On Abel God looked with favor, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favor. God said to Cain why are you angry why has your countenance fallen? If you do right will you not be accepted? But if you do that which is not right, sin is crouching at the door”
Gen. 4.5-6
God already knew what was in Cain’s heart but notice how He explains to Cain that his body language had given away his inward struggles.
Cain is livid and his countenance has fallen. In the following verses Cain ends up killing his own brother because that darkness had taken over.
While we can assume what somebody might be dealing with by observing their countenance, we can’t be absolutely sure. Some people are great at masking their inward selves but God isn’t fooled by our camouflage.
Remember Ol’ Jeroboam?
In 1 Kings 12, Jeroboam takes the throne and is now leader over the Northern nation of Israel. In the Southern kingdom, they had the capital of Jerusalem where all the Israelites in that region would gather to sacrifice to the Lord.
The Bible indicates to us the very plans that Jeroboam said in the “privacy” of his heart. He built his own place of worship and foolishly placed those golden calves up for his new kingdom to worship.
In Luke 16.15, Jesus will prove once again that He’s the son of God by listening in on the secret conversations that take place inside the heart.
May we never forget that we serve a God who has a perfect and intimate knowledge of us. There might be things hidden within us that nobody on earth knows about, but it’s not hidden in heaven. To deny the fact that God can’t see through you is to deny the fact that we are all humans created in His image. Who is the champion of your heart today?
In the sixth chapter of Scripture, we read of the first vessel intended to travel upon the seas. Secular history attests to seafaring vessels being around at least 6,000 years, with perhaps the Egyptians pioneering the way around the time of Abraham. It is thought that as early as the second millennium a crude means of measuring the depths of the water had been developed. Certainly, the use of a lead weight and line measurements were in practice by the time we read about Paul’s shipwreck and the events leading up to it (Acts 27:28). One such event prior to the shipwreck involved sailors who “took soundings and found” the sea’s depth “to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms.” This was to prevent running aground “somewhere on the rocks” (Acts 27:29), so they put down anchors.
With regard to our personal lives, we need to regularly “take soundings.” Paul says it this way: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Cor. 13:5). While it is far easier to analyze how others are living, how committed or uncommitted they are, Paul does not suggest this. It is far too easy for us to drift from where we ought to be (cf. Heb. 2:1). We may have been close to Christ last year or last month, but what about now? What about doctrinally? Are we balanced or have we moved toward extremes whether loosing where God has bound or binding where God has not? What about in our family life versus time spent with the job or personal pursuits? How is our marriage?
See, self-examination is so crucial yet for most of us so neglected. It is imperative that we frequently “take soundings” of our lives. How tragic for us to allow ourselves into dangerous waters just because we have been careless about maintaining proper spirituality and negligent about moving closer to God. I am convinced that unfaithful attendance, immorality, materialism, apostasy, and a thousand other harmful things are allowed to grow in our lives because we have ceased getting a gauge of where we are in our personal, spiritual lives. Please keep taking those soundings and determine how deep or shallow your faith is!
McDonald’s ill-conceived #McDStories campaign has emerged as a classic example of a well-intended marketing strategy gone wrong in a world where hashtags have become increasingly important. In January 2012, McDonald’s launched this hashtag to highlight their food suppliers, which McDonald’s hoped would reassure customers after the damaging Sparboe Farms scandal. Unfortunately, the campaign backfired spectacularly, as Twitter users took advantage of the opportunity to share “McHorror Stories.”
This blunder highlighted the vital lesson that a corporation or individual cannot control or reserve hashtags since they are in the public domain. Due to McDonald’s public relations team’s apparent lack of awareness of this fact, current and former employees, angry clients, and pranksters hijacked the #McDStories hashtag.
History has documented a religious occurrence that bears a resemblance to this event. The followers of Jesus Christ in Antioch, Syria, were dubbed “Christians” (Acts 11.26). Although the term may have originated as a derisive moniker, early disciples eagerly accepted it, even in mortal danger.
On the other hand, people who use the term “Christian” to describe themselves without truly adhering to its biblical meaning have usurped and degraded it over time. Despite their name, their actions and words frequently contradict New Testament teachings. This appropriation has allowed critics to mock and malign the faith, highlighting the wrongdoing committed in the name of Christianity.
Despite these challenges, the intrinsic value of “McDonald’s” and “Christianity” remains unaffected. As of this writing, a single McDonald’s share is worth a healthy $295.22, indicating the brand’s tenacity. Genuine bearers of the name “Christian,” derived from the only name offering salvation (Acts 4.12), hold immeasurable value.
Therefore, while McDonald’s and the Christian community have seen their names hijacked and misused, the essence of these entities’ worth remains intact. An unjust focus on a few’s negative stories and actions cannot diminish the good done by many. The ultimate value of a name lies with the one who holds it, and it is vital to call out critics who misrepresent these identities.
Countless others uphold and honor a name for every person who misuses it. McDonald’s and Christianity are global organizations serving millions of people, the vast majority happy and fulfilled. However, as the uproar over #McDStories demonstrated, the loudest voices aren’t always the most representative.
In conclusion, the bearer and most people using a name determine its value. One should balance the focus on negative outliers with the positive stories that go untold. Names evoke a rich tapestry of emotions that are impossible to condense into a hashtag or be appropriated by a minority, from McDonald’s to Christianity.
References:
McDonald’s #McDStories Twitter campaign backfires. Telegraph Media Group Limited 2012. Web. 13 February 2012.
Matz, Karin. McDonald’s dumps egg supplier after safety, cruelty concerns. 2011. Web. 13 February 2012.
McDonald’s Corporation MCD. Morningstar, Inc. 2023. Web. 13 July 2023.
What do you know about the book of Hosea? At the head of the Minor Prophets, Hosea is often known as the book about the prophet and the prostitute. But it is much more than that. It is a book about a marriage commanded by God between His messenger and a “wife of whoredom” that reflected a marriage made by God with His chosen nation. The prophet’s name means “deliverance” but it was written to warn about the northern kingdom about impending judgment and destruction. Certainly, the prophet reveals the spurned Husband offering Himself as the only means of salvation which the people foolishly were rejecting for a relationship with cruel, unrighteous idolaters who desired only to use and abuse them. It was written during an extremely prosperous time for the Northern Kingdom, when Jeroboam II reigned. 2 Kings 14:25 says he “restored the border of Israel from the entrance of Hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, which He spoke through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet, who was of Gath-hepher.” He was mighty and recovered cities for Israel that had been taken from Judah (2 Ki. 14:28). But, while they prospered militarily and economically, they were spiritually destitute.
But it is not simply about terrifying judgment on a rebellious nation. It is a love story, though it was a tragic story of unrequited (i.e., unreturned) love. Like Hosea’s wife would leave him for her lovers, Israel left God for idols. Like Hosea went and redeemed his wife despite her faithfulness, God longed for Israel to return to Him. Despite her rejection, He would say to her, “How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender” (11:8). While judgment is implied even in that (Admah and Zeboiim were destroyed alongside better-known Sodom and Gomorrah), it is not what God wanted.
It is also good to look for the “New Testament” sprinkled throughout this book. Not only does the theme reflect a desire God has for people today through Christ, but there are quite a few passages in the New Testament which quote from this relatively brief Old Testament book. Here is my list:
Hosea 1:10 is quoted in 1 Peter 2:10.
Hosea 2:23 is quoted in Romans 9:25.
Hosea 6:6 is quoted in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7.
Hosea 10:8 is quoted in Luke 23:30 and Revelation 6:16.
Hosea 11:1 is quoted in Matthew 2:15.
Hosea 13:14 is quoted in 1 Corinthians 15:55.
So, we see everything from Christ’s infancy as a human to His victorious resurrection foretold in this great, Old Testament book. An overriding principle to see as we walk through the book is that though God will punish those who absolutely refuse to return to Him, He loves us with a perfect love and desires nothing more than a relationship with us. We need to be wise and touched by that truth and be faithful to Him!
(Photo credit: Kathy Pollard, March 2018–the valley of Jezreel taken from Mt. Carmel)
I Timothy 1.7 calls out the problem at Ephesus directly: there were members who were eager to teach but had no business doing so. This is, unfortunately, one of the bigger issues facing the church today. Some take the approach of emphasizing regulations and rules and prohibitions, which is what these bad influences were doing (as well as teaching that the resurrection had already occurred).
1.8-10 gives us some guidance on when prohibitive teachings are appropriate: We know that the law is good if used correctly. We also know that the law is not made for those who do what is right. It is made for those who are opposed to the law and refuse to follow it. The law is for sinners who are against God and all that is pleasing to him. It is for those who have no interest in spiritual things, namely those who kill their parents or anyone else. It’s for people who commit sexual sins, for homosexuals, for people who kidnap and sell other people into slavery, for people who always tell lies, for people who lie under oath, and for people who are against God’s true teaching.
Thankfully, that doesn’t apply to the overwhelming majority of Christians! The goal of our instruction should be to encourage love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a genuine faith. We do this by teaching positive commands (ie, “we should do this”) as opposed to negative ones (ie, “we should not do this”). While there is a time and place for teaching the prohibitions in scripture, there should be balance in this.
Timothy is working with an infant congregation in the 1st century. Persecution makes life fearful for the faithful but Timothy’s obstacles are both external and internal. On the outside he faces pagan people, jealous Jews, and the sword swinging soldiers of Rome.
On the inside, the Christians who make up this young congregation are being led and taught by a young man— Timothy. He battles self-doubt and a lack of confidence in his own abilities. To top it off, his mentor is in prison.
Paul perfectly pens the inspired words that would lift young Timothy’s spirit by reminding him that the human spirit was designed to handle and persevere under such daunting circumstances. Paul writes (from a cell),
“God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
2 Timothy 1.7
The spirit (πνεῦμα) referred to here is not the Holy Spirit, but it’s the “disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one” (Strongs, G4154).
God did not give us the spirit of skittishness so that we’d cower under confrontation or burn out under prospects of suffering.
Holiness amidst hostility is an ability that comes standard on the base model human spirit. It’s not a possibility, it’s a guarantee.
Power
We’re equipped with power (δύναμις) that is, “inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature” (Strongs, G1410).
Love
That aggressive strength is powerfully combined with love (ἀγάπη). In this case the word refers to an affection or good will towards others (Strongs, G26). The God given spirit is not heartless. We have the power to show affection yet some chose to pretend as if their personalities are simply not capable of showing this attribute.
Self-control
A sound mind (σωφρονισμός) is simply the ability to control yourself (Strongs, G4995).
We share a commonality with Paul’s protégé. Some have tried to cheapen and downgrade the human race, God’s focal point of creation, to an animalistic status. It’s taught by educated but ignorant scholars who try to deny an undeniable God.
We’ve been fashioned in the image of an eternal Being and our spirits drive an immortal soul. We aren’t designed to live in a constant state of timidity we’re creations of courage.
Courage is not the absence of a fearful feeling but it’s the ability to face that fear— and move forward.
Kathy and I very recently discovered an interesting show produced by the History Channel, and the title of the series is “Alone.” It is a “reality show” (not usually a fan of those), but it involves survival experts dropped, alone, in the middle of nowhere. They get to take ten items of their choice to help them battle predators, the elements, and, most of all, isolation. Food, water, shelter, and fire top their priorities, but even having these cannot prevent the maddening monotony of being deprived of human companionship.
I love the way Solomon says it in the book of Ecclesiastes. “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken” (4:9-12, NLT, emph. mine). At the very beginning, God made it clear that it isn’t good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18). Alone one is in trouble, in the cold, and in danger. It is not good for us.
The survivalists on the show figure that out. So does the person, even with people all around them, who keep themselves in isolation. Think of all the ways God combats our loneliness.
He gives us marriage (Gen. 2:18; 1 Cor. 11:9).
He gives us children (Psa. 127:3-5).
He gives us the church (Eph. 2:19).
He gives us the assemblies (Heb. 10:24-25).
He gives us fellowship (Acts 2:42).
He gives us hospitality (Rom. 12:10,13).
He gives us counselors and mentors (Prov. 15:22; 24:6; Ti. 2:3-4).
He gives us the aged (Lev. 19:32; 1 Tim. 5:1).
He gives us shepherds (Acts 20:28).
Life is difficult for the person determined to go it alone! We are left with our thoughts, which may or may not be accurate reflections of reality or at least the whole picture (Prov. 18:17). We are deprived of the very resources God has given to help us successfully overcome life’s challenges. It is an easy habit to get into to withdraw from the company of others, but it is not healthy! We need others, and, just as much, they need us!
The guys on the reality show voluntarily go it alone for money and notoriety, but, even with that incentive, the loneliness gets unbearable. For us, the prize and reward does not require us to cloister ourselves. It requires the opposite! May we never choose to be alone, when we have so many tools supplied by God to survive the challenges of this life.
The last week of Jesus’ life on earth was an eventful one. He arrived in Jerusalem to thronging crowds shouting, “Hosanna!” And, His enemies peppered Him with questions. They questioned His authority. They asked Him a Catch-22 question, which was admittedly impressive since it would be almost 2000 years before Catch-22 was written. They even asked Him a gotcha questioned designed to make the resurrection look ridiculous. But after He had answered all of their questions, He had one for them. Matthew’s account of this is in chapter 22, verses 41 and following:
“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’
They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’”
Now, at this point, especially in my younger years, I could see myself nodding along in agreement with the Pharisees. Yes, the Christ is the Son of David. That’s in prophecy, isn’t it? Wasn’t important enough that Matthew opened his gospel account with a genealogy of Jesus going back to David and Abraham? Didn’t Luke also trace Jesus’ genealogy through David back to Adam? But this is what Jesus said:
“He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord,” saying: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand Till I make Your enemies Your footstool’”? If David then calls Him “Lord,” how is He his Son?’ And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.”
Jesus pointed out something very important, which the Pharisees were missing: the Messiah was more than David’s son, He was David’s Lord. The Pharisees missed it because they were expecting an earthly kingdom, with an earthly king like David who would put Israel back on top, overthrow the Romans, and rule in Jerusalem. But God had in mind something much better; instead of freeing them from the Romans, the Christ would free them from their sins—a much more powerful and implacable enemy. In another place, Jesus talked about God giving good gifts and said, “If your son asks for bread, would you give him a stone?” An important cultural note about the way they baked bread in Jesus’ time is that they used clay ovens and heated stones, and the stones in the area were very round and smooth, resembling loaves of bread. It wouldn’t be much of stretch of the imagination to think it wouldn’t be uncommon for a small Jewish boy to point in the oven and say, “Father, I want that one,” but be pointing at a stone. And what kind of father is going to give his child that? No, he’ll give him bread instead even if it isn’t what he wanted because it’s better than what he wanted.
That’s the way God operates; He always gives us what’s better than what we want. He did it back then. When they wanted to be free of Rome, free of their taxes, free of their rules, God offered them freedom from sin, which is of infinitely greater value. It is a shame, though, that when offered bread, sometimes people still want the stone.
From 1 Samuel 15.12–28, we observe the following. After erecting a monument to himself at Carmel, Saul met Samuel at Gilgal. Saul greeted Samuel and proclaimed he had done as God commanded. Given Saul was supposed to destroy the Amalekites, Samuel questioned why he could hear the bleating of sheep and the lowing of oxen. Saul justified his actions, stating that only the best livestock were spared for sacrifices while he had destroyed the rest.
Saul faced a stern rebuke from Samuel, who reminded him of his humble origins and God’s directive to annihilate the Amalekites. Samuel emphasized Saul’s disobedience in seizing the spoils, a direct violation of God’s command. Saul defended himself, insisting that he had obeyed God and completed his mission, shifting the blame onto the people for preserving the best livestock for sacrifices.
In response, Samuel delivered a profound message, declaring that obedience to God’s instructions outweighs the value of sacrifices. Saul’s insubordination and rebellion were exposed and equated with divination, a grave sin. Samuel announced that since Saul had rejected God’s word, God had reciprocated by rejecting Saul’s kingship.
Saul confessed his transgression and pleaded for mercy, admitting that he succumbed to public pressure out of fear. He begged Samuel for forgiveness and expressed his desire to worship God. However, in his refusal, Samuel asserted that because Saul had dismissed God’s word, God had rescinded Saul’s kingship. As Samuel left, Saul desperately grabbed at his robe, tearing it. According to Samuel, this symbolized God stripping Saul of his kingship in favor of a more deserving ruler.
The narrative of King Saul, serving as a potent cautionary tale about pride and disobedience, hinges on two pivotal events in the books of Samuel. Samuel credits Saul’s humble beginnings with his initial rise to kingship (v. 17). 1 Samuel 15.17–19 records Samuel’s critical observations, hinting at a drastic character shift with grave repercussions. Samuel’s inquiries into Saul’s behavior, which underscore his failure to carry out God’s command to exterminate the Amalekites, highlight a drastic deviation from obedience and the principles that initially defined his character.
In 1 Samuel 13.8–14, we encounter the first instance reflecting Saul’s shifting attitude. In haste, he performs the sacrifice, a task designated for priests. This incident glaringly showcases Saul’s audacious belief that he could usurp responsibilities not assigned to him and his flagrant disregard for God’s laws and timing. This choice sets a precedent for Saul’s subsequent disobedience, eventually losing his kingship and favor with God.
The second occurrence in 1 Samuel 15 provides deeper insight into Saul’s transformation. Saul brazenly disregards God’s command, sparing King Agag and the choicest livestock. His rationale that He intends to use the animals for sacrifice underscores his presumption that his judgment surpasses God’s. This act of rebellion exhibits Saul’s tendency to place his will before God’s and to rationalize his wrongdoings. These actions further strain his already deteriorating relationship with God.In conclusion, the story of King Saul serves as a potent reminder of the dangers of misusing power. While Saul’s story begins with him as a reluctant leader who exhibits humility, his rise to power ultimately results in his fall. The Bible does not inherently vilify power, but its misuse, as manifested in Saul’s arrogance and disobedience, is sternly critiqued. His downfall offers a stark lesson in humility, obedience, and the responsible use of power, contrasting his actions with those of subsequent faithful kings. The story’s moral underscores the need for humility, obedience, and respect for the law, regardless of one’s position of power. It teaches that no one should consider themselves above God’s laws that He has entrusted them to uphold.
The other week at our graduation party at the Scottsville church of Christ I was introduced to candied pecans. A lady gave me the leftovers and they were incredible. Sadly, they don’t sell those in Scottsville so I looked up a recipe. While I was at the store grabbing ingredients, I made my way to the baking section to look for vanilla. Problem was, I would have to get a mortgage to buy real vanilla. I didnt realize how expensive it was! Luckily I found a substitute called “imitation vanilla.” It’s way cheaper, and it tastes the same (to me), it looks the same, and it’s the same consistency.
We will never be Jesus, but we should try our best to imitate Him. Being a disciple means being a follower. A follower is, “someone who imitates another.” Ephesians 5:1 says, “Therefore be imitators (followers) of God, as beloved children.” Little kids tend to look to the older and imitate what they see. We are to act this way with God.
Why did God save us and add us to His family? So that we would be imitators and followers of God. Doing so takes submission and humility. Every person is a follower of something. You can submit to and imitate anyone or anything. God saved us so that we would choose to follow and imitate Him in everything.
Being a follower takes submission. Are we meek enough to accept the title of slave? God saved us so that we would be slaves to Him and work for the master. That’s how we can truly be disciples! I would rather be a slave in God’s house, than the master of my own.
If we wear the name Christian, we should be willing to follow Christ. His example is worth imitating!
I Timothy 1.5 is the purpose of teaching and Christianity in general: love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a genuine faith. Love from a pure heart doesn’t do good for others hoping to get something in return. It’s a love that’s selfless because that’s the right thing to do.
A good conscience doesn’t mean we feel extra guilty about bad things. In fact, emotion has little to do with συνειδήσεως (the word translated conscience). Conscience means an awareness of the difference between right and wrong. A good conscience means we act on our understanding of what is good.
A genuine (or sincere) faith is one that’s above any kind of scrutiny. A sincere faith isn’t hypocritical. To some extent, anyone who has any kind of standard for themselves is a hypocrite. We’re never going to live up to God’s standards of morality, but that doesn’t mean that hypocrisy defines us. The Pharisees were extremely legalistic, but had depraved lifestyles. That’s a hypocrite. A genuine faith is one that at least tries to meet the standard.
1.7 calls out the problem directly: there were members who were eager to teach but had no business doing so. This is, unfortunately, one of issues facing the church today. Many take the approach of emphasizing regulations and rules and prohibitions, which is what these bad influences were doing. The goal of our teaching is to cultivate love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. But this is not done by teaching just the thou-shalt-nots of Christianity, which we’ll see next week when we study verse nine.
“…a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet.The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.‘First let the children eat all they want,’ he told her, ‘for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the little dogs.’‘Lord,’ she replied, ‘even the little dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he told her, ‘For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.’”
In the 1st century, many Jews often referred to Gentiles as “dogs” in a very derogatory way. To the Greeks, the word dog meant a “shameless and audacious woman.” The term was used exactly the same way that the worldly use a word meaning “female dog” in the modern era. To the Jews it was equally a term of contempt.
Jesus did not use the normal word for “dogs” that the Jews used. Instead He softened it into little dogs (v.27) essentially reminding the woman of her place as a Gentile, yet not wanting to push her away.
“In Greek, diminutives are characteristically affectionate. A diminutive is a suffix which is added to a word to show affection or to indicate that something is small. For example, ‘-ie’ and ‘-ette’ are diminutives,” – (Clarke)
Today it would be like changing the word “dog” to “doggie.”
He softened a derogatory term so that she would understand what He was trying to say and not push her away.
Jesus took the sting out of His words.
Notice how she responds with acceptance. She refers to herself by using the same word “little dog.”
If the woman had responded, “Who are you calling a dog?” she would not have received from Jesus what her daughter needed.
Her humble,
faith-filled submission to Jesus brought the victory.
Nothing appealed to our Lord more than faith combined with humility.
Heb. 12:14
“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
If Jesus could avoid conflict— He did.
Ex: I Peter 2.23
“who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously”
Inevitably, every congregation of God’s people has an overriding emphasis. It’s probably the thing that the community, if it knows about them, associates them with. It could be the thing that the entire brotherhood associates them with. It’s almost certainly the thing those who attend there understand it to be. The same is true of you and me. It’s true of our families, our marriages, and our individual selves. Something is so important in our lives that it is what people think of when they think of us. What is that? What should it be?
Corinth had developed a reputation, as Chloe’s household reported, for quarreling (1:12). That was a problem! Paul is writing this letter, in part, to help them right the ship and move in the proper direction (1:10). How did he propose to do that?
WHAT NOT TO EMPHASIZE
Superiority Of Speech (1)–This was not going to help. His goal was proclaiming to them the testimony of God. Saying it in high, lofty ways would be a hindrance rather than a help. The remedy was much, much simpler.
Human Wisdom (1)–He has already told them why this was counterproductive. Human wisdom led to thinking the cross of Christ is foolish (1:22-23). Two, the “foolishness” of God (1:21) was wiser than men (1:25). Third, not many who are wise according to the flesh answer God’s call (1:26). Fourth, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise (1:27). Fifth, Jesus became wisdom from God to us (1:30). So often, the foundation of man’s capacity to understand and function from that understanding is faulty. Logic, reasoning, and understanding devoid of God’s wisdom is destined to destroy and divide.
Persuasive Words Of Wisdom (4-5)–If human wisdom is the cause, persuasive words of wisdom is the effect. Listen to the world’s experts in just about any discipline. If they do not ignore God’s plan and His way, they mock and ridicule it. They even rail against it. To those who refuse to take the time and effort to scrutinize those persuasive words, it may sound intelligent or at least adequate to build their lives on. Tragically, their persuasive words are spiritual sand (Mat. 7:24-27).
WHAT TO EMPHASIZE
Jesus Christ And Him Crucified (2)–Paul has laid the groundwork for this at the very beginning of the letter. When a people are known for divisiveness, they need to train their eyes on the crucified Lord. If we let His love and sacrifice dominate our thinking and focus, there is NO WAY we will let our selfish agenda, pride, or hunger to be in charge. This emphasis trumps being entertained, being unconditionally tolerant, being Pharisaical, being comfortable, or being a social club.
Demonstration Of The Spirit And Of Power (4)–What will happen if we base our plans, our budgets, and our works on what God can do through us? What if what we hear when we assemble for worship or get together for fellowship is God’s thoughts and ways? That’s what Paul wanted Corinth’s faith to be in.
The Wisdom Of God (5-9)–Human wisdom led Jesus to be crucified in the first place. God accomplished His eternal purpose through it, but the rulers of Jesus’ day did not kill Him on a cross with that understanding. It was God’s wisdom, revealed by the Spirit, that Paul is speaking about when he says, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him” (9). This quotation of Isaiah 64:4 is not a reference to heaven. Many have quoted 1 Corinthians 2:9 to say that heaven is going to be greater than anything we’ve seen, heard, or even dreamed of. That’s a true sentiment, but it is NOT what Paul is talking about here. He’s talking about something the Spirit has already revealed (10), the revelation of God’s Word. That must be our emphasis!
The Spirit’s Revelation (10-16)–This is what to preach and practice. Paul gives insight into the process that brought us Scripture. The Spirit searches the deep things of God (10), gives it to us (12), teaches us, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words (13), and reveals the mind of Christ (16). Jesus promised that this would come to fruition (John 14:26; 16:13), and this letter to Corinth was part of that process. How do we know what we SHOULD emphasize? We need to consult the “mind of Christ” found on the pages of the New Testament.
Wouldn’t it be great if our congregation, with every single member in it, had the reputation in our brotherhood and our community as a people so full of the saving message of Jesus and Him crucified that it consumed our thinking and actions and drove our purpose and our mission? I want to be able to say with integrity, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”
Unveiling Sheol: Exploring the Depths of the Old Testament’s Concept of the Afterlife
During my junior year at Faulkner University, I enrolled in Hebrew classes. Unfortunately, I had to miss a semester due to illness. Because of the rotational nature of the Biblical languages courses at Faulkner, I took Greek when I returned and only passed thanks to Dr. Carl Cheatham’s grace. Because the documents of the Christian faith are written in Koine Greek, knowing the language makes more sense. However, I’ve always been interested in archaeology and Old Testament history. I still wish I could have barely passed Hebrew instead.
Consequently, I always like to plumb the depths of Jewish scholarship, tempering it with my Christian worldview. The idea that the Greek Hadean realm influenced the Christian concept of the afterlife has always piqued my interest, even though I know it is incorrect. People will say the Old Testament presents no such ideas about the afterlife. Yet that is not true. There is one word that one encounters particularly within the poetry section of the Old Testament: Sheol. The King James Version calls it “the grave.” Unfortunately, the King James translators ruined the tapestry’s richness by rendering it generically.
Sometimes the context tells you that the realm of the dead being discussed is associated with the concept of destruction. This association makes it sound like Tartarus (translated “hell” in 2 Peter 2.4) in Hades . This possibility becomes apparent when you pair Abaddon with it, as in Proverbs 27.20.
“Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.” (NASB95)
Proverbs 27 extols virtues such as humility, wise decision-making, healthy relationships, self-control, and diligent stewardship as keys to a fruitful life. In verse 20, Solomon compares this life and one where greed rules. Greed has the same appetite as Sheol and Abaddon.
Indeed, such concepts denote a location, but they take on a personification akin to our true adversary, who roams the earth seeking whom he may devour (cf. 1 Peter 5.8). As a result, by the time one reaches the end of the New Testament, assuming that John’s Apocalypse was the last book written, he finds Abaddon and his Greek counterpart Apollyon as rulers of the abyss (Revelation 9.11).
I understand that Revelation is difficult for modern readers to comprehend fully, but it is simple to imagine this figure as the devil. It is not my intention to delve into the interpretation of Revelation here. To summarize, there is no need to read a future yet to-be-realized into this text as if there were some nebulous end times ahead of us. Because these concepts are associated with destruction, more than one commentator has pointed out that they could easily describe the actions of Christians’ persecutors that resulted in their deaths. And as the angel told John at the outset of his Revelation, these things would shortly occur (Revelation 1.2-3; 22.10). As a result, rather than a demonic figure or a fallen angel, the rulers of destruction could have been imperial Rome’s rulers.
However, when Sheol appears alone, it refers to the concept of the realm of the dead. For example, when Joseph’s brothers convinced their father Jacob that a wild animal had killed him, Jacob tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. Jacob warned his family that his mourning would send him “down to Sheol” (Genesis 37.35 NASB95). Jacob uses a trip to Sheol to suggest his mourning will kill him.
Hebrew is a unique language because it lacks vowels. As a result, assigning vowel sounds is dependent on the diacritical marks Jesus referred to as “tittles” or “strokes” (Matthew 5.18). As a result, you have some pairings that can mean different things depending on where one places those strokes. In other words, changing the vowel sounds creates an entirely different word or meaning. Therefore, we can reduce Sheol to “shin-aleph-lamed.” In this case, the root is aleph-lamed,” which one uses as a negation word. As a result, Sheol would be a place of nothingness or belonging to nothingness.
This understanding does not refer to the atheistic belief that after death, one becomes like the dog Rover: dead all over. Instead, it demonstrates that current opportunities are no longer available. Consider Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 9.10:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” (NASB95)
That understanding fits well with what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 9.27. We have a date with death, and then we will be judged. The implication is that there are no actions we can take after death to change our fate.
Returning to the concept of “shin-aleph-lamed,” the word means “to ask.” When the Israelites left Egypt, they were to ask their neighbors for gold and silver articles (Exodus 3.22). With this new dimension to Sheol, we get the idea of the earth reclaiming what God took away when he created man (cf. Genesis 2.7). It reminds us of the fleeting nature of life, that we are like vapors appearing only for a brief moment (James 4.14). As a result, as Moses stated in Psalm 90.12, we must learn to number our days. As Paul puts it, we must redeem our time (Ephesians 5.15–17).If there is an overarching theme to this brief discussion of Sheol, it is not to impress you with my research but to encourage you to go deeper in your study of God’s word. Simple tools such as Greek and Hebrew lexicons, Bible dictionaries, and reliable commentaries can help you extract far more value from the scriptures than a casual reading. And sometimes, a better understanding of even the most straightforward words can change your entire perspective on life and death.
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