THE LORD SPOKE (May 14)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: I Kings 2

I Kings 2:1-4

A man's last words on earth ought to be significant. We've all read the records of deathbed statements. Some have spoken foolishness. Others have left a profound reminder that life is short and must be lived well. Frequently, those parting words are heavily freighted with counsel and encouragement to do what is right, learned from the speaker's own experience. It might be, "do what's right, because I've learned how good it is to do so" or it may be, "don't make the mistakes I've made; learn to do what is right".

David's last words are recorded for us in I Kings 2 and they are, indeed, very significant:

• "observe what the Lord requires" - The prophet Micah answers, in part, this question very directly: "He has showed you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8). That will keep you busy for the rest of your days! Define justice. Practice mercy. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.
• "walk in His ways" - Paul encourages us to "find out what pleases the Lord" (Eph. 5:10). Have you discovered something of this for yourself? There are many indicators in Scripture, but in our personal friendship with God, He also gives us individual guidance as to how we should walk with Him. His Word is a "lamp for our path", showing the way to walk. His Spirit is a Guide, leading us on the path of truth.
• "keep His decrees, commands, laws, and requirements as written in the Law of Moses" - This constituted the whole of Scripture when David spoke these words. If he were to speak today, he would have included the remainder of the OT and the NT. So, how are you doing? Does God's Word provide the pattern for your every thought and deed? Are you reading it daily? Do your actions demonstrate an awareness of and a desire to follow every word of God? Is the Bible your only rule of faith and practice?

Personal Note:

Mom tells me that some of the last words she heard Dad speak on earth on June 2, 1980, were, "I sure wish we could make it through II Samuel." What a godly heritage he left me. A love for Scripture and a desire to hear the Lord speak.

What will be your last words on earth? Do you have a message worth leaving?


New Testament: I Corinthians 1

There are only two places where the phrase “the church of God” appears in Scripture - here in I Corinthians 1:2 and in Acts 20:28. Paul is also the one speaking in the Acts passage and he refers to the fact that the Lord purchased the church “with His own blood”. Here He refers to the church at Corinth and says they are “sanctified in Christ Jesus”.

The church as Corinth? Sanctified? What follows in this book would hardly be a picture of sanctification. But that’s our problem exactly. We’ve come to think that sanctification is the result of living a holy life. Not so! Sanctification is first and foremost a setting apart for the Lord’s use. We are “made holy”. It is a positional sanctification wherein we are declared holy through faith in what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.

That is followed by a progressive sanctification which the Holy Spirit accomplishes in us. As our conduct is corrected and conformed to His image, we begin to display the fruits of the Spirit. We can resist Him and not progress in that sanctification or we can submit to Him and see the results of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control blossom in our lives (Gal. 5:22-23).

That’s the second part of the phrase here in I Corinthians 1:2 - “sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy”. It is our job to be holy. We can’t begin to do it on our own but He has “given us everything we need for life and godliness” (II Pet. 1:3).

Peter adds his own list of the fruits of the Spirit in what follows:

...Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:5-11)