THE LORD SPOKE (July 1)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Chronicles 21-22

"He passed away to no one's regret." (II Chron. 21:20)

What a sad epitaph! It's often quite instructive to visit a cemetery just to read the gravestones. Besides the general reminder that the death rate is still one-to-one, you can frequently find some pearls of wisdom carved in the stone. How much more important that we be carving wisdom into our daily lives - wisdom that will outlast our life on this earth and have a continuing effect on others. Our children, for example.

How often in these pages of Chronicles do we read that a son did not follow the Lord as his father had done but walked in the way of some bad example. Here for instance, Jehoram rejected the good example of his father Jehoshaphat. Instead, "he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel" (II Chron. 21:6). Actually, if you go back and look, there were some cracks in the dike back then. Though Jehoshaphat did reasonably well and amazingly better than some of his predecessors, there were some growing errors in his life that served as a poor example to his son Jehoram.

II Chron. 18:1 - "he allied himself with Ahab by marriage"

• II Chron. 21:6 - Jehoram "married a daughter of Ahab"

II Chron. 18:28 - "so the king of Israel [Ahab] and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead" (this, in spite of the prophet Micaiah's clear word from the Lord against this move - 18:16-24)

• II Chron. 21:10 - Jehoram also lost battles because he "had forsaken the Lord, the God of his fathers"

II Chron. 19:2,35 - God sent a prophet, Jehu-ben Hanani, to ask Jehoshaphat "should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?" yet he went ahead and "made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel who was guilty of wickedness".

• II Chron. 21:12-13 - Jehoram received a letter from the prophet Elijah warning him to mend his ways and yet he "led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did".

So Jehoram, by God's decree (II Chron. 21:14-15), ended up seeing nearly his entire family killed, his palace and possessions ransacked, and was himself struck "with an incurable disease of the bowels...[until] his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain" (21:17-18).

How much better to pursue "a life well-lived"!


New Testament: Colossians 4

Paul had lots of friends. In nearly all his books he closes with words of commendation and/or counsel, naming various individuals. Sometimes names are repeated from book to book (e.g. Timothy) but frequently we run into a dozen or more new names. Sometimes that one reference is all we know about that person. Won’t it be great to meet all these people in heaven and hear the rest of the story?

Some of those mentioned spent time traveling with Paul and ministering in other places. Of these, some were native to the place Paul is writing (e.g. Onesimus and Epaphras; Col. 4:9,12). Others may have spent some time working in that place (e.g. Tychicus; Col. 4:7). Still others passed through with Paul on one or more of his journeys and must have grown close to the recipients of the letter during those visits (e.g. Mark and Luke; Col. 4:10,14). Some even spent time in jail with him (e.g. Aristarchus; Col. 4:10).

Who was Archippus (Col. 4:17)? Was he a local pastor at Colossee? Laodicea? Hierapolis? Was he doing a good job and needed some encouragement? Or was he falling down on the job and needed a slight rebuke?

Some of Paul’s companions are better known to us through other Scriptures (some were even contributors to Holy Writ!). For example:

• Onesimus (Col. 4:9) - the slave that ran away from Philemon and prompted Paul’s letter; now he’s a “faithful and dear brother”
• Mark (Col. 4:10) - mentioned as “the cousin of Barnabas” and known from Acts as part of the household where the early believers in Jerusalem met; a companion and disappointment to Paul on his first missionary journey but later with Paul in Rome and recognized as very helpful to him in his ministry; author of the second Gospel (which was according to Peter)
• Luke (Col. 4:14) - “the beloved physician” and author of the third Gospel; a frequent companion of Paul on his missionary journeys (witness the “we passages” of Acts)
• Demas (Col. 4:14) - also mentioned in Philemon 24 but, sadly, deserted Paul in his last imprisonment (II Tim. 4:10)

Often words of commendation are directed to local believers. For example, we learn here that Nympha had opened up her home in Laodicea (for Bible studies?) which had developed into a domus ecclesia (house church).

What a gallery of interesting portraits. You can find many more at the end of Romans, I Corinthians, II Timothy, Titus, and scattered elsewhere. What a great day it will be to meet them all and hear their stories. In the meantime, better get out your map and learn what you can about where they lived and traveled. You wouldn’t want to miss out on details because you hadn’t done your homework!

THE LORD SPOKE (November 28)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Daniel 1

To survive in a foreign land, you need...

(1) companions (vs. 6-7) - From day one, God did not make us to stand alone. We function best in groups of two or more. The team concept is well established throughout Scripture (e.g. Jesus and his disciples; Paul and his ministry teams in Acts) and is a principle wisely followed on the mission field. Daniel and his friends were stronger because they had each other.

(2) convictions (vs. 8) - These are an anchor for the soul when “doubts and fears assail”. You better have them before you need them because they’re not easy to acquire on the battlefield. They come from a steady walk with the Lord, grounded in His Word.

(3) courage (vs. 12) - Trials will come; that’s never in question. Will your anchor hold? The courage and will to go on comes from strong convictions and grows in direct proportion to your relationship with the Lord, for He is the only legitimate source of life-sustaining courage.

(4) consistency (vs. 15) - Dependable, persistent, steadfast, undeviating, true, unfailing, responsible, constant, faithful, tried-and-true, stable, trustworthy - sounds like someone you’d want as a friend, doesn’t it? God also is pleased with these character qualities.

(5) confidence in God - Underlying the whole chapter, this is the secret of success! If we trust in man or in ourselves, we will probably fail. Confidence in the Lord will be rewarded every time.

The book of Daniel is not a “missionary text” but it certainly has some applications. Even the qualities which Nebuchadnezzar looked for in choosing the Hebrew servants (1:4) are very similar to any missionary manual you might pick up on the subject of qualifications for foreign service. Thankfully, God does make many notable exceptions at this point and has found ways to use many supposedly unqualified servants. Nevertheless, like Daniel and his companions, a good missionary candidate should have...

• youthful vigor
• good health and physical condition
• a congenial, out-going personality
• a high IQ
• a solid general education
• an ability to learn quickly and to adapt to new circumstances
• specific training for the task at hand
• a grasp of the language and literature (= culture!) of the people he’s working with

In missionary service, perhaps the primary qualification is a willingness to go. Daniel and his friends didn’t volunteer for their “foreign service” but, once in Babylon, they didn’t look back. Sure, they longed for home but they dedicated themselves to the task at hand. Will you?


Psalms 145-146

The hallelujah chorus has started. All the psalms from 146 through 150 begin and end with “Praise the Lord”. Every aspect of creation, using every kind of instrument, at every time and occasion, during every moment of life is called to praise the Lord. Here in Psalm 146, the psalmist proclaims he’ll continue to do so for as long as he lives (Ps. 146:2).

He praises God as CREATOR (vs. 6). The Maker of heaven and earth is steadfast and secure. He is our helper so our home is in Him. Because He “remains faithful forever” we have nothing to fear. Unlike every other prince (vs. 3) or object of trust, His Spirit never departs. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His plans are eternal and unfailing.

He praises the Lord as LIBERATOR (vs. 7). Because God “loves the righteous”, He “upholds”, “sets free”, and “lifts up” those who honor Him and put their trust in Him. He “sets prisoners free”. Whatever it is that binds you - a sin-marred past, a guilty conscience, a debilitating habit - He is able and desiring to liberate you if you’ll but ask Him.

He praises Jehovah as PROVIDER (vs. 8-9). The Lord delights in the weak and the needy - the “oppressed”, “hungry”, “prisoners”, “blind”, “bowed down”, “alien”, “fatherless”, and “widow”. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and He will surely care for you.

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of thy throne,
Still may we dwell secure;
Sufficient is thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting, thou art God,
To endless years the same.

Isaac Watts