God is our Strength

Habakkuk 3: 19 (KJV)

¹⁹ The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

 

The expressions are of a highly metaphorical and imaginative character, but they admit of being brought down to very plain facts, and they tell us the results in heart and mind of true faith and communion with God. This is an imitation, if not a quotation, from Ps.18:32-33. The prophet does not inwardly only exult and triumph in God, but he confesses also in words of praise, that in Him he hath all things, that He is All things in him. And as he had confessed the Father, under the Name whereby He revealed Himself to Moses, and the Son, “the Lord God of my salvation,” so he confesses God the Holy Ghost, who, in us, is our strength. “He is our strength,” so that through Him, we can do all things; “He is our strength,” so that without Him, we can do nothing; “He is our strength,” so that when we put forth strength, we put forth nothing of our own, we add nothing of our own, we use not our own strength, of which we have none, but we do use His; and we have It ever ready to use, as if it were our own. For it is not our own and it is our own; not our own, i. e., not from or of ourselves; but our own, since It is in us, yea “He the Lord our God is our strength,” not without us, for He is our strength, but in us. 

 

The prophet does not inwardly only exult and triumph in God, but he confesses also in words of praise, that in Him he hath all things, that He is All things in him. And as he had confessed the Father, under the Name whereby He revealed Himself to Moses, and the Son, “the Lord God of my salvation,” so he confesses God the Holy Ghost, who, in us, is our strength. “He is our strength,” so that through Him, we can do all things; “He is our strength,” so that without Him, we can do nothing; “He is our strength,” so that when we put forth strength, we put forth nothing of our own, we add nothing of our own, we use not our own strength, of which we have none, but we do use His; and we have It ever ready to use, as if it were our own. For it is not our own and it is our own; not our own, i. e., not from or of ourselves; but our own, since It is in us, yea “He the Lord our God is our strength,” not without us, for He is our strength, but in us. 

 

Our strength does not lie within us. The Lord is our strength – Psa.27:1; Isa.40:31; Phil. 4:13. And though this strength is inward, and used by man, still God who gives it, Himself guides it. Not that man shall “direct his own ways,” but “He will make me to walk (as on a plain way) upon my high place.” Steep and slippery places and crags of the reeks are but ways to the safe height above, to those whom God makes to walk on them; and since he has passed all things earthly, what are his high places, but the heavenly places, even his home, even while a pilgrim here, but now at the end, much more his home, when not in hope only, but in truth, he is “raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus?” Ephesians 2:6) When we are unable to stand, He enables us. When we can’t go on, He helps us. When we are in the deep valley; He leads us to higher ground.

 

Have a great and godly day!

 

Pastor C

Comfort One Another

1 Thessalonians 5: 11

¹¹ Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

When Handel’s oratorio of the Messiah had won the admiration of many of the great, Lord Kinnoul took occasion to pay him some compliments on the noble entertainment he had given the town. “My lord,” said the composer, “I should be sorry if I only entertained them: I wish to make them better.” It is to be feared that many speechmakers at public meetings could not say as much; and yet how dare any of us waste the time of our fellow immortals in mere amusing talk! If we have nothing to speak to edification, how much better to hold our tongue. (C. H. Spurgeon.) 

Paul had laid before them many comfortable truths, which they were to comfort one another by; and if we read the words, exhort one another, it refers to the necessary duties of religion he had mentioned in this and the foregoing chapter. The apostle had used this expression “comfort yourself together” in 1 Thessalonians 4:18. All that he has said since, concerning the time of Christ’s coming, and the necessity of preparing for it, is to be looked upon as a parenthesis, or digression, though an exceedingly proper and useful one: and here, by his using this expression again, he shows that he is returning to where he left off, and closing this part of his Epistle. These words are an exhortation to the whole church of Thessalonica, to comfort and edify one another. Though the ministry is appointed to this by especial office, yet private Christians are to practice it to one another; the former doth it in way of authority, the latter in a way of charity.

It is the same word that we had in the close of the preceding chapter, and which we rendered comfort, because the context required it, and the same would not suit ill with this passage also. For what he has treated of previously furnishes matter of both — of consolation as well as of exhortation. He bids them therefore, communicate to one another what has been given them by the Lord. He adds, that they may edify one another — that is, may confirm each other in that doctrine. Lest, however, it might seem as if he reproved them for carelessness, he says at the same time that they of their own accord did what he enjoins. But, as we are slow to what is good, those that are the most favorably inclined of all, have always, nevertheless, need to be stimulated.

Therefore it is important that we understand that the responsibility of Christians is to do, practice, say and engage in only those things that contribute constructively to the building up (the figure is that of a building) of fellow Christians. It is not enough merely to refrain from saying what will discourage or damage another, or from practicing what will offend another, or from doing what may tempt another. The mandate is to do what will help the spiritual life and growth of fellow-Christians. This sure hope is a sound basis for mutual encouragement and edification among believers. Not only can we comfort one another when believers die ( 1 Thessalonians 4:18), but we can also strengthen one another while we live.

Have a great and God filled day!

Pastor C

Honor God, NOT Man

Isaiah 29:13 (KJV)

¹³ Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

 

The flippant references about God and lack of respect for authority that are rampant in our culture reflect the primal sin of not giving honor to the Creator. Unfortunately, even those of us in the church are not entirely guiltless when it comes to these sins. We must therefore seek to use the name of the Lord honorably at all times and show the proper deference to our leaders in both the tone of our speech and our deeds.—Anonymous.

 

This paragraph registers still further complaints against Israel. Their religion is not sincere. He shows that the people have deserved this punishment chiefly on account of their hypocrisy and superstitions. When he says that “they draw near with the mouth and the lips,” he describes their hypocrisy. Sure, they still sing the old songs and repeat the terminology of worshiping God; but their hearts are simply not in it at all. One cannot avoid the fear that today there must be some worship of God that falls into the pattern of what is condemned here. “Their religion had become a mere formality.” Jesus Christ reiterated the thought here in Mark 7:6,7. 

 

As is pointed out, it is sufficiently evident, that those who learn from “the inventions of men” how they should worship God, not only are manifestly foolish, but wear themselves out by destructive toil, because they do nothing else than provoke God’s anger; for he could not testify more plainly than by the tremendous severity of this chastisement, how great is the abhorrence with which he regards false worship. The flesh reckons it to be improper that God should not only reckon as worthless, but even punish severely, the efforts of those who, through ignorance and error, weary themselves in attempts to appease God; but we ought not to wonder if he thus maintains his authority. Christ himself explains this passage, saying, “In vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines, and the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:9.) 

 

We are to study Jesus Christ “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart.” We are to copy his example, not only in its dignity and power and lustre, but in its condescension, humility, gentleness, tearfulness, and infinite kindness. There is a way of administering reproach which misses its very object; there is a way of speaking the right word which turns it, for all practical purposes, into the wrong word. Song of Solomon, then, it must be to Christ we come, and in Christ’s school we study. Lord, help us to speak from the height of thy Cross! Knowing the mystery of love in thy love, may our lips say the right word in the right way, and thus save souls from death and turn many to righteousness! 

 

We need to remember that we live to do His will, and to promote His glory. This is the grand purpose of the life of the Christian. Other people live to gratify themselves; the Christian to do those things which the Lord requires. In Romans 14: 9 we see the phrase “the Lord”. Here the apostle evidently intends the Lord Jesus; and the truth taught here is, that it is the leading and grand purpose of the Christian to do honor to the Savior. It is this which constitutes His special character, and which distinguishes Him from other people. It is not too difficult to see how the lack of honor for the Creator leads to other sins. After all, human beings are made to worship, and we cannot help but honor someone or something. If our honor is not directed to the Lord who made all that exists, then it is going to be directed to something else. This makes us guilty of idolatry. 

 

Have a great and godly day!

 

Pastor C

A God of Order

1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

 

 “Storms can bring fear, cloud judgment, and create confusion. Yet God promises that as you seek Him through prayer, He will give you wisdom to know how to proceed. The only way you will survive the storm will be on your knees.”  Paul Chappell

 

This adds another dimension to Paul’s picture of the Corinthian assembles: they were scandalous examples of utter and complete confusion. Was God the author of it? Certainly not! Is he the author of similar confusion in our own times? Certainly not! Who is the author of such confusion? Both then and now the author is Satan. Paul here appeals to them, and says that this was the fact wherever the true religion was spread, that it tended to produce peace and order. The apostle calls such conduct tumult, sedition; and such it is in the sight of God, and in the sight of all good men. How often is a work of God marred and discredited by the folly of men! For nature will always and Satan too, mingle themselves as far as they can in the genuine work of the Spirit, in order to discredit and destroy it. Nevertheless, in great revivals of religion it is almost impossible to prevent wild – fire from getting in among the true fire; but it is the duty of the ministers of God to watch against and prudently check this; but if themselves encourage it, then there will be confusion and every evil work.

 

As it has been observed and noted, this is as true now as it was then. And we may learn, therefore, “that where there is disorder, there is little religion. Religion does not produce it; and the tendency of tumult and confusion is to drive religion away. True religion will not lead to tumult, to outcries, or to irregularity. It will not prompt many to speak or pray at once; nor will it justify tumultuous and noisy assemblages. Christians should regard God as the author of peace. They should always in the sanctuary demean themselves in a reverent manner and with such decorum as becomes people when they are in the presence of a holy and pure God, and engaged in his worship.”

Also as Calvin pointed out, “we must understand the word Author, or some term of that kind. He noted that here lies a most valuable statement, by which we are taught, that we do not serve God unless in the event of our being lovers of peace, and eager to promote it. Whenever, therefore, there is a disposition to quarrel, there, it is certain, God does not reign. And how easy it is to say this! How very generally all have it in their mouths! Yet, in the meantime, the most of persons fly into a rage about nothing, or they trouble the Church, from a desire that they may, by some means, rise into view, and may seem to be somewhat. (Galatians 2:6.) 

 

Let not the persons who act in the congregation in this disorderly manner, say, that they are under the influence of God; for He is not the author of confusion; but two, three, or more, praying or teaching in the same place, at the same time, is confusion; and God is not the author of such work; and let men beware how they attribute such disorder to the God of order and peace. Let us, therefore, bear in mind, that, in judging as to the servants of Christ, this mark must be kept in view whether or not they aim at peace and concord, and, by conducting themselves peaceably, avoid contentions to the utmost of their power, provided, however, we understand by this a peace of which the truth of God is the bond. For if we are called to contend against wicked doctrines, even though heaven and earth should come together, we must, nevertheless, persevere in the contest. 

 

“Confusion and impotence are the inevitable results when the wisdom and resources of the world are substituted for the presence and power of the Spirit.”  Samuel Chadwick

 

Have a great and godly day!

 

Pastor C

Be Kind

Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Kindness is not weakness, it is being human–CM 

“A roughness of manners is to some unavoidable; it is partly owing to the peculiar texture of their mind, and partly to their education. But there are others who glory in, and endeavor to cultivate, this ungentle disposition; under this is often concealed a great degree of spiritual pride, and perhaps some malignity; for they think that this roughness gives them a right to say grating, harsh, and severe things.”— A. Clarke 

Here we find that the exhortations given in this chapter, if properly attended to, have the most direct tendency to secure the peace of the individual, the comfort of every family, and the welfare and unity of every Christian society. He recommends to us to be tender-hearted This will lead us not only to sympathize with the distresses of our brethren, as if they were our own, but to cultivate that true humanity which is affected by everything that happens to them, in the same manner as if we were in their situation. The contrary of this is the cruelty of those iron-hearted, barbarous men, by whom the sufferings of others are beheld without any concern whatever. That God never prohibits any thing that is useful to us, is an unshaken truth. And that he never commands what has not the most pointed relation to our present and eternal welfare, is not less so. How is it, then, that we do not glory in his commandments and rejoice in his prohibitions? If the gratification of our fleshly propensities could do us good, that gratification had never been forbidden. God plants thorns in the way that would lead us to death and perdition.

It has been tried and proven that Christianity produces true courteousness, or politeness. It does not make one rough, crabby, or sour; nor does it dispose its followers to violate the proper rules of social contact. The secret of true politeness is “benevolence,” or a desire to make others happy; and a Christian should be the most polite of people. There is no religion in a sour, misanthropic temper; none in rudeness, stiffness, and repulsiveness; none in violating the rules of good breeding. There is a hollow-hearted politeness, indeed, which the Christian is not to aim at or copy. His politeness is to be based on “kindness;” Colossians 3:12. His courtesy is to be the result of love, good-will, and a desire of the happiness of all others; and this will prompt to the kind of conduct that will render his conversation. with others agreeable and profitable.

It is very important especially for Christians to understand that it is the will of God to properly instructed; that they should become wise and intelligent; and have their understandings well cultivated and improved. Sound learning is of great worth, even in religion; the wisest and best instructed Christians are the most steady, and may be the most useful. If a man be a child in knowledge, he is likely to be tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine; and often lies at the mercy of interested, designing men: the more knowledge he has, the more safe is his state. If our circumstances be such that we have few means of improvement, we should turn them to the best account. “Partial knowledge is better than total ignorance; he who cannot get all he may wish, must take heed to acquire all that he can.” If total ignorance be a bad and dangerous thing, every degree of knowledge lessens both the evil and the danger. It must never be forgotten that the Holy Scriptures themselves are capable of making men wise unto salvation, if read and studied with faith in Christ. 

Let the rule be observed, “As God has forgiven you, so do you forgive others.” Let a man recollect his own sins and follies; let him look over his life, and see how often he has offended God; let him remember that all has been forgiven; and then, fresh with this feeling, let him go and meet an offending brother, and say, “My brother, I forgive you. As Christ has forgiven me; so I forgive you. The offence shall be no more remembered. It shall not be referred to in our contact to harrow up your feelings; it shall not diminish my love for you; it shall not prevent my uniting with you in doing good. Christ treats me, a poor sinner, as a friend; and so I will treat you.”

Have a great and godly day!

Pastor C

Confidence in God NOT Man

Psalm 9:10 (KJV)

¹⁰ And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

 

It is said Man, whilst ignorant of God, is always leaning on an arm of flesh. See God’s ancient people, how continually were even they, notwithstanding all their advantages, trusting in the creature, rather than in God. To Egypt or Assyria they looked, in their troubles, rather than to their heavenly protector. Indeed, there was not anything on which they would not rely, rather than on God (Isaiah 22:8-11). But, when they were made sensible of their folly, and had discovered the real character of God, they instantly renounced all these false confidences, saying, “Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in Thee the fatherless findeth mercy. (Hosea 14:3).

In the tenth verse, the Psalmist teaches us, that when the Lord delivers the righteous, the fruit which results from it is, that they themselves, and all the rest of the righteous, acquire increasing confidence in His grace; for, unless we are fully persuaded that God exercises a care about men and human affairs, we must necessarily be troubled with constant disquietude. But as most men shut their eyes that they may not see the judgments of God, David restricts this advantage to the faithful alone, and, certainly, where there is no godliness, there is no sense of the works of God. It is also to be observed, that he attributes to the faithful the knowledge of God; because from this religion proceeds, whereas it is extinguished through the ignorance and stupidity of men. Many take the name of God simply for God himself; but, as I have observed in a remark on a preceding psalm, I think something more is expressed by this term. As God’s essence is hidden and incomprehensible, His name just means His character, so far as He has been pleased to make it known to us. David next explains the ground of this trust in God to be, that He does not forsake those who seek Him. God is sought in two ways, either by invocation and prayers, or by studying to live a holy and an upright life; and, indeed, the one is always inseparably joined with the other. But as the Psalmist is here treating of the protection of God, on which the safety of the godly depends, to seek God, as I understand it, is to submit ourselves to Him for help and relief in danger and distress. It is all about trust!

Few words are more frequently used in the Bible than the word faith, and the thing which it is intended to describe is of prime importance. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews devotes an entire chapter to showing its majesty and weight. In the Epistle to the Romans the word faith plays a leading part, but the word is not defined. Still, the word is not always used in the same sense. Sometimes it is applied to what a man believes, the body of doctrine which constitutes the Divine deposit of the Church. Sometimes the word is used to describe the firmness of a man’s personal convictions, or the consistency of his conduct, as when it is said that whatever is not of faith is sin. In the great majority of instances, however, faith describes a personal relation of unqualified confidence between man and God. This is the simple root from which the other forms of faith grow. Faith is trust, a trust without suspicion or fear, trust passing into glad and habitual surrender, so that He in whom we trust becomes our teacher, guide, and master. 

The idea of this psalm is that is, all who have any just views of God, or who understand his real character, will confide in him. This is as much as to say, that He has a character which is worthy of confidence and since they who know Him best most unreservedly rely on Him. It is the same as saying that all the revelations of His character in His word and works are such as to make it proper to confide in Him. The more intimate our knowledge of God, the more entirely shall we trust in Him; the more we learn of His real character, the more shall we see that He is worthy of universal love. It is much to say of anyone that the more He is known the more He will be loved; and in saying this of God, it is but saying that one reason why men do not confide in Him is that they do not understand His real character. As Micah pointed out, our God is a God of mercy, justice and humility. He is also a Peacemaker and those that follow Him must demonstrate those qualities as well.

 

Have a great and godly day!

Pastor C

Workers Needed

Matt. 9:37 (KJV)
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.

As if Christ had said, “There is a great number of people that are willing and prepared to receive instructions, but there are but few who are able to instruct these poor people in the ways of righteousness and truth; therefore pray and plead with God, that He would provide skillful and faithful ministers to be sent out to preach the gospel throughout the world.”

Christ here asked His disciples to pray for that which He Himself was about to initiate, namely, the sending forth of more witnesses to the truth of the kingdom. The sending forth of the Twelve was Jesus’ own response to the marvelous opportunity for reaping a great harvest of souls. Significantly, Christ asked the disciples to pray about it; and he himself continued all night in prayer before naming the Twelve (Luke 6:12,13). In view of this, should Christ’s disciples today undertake any project without prayer for guidance and blessing? If Jesus leaned so heavily upon the arm of prayer, how much more should his disciples ask, and seek, and knock to obtain that providential support, without which every human endeavor must inevitably come to naught?

The old preacher Vance Havner used to say, “The tragedy of our time is that the situation is desperate but the saints are not.” We are living in desperate times. And desperate times demand action. We are living in a time when little boys kill little girls, teenagers take out their revenge on other teenagers, people steal and cheat and kill because they simply demand their own way. We live in a lost and broken world that is desperate for the good news of Jesus Christ.

The question is do we care enough about them and want to see them saved by the grace of God. I pray that we may never come to the place where we are okay or become complacent with their condition. I pray that we may come to the place where we become willing to go into the harvest and reap is for Jesus sake!

“If there be any one point in which the Christian church ought to keep its fervor at a white heat, it is concerning missions. If there be anything about which we cannot tolerate lukewarmness, it is the matter of sending the gospel to a dying world.” ~ Charles Spurgeon.

Have a Great and God filled Day

Pastor C

Over-comers through Christ

Romans 8:37 (KJV)
37Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Here is a glorious vision indeed. Paul is so confident that he speaks of the future as if it were present (Romans 8:30). His lips are touched with the power and the sweetness of the eternal song. He dreams a golden dream that he is home at last, and his feet are standing within the gates of the New Jerusalem.

The former words being inserted in a parenthesis, these are an answer to the question in Romans 8:35, “what shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation?” &. “nay”, it shall not, nor any of the other things mentioned: “in all these things”; afflictions, distresses, persecutions, famine, nakedness, sword, or any other thing of the same kind.

It is possible to overcome, and yet obtain no advantage from the contest, nay, to find the victory a loss. But the Christian not only vanquishes, he is also a gainer by the assault of his enemy. It is better for him than if he had not been called to suffer. He is a gainer and a conqueror, both in the immediate fruits of his sufferings, as God overrules them for his good, bringing him forth from the furnace as gold refined, and also in their final issue; for ‘our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.’ The term conquerors remind us that the life of a believer is a warfare, in which he is called to combat, both within and without. We may remark, too, the difference between the judgment of God, and the judgment of men, respecting the victory of believers. In the world, persecutors and oppressors are judged as the conquerors; but here, those are pronounced to be such, who are oppressed and persecuted. They are the servants of Him whom the world put to death, but who said to His disciples, ‘Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’ Through Him that loved us. The Apostle says that we are more than conquerors, not through Him that loves us, but through Him that loved us, using the past time, thus directing our attention to Christ dying for us.

We gain the victory. That is, they have not power to subdue us; to alienate our love and confidence; to produce apostasy. We are the victors, not they. Our faith is not destroyed; our love is not diminished; our hope is not blasted. But it is not simple victory; it is not mere life, and continuance of what we had before; it is more than simple triumph; it augments our faith, increases our strength, expands our love to Christ. The word used here is a strong, emphatic expression, such as the apostle Paul often employs (2 Corinthians 4:17), and which is used with great force and appropriateness here.

Let us learn that in all our trials and troubles, our Christian strength lies in Christ, and not in ourselves; all our strength for victory over sin, all our strength for victory over suffering, is all received from Christ, is all to be attributed and ascribed to Christ; the strength of every saint, yea, the whole host of saint, lies in the Lord of hosts.

Have a Great and God filled Day

Pastor C

Christ Provision is Enough

Ecclesiastes 6:9 (KJV)
9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

As some sense it, “Better it is to overlook dainty dishes than to overcharge the stomach with them; to fill the eyes than the belly; to gratify that than to pamper this: though that is a vanity too in the issue, and may prove a vexation of spirit – may breed inward inquietation; the best that can come of it is repentance and self-revenge.”

The third and last proof, contained in this and the two preceding verses, is taken from the insatiableness of men’s’ wishes, whereby they are made miserable even when they get the utmost of what they can reasonably wish for. It is a vain and foolish thing to give a loose to your desires, instead of being satisfied with what you at present enjoy; since, whatever you may wish for, it is impossible for you personally to enjoy more than what your constitution will bear; and that is very little, properly speaking, beyond the necessaries of life, which are enjoyed by every man upon earth, whether his wishes be extensive or not.

By “the sight of the eyes” is not meant the bare beholding outward riches, as in Ecclesiastes 5:11; but the enjoyment of present mercies; such things as a man is in the possession of, and with which he should be content, Hebrews 13:5; and by “the wandering of the desire”, the craving appetite and insatiable lust of the covetous mind, which enlarges its desire as hell, after a thousand things, and everything it can think of; such a mind roves through the whole creation, and covets everything under the sun: now it is better to enjoy contentedly things in sight and in possession, than to let the mind loose in vague desires, after things that may never be come at, and, if attained to, would give no satisfaction.

We must realize that constantly longing for more is futile. Far too many of us spend too much time daydreaming for what we consider to be the ideal situation, instead of realizing the true wealth and enjoyment which is right before our eyes. Too many of us are living in the earthly future, rather than the present. We may think that something in the earthly future (marriage, children, career, home, vacation home, new car, retirement, vacation, etc…) will bring the happiness that we are so desperately trying to find. Instead of thinking, “I can’t wait until…..”, why don’t we say, “Today is going to be a great day, everything that this life can offer me can be found today, can be found right now”. It is better to make the best of what we have before our eyes, however small and humble it seem than to wander into the clouds with our desires (Luke 12:29). Let us be thankful to God for what He has given us and blessed us with and serve Him faithfully while we wait on Him

Have a Great and God filled Day!

Pastor C

Remembering Christ Sacrifice

Romans 5:7 (KJV)
7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”~ Billy Graham

There are none who would be willing to die for a man who was seeking to do us injury, to calumniate our character, to destroy our happiness or our property. But Christ was willing to die for bitter foes.” The word “Scarcely” carries the idea with difficulty. It is an event which cannot be expected to occur often. In essence, there would scarcely be found an instance in which it would happen. A righteous man – A just man; a man distinguished simply for integrity of conduct; one who has no remarkable claims for amiableness of character, for benevolence, or for personal friendship. Much as we may admire such a man, and applaud him, yet he has not the characteristics which would appeal to our hearts to induce us to lay down our lives for him. Accordingly, it is not known that any instance has occurred where for such a man one would be willing to die.

There is probably in Paul’s mind here a memory of how he, along with many Pharisees, had sought to be righteous, and even good, and had despised those who had failed to conform. And of how some had even appeared from a human point of view to get very close. But he is bringing out that unless such men were willing to align themselves with the ‘sinners’ whom they despised, there could be no hope for them. ‘Sinners’ were those who came short of God’s requirements in the eyes of all. This therefore, of course, removes any temptation to suggest that Romans 5:2-5 somehow represent a way by which sinners can be accepted as righteous in God’s eyes through their own activity. They progressed in the way described because they had first recognized that they were ungodly and sinners, and had come to Christ in order to be ‘accounted as in the right before God’. It was as a consequence of ‘having been justified by faith’ that they progressed, not as contributors towards that justification. For that justification was not for the righteous or for the good. It was for the ungodly, for sinners.

Who would those persons be in our own life? Perhaps it would be a mother or father, husband or wife, son or daughter, or even a few very close friends. If we really take the time to think it through, there are probably only a very few people for whom we would give our life without a moment’s hesitation. Looking back, we confirm that this statement is credible only because it is true, for it never could have entered into the mind of man that such a thing was possible until the unspeakable event itself appeared upon Golgotha. Christ dying for the ungodly, the sinner, the enemies of God. What a love, what a sacrifice, may we never forget.

Don’t compromise for anyone, for any reason. You are a child of the Almighty God. Live that truth.” –Lysa Terkeurst

Have a Great and God filled Day

Pastor C