Historical Posts
Christ-Like Citizens – audio
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- Pray for elected officials – 1 Timothy 2:1-4
- Submit to elected officials – 1 Peter 2:13-17
- Recognize they are God’s ministers for good – Romans 13:1-7
As Good Stewards of the freedom we have been given,
Christians have a duty to exercise their responsibility as citizens.
The book of Acts shows that it was the Christians who were the best citizens in the empire.
What kind of story will history tell of us?
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:13-16
But, I wonder how God’s people can be so moved by politics, but not
by their love of Jesus Christ. I find myself wishing that more Christians would:
- be as vocal about their Christianity as they are their politics.
- be as willing to promote Jesus Christ to the lost as they are their presidential candidate to their neighbors.
- be as willing to defend the doctrine of Christ as they are the platform of their political party.
- feel the need to be involved in the local church as they feel the need to go out and vote.
Do you not find it strange that God’s children can be moved to be so vocal and involved when it comes to politics, but so timid and uninvolved when it comes to Christianity?
Brethren, our actions betray us!
Passion is driven by love, and a lack of passion for the cause of Christ betrays our lack love for Him.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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One Day – audio
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Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
One day we’ll all be resurrected.
There’s a sense in which we’ve already been raised, of course. When we identified with Christ in baptism, God raised us from our spiritual graves.
We were dead, and now we’re alive. We were lost, and now we’re found – Luke 15:32
But the resurrection isn’t finished yet.
Sometimes my body aches and my head hurts (“in this we groan,”) – 2 Corinthians 5:2
I struggle with sin way more than I should.
I look around and see a messed-up world.
And it all reminds me that there’s a bigger, better resurrection coming.
We’ve been resurrected, but we can’t wait to be resurrected – completely, finally, and irrevocably.
I think that’s what Paul’s talking about here: “that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” – Philippians 3:11
He’d been saved, of course, but he knew all too well that God was still working on him. He had a clear future focus—he was excited about what God had done for him, and about what the Lord was still doing in him, but he couldn’t wait for what lay ahead.
Maybe you need that reminder today.
You feel like you’re being swallowed up by life’s pressures, demands, and stress.
Pause a few minutes and look ahead. The daily grind will still be there, but for now think about that future resurrection from the dead.
Jesus promised that he’s coming back to this world to take you where he wants you and where you want to be.
He’s already saved you from all your sins, and he’s given you his Spirit as a down payment.
But as with all down payments, the Spirit is just a small taste of what’s coming.
He’ll change your body into an incorruptible one . . . a body that doesn’t hurt, moan, groan, or age.
He’ll redeem this world from all of its corruption and decay and create a new dwelling place for his people.
And he’ll take away every vestige of sin.
We will, by his grace, “attain the resurrection from the dead.”
That’s what gives us a different perspective from the folks around us who don’t know Christ.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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How Serious is Sin? – audio
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It’s pretty easy to develop a cavalier attitude toward sin.
We’re saved by grace anyway, right?
“Everybody’s got sin problems,” we say, and, “After all, nobody’s perfect.”
And a few other platitudes like those make us feel better.
But they shouldn’t.
We shouldn’t ever become relaxed about sin.
The Old Testament has a lot of scary passages, and we’ve got to be careful when we apply them to our time.
But they’ve got something important to say to us.
Here’s one of them:
If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. – Deuteronomy 13:6-9
Yes, you read that right. If you lived in Moses’ day and someone you loved tried to get you to worship other gods, you would execute him. If you read the rest of the chapter, you’d discover that you would be the one who threw the first stone (At your spouse, sibling, child, or best friend).
Harsh?
Absolutely.
But necessary? According to the Law, yes. It was essential to the identity of God’s covenant people that they keep themselves distinct from the nations around them.
Because the Law of Moses advocates capital punishment in this situation and many others, we tend to avoid it.
“Good thing we don’t live under that Law now,” we say with a sigh of relief. “That must’ve been terrible.”
And we miss the whole point.
There’s a principle there that’s as relevant now as it’s ever been.
The passage reflects the main point of being in covenant with God—serving him above all else.
I suspect some of the Israelites may have wondered if God was that serious about what he said.
God’s answer was emphatic.
Anyone who led people away from him—even someone you love more than anyone on earth—received no mercy.
The putting-to-death part of the commandment doesn’t apply to us, of course, but what is extremely relevant is that God says we must take sin seriously.
It has always mattered to God, and it ought to matter to us.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Rescue the Perishing
Does God want anyone to perish?
He does not want anyone to perish, but for all to repent (2 Peter 3:9).
Will anyone perish with Christ?
Christ is the good shepherd, and His followers are His sheep. The sheep hear His voice and follow Him, and He gives them eternal life. Thus, they will never perish, nor will be snatched from His hand (John 10:27-29).
Can one Christian cause another to perish?
Paul taught the church at Corinth that we do have certain liberties in Christ; however, a liberty to one may cause a stumbling block to get in another’s way. Should this happen, Paul said it may cause one to perish! Therefore, for the sake of unity, we should never abuse liberty and hinder another (1 Corinthians 8:7-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10).
Can we cause ourselves to perish?
Certainly! All have sinned (Romans 3:23), and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23)! Peter agrees that the unjust shall perish in their own corruption (2 Peter 2:9-14).
How does Christ help us not to perish?
God sent Jesus to the world, and whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)!
What can we do so that we may not perish?
First, we must believe in Him (John 3:16), and then we must do what He says. Jesus said we must repent, or else we will perish (Luke 13:3-5).
How can both work together?
God helps us triumph in Christ, and we proclaim our knowledge of Him by living faithfully. Therefore, others can see our example and be brought to Christ, thus avoiding eternal perishing (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Preaching The Same Thing – audio
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- Preachers and Bible teachers do not normally like to speak on the same subject, or teach the same lesson or sermon continuously.
- However, the theme of each sermon, or lesson, should always remain the same
– Jesus Christ and Him Crucified – 1 Corinthians 1:10, 23-24; 2:1-2
Peter and the Apostles Preached The Same Message
- On the Day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:36-38, Peter and the Apostles were all preaching the same thing: The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and how to be reconciled with God through repentance and baptism.
- Peter and John were blessed with two opportunities to preach the same thing in Acts chapter 3 and chapter 4, when the lame man at the gate called Beautiful was healed.
– The first opportunity was with the crowd at the temple – Acts 3:12-21
– The second opportunity was with the rulers of the people and the elders – Acts 4:5-12
You and I should preach the same thing whenever an opportunity arises for us.
We need to teach and preach about Jesus and how he can reconcile us to God through His death, burial and resurrection – Mark 16:15-16
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page
Anxiety – audio
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I suppose a certain level of anxiety is part of living on this side of eternity.
I haven’t yet met the person—even in the family of God—who lives a completely carefree life.
Do you worry at times? Get stressed out?
I sure we’re the first ones to struggle with it. It seems like every page of Scripture says something about it.
Take this one, for example. To one of his favorite churches Paul wrote: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord” – Philippians 3:1
In other words, Paul seems to be saying, “Okay, because of everything I’ve already written to you, rejoice in the Lord.”
If there’s a command that’s harder to obey all the time, I don’t know what it is.
Humanly speaking, there’s a lot not to rejoice about.
A woeful economy. Increasing secularism. Spiritual apathy.
More personally . . . the physical effects of aging, health concerns, family worries, job uncertainty.
How do you rejoice in that?
I don’t think you can, at least not on the face of it.
This is why Paul puts the last little prepositional phrase in there: “In the Lord.”
Rejoice in the Lord – Philippians 3:1
Rejoice in the Lord always – Philippians 4:4
More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ – Romans 5:11
Truth is, you’ve got to look at many things that happen through the lens of God’s sovereign will.
If you’re a disciple of Jesus, God has saved you, and he’s promised you he’ll work through you to accomplish his will.
We don’t have all the answers, of course, and I have no idea why God allows some of the stuff that goes on around us.
But when I take my eyes off of him, I’ve noticed that my stress and anxiety levels increase.
For today’s devotional thought, let me encourage you: Whatever’s going on in your life right now—whether internal or external—commit it to the Lord.
Rejoice in him today.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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God Working In Us – audio
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It’s clear that God expects a human response in our relationship to him, but do we sometimes emphasize that over what he’s doing?
We need to know that God’s saving us begins, continues, and ends with his initiative, not ours.
Notice how Paul mentions both in this passage:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure – Philippians 2:12-13.
It’s a play on words, one scholar says: We are to “work out” because God “works in” (R.R. Melick).
I have done, and you have heard, a lot of preaching on the “working out” part, but maybe not as much on God’s “working in.”
Maybe that’s part of the reason we often struggle to feel truly secure in our salvation. We know, more than anyone else (except God), how far we fall short of being who we ought to be.
If it depends on our efforts, we know we’ll miss out on salvation, even if we don’t like to admit it.
On the other hand, when we recognize that God is working in us “to will and to work for his good pleasure,” it directs our focus Godward, instead of inward.
That’s where we find comfort. I’ll always fall short, but he won’t.
In another place Paul wrote this: “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” – Romans 9:16
There’s a reluctance to embrace this, because we fear that emphasizing God’s initiative will cause us to relax . . . to fall into spiritual apathy.
But I think we will find that it will do the opposite.
When we put more trust in God’s power to accomplish in us whatever he chooses, we may find ourselves obeying more faithfully out of gratitude, instead of some kind of misguided attempt to try and earn what we can never earn.
It ought to comfort us, in a way that our attempts to measure up never can, that God, who loves us infinitely and wants to save us, is working within us to accomplish His will.
Do we obey?
Absolutely.
But we do it in response to what he’s already done, and what he continues to do.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Observations on a Sunday Flea Market – audio
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A flea market is not a bad thing.
In fact, it can be fun to mix with people, eat some junk food (some people call it fair food) and shop for stuff you really don’t need. But should this be a higher priority than meeting to worship with the Lord’s Church?
Sunday, September 16th, was a big Gahanna Flea Market.
The flea market was already booming as we passed through Gahanna at 9:00 Sunday morning and it made me sad to think all these people would come to a flea market instead of worshiping God. Here are some pictures I took on the way home.
For the sake of stuff, many are entering the wide gate that leads to destruction – Matthew 7:13-14
Instead, their feet need to follow a different way, accepting direction from the Lord – Jeremiah 10:23-24
Only by giving stuff up and valuing the Lord will we be of value to the Lord.
When Jesus comes again, will we have valued Him as treasure? – Matthew 13:44
Will he find us just and find value in us? Will he find us to be:
- A Pearl of Great Price – Matthew 13:45-46
- Good – Matthew 13:47-48
At the end of the world, the wicked will be severed from the just and cast away – Matthew 13:49-50
Will you be numbered with the wicked or the just?
Are you holding on to your stuff instead of to the Lord?
If you don’t like your answer, now is the time to change – 2 Corinthians 6:2
Let us know if we can help you begin or improve your Christian walk…
Content by Zachary Van Tassel
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He Knows Me! – John 10:02-04 – audio
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Text: John 10:2-4, 11
They don’t know me!
If I ran into Governor Kasich at the mall today, he wouldn’t know my name.
If I went to a campaign event and got close enough to one of the presidential candidates to shake his hand, he’d have no idea who I am.
Neither would Leonardo DiCaprio, or Oprah Winfrey.
I met Coach Jim Tressel at an event one day, and he didn’t seem to be interested in developing a close, personal friendship.
But none of that particularly bothers me.
Isn’t it incredibly encouraging to know that the only One who really matters knows each of us individually?
Here’s the way Jesus put it:
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he brings out all his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. . . . I am the good shepherd – John 10:2-4, 11
Just a number…
Have you ever attended a college that identified you by your student number?
Or worked for a company where you were little more than an employee number?
Your government knows you by the nine-digit number assigned to you shortly after you were born.
Not Jesus, our Good Shepherd
He knows us by name, not by number!
He knows us as individuals, not constituents, taxpayers, or employees.
He’s counted the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7)… and if that’s true, could anything escape his notice?
He knows about the tough day you had at work last week, the argument you had with your spouse last night, and the anxieties in your heart right now.
He knows how much you love your children, and he knows your plans, your dreams, your hopes.
He’s the Shepherd who knows, loves, and protects.
None of the heavy hitters may know you, but in the end only one who matters does.
He knows your name, and he’ll shout it loudly sometime soon when he comes back to get his flock.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Thoughts on Wisdom
How does the world’s wisdom compare with God’s wisdom?
Worldly wisdom is sensual and demonic, causing envy, self-seeking, confusion, and evil works.
God’s wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, and without partiality and hypocrisy (James 3:13-18)
How do men perceive God’s wisdom?
It is a stumbling block to the Jews (who seek a sign), and foolishness to the Greeks (who seek after wisdom).
The foolishness of God is greater than man’s wisdom, and His weakness is stronger than man’s strength (1 Corinthians 1:18-25)
Who is our wisdom?
Jesus Christ became wisdom from God (1 Corinthians 1:26-31)
Did some question Jesus’ wisdom?
Often as He taught in the synagogues, many marveled at His wisdom (Matthew 13:54ff)
Did Jesus have a limit in wisdom?
He increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52)
What can we learn in Christ?
The hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:1-3)
Can we know the mystery of Christ?
It has been revealed to us through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:8-11)
How do we get wisdom?
God is willing to give us wisdom, but we must ask for it in faith without doubting (James 1:5,6)
Have you let the wisdom of God lead you to salvation in Christ?
Content by Richard Dillon
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I’ll Go With You
Who did Ruth want to go with?
Ruth wanted to cling to her mother-in-law Naomi. She was so determined to go with her that she pleaded “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will. I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).
As Ruth showed devotion to her mother-in-law, we should show the same to Christ!
Did Moses want to go with God?
God appeared before Moses at the burning bush, and revealed His plan for him. Moses was to lead the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Moses was not very anxious to complete this task at first. He began to question God, asked God to get somebody else, and even offer excuses to get out of doing this task.
In the end, God convinced him by promising to go with him, and even allowing his brother Aaron to accompany them (Exodus 3, 4).
Does God promise to be with us?
Many writers of both the Old and New Testaments agree that we cannot escape the presence of God. Wherever we go, He is there: what a comforting thought! The Hebrew writer quoted the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5) when God said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).
Did David recognize God’s presence?
David wrote many of the Psalms telling of how God was with him. In Psalm 23, David tells how God was with him to lead him, guide him, provide for him, protect him, and comfort him. Not only did David know God was with him, but also expressed desire to be with God in His presence.
Was there a time in which we were without God?
Certainly! Paul said, “At that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:12-13).
Thanks to Christ’s blood, we can be with Him again!
Can we know we are with God?
Sure! We must study the Bible, learn it, obey it, and live it! Sadly, many do not part or all of these instructions. Yet, we are asked “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3)?”
Are we in agreement with God? Have you accepted salvation in Christ?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Be Steadfast
What should we be steadfast in?
The church at Colosse was commended for its steadfast faith in Christ Jesus. As we are rooted and built up in Him, our faith must be steadfast (Colossians 2:5-7).
How is our steadfast faith useful?
By standing fast in the faith, we resist the devil. When resisted, he will flee from us. Therefore, after we suffer a while, we are made perfect, stablished, strengthened, and settled (1 Peter 5:8-10).
Is it worth a lot to be steadfast in the faith?
One will be rewarded for doing this. We achieve the victory through Christ, and the assurance that our labor is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).
Can our salvation be ensured by standing fast in the faith?
We could not even come to God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). It is possible to fall from grace (Galatians 5:4), which brings salvation (Titus 2:11). Therefore, Christians are warned that they can fall from their own steadfastness (2 Peter 3:14-18). Instead, we need to be diligent to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Are you in Christ? Are you growing?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Stumbling Blocks
Which of Jesus’ disciples was a stumbling block to Him?
After Peter heard that Jesus must suffer, be killed, and arise the third day he expressed disapproval. Jesus told him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:21-23).
To whom was the gospel a stumbling block?
The Jews requested a sign, and thus did not believe in Christ as the fulfillment of the law. They wanted a physical king and an earthly kingdom, yet Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Paul explained that this could be a stumbling block, but could also save their eternal souls (1 Corinthians 1:22-24).
Can Christians put a stumbling block in the way of others?
There are certain liberties, or freedoms, in Christ, such as eating things offered to idols and fasting. However, if doing this offends another brother or sister in Christ, it thus violates the conscience and is a sin to both the brethren and Christ! Therefore Paul said he would not do anything ever again, if it caused his brother to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:7-13).
Did Jesus warn of offenses?
He pronounced woe on those that cause others to sin, saying these things would happen! Yet, we could have things that offend ourselves. Whether they be our hands, feet, or eyes, they should be restrained that they no longer offend us or cause us to enter everlasting fire (Matthew 18:6-9).
What did Paul say our attitude should be about offending others?
“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:12-13). In the rest of the chapter he emphasizes pursuing peace.
What is the Gospel to you?
Is the Gospel of Christ a stumbling block to you? Or have you gladly accepted the salvation offered in Christ?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Keep Thyself Pure
Should we participate in the sins of others?
Paul told Timothy not to partake in other men’s sins, but to keep himself pure (1 Timothy 5:22). Paul also gave a long list of things that are not fitting, and not only those that practice them but also those that approve of them are deserving of death (Romans 1:28-32).
Why should one purify himself?
John said even as Christ is pure, we ought to purify ourselves because we have a hope in us (1 John 3:3). As Christ lived a sinless life to die on the cross to save us from our sins, He rose again and thus we have the hope of eternal life.
What is pure religion?
James said it’s to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).
How does a soul become pure?
Peter explains that even as Christ is holy, we should become holy in the way we speak and live. Thus, His blood is precious, without blemish and without spot. When we are washed in the blood of the Lamb, our souls are purified by obeying the truth (1 Peter 1:13-22).
How does the mind become pure?
First, we must think on true, noble, just, PURE, lovely, and good things (Philippians 4:8) and do them! Christians should desire the “pure milk of the word to grow” (1 Peter 2:2). As we forget more as we get older, Peter said to stir up our pure minds by way of remembrance (2 Peter 3:1).
Can we serve God with a pure conscience?
Absolutely! Just as Paul did, we can too (2 Timothy 1:3)!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Sin – Romans 03:23
Is there anyone who has not sinned?
No, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
What if we say we have not sinned?
If we say we have not sinned, we deceive ourselves and make God a liar. Also, God’s Word, the truth, is not in us (1 John 1:8, 10; John 17:17).
What does knowing the truth do for us?
It shall set us free (John 8:32ff) from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
What happens if we confess our sins?
Christ Jesus will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
How do we get rid of our sins?
We must wash away our sins with the blood of Christ through baptism (Acts 22:16).
Should we continue to sin?
John reminded Christians that they were not to sin anymore (1 John 2:1), and Paul said we have died to sin and thus should no longer serve it (Romans 6:1-7, 11-14).
What happens if we sin?
Jesus Christ is our Advocate, if we sin (1 John 2:2). After all, He was tempted in all points as we are but without sin (Hebrews 4:15). We should have the same mind of Christ, for he who as suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (1 Peter 4:1-2).
Whose sins are covered?
Christ died not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). John said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)!”
Have you accepted forgiveness of sin by becoming a Christian?
Content by Richard Dillon
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Must We Understand The Bible Alike?
Sometimes when people disagree with one another about what the Bible teaches, they just dismiss the problem as though a mutual understanding is impossible or unnecessary. They may say, “It’s just a matter of interpretation.”
But can we understand the Bible alike? What does the Bible itself say?
John 17:17 tells us that God’s word is truth. Everyone realizes that truth does not contradict itself. Since the Bible is truth, it necessarily follows that two contradictory views of the Bible cannot both be right.
If one man teaches one thing and another man teaches the opposite, it must be that one or the other does not know the truth. Yet, Jesus promised in John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So, we can know the truth, and when we do we will not contradict one another.
Suppose one man said “two plus two equals four,” and another said “two plus two equals three,” and another said “two plus two equals five.” Would we say, “Oh well, it’s just a matter of interpretation, and all of them are right”? Of course not. What has happened is that one man understood that answer correctly, and the other two misunderstood differently! So it is with the Bible. We may misunderstand differently; but when we truly understand the Bible, we will understand it alike.
In 1 Corinthians 1:13 Paul wrote to men who were becoming divided religiously. He asked them: “Is Christ divided?” Does Jesus contradict Himself? Of course not! If He did, He would be a hypocrite! How then can two men contradict one another about what Jesus taught and both be right? The answer is they cannot both be right. If they contradict one another, one is wrong and the other is right, or else both may be wrong! When both are right, they will be in agreement.
Our purpose in studying he Bible must be to learn the message God intended for us to learn.
We might misunderstand that message differently; but when we understand it correctly, we will understand it alike.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Why Me, Lord?
We have all asked it.
- Why does it always have to rain on my parade?
- Why did this have to happen to me?
- Why my child?
- Why my marriage?
- Why my job?
Why? Why? Why?
The answer may be found in an obscure Old Testament passage where God is pictured as sitting over a refiner’s fire making silver of His people. Malachi wrote: “And he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Malachi 3:3).
A woman read this verse in Bible class and was curious enough to seek out a silversmith to see what it meant. She found him sitting before a crucible, gazing intently into a boiling pot. She asked, “Do you have to sit here all the time or just come back when it’s finished?” He replied, “I have to keep my eye on the crucible. If it gets too hot, the silver is injured. I know the process of purifying is completed when I see my own image reflected in the silver.”
The answer to “why me?” is found in the silversmith’s shop.
The Refiner’s Pot
God values us far more than a prospector does his “mother load,” a miser does his coins, an addict does his fix, or a mother does her newborn (Psalm 116:15; Isaiah 43:4). He wants the best for us and demands the best of us. Just as the refiner’s job is to increase the value of his product by removing impurities, God sees His job as removing the impurities, sin, from us.
Lehman Strauss knew the heartache of suffering. In the midst of dealing with his wife’s stroke, he wrote a book entitled, In God’s Waiting Room: Learning through Suffering. As he attempted to better understand the events that moved into his life, he likened his experience to childhood memories of his mother making a cake. Dr. Strauss recalled the various ingredients—flour, baking powder, shortening, raw eggs—that went into a cake. By themselves they were not very enjoyable snacks, but when properly mixed together and baked for the correct length of time, they collectively produced a delicious dessert. In our lives we experience ingredients that seem unpalatable, and our temptation is to tell God He’s ruining everything. At those times we will find greater strength and peace when we acknowledge that God knows what He is doing.
What kind of furnace does our Refiner use? He uses the furnace of affliction, physical injury, disease, prolonged sickness (2 Corinthians 12:7–8), difficulty in rearing our children, problems with parents, financial reverses, or other overwhelming cares of life. Such suffering is an effective teacher in the great school of life. Some important lessons are only learned at her feet. Robert Browning Hamilton wrote:
I walked a mile with Pleasure, she chattered all the way;
But left me none the wiser, for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow and ne’er a word said she;
But, oh, the things I learned from her, when Sorrow walked with me!
At the same time, God watches to see that the fire never gets so hot that it injures us. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). These things may hurt us for a time, but they do not permanently injure us, unless we turn from the Refiner.
The Refiner’s Purpose
Amy Carmichael wrote, “A wise master never wastes his servant’s time.” No matter what set of circumstances we receive, God is not wasting our time. He is educating us; He is improving us; He is molding us. A young woman was suffering greatly and confided to an older Christian friend: “If God loves me as you say He does, why did He make me so?” The older woman replied, “He is making you now.” God’s purpose is to prepare us for heaven.
The Refiner wants to make heaven attractive to us.
(2 Corinthians 4:16–5:1; Philippians 1:21–23; Hebrews 11:10; Colossians 3:1–2)
One philosopher observed: “It is through our tears that we see the farthest into heaven.” Hard times can build good character (James 1:2–4; 1 Peter 1:7).
The Refiner wants to test our faith.
(Genesis 22:1; 1 Corinthians 3:12–15)
The worthiness of the ship is not determined while it rides at ease in the harbor, but when it rides the waves of a storm. Our faith is worthless if it cannot get us through life’s storms.
The Refiner wants to teach us to appreciate our blessings.
(Luke 17:17; Colossians 3:15)
Domesticated bullfinches are placed in a dark room for several weeks before they learn to sing. When brought into sunlight, the bullfinch’s song is sweeter and more beautiful than it would otherwise be. God often takes us into a dark room of suffering so that when we come back into life’s sunshine, our song of praise will be sweeter than ever before.
The Refiner wants us to learn to comfort others
(2 Corinthians 1:3–7)
It is difficult to really feel compassion for someone if we don’t know what he is going through. But when we have “walked a mile in his moccasins,” we can feel sorry for the one with blisters.
Suffering can help us help others. One remarked, “I asked for health that I might achieve, I was made weak that I might do better things.”
The divine Refiner wants us to learn to trust Him
(Luke 14:11; Proverbs 16:18; James 4:10; Jeremiah 10:23; 2 Corinthians 12:9)
Abraham Lincoln said, “I have often been driven to my knees by the sincere conviction that there was nowhere else to go.”
The Refiner’s Product
As the refiner told the Bible class student, silver is ready when he sees his image in its reflection.
God also looks to see His image in our lives. Paul wrote, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18; cf. Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:10).
A silversmith may make many pieces over the course of his days, but only a few of them are deemed worthy of display in his own house.
God is fashioning of us what He wants to display in His own house. Ralph Waldo Emerson was once approached by a concerned and inquiring person who said, “Mr. Emerson, they tell me that the world is coming to an end.” Emerson calmly replied, “Never mind, we can get along without it.”
When God finishes refining us, we all will be very happy “doing without” this world and its suffering.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Rules of Engagement
Did you know there was in Washington, D.C. an International Spy Museum near Chinatown?
Having an avid interest in both military history and the former Soviet Union, I was thrilled to learn they had a web site. The museum displays just how ancient the espionage game is, but the greater part of the exhibits covers only the last 100 years of spying.
There is a whole section of the museum devoted to espionage during the Cold War. In fact, spies on that front had their own “ten commandments” (some say there are forty or more). The museum itself published ten of these so-called Moscow Rules.
Some of these espionage rules include:
- assume nothing
- don’t look back
- there is no limit to a human being’s ability to rationalize the truth
- maintain a natural pace
- if it feels wrong, it is wrong
Former CIA operative Jonna Mendez, as well as countless others, is quick to say that these rules are used by agents around the globe today. Many of these rules boil down to trusting instincts.
Whereas Christians battle a foe that will not collapse or capitulate, we still have rules of engagement that we must follow for our own spiritual preservation.
As our foe is the most formidable of them all (see 1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Revelation 2:10; etc.), he must be fought with great intelligence.
We need to mature to the point of having our powers of discernment trained (cf. Hebrews 5:14). This will give us the kind of instincts we need to be most aware of the devil’s tactics (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:11).
We should not become paranoid or see problems where they do not exist, but we must not let our guard down either. God’s Word will protect us and serve us heroically in this terrific battle (cf. Ephesians 6:17), but only if we know how to use it properly.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Christ and the Church – Ephesians 5:22-32
Text: Ephesians 5:22-32
There is one church, which is the same as one body (Ephesians 5:22)
Christ is the head of that one body, His church (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:4-6).
Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it (Ephesians 5:25)
His blood that was shed on the cross purchased His church (Acts 20:28).
The church is sanctified and cleansed by washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26)
Baptism is done in water (Acts 8:26-39; 2:36-42; 22:16; Romans 6:4; John 3:23).
Jesus told Nicodemus one must be born of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:5).
Jesus gave Peter keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:19), the same as the body or church. Later, Peter unlocked the kingdom by preaching the gospel at Pentecost (Acts 2). About 3,000 souls were baptized that day, and the Lord added them to His church (Acts 2:38; Matthew 16:16-18).
The church is presented glorious, and without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing (Ephesians 5:27)
It is done this way through the blood of Christ! Through shedding of His blood, we have the remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22; 10:22). As the church is also holy, we must be holy for God is holy (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Colossians 1:22-23).
• The Lord nourishes and cherishes His church (Ephesians 5:29)
• Christians are members of His body (Ephesians 5:30; Romans 12:4-5)
• Paul claims it to be a great mystery, but speaks concerning Christ and the church (Ephesians 5:32)
• Have you been baptized and allowed God to add you to the Church (Acts 2:47)?
Content by Richard Dillon
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A Christian Walk
In whom should a Christian walk?
Christians are rooted and built up in Christ Jesus the Lord; therefore, our Christian walk must be in Him (Colossians 2:6-7).
Where should a Christian walk?
John said we must “walk in the light as He is in the light” (1 John 1:7). After all, God is light and in Him is no darkness (1 John 1:5).
Isaiah encouraged the house of Jacob to “walk in the light of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:5). They were able to do this by keeping His commandments.
After all, God’s word is “a light unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
We need to walk in the narrow way and avoid the broad way that leads to destruction, which many will follow (Matthew 7:13).
Three keys to help us have a better Christian walk:
Walk in love (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Throughout the Bible we are taught of God’s love for all of mankind, Christ’s love for others, and the love that man must have in return. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
Walk as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8-14).
Since God is light, we need to become His children and thus ‘children of light.’ Jesus taught Nicodemus how to do this as one is born again (John 3:1-7). Then, we must let our light shine before men (Matthew 5:16).
Walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15)
We need to be aware and stay aware of our surroundings. Paul warned young men like Timothy and Titus to beware of those who teach false doctrine. After all, if the blind lead the blind, all will fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14).
Content by Richard Dillon
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