Commitment Bears Fruit

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” -1 Corinthians 15:56 (ESV). “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless to Him.” -2 Chronicles 16:9 (ESV.

To live to a “ripe, old” age is both sobering and consoling. I know it is best to keep looking forward in life, to anticipate each new day and what it may bring forth. Paul admonished the Christians at Corinth (and us, through his epistle) to be “steadfast, immovable, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.” But sometimes it is heartening to take a look backward, to evaluate and to be glad for what has transpired in life that is worthwhile, maybe even memorable.

In the verses in 1 Corinthians Paul is teaching us to evaluate positively by giving attention to our steadfast work for the Lord. At the same time he seems to be giving confident hope that what we do “as unto the Lord” will not be in vain. He is saying that our steadfast work and commitment to the Lord will bear fruit. Jesus Himself taught this same principle about being committed to Him and having our labors bear fruit. In the great judgment at the end of time as Matthew records it, the Lord says to those “on his right hand”: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). The Master continues to commend those who have served Him as they clothed others, visited the sick, gave drink to the thirsty, visited the stranger, ministered to those in prison, gave food to the hungry, and clothed the naked. His commendation was, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40).

We are not always aware that as we serve others, we are serving the Lord. Those in the redeemed group in the account in Matthew who were inheriting the Kingdom of God, came to understand, the labor that helps others is “as unto the Lord.” That was a surprise to them. They asked, “When did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or naked and clothe You? And when did we see You sick or in prison and visit You? (Matthew 25:38-39). If we “do it to one of the least of these,” we are doing the service as unto the Lord. And the promise made in 2 Chronicles 16:9 is also occurring as we gladly and unselfishly render our service to “the least of these.” “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless to Him.”

I mentioned at the outset of these thoughts for today that it is both sobering and consoling to live “to a ripe old age.” One is to have someone say, to me, sincerely and with gratitude, “what you taught me,” or “what you did for me” made a difference in my life. This is encouraging news. Commitment to God, to earnest work and to others bears fruit. God promises this will happen if we are faithful. Moreover, He fulfills that promise by unexpected rewards for our work. Praise be to God! What work is He calling you to do that will make a difference in someone’s life?

Are you willing to make the commitment to God to follow through and allow the fruit-bearing to occur? -Ethelene Dyer Jones 08.30.2015

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” -2 Corinthians 5:7b. (ESV)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  -Psalm 46:1. (ESV)

“Be still and know that I am God.” –Psalm 46:10a (ESV)

Today in a quiet time I took two of my old prayer journals from my bookshelf and read through entries I had posted ten or more years ago.  What did I pray for then, and how were the prayers answered?

You can be assured that these journals show the results of my pouring out my heart to God. In my private writing of prayers about matters that both troubled me and about people for whom I was genuinely concerned, I bared my heart in earnest petition to Almighty God.

Since these journal entries are now history, you might wonder were the prayers answered.  I can say, assuredly, that every prayer was indeed answered.  In the way I prayed?  Certainly not always, but in God’s mercy and forbearance, He brought me, as He so adequately promises in His word, to the place of acceptance and understanding of His will. 

Did I sometimes suffer sorrow and disappoint that I had rather have escaped?  Certainly.  But as I read the answers, I noted that any dread or anticipation I had of how I might walk through the valley of the shadow of death had been removed.  He was always beside me, lending the strength and succor I needed.

On occasion I was praying for persons going through serious illness and even facing death. Among them were myself on occasion, friends and especially my dear husband who was very ill for many years.  Did my prayers add days to their lives or bring them back to better health?  Sometimes, yes, sometimes, no.  But even in the death of those who were called from this world, there was a sense of victory and rejoicing, for most of them were Christians and faced death without fear.  In their dying I learned more about both life and death. 

On prayer, Charles H. Brent wrote, “Intercessory prayer might be defined as loving our neighbor on our knees.”  The Psalmist wrote, “I love the Lord because He hears my prayers and answers them.”  (Psalm 116:1).  Reading entries from my prayer journals increased my assurance that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)

Reading, several years later, I would not have remembered certain incidents without the journal entry.  I put an entry about a man who asked me in the grocery store one day for some money to buy food.  I was able to help him buy some already prepared food that I prayed would assuage his hunger, at least temporarily.  I told him where our town’s soup kitchen was located and directed him there on the day it was open.  I was able to witness to him briefly about the love of Christ for everyone and asked him if he were a Christian.  His answer was not one of assurance of salvation.  I entered  the incident in my prayer journal.  I have not seen the man again.  I hope that brief encounter helped him at least to be aware that God loved him and that the food I bought him that day was given in compassion.

Corrie ten Boom is quoted in many of the brief quotations printed in the particular prayer journal I was using one year.  She wrote: “An important thing to remember when praying is that Jesus is our Advocate before the Father.  When we begin or end our prayers with ‘in the name of Jesus,’ it is just as if Jesus Himself is saying, ‘Father, this is a prayer from your beloved child.’ ”

And I had not omitted thanksgiving in the journal entries.  Certainly, prayer helps us “walk by faith and not by sight.”  Ever, there should be a thread of thanks.     –Ethelene Dyer Jones. 08.23.2015

A Believer Emanates Light

“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 5:15-16 (NKJV).

One of the names Jesus gave His followers is light. What is the duty of light? To shine, to give illumination, to dispel darkness, to make it possible to see what we need to do and the way to go.

We have only to think of power failure and no lights to realize the importance of light. We sometimes take light for granted when we have it. But its absence is noticeable, indeed. If a storm takes out power and lights, we can light a single candle and have enough illumination to get us from one room to another as we carry the candle.

Considering that Jesus said His followers are light, we need to shine, not to call attention to ourselves but to glorify the Father. I like the insight Eugene Peterson gives in The Message translation of Matthew 5:14-16: “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house, be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Think about the ability to shine so that we bring out the God-colors in the world! How refreshing to think that we can reflect the love of Christ, the light of Christ, and bring out the “God-colors” to someone who needs the light of God’s love.

Think how a trained surgeon uses a powerful beam of laser light to operate on what ails a human body, even to a malignancy. Christ used ordinary metaphors to teach extraordinary truth. Light is so prevalent about us but often so taken for granted until there is a light failure. How does the candle of my life shine? I can remember in the days before electricity came to our farm community, we lighted our house with kerosene lamps. When I got old enough to attend to the chore, I was assigned the task to carefully wash the globes of the lamps and trim the wicks so that the lamps could produce more adequate light. Then I placed the lamps carefully at their appointed places so they would be ready to light when darkness approached. Smudges on the globe hampered the light. Are there smudges in my life that distort the reflection of Christ’s light through me? “You are the light of the world.” A dark world awaits the light from each of Christ’s followers. We have a divine commission to shine as lights in the world. And as Christ fuels our individual light, we shine for Him and glorify the father. -Ethelene Dyer Jones 08.16.2015

Be an Example in the Faith

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” – 1 Timothy 4:12 (ESV). “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” –Titus 2:7-9 (ESV).

How important is it to be an “example” in the faith? Moreover, how important is it to have a good “example” to follow? Paul the Apostle wrote to his “son in the gospel,” young Timothy, that he was to be an example to others. He gave Timothy five areas of his life in which he should be exemplary: speech, conduct, love, faith, purity. In a few words Paul covered a broad expanse of life goals: how he talked, how he acted and lived, how deep his love was for God and for others, how committed he was in his faith, and with what purity not only was his life but his teachings.

To Titus he wrote that he should be “a model of good works,” another way of saying “be an example in the faith.” Titus was to be a model in teaching, holding to integrity (uprightness), dignity (honor), and sound speech (good doctrine). Paul knew that such sterling examples as he was urging Timothy and Titus to be would not keep them immune from criticism, but they would be blameless when people wanted to condemn them.

Paul also wrote that he himself lived as an example: “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Philippians 3:17, ESV). Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2-13 (ESV): You yourselves are our letter of recommendation written on our hearts to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

A Christian writer and teacher, Annie Johnson Flint, was born December 24, 1866 in the little town of Vineland, New Jersey to Eldon and Jean Johnson. Her mother died when Annie was only three following the birth of Annie’s baby sister. At first her father hired a widow of a Civil War Veteran to look after his two little girls. But the lady was not very gentle with them. Later he found a home for the girls with a Mr. and Mrs. Flint. Then the girls’ father got an incurable disease and soon died. The orphan girls were adopted by the Flints who were nurturing and loving to the girls. Annie did well in high school, thanks to a neighbor whom she called “Aunt Susie,” (no relationship, just a friend to the Flints). Annie went to Normal School, taking a teaching course. Upon finishing, she got a job teaching school, with a three-year contract. During that time she developed painful and crippling arthritis and had to give up teaching. Even though she had pain as she began to polish her writing skills, she still found great joy in writing. She was especially proficient in writing poetry. She got a job with “The Sunday School Times,” and her writings in that magazine linked her up with a worldwide fellowship of Christians. Many of her poems were published and read widely. She wielded a great influence with her pen. She shared much of her deep love for and faith in Christ before her death September 8, 1932. She wrote a very widely-read poem about being a Christian example. As you read her poem, think about how you can be an example so the world can learn about Christ from you. Annie Johnson Flint writes in poetic form on the same advice Paul gave about being a Christian example before others.

The World’s Bible

by Annie Johnson Flint

Christ has no hands but our hands

To do His work today;

He has no feet but our feet

To lead men in His way;

He has no tongue but our tongue

To tell men how He died;

He has no help but our help

To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible

The careless world will read;

We are the sinner’s gospel,

We are the scoffer’s creed;

We are the Lord’s last message

Given in deed and word;

What if the type is crooked?

What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy

With other work than His?

What if our feet are walking

Where sin’s allurement is?

What if our tongues are speaking

Of things His lips would spurn?

How can we hope to help Him

Unless from Him we learn?

Prayer: Lord, I want to be an example of your love. Strengthen my weak places and help me to realize that I have a responsibility to live out Christian principles.

-Ethelene Dyer Jones 08.09.2015

Admonition to Teach Sound Doctrine

“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” – 1 Timothy 1: 3-5 (ESV).

Paul the Apostle wrote the epistle of 1 Timothy to advise young Timothy how to deal with problems in the church at Ephesus in Asia Minor. He left Timothy to help in instructing the people while Paul was elsewhere. Scholars generally agree that Paul wrote the letter between his two Roman imprisonments (sometime about the mid 60’s of the first century). Timothy was to note what was being taught and to promote sound doctrine, not “myths and endless genealogies.” Paul was eager that the Christians there learn to dwell together in peace and harmony and have “pure hearts…good consciences…sincere faith.”

Paul warned against “myths,” or any false teaching concerning the Lord Christ. Some teachers were teaching that Jesus Christ was not both human and divine. They wanted to deny the virgin birth of Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross. What the Christian believes and why he believes it are important in establishing faith.

We are often warned not to have “itching ears,” to seek a rose-coated gospel that fits our own ideas of scriptural interpretation, an easy gospel that allows for what we want instead of what the Bible teaches about God and His expectations for us.

Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe in commenting upon the focal passage from Timothy tells us that today much false doctrine is being taught. We are to study so that we ourselves can “rightly divide the word of truth,” knowing what is biblically sound. He also warns that a grave danger in churches today is the desire to be “entertained.’ The music often, instead of honoring God and being used to praise and glorify Him, appeals to our likes. He states: “Far too many songs not only teach no doctrine, but many even teach false doctrine. A singer has no more right to sing a lie than teacher has to teach a lie” (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary. “I Timothy.” Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007, p. 749).

Paul admonished that in our charge (that is, those in the church who are sincere believers, seeking to learn and to practice the Christian way) we are to love one another. That love issues from a pure heart, undergirded by a good conscience and a sincere faith. It matters what we learn, what we teach, what we practice. Is our doctrine sound, and based on the truths of the Scriptures?

-Ethelene Dyer Jones ~August 2, 2015