When you look at the cross, you see the heart of Jesus.
Quotes of the month:
A beautiful face will age, and a perfect body will change, but a beautiful soul will always be a beautiful soul.
Father Cedric Pisegna
God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.
Max Lucado
God will meet you where you are in order to take you where He wants you to go.
Tony Evans
The Relevance of 3,000 Year Old Scripture
By Frank Paul
2 Chronicles 7:14 states: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Is it possible that this Scripture verse written between 743 to 461 B.C., still has relevance today? When we look at the entirety of 1 and 2 Chronicles written between 1279 to 461 B.C., and possibly compiled by Isaiah and Ezra between 743 to 461 B.C., we are reading words written some 3,000 years ago. A long time, yes; but in God’s time, no. His Word is His word, regardless of when it was written; and we are to still obey it no matter when or where we hear or learn of it. Of course culture has changed; what would not change over the span of three millennia? Jesus has arrived by now and fulfilled Old Testament prophecy. God instructed us 3,000 years ago to follow His commands, then He sent His Son 2,000 years ago to remind us, because society at that time had clearly forgotten; and now in 2023 I dare say it might be time for another reminder. God always gives His children an escape route from pending disaster if we will just follow His commandments. It is not within our prerogative to tweak His commandments simply because they no longer correspond to our feelings as to how we should be able to live in our present culture. We follow His commandments, we live by His direction, period. For far too many decades in this country we have been bending His rule of law to placate, quite frankly, a minority of people.
Solomon expressed this sentiment in Psalm 119:152, “Long ago I learned from your decrees, that you have established them forever.” Forever means forever, up to and including 2023.
Ezekiel was also used as a conduit for God’s words when he wrote in 33:5, “Since he heard the sound of the trumpet, but ignored the warning, his death is his own fault.” His death is his own fault; that brings it home. Harsh, perhaps; but true. Our 80 years or so of living pales in comparison to eternity.
In the 1850s Charles Spurgeon was also urging us to obey God’s commands when he wrote, “The words God spoke thousands of years ago are true at this hour.”
Present-day pastor, James Merritt states, “Our soul is going to reside somewhere after our physical death. Your life will intersect with the cross sooner or later, one way or the other – either on your way up, or on your way down.” Pastor Merritt’s words mirror 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body; whether good or evil.” The words of God in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and the words of Jesus paraphrased by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10 are strikingly similar in their instruction and command, as are the words of Charles Spurgeon in the 1800s and Pastor Merritt in 2023.
We are stubborn and resistant today: we want it our way; but this is not a new phenomenon. Even the 1st century disciples started to wonder about Jesus’ teachings and Jesus had to reel them back in by stating, “Truly I tell you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” John 8:51. We are offered help in navigating through life, by the creator of life itself: God; and then His Son, Jesus; with bonus help from the Holy Spirit. Do not be so proud as to not take what is freely offered. Has it worked out for us today where we have everyone just doing their own thing, believing in their version of what is right or wrong? Unequivocally I would state no, it has not.
3,000 year old Scripture, 2,000 year old Scripture, modern day pastors all echo the same underlying theme: follow God’s commandments and your life will work out for the best.
Nowhere does it say in Scripture, nor have I ever read or heard anywhere, that this will be the most popular approach to life. Conversely, Scripture warns us that we will be scorned and persecuted; that is why many do not follow His Commandments, because it is easier not to and go along with the crowd. Charles Spurgeon had something to say about crowds: “You will never go to heaven in a crowd.” Pointed and direct, but well stated.
If your heart is inclined to listen to Jesus and have a relationship with Him and His Father, or you are at least trying to work on that relationship, then follow their instructions; see where it takes you.
Life can be challenging and difficult at times. Don’t you think Jesus knew it would be? Of course He did. That is why He told His followers in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
You should read that again. We all have someone who loves us so much and will take our burden as His own to give us rest. What a friend, what a Savior. I am going to follow His ways and see where it leads me. My hope and prayer are that you will do the same. 3,000
year old Scripture still relevant today, those are truly God breathed words.
“God doesn’t require us to succeed, He only requires that you try.”
Mother Teresa
Scripture sources for this article:
KJV – King James Version
CSB -Christian Standard Bible
NIV – New International Version
Sowing and Growing
by Pastor James Merritt
“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.”
1 Peter 1:23
I don’t know if you know anything about farming, but the crowd Jesus was addressing in His parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-9) must have. The illustration Jesus used is interesting and tells us a lot about our role in bringing lost sinners back to the Father. A farmer cannot make the crops grow, can he? He cannot control the weather or condition of the soil. His job is to diligently plant seeds. His work with the soil is dependent on many factors beyond his control. He cannot make the ground fertile. He can only steadfastly tend to it.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the privilege of sowing the seeds for the Gospel. It is interesting that in the parable of the Sower, there is actually little focus on the sower. There is not much focus on the seeds either. Most of the focus is on the ground, the soil where the seeds fall. What does this teach us about our role in spreading the Gospel? The harvest’s success or failure depends not on the sower but on the soil. This is good news for us flawed, timid, and sometimes downright goofy sowers, isn’t it?
Our part in growing God’s Kingdom is to sow. The rest is up to God. Just like a farmer, we must diligently tend the ground and plant the seeds that God has entrusted to us. We cannot make it rain. We are not responsible for the seeds taking root and springing forth in faith. We must only sow, sow, sow. Only God can reach a person’s heart. Only He can open the eyes of the blind and give new life. He is the forgiver of sins and the giver of faith, not us. We are merely dedicated farmers so eager to see new growth that we sow seeds wherever we go. Our techniques, talents, education, and eloquence are not what are important. Our willingness to sow is what matters. That is our part, our privilege, our calling. Are you sitting or sowing? You have in your hands the seeds of life.
Tidbits
The first three Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, are known as the Synoptic Gospels. John was probably written later around 90 A.D.
The Bibles were originally written in three languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek; Latin and English came much later.
The New Testament was written in Greek so more people could understand it, since Greek was more popular than Aramaic at that time.
Septuagint – Greek translation from Hebrew of the Old Testament.
Let’s not forget our prefrontal cortex
There are short and long term memory functions in the different lobes of the brain; however, the prefrontal cortex is one of the major ones. The need to memorize anything lessens as we get older, mainly because we think we know everything we need to know by now; however, without use, this function will fade away. So let’s not fall victim to a failing memory. Here is the homework from last month’s newsletter. Try to recite them before you look. Test your memory.
12 Tribes of Israel, oldest to youngest: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin.
Here is next month’s homework. The four Prison Epistles written by Paul: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
NEWS NOTES
I am collecting clothes, toiletries, towels, and shoes for a group of Ukrainian refugees that have landed in Elyria. If you have anything extra laying around the house that you do not need, please gather it up and let me know. I will come get it and bring it out to Elyria. I have six bags of clothes already that I will bring out next week, but it is a continuum with no apparent end in sight to this war. Please keep me posted. Thanks.
If anyone has any Biblical topics that you would like explored and discussed in our newsletter, email me and I will check it out.
Or if you have any contributions to our newsletter you would like published, send them my way. I am always looking for content to share with others.
A Prayer
Be Thou, O Lord, our protector, who art our redemption; direct our minds by Thy gracious presence, and watch over our paths with guiding love; that, among the snares which lie hidden in this path wherein we walk, we may so pass onward with hearts fixed on Thee, that by the track of faith we may come to be where Thou wouldest have us. Amen
Mozarabic, before 700 A.D.
Source: Prayers Ancient and Modern
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