Follow Instructions of the LORD

This morning I was led to 1 Timothy for my study in God’s Word. I am continuing to study the word “honor” and chapter six leads with instructions to the church that largely are related to that subject.

I am again reminded that God’s Word is constant. It is the same today as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow. He gave instructions to honor in the Ten Commandments (in Exodus) and then again we see His instruction to those who would lead the church (1 Timothy). He does not waver and is as true today as He was in those times.

“³Honor widows who are truly widows.” And, “¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” – 1 Timothy 5:3&17 (ESV)

Notice here that Paul reiterates the honor that is to be payed to those in the church. There are a lot of details in the instructions between and after these verses, and we should all take a look at them, study them, and work to understand them, but the verses themselves tell us where to begin. We are to honor those owed the payment as noted.

Instructions are there to be followed. When we make a purchase of something that needs to be put together, we follow the instructions to do so. We have become dependent on instructions from our GPS to get somewhere and we follow them almost without question. What better instructions to follow than those given by God. He is instructing us to honor and that is what we should do, almost without question.

I know, “almost without question”. That seems a bit vague and needs some clarification. Yes, “almost”. God’s Word is final and we can rely on the instructions that we are given. We should trust that what He is telling us is true. As Ronald Reagan used often, “Trust but verify”. It is good for us to ask questions to understand and clarify the instructions to ensure that we get it right. Carpenters are taught to measure twice and cut once to ensure that they get it right (something that I have learned the hard way a number of times). My role here as relates to God’s instruction is to follow. I can and should question to understand, but ultimately I am to follow.

God has given us instruction to honor those owed. It is my duty to do so. I am here to spread His gospel. I am here to obey. I am here to follow the instructions of the LORD.

What is your approach to instructions? Are you just throwing them aside as you go and look for things to turn out well? What if you took the instruction of the LORD as the constant that it is?

Confess to the Father

This morning I am wrapping up my concordance study of the word “father”. Over the course of that past couple of months I have learned much in the way of my Father in heaven and father in this world. Today is a reminder for me as to who to rely on with all.

“⁵The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” – Revelation 3:5 (ESV)

I have to rely on my Father. As we see the words of Jesus above, He confesses before God the Father. As He is our example, we should do the same. I have to remember that my confessions are for my Father as well.

As a small child the father is the one in the home who is the immediate protector. He is the patriarch and the one we hide behind when things are not as they should be. He is the one who holds us when we need comforting. He is the one who cheers for us when we are out there doing what we do. And he is the one who listens when we have something to say and/or confess. And then we grow up. Our father in this world is not always there with us and we turn to our Father in heaven to take over.

It is my Father in heaven that is our immediate protector. He is the patriarch and the one we hide behind when things are not as they should be. He is the one who holds us when we need comforting. He is the one who cheers for us when we are out there doing what we do. And he is the one who listens when we have something to say and/or confess.

I have my Father to care for me. In order for that, I have to be here in confession with Him. I have to give it all to Him and know that He will take care of it all. I may not know or like the way He cares for it, but I have to know that He is and is doing so for me in line with His will for me and the spreading of the gospel. It is only up to me to come to Him and confess that which needs confessing and allow Him to love me and put things in motion for His glory.

Who are you confessing to? Are you just holding it all in or looking for someone/someplace to let it out? What if you were to give it all to our Father and allow Him to care for it all?

Know My Father to Know Me

“¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” – 1 John 3:1 (ESV)

As a child of God, I am different. I do not conform to the ways of this world that seems to be driven by societal norms. I do not seek to be insta-anything. I do not look to have what the “rich and famous” have. I do not do what I do for the recognition or notoriety of the world. I am here to serve God and to do His will. And that is what you may not know about me.

If you want to know who I am, look to my Father, who is my example. Look to Jesus and know Him to know me. He did not come to be liked by the world, He came to save the world. And that got Him killed, and that was the plan all along! He was not insta-anything, He did not have what the “rich and famous” had. He did not want recognition from the world. He was here to spread the gospel of His Father and to do His will.

Too often in this world, it is as though we are looking to be “like” someone. And usually that someone is from the societal norm that seems to have it all. I am not of that persuasion. I am content with who I am and what I have. Our newest car is a 2005. We are totally okay with having BLTs for dinner. We go shopping at the thrift shops. Our idea of a good night is relaxing at home streaming on the television.

Where the above is true, it is not that we are against what others have created for themselves and we do enjoy letting our hair down from time to time and going all out for some fun. But the difference is that we are not living to do so. We have a higher goal in mind and know that by following the example of our Father, we will reach that goal. By living a life of contentment, we are able to focus on that which will make a difference and that which is of the societal norm is not where we find ourselves longing to be.

If you really want to know me, get to know my Father in heaven. See the example that He gave and recognize that in me to see me in the light. Just because I do not look to be like everyone else, does not mean that I should be shunned by society. It is only because you don’t know my Father and therefor you do not recognize Him in me.

What is it that you are trying to be? Are you allowing society to drive who you are so that you will be known to all? What if you were to be like Christ and encourage everyone to get to know the Father to know you?

The Father Creates Only That Which is Perfect

This seems to be a really bold statement considering all that goes on in the world that may not be fully and completely “right” for the world. I have to remember though that the evil one is here in this world distorting and disrupting things.

“¹⁶Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” – James 1:16-17 (ESV)

I see here in the words from James that God creates all things that are perfect, and that there is no change to that which comes from Him. By this, I was created perfect. Every hair on my head is in the perfect place. There is no variation needed for me, in my creation.

Now, as noted, the evil one is here in this world distorting and disrupting. He is here to make it seem as though my creation was somehow flawed. I am not perfect and that there are things that can/should be done to improve my station in this world. The evil one wants me to believe that I need to be prettier, I need to have more, I need to be more. And the he is using all that is around me to bring the point to me.

What he is not doing is bring thing into the light. For when it is brought into the light the perfection that was is revealed and the sting of the flaw is driven away. God is the “Father of lights” and all that is in the light is shown to be perfect. It is up to me to live my life in the light so that all that is perfect will be revealed and I will be able to continue doing the will of God without the concerns of my station and whether or not I am worthy, for I was created perfect and things that are perfect are worthy for sure.

What is your view of yourself? Are you seeing your flaws which are in the darkness? What if you viewed yourself as God does, in the light and perfect in your creation?

Accept the Father’s Discipline

I know, who wants to be disciplined. Who wants to be rebuked and corrected. Who wants to be pushed to be better and more effective. Well this guy does.

In the mornings, I get up early and get some exercise. Now mind you, I am not a super fit guy and frankly, I am sure that those who are would not really consider the exercise I get as doing much for them. But, each morning I push myself to be better than the day before, and am excited when I best things by even the smallest of margins. Sometimes just getting up and getting out is besting things so I am excited for those just as much. Now, how is it that I am able to get and do in the mornings, but through discipline. Thankfully I have some willpower to do them, yet if not, I would seek out someone to hold me to account at getting better, just as one does when they hire a personal trainer.

Well, the Father is my spiritual personal trainer. He holds me to account so that I get better, at least better than the day before. And yes, sometimes it is better by the smallest of margins, but it is better none the less. I have to seek out my personal trainer and the discipline to get better and where it may not be super fun in the moment, the results are great to behold.

“⁹Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. ¹¹For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” – Hebrews 12:9-11 (ESV)

Our Father in heaven is here to train us in the glory of the gospel. He wants us to be strong and courageous in our work for Him. The way we do that is with the discipline to continue, even when things get hard. He will not make things easy for you and me. We will struggle with getting through. We will endure pain and frankly will fall into the trap of avoiding things just because they are hard. But those are the times when we seek Him out to hold us to account and maintain our discipline to press forward for His glory and now our own.

Only the Father will hold us to account for His work, and only when we are in His arms. I have to ensure that I will have the Father on my side and be lifted by Him and the way I do that is to dive into His Word and work to understand where I stand as His son. I have to remember that regardless of how hard things might be in the moment, He is allowing the hard to toughen me in the moment to reward me in His time.

What are you working toward that is hard? Are you out there going it alone? What if you engaged with the Father to hold you to account and press you to completing so that you will be rewarded for your work?

Of/In the Lord

As is the case a lot in my bible study, I find myself in the same passages time and time again. This morning in Ephesians 6. I may have written on this in before, as I have notes in the margins of my bible to the effect, but I was led here by God again and I know that means there is something here for me to learn and understand.

“⁴Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. ¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” – Ephesians 6:4 & 1 (ESV)

Yes, I know and did post these verses in reverse order. Speaking first to fathers to discipline children yet not in anger, but of the Lord. And then to the children to understand that the instruction and discipline of the father are of the Lord and they should obey in the Lord. These work together and both are responsible in making them work together.

I feel as though there is one-sided approaches to fathers and children. And those one-sided approaches are seen in perspective. Fathers see disobeying children and children see angry, overbearing fathers. And where perspective is important, it is also important to see things from the other’s perspective to get a sense of where the actions are coming from.

Children, we have to see that fathers are doing what they understand to be in the best interest of us. Fathers want us to be independent and successful. Do they get it right all the time, NO. Are all fathers raising us “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord”, NO. Yet, generally, fathers are acting in the way they know how. It is our role to ensure that we are obeying them “in the Lord”. We are to be following the teaching of the Lord and finding His instruction in that from our fathers.

Fathers, we have to see that children are doing what they understand to be in the best interest of us. Children look up to us to be the example of what right looks like in the world. Do they get it right all the time, NO. Are all children obeying “in the Lord”, NO. Yet, generally, children are seeking to understand the fathers instruction. It is our role to ensure that we are disciplining and instructing in the way “of the Lord”. We are to follow the teaching of the Lord and finding His obedience in our children.

Notice in the above that it is our responsibility to study and learn from the Lord what is right, regardless of which side we are on. Some of us are on both sides, fathers and children. And for us, we have double work to do, instruct “of the Lord” and obey “in the Lord”. Either way each is “the Lord” where we are to find that which is right and honorable.

Where are you looking for the example? Are you fully looking to your father or children here in this world? What if you were to look for the example of/in the Lord and applied His teachings to here in this world?

You and I have the Same Father

This is where I land this morning as I read and study God’s Word. We are of the same Father. We are together in Christ and in the same household. We are adopted brothers and sisters.

“¹³But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility…¹⁸For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” — Ephesians 2:13-14 & 18-19 (ESV)

It matters not where we come from, we are all going to the same place. We all have the love of Christ to lean on and use as our comfort and guidance. We all have the same opportunities as we come from the same household and have the same Father, our LORD, Christ.

How did/do we get here you ask? Well it is simple. We all have to accept the salvation provided by Christ thanks to His death on the cross for all of our sins. Yes, all of our sins. He did not do it for Himself as a show of see me. He did it so that we would not have to. He died of the persecution for our sins so that we would be able to move forward and spread the gospel knowing that we are no longer slaves to our sins. We have been forgiven and are able to move forward with the comfort of knowing that we are free.

I and you are brothers and sisters in Christ thanks to the one act of Christ and our acceptance of His act as being for us. And now we are of the same lineage and of the same life opportunities and are heirs to the kingdom of God, together, meaning that we have the same Father in heaven.

What is your thought on your lineage with me? Are you separate as you are somehow separated and don’t know me? What if you saw us as brothers and sisters thanks to the salvation provided by our Father through our brother Jesus Christ?

Our Father Rescues Us From Slavery In This World

“¹I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, ²but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.” – Galatians 4:1-2 (ESV)

In the verses above, we can see that until the day we are counted as men we are slaves to the needs of the family. I know that I would use this verse with my boys often to let them know that they are to do as they are told and will not be “given” anything for doing so. Then as they grew up into their teenage years, they would be asked to help out as they had moved to the next phase. And now as they are into their 20s, they are the ones asking if they can help out as they have reached that point of now caring for themselves. This may seem counter to the societal norms, but it is certainly in line with biblical norms.

Now, let’s look at how this translates into this world and our movement in it. We are young in life and are driven by what the world tells us. We are to do that which is in line with the world, as we know no better and are in need of guidance and structure to move forward. Then we have the opportunity to accept Christ as our savior and we are asked by Him to do the work in spreading the gospel. As we grow in our faith and understanding of the Word of God, we move to a point of asking God for more opportunities and at this point we are now caring for ourselves in the order of biblical norms.

We have accepted God as our Father and He has accepted us as His children. In doing so, we have been made heirs to the throne of God and are no longer slaves to this world.

“⁶And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ ⁷So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” – Galatians 4:6-7 (ESV)

And there we have it. God rescues us from this world and the slave that we are to it. We are accepted into His family as adopted sons and daughters. We are granted all of the greatness that comes with the family crest. We are now set to grow and know the family business and take on more and more responsibility which leads to our receipt of all that comes with the glory in heaven.

What is your view of how your father rescues you? Are you looking for independence and cannot imagine being told what to do? What if you were to accept the Father, allowing yourself to be told, then asked, then you offer to do the work of the family as you have been rescued from this world and accepted into the Kingdom of God?

The LORD will be Father to You

I am reading this morning in 2 Corinthians and Paul is telling the church that the LORD will be a father to those who separate themselves from the unbelievers. He is pointing out that as a member of the Temple of the Living God, we are to not be in constant fellowship with those that are not members. Paul brings his point home by citing from Leviticus, the third book in the bible and well before Jesus came and gave us the new covenant.

“¹⁶What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

‘I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

¹⁷Therefore go out from their midst,

and be separate from them, says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing;

then I will welcome you,

¹⁸and I will be a father to you,

and you shall be sons and daughters to me,

says the Lord Almighty.’”

— 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 (ESV)

The plan of the LORD all along is to be a father to us. This is not something new that just popped up and is the way things are to get you to follow Him. It was from the beginning, the plan, again demonstrating that God has already thought it all through and that we are to trust Him in all things. They may not happen right now, but they will happen and we should be prepared for them and not surprised when they occur.

Our Father is just that and you can see in the passage above that He is not just our Father, but He declares that we are to be His “sons and daughters”. He claims me as His own and all I have to do is accept Him.

Father, thank you for claiming me. Thank you for offering yourself to me. Thank you for showing me the way to you and that you are there waiting for me with open arms. Thank you for giving me the gift of salvation, I ACCEPT!!!

What is your view of the LORD? Are you seeing Him only as a/the supreme being He is? What if you were to accept Him as LORD and your Father?

Earthly Fathers in Christ

“¹⁴I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.” – 1 Corinthians 4:14-15 (ESV)

See the writing of Paul to the Church at Corinth. He is letting them know that he is their father in Christ here in this world.

We all have those earthly fathers in Christ that can guide us when we are in need. This father may be our birth fathers or could be a surrogate much like Paul was to the Corinthians. This father is not a/the replacement for God the Father, rather he is someone who is there in the flesh to stand with you as you petition God the Father.

Even as God the Father is with me always, I am still human and find comfort in having someone physically available to walk with. It is a less than fulfilling to be alone, even alone in Christ. Yes, He fulfills my every need, yet there is something to having someone that will stand with me so that when I am not hearing the Father, I can hear my father who may be hearing from God the Father with/for me.

Paul was not the lord over the people and that he made very clear. He was an earthly father/teacher in the name of Christ to the people. He was the voice of Christ to the authority to speak the gospel to them all the while giving us the example of how to approach the gospel ourselves. We are to stand to the gospel yes, yet we are to stand in peace as Paul did and accept the punishment of man for the upholding of the law of God.

“¹⁶I urge you, then, be imitators of me. ¹⁷That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” – 1 Corinthians 4:16-17 (ESV)

I am reminded of a quick little video I saw once as relates to being an imitator of the father. In the video, there was a man walking through a restaurant. The man was dressed in a suit and carrying a briefcase. Now that may not seem too unique, only as you looked behind the man, there was a small boy walking behind him. The boy was wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. Cute right? Looking at the video, I see the boy imitating his father. He may not have known all that there was to the goings on in the moment, yet he was being like his father, knowing that dad was doing something and he wanted to do it also.

We need to have that father to look to as an example to do something. We have to be careful as to who we look to, although a great place to find one is in the presence of God the Father. There are earthly fathers out there for each of us to lean on. Yes, God the Father is where we look for true guidance, but there are times when we may not hear Him and need someone next to us to relay the message coming from Him.

Who is your earthly father? Are you out there trying to go it alone? What if you were to seek out an earthly father in Christ to stand with you as you petition God the Father?