07 April 2014
Numbers 24; 25
Proverbs 17
Ephesians 5; 6
"UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS"
We should always make "the best use of our time"! But Paul's comment to the Ephesians is that they should do it "because the days are evil" [Ephesians 5:16]. This shows that the time for doing worthwhile things was short; the window of opportunity for working for the Lord was not going to last for very long. Paul continues, "therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is" [Ephesians 5:17] This is a major reason why we should read the word of God every day - to understand his will, so that our minds are filled with his principles and this leads to wise actions, more essential than ever when "the days are evil."
Now note how Paul next writes of the good things that they - and we - can and should make part of our lives when we have the time to be together. He says, "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart" [Ephesians 5:19]. We sing aloud, but note that last phrase "in your heart." This shows that we must really think about and know the meaning of the words we decide to sing - for we are singing to the Lord, not just to each other! We are singing about our convictions.
Jesus gave the very same warning, but he called those listening to him hypocrites and quoted Isaiah to them, "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." [Matthew 15:8]. Finally, in our other Ephesians chapter today [Ephesians 6], Paul sums up his urgent advice about the coming evil day in words so appropriate to us today, "Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." [Ephesians 6:13]. A particular evil day or time of climax is certainly coming; it is what we do now that we see whether we "stand firm" or not.
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- DC
Thought for the Day
07 April 2014
"The word of God is truth, and if it be strong and lively within us, our faith will take us through this life to the blessed things that we hope for. Do not let us leave the Word of God as words in a book. A sword is not a quiet, passive, immobile thing; it is an instrument of action. Let us then take this sword, and translate it into action, bring it to the attention of the world, and to the full attention of our own minds."
- W. Bury
The Risen Christ (1959)
How do we smell?
People go to much effort to smell nice. Washing and bathing, perfuming and deodorising. We are very conscious that we smell right.
Are we so conscious of the smell we give off spiritually before our God?
Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR"
Christ sacrificed his life for his brethren, in love. This was a SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR unto God.
As Paul writes to the ecclesia at Ephesus, we are to be imitators/followers of God and walk in that Godly pattern laid down by Christ.
Paul uses this analogy of a smell as he wrote to the ecclesia at Corinth (2 Cor 2):
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the SAVOUR of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a SWEET SAVOUR of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish"
As we go about our daily lives, may we manifest (make known) the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ in every place we tread during our day. That, we truly triumph in Christ being a SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR of our Lord and Master arising unto our Heavenly Father.
Numbers 24; 25
Proverbs 17
Ephesians 5; 6
"UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WILL OF THE LORD IS"
We should always make "the best use of our time"! But Paul's comment to the Ephesians is that they should do it "because the days are evil" [Ephesians 5:16]. This shows that the time for doing worthwhile things was short; the window of opportunity for working for the Lord was not going to last for very long. Paul continues, "therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is" [Ephesians 5:17] This is a major reason why we should read the word of God every day - to understand his will, so that our minds are filled with his principles and this leads to wise actions, more essential than ever when "the days are evil."
Now note how Paul next writes of the good things that they - and we - can and should make part of our lives when we have the time to be together. He says, "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart" [Ephesians 5:19]. We sing aloud, but note that last phrase "in your heart." This shows that we must really think about and know the meaning of the words we decide to sing - for we are singing to the Lord, not just to each other! We are singing about our convictions.
Jesus gave the very same warning, but he called those listening to him hypocrites and quoted Isaiah to them, "This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." [Matthew 15:8]. Finally, in our other Ephesians chapter today [Ephesians 6], Paul sums up his urgent advice about the coming evil day in words so appropriate to us today, "Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." [Ephesians 6:13]. A particular evil day or time of climax is certainly coming; it is what we do now that we see whether we "stand firm" or not.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
07 April 2014
"The word of God is truth, and if it be strong and lively within us, our faith will take us through this life to the blessed things that we hope for. Do not let us leave the Word of God as words in a book. A sword is not a quiet, passive, immobile thing; it is an instrument of action. Let us then take this sword, and translate it into action, bring it to the attention of the world, and to the full attention of our own minds."
- W. Bury
The Risen Christ (1959)
How do we smell?
People go to much effort to smell nice. Washing and bathing, perfuming and deodorising. We are very conscious that we smell right.
Are we so conscious of the smell we give off spiritually before our God?
Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR"
Christ sacrificed his life for his brethren, in love. This was a SWEETSMELLING SAVOUR unto God.
As Paul writes to the ecclesia at Ephesus, we are to be imitators/followers of God and walk in that Godly pattern laid down by Christ.
Paul uses this analogy of a smell as he wrote to the ecclesia at Corinth (2 Cor 2):
"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the SAVOUR of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a SWEET SAVOUR of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish"
As we go about our daily lives, may we manifest (make known) the knowledge of God and the Lord Jesus Christ in every place we tread during our day. That, we truly triumph in Christ being a SWEET SMELLING SAVOUR of our Lord and Master arising unto our Heavenly Father.
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