"New Beginning"
"Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness" (Heb 12:9-10).
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We are reminded in John 17 -- of Christ intercessory prayer to His Father on our behalf, that we are still a part of this world. "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world [speaking of us], and I come to You Holy Father, keep through Your own name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are. As each year rolls by for the world at large, we are all reminded of the fact we are one year closer to the day of our death and a year closer to the day of Christ's return. Our lives are but a puff of smoke- like steam, one moment we see it and the next moment it has disappeared.
It is for this reason that James informs us, "Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). The valuable time we are given should not be wasted, but put to good use. The Apostle Paul told the Ephesian brethren, "See then that you walk circumspectly [cautiously], not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph 5:15-16).
Our eternity depends, on how we live our lives now! Today, we must make the right choices if we want to be in God's kingdom. Armed with these reminders from God's word, we need to prepare ourselves for the day of our judgment.
Let's begin, by stimulating some questions in our mind- by examining what our actions have been over the past year. Ask yourself as I have to, has my relationship with my Eternal Creator improved-or has it stagnated? Have I drawn closer and nearer to my God since the fall Holy Days?
Back in James 4, we are encouraged to submit ourselves to God and to draw near to Him. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded" (James 4:7-8).
We draw near to God three ways: through fasting, meditation and prayer! Who would be better than king David the psalmist, from which to draw these examples than a man after God's own heart.
Even the Apostle Paul looked to David's psalms. "Speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph 5:19).
Let's look through the Psalms, starting with Psalm 35:13, where we read David humbled his soul with fasting, "But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting." Psa 5:1, David is pleading for God to consider his meditation. "Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation." Psa 119: 97, "O how love I Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Psa 73: 28, David said it is good to drew near to God, "But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all His works."
We also find in Psalms David prayed to God three times a day. "As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me" (Psa 55:16-18).
David knew God is the keeper of all who love Him. Notice one other Psalm of David. "The Lord is near unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry [their prayer], and will save them" (Psa 145: 18-19). These are encouraging words for us in God's Church !
In order for us to develop a loyalty to God our Father, we should bear in mind as David did that a close relationship depends upon good communication. How has your communication with the Father and Christ been since the last fall Holy Days? We have been several months without a Holy Day. Have we been faithful in listening and obeying God's word? Christ said in Matthew, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by Every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4).
Have we been steadfast in meditating and talking to God through prayer, so to live by every word of God? If not, can we honestly say that we are taking our relationship with God seriously? Any effective communication requires a two-way street - therefore fervent Bible study should be joined with fervent prayer. God does not have a answering machine to screen our prayers. His line of communication is never so busy that He will not hear and answer us. God knows we are still in the world and in need of His answering our prayers and takes care of our needs!! Maybe, not our wants!
Another area to check: How is our communication and relationship with the brethren in God's church? Has our love for one another increased over the past year? Why is love of the brethren so important? Because where there is love there is unity and where there is unity there is the Lord's blessings.
The Apostle Paul said, in 1Thessalonians, "But as touching brotherly love you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that you increase more and more" (1 Thess 4:9-10). In other words don't stop communicating but work on doing it more often. Again I ask - how are we doing in this area of our lives. Are we any closer as brothers and sisters than we were a year ago?
One well known messenger of the Lord wrote, "Then they that feared the Lord spoke often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him. Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves Him not" (Mal 3:16-18).
Do you know who the loyal brethren are in the Churches of God? Do you ever call, write or try to communicate with them?
Quite often at God's Feast of Tabernacles we see visitors and guests attending with us. We need to ask ourselves this question, have I made the effort to know them? The Apostle Peter tells us to - "use hospitality one to another without grudging" (1 Pet 4 9). Practicing hospitality is showing love for the brethren. Hospitality is a tremendous privilege and a good way to get to know someone. God's word informs us, "Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares" (Heb 13:1-2).
Christ taught that we should entertain those who cannot repay us. "But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: and you shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense [repay] you: for you shalt be recompensed [repaid] at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14: 13-14). This simply means, those in need-are not to be forgotten.
God's feasts are an ideal place and time to do what Christ is asking us to do. You never know if a visitor or guest is an angel-you never know if it might be one of the poor, the maimed. You might ask, how can I afford to entertain-when traveling, and paying for a place to sleep at night-eat 3 meals a day - for 8-10 days, show hospitality during some of those days and share time with people of like mind? Again how can I afford to do that? God gives us the answer in Deu 14, where we are instructed to save a second tithe. "You shall [ stay tuned on that ] truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year" (Deut 14:22-26).
Where have we heard the commanding term "You shall" before? Exodus 20 gives us the answer.
Vs,1 "And God spoke all these words, saying,"
Vs,3 "You shall have no other gods before Me."
Vs,4 "You shall not make unto you any graven image," Vs,5 "You shall not bow down yourself to them,"
Vs,7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."
Vs,8 "You shall remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Vs,13 "You shall not kill.
Vs,14 "You shall not commit adultery.
Vs,15 "You shall not steal.
Vs,16 "You shall not bear false witness against thy neighbors.
Vs,17 "You shall not covet your neighbors house.
In Matthew 5, Jesus Christ said, we are to be "the salt of the earth" and "a light to the world." He also said, starting in verse 19, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least [you shall] commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven."
Notice "you shall" in the book of Deuteronomy chapter14: verse 22, "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year." This verse in the Good News Bible says, "Set aside a tithe - a tenth." Continuing with Deut 14: verse 23, in the King James Bible, "And you shalt eat before the Lord your God, in the place which He shall choose to place His Name there, the tithe of your corn, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first-lings of your herds and of your flocks; that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the Lord your God shall choose to set His name there, when the Lord your God has blessed you: then shalt you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose: and you shalt bestow that money for whatsoever your soul lusts after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul desires: and you Shalt eat there before the Lord your God, and you shalt rejoice, you, and your household" (Deu. 14:23-26).
Now is a good time for all of us - as commanded, to set aside a 10% savings - as instructed, so we will never miss out on any of God's commanded feasts or God's Feast of Tabernacles!!
Benjamin Franklin once said, "He that cannot obey, cannot command." We have all read in Matthew 25, where Christ speaks of setting the righteous sheep on His right side and the unrighteous goats on His left side. He is judging individuals for their obedience to His "you shalls !!"
Christ also said, "For I was an hungry, and you gave Me meat: I was thirsty, And you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in: naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came unto Me. Verse 40, "And the king [Christ ]shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it unto Me" (Matt 25:35-36,40).
The best evidence that a person will become a son of God in His Kingdom-is that he obeys the words of God!
In making the needs of others our responsibility we reflect the divine character of our Creator. Maybe you know of someone who could use a letter of encouragement or a phone call. We know from experience, as probably you do, some will not answer or acknowledge your effort, but God knows you tried. He sees your effort and concern and He knows your heart.
Another area the called of God needs, is we have an important responsibility toward those in the world - like our relatives, neighbors, and friends! And those we do business with that are yet to be called. In Matthew 5, we read how Christ used the parable of light to put the emphasis on Christian character."You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt 5:14-16).
This present age is like a night of sin that has just about run its course. And the armor of light is about to take over. The Apostle Paul expresses it this way, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness [fruits of the flesh], and let us put on the armor of light [the armor of God's ways and Character].
The relationship between these verses is that Christ is the source of light; and Christians are to be the reflection of His light. Just as the moon reflects the glory of the sun.
The questions raised, can be summarized or looked at this way: A new Gregorian year has started since the last fall Holy Days. We need to ask -- have we made good use of the vapor of time God has given us this past year, or- have we wasted it away? It is likely that all of us in some degree have not made as good of use, this past year-as we would have liked to have.
At this point, let's apply the words of Paul: "I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:13-14). As called out brethren, we should have Paul's attitude, of pressing forward.
A few suggestions or recommendations for the vapor of time ahead. Resolve to draw nearer to God and His ways. How do we do that?
1). By having a daily reading program of God's living-abiding word.
2). 'Study [exert one's self] to show yourself approved unto God, [for it is God we must ultimately satisfy] a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15).
We are not to learn the tricks of the trade but to learn the trade! God's word of truth can be sharper than a two edged sword as Paul tells us in Heb 4."For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb 4:12)."We are to be doers of God's word not hearer only."
Paul also tells us in Romans 15, to not neglect studying from the Old Testament. "For whatsoever things were written beforetime [in history] were written for our learning, [our instructions] that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope" (Rom 15:4). Paul was emphasizing the permanent nature of the Old Testament, even while the books and letters of the New Testament-was at that time in the process of production.
Paul expressed these same thoughts to the Corinthians, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them: and that rock was Christ" (1 Cor 10:1-4). And in verse 11: "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: And they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."
Our daily study of God's word should also involve the New Testament. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). Our Bible study is not to neglect using both the Old and New Testament, as verse 21 clearly informed us. We are to receive with meekness Christ's New Testament teachings. The en-grafted word we just read of - is Jesus Christ. The Apostle John identifies that for us. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, And the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1-2). And in verse 14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
It is through the Word, made flesh Jesus Christ that we have a intercessor to God's throne. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5). Paul here clearly rules out the need of a human mediator. It is through the sacrifice of Christ that we now have a door open to us to go boldly to pray and talk to our Father in heaven. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:14-16).
Paul also encourages us to "Pray without ceasing." "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess 5:17-18). Daniel and King David left us examples of praying three times daily. ".......Daniel went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees Three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did daily" (Dan 6:10). God was to Daniel the source of all his wisdom and success in life. Psalms 55:17, tells us of David's persistence in praying. "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice."
Finding truth is strengthened by regular and frequent times of prayer. Daniel and David's example may sound simplistic; but if implemented, they go a long way... producing the kind of lifestyle that is-Christ like.
Time is a precious commodity, given to us by God, that is truly like a vapor. "Whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away" (James 4:14). Our short life span needs to be carefully examined and redeemed.
Read what a minister said in a sermon a few years ago. "I think the church in general is losing the dedication of the people. They are not committed to the church;- They are not committed to the feasts;- They are not committed to second tithe--we're just losing a lot of the basic foundations of the church." The church he was addressing was on the road to being Laodicean - luke warm!
Paul's letter to the Ephesian church said; "See then that you walk circumspectly [cautiously], not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph 5:15-16 ).
A question asked, what does God require of us? "He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Mic 6:8). When men walks with God they order their lives in harmony with God's divine will !
James Russell
Something to stop and think about!
How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!
God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments as well as in the number of grains.
Each watermelon has an even number of strips on the rind.
Each orange has an even number of segments.
Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.
Each stock of wheat has an even number of grains.
Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one, so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.
The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.
All grains are found in even numbers on the stock. The Lord specified thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and hundred-fold - all even numbers God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day, so that Linneus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!
How lovely to think about the way our Creator God planned everything so carefully and perfectly, everything with a plan. As His highest creation, "we are fearfully and wonderfully made".
God's accuracy may be observed in the matching of eggs.