7/24/20

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" The Savior's Tender Invitation (11:28-30) by Mark Copeland

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

The Savior's Tender Invitation (11:28-30)


 INTRODUCTION 1. In the text for our study today, we find a wonderful invitation extended by Jesus... "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) 2. From heaven Jesus still offers this tender invitation; but do we really understand and appreciate... a. To whom Jesus extends this invitation? b. What He offers to those who will accept it? c. What He expects from those who desire to respond? d. The true ease of accepting this invitation? [These are some of the questions we shall consider as we examine what has been called "The Savior's Tender Invitation"...] I. TO WHOM DOES JESUS EXTEND THIS INVITATION? A. "ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN..." 1. To those who are burdened by sin a. A burden which separates one from God - cf. Isa 59:1-2 b. A burden with terrible side effects 1) A lack of inner peace - Isa 48:22 2) Instead, one is burdened with anxiety, depression, fear and doubt 3) And rightly so, in view of the ultimate consequence of sin (spiritual death) - Ro 6:23a 2. This invitation, then, is really for everyone! a. For all are sinners! - Ro 3:23,10 b. And as such are in bondage to sin and its heavy burden - Jn 8:34 B. SADLY, MANY ARE TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THEIR BURDEN... 1. That they are sinners 2. That they are enslaved by sin and its burden 3. That they need Divine help to freed from the burden of sin [If you are not too proud to face the fact that you are a sinner and need Divine help, then "The Savior's Tender Invitation" is especially designed for you! But perhaps you wonder...] II. WHAT IS JESUS OFFERING? A. "I WILL GIVE YOU REST...YOU WILL FIND REST FOR
YOUR SOULS"
1. Jesus is offering rest for our souls! 2. Souls which have been burdened by: a. The guilt of sin, which separates from God (i.e., legal guilt) b. The side effects of sin, such as anxiety, depression, fear and doubt (i.e., emotional guilt) B. JESUS OFFERS REST... 1. Which includes a removal of the guilt of sin! a. For by God's own love and grace, forgiveness of sin is now possible through Jesus - cf. Ro 5:8-9; 1Jn 4:10; Ep 1:7 b. Through His own blood, Jesus frees us from the condemnation of sin - Ro 8:1 2. Which includes a removal of the side effects of sin! a. To have true rest for our souls, we need more than just forgiveness 1) For even those forgiven may be plagued by the side effects of sin 2) Having lived so long under the burden of sin, it may not be easy to lay aside those feelings which often accompany sin (e.g., anxiety, fear, doubt) b. Jesus certainly provides what our souls need... 1) To remove anxiety, Jesus offers peace to calm the troubled heart a) A peace unlike any that the world might give - Jn 14:27 b) A peace stronger than any tribulation the world might bring - Jn 16:33 c) A peace which guards our hearts and minds, and "surpasses all understanding" - Php 4:7 2) To remove depression, Jesus offers joy to lift our spirits a) The same joy Jesus Himself had - Jn 15:11 b) A joy later described as "inexpressible" - 1Pe 1:8 3) To remove fear, Jesus offers love which casts out fear- 1Jn 4:18 a) The same love which exists between the Father and the Son - Jn 15:9 b) A love which "passes knowledge" - Ep 3:19 4) To remove doubt, Jesus offers hope for facing the future a) By assuring us of eternal life - Jn 11:25 b) By promising eternal rest to those who die in the Lord - Re 14:13 [I have not exhausted all that pertains to the wonderful rest Jesus offers, but it is... * A rest from the burden of sin's guilt, and a rest from the burden of sin's side effects! * A rest for our burdened souls now, and eternal rest for our souls when we die! Incidentally, even physical burdens are made lighter by coming to Jesus, because the soul is made stronger to bear them! This sounds wonderful, but...] III. WHAT DOES JESUS EXPECT OF THOSE WHO WISH TO
RESPOND
?
A. "COME TO ME..." 1. This is easy, even though Jesus is "King of kings and Lord of lords" 2. For as He says, "I am gentle and lowly in heart" a. He is so gentle, children felt comfortable in His presence (cf. Mt 18:2) b. He is so lowly in heart, the common people heard Him gladly (cf. Mk 12:37) -- As prophesied, Jesus would be tender and sensitive to our needs ("A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench" - Isa 42:3; Mt 12:20) B. "TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU..." 1. "In Jewish literature a 'yoke' represents the sum-total of obligations which, according to the teaching of the rabbis, a person must take upon himself." - William Hendriksen (Matthew, New Testament Commentary) 2. Jesus is therefore expecting those who desire the rest He offers to: a. Accept His teachings b. Accept whatever obligations He would lay upon you C. "...AND LEARN FROM ME" 1. This is how we learn what obligations He would place upon us 2. We must be willing to listen to Him, and do whatever He says - cf. Lk 6:46-49 [In essence, "The Savior's Tender Invitation" is a call to discipleship: to commit your life as a disciple of Jesus, committed to learning from Him and accepting the obligations He places upon you (i.e., "His yoke"). This might prompt one to ask...] IV. HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO ACCEPT THIS INVITATION? A. AS JESUS TAUGHT ELSEWHERE, IT DOES REQUIRE... 1. That we observe all that He commanded - Mt 28:19-20 2. That we abide in His doctrine (teaching) - Jn 8:31 B. BUT AS STATED HERE, "MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY
BURDEN IS LIGHT"
1. John, who was a disciple for over fifty years, said: "His commandments are not grievous" - 1Jn 5:3 2. What helps lighten our burden is the strength Jesus Himself gives - Php 2:12-13; 4:13 -- Certainly the burden Jesus places upon us is lighter than the burden sin lays upon us! CONCLUSION 1. Do you desire the rest for your soul that is offered by "The Savior's Tender Invitation"? a. Then come to Jesus in full obedience to His gospel b. Commit to becoming His disciple, learning from Him all that He commanded 2. As suggested in Mt 28:19-20, this life of discipleship begins with baptism... a. For in baptism we put on Christ - Ga 3:27 b. For in baptism we rise to walk in newness of life - Ro 6:3-4 As one rises from the watery grave of baptism, they are freed from the burden of sin through the precious blood of Christ. As they continue to observe all that He commanded, their burden becomes even lighter as they apply to their lives the wisdom Jesus taught. Have you accepted the yoke of Jesus? Are you living under that yoke?


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

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Proving Your Faith by Wayne Jackson, M.A.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1361

Proving Your Faith

by  Wayne Jackson, M.A.

How do we know that Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God? Is our faith based merely upon tradition? Is faith the result of religious fanaticism? No, genuine faith stands firmly upon evidence.

After the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the newly appointed apostle entered the Jewish synagogues and “proclaimed Jesus, that he is the son of God” (Acts 9:20). His message continually amazed those who heard it. It seemed incredible that one who had so opposed the Christian Way could now be one of its most zealous advocates. The historian Luke informed his readers that Saul increased in strength, and he “confounded the Jews that lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ” (Acts 9:22).

Of interest in this passage is the term “proving.” It is a translation of the Greek word sumbibazon. It is a present tense participle form, which suggests that Paul's preaching was characterized consistently by a demonstrative line of argumentation. The original term, from an etymological viewpoint means “to bring together,” as when, for example, parts of the body are brought together (i.e., tied together) by sinew, ligament, etc. (see Ephesians 4:16).

In the context of Acts 9:22, the word connotes bringing together pieces of information from which a logical conclusion is drawn. In “proving” to the Jews that Jesus is the “Christ” (i.e., the promised Old Testament Messiah), Paul would have: (1) introduced specific Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming Messiah; (2) compared those predictions with factual data that pertained to Jesus of Nazareth; and, (3) from the preceding, he would have drawn irresistible conclusions that no rational and honest person could deny.

The critic who alleges that Christianity is merely emotional, and not intellectual, simply does not know the facts.

Prophesying With Instruments? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=5767

Prophesying With Instruments?

by  Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Q:

“I heard a preacher on television say he can ‘prophesy’ using his trumpet. Is that possible?”

A:

An example of this activity is seen on the charismatic Web site New Zealand Prophetic Network in an article that asserts the following:

Holy Spirit ministry functions through many and varied means. One of the not so common today is that of musicians prophesying on their instruments: that is, the ability to play prophetically on their instruments in such a way as to release the anointing to the people…. This is the realm where musicians can play prophetically, whereby the anointed tune—even a new tune—can actually enable the Holy Spirit to interpret the feeling and/or message of the tune to our hearts. As we listen intently while the musician plays (can be singular or plural), we “pick-up” the heartbeat of God, and the theme of that heart beat is interpreted to us in the realm of our understanding. When that happens we can experience deep peace, joy, inspiration, even tears, as the Holy Spirit speaks. Yet no words have been spoken; only the playing of an anointed tune on an instrument.1

Those who make this claim seek justification for the practice in 1 Chronicles 25:1 which reads: “Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals.” However, this claim is a misconception based on a faulty exegesis of the text. Even on the face of it, a trumpet or other mechanical instrument cannot “prophesy” since the word “prophesy” in Hebrew refers to speaking, i.e., articulating meaningful concepts via oral or written words.2 The only way a musical instrument can convey specific meanings is if it is used as a signaling device with a prearranged, mutually understood meaning attached to a specific tune or tones. Historically, armies have used trumpets and bugles to sound a particular movement by the troops—whether “charge,” “retreat,” “call to quarters,” etc. But the instrument itself has no intellectual content, meaning, or message inherent in the sound it is capable of making. Paul made this very point when he chided the Corinthian Christians for their failure to make certain that their tongue-speaking and prophesying was comprehended by the assembly. Noting that instruments are “without life,” even they must make sounds that are understood by those intended to be the recipients of the pre-decided message being conveyed (1 Corinthians 14:7).

When the Bible speaks of “prophesying with harps, etc.,” it is not suggesting that a harp can prophesy. Rather, the grammar of the passage makes clear that the prophesying is done by the human prophet who, in turn, is merely accompanied by the instrument. The word “with” in the NKJV flags this fact.3 It is made even clearer by a quick consideration of other English translations:

1 Chronicles 25:1
prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals NKJV
for the ministry of prophesying accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals NIV
prophesied to the accompaniment of lyres and harps and cymbals NABRE
to preach and play harps, lyres, and cymbals NCV
prophesy to the accompaniment of harps, and lutes, and cymbals WYC

So why accompany a prophet’s message from God with musical instruments? History does not answer this question definitively. However, consider a couple of possibilities that do not contradict other plainly established biblical realities. First, perhaps the instruments were intended to capture the attention of the Israelites, who would have constituted a large assembled crowd, in an effort to announce the commencement of the proclamation of the prophet’s divine message. This circumstance would have been analogous to court musicians who herald the arrival of the king or queen—a “fanfare”—defined as “a short ceremonial tune or flourish played on brass instruments, typically to introduce something or someone important.”4 Second, since prophetic messages throughout the Old Testament are typically couched in standard Hebrew metrical verse, perhaps the instrumental accompaniment was intended to reinforce the rhythmic nature of Hebrew poetry. The Bible does not inform us as to the activities of scores of prophets that we know ministered to Israel by prophesying. Keep in mind that the predictive element of our English word “prophesy” is secondary and sometimes even nonexistent in Hebrew prophecy. The majority of Hebrew prophecy was simply inspired preaching in which the prophet instructed, rebuked, corrected, and challenged his hearers with regard to their misbehavior/misconduct. In such a case, the prophets were something like the roving minstrels of the Middle Ages who traveled around the countryside and from town-to-town conveying messages via poetry accompanied by their strumming on a lute.5 In this way, Hebrew prophets would have permeated Israelite society on a daily basis, reminding the people of their spiritual and moral responsibility to conform every day to God’s will. This very scenario seems to be what we find in 1 Samuel 10:5.6

In any case, when a televangelist in our day claims to “prophesy” simply by playing a tune on a trumpet or other instrument, he does so without biblical precedent for such claims. After all, instruments are “without life.”

Endnotes

1 Rodney Francis (2016), “Prophetic Ministry Through Musical Instruments and Singers,” NZ Prophetic Network, https://www.nzpropheticnetwork.com/prophetic-ministry-through-musical-instruments-and-singers-by-rodney-w-francis.

2 Francis Brown, S.R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs (1906), The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2000 reprint), p. 612; William Gesenius (1847), Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1979 reprint), p. 525-526.

3 The Hebrew word for “harp” is kin-nohr (which is plural in the text) and has the inseparable preposition B= as a prefix which means “with.” Also in verse 3.

4 “Fanfare” in Angus Stevenson, ed. (2010), Oxford Dictionary of English (Oxford: Oxford University Press), third edition, p. 632.

5 Of course, the use of musical instruments to worship God according to New Testament Christian worship protocol is unauthorized. See Dave Miller (2007), Richland Hills and Instrumental Music: A Plea to Reconsider (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press).

6 As further proof that the prophesying was distinct from the playing on an instrument, notice that Samuel informed Saul that God’s Spirit would come upon him and enable him to join in the prophesying. Obviously, that did not mean that Saul picked up an instrument and began playing it. In fact, Saul apparently could not soothe himself by playing an instrument, which provided the occasion for enlisting the instrumental skill possessed by David (1 Samuel 16:14ff.). See also 2 Kings 3:15. Observe further that no prophet could play a trumpet while simultaneously prophesying since the trumpet requires the use of the mouth and lips in order to play it—which would prevent the prophet from using his mouth in order to prophesy an intelligible message from God.

Preaching "Jesus" Includes Preaching Baptism by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=928

Preaching "Jesus" Includes Preaching Baptism

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

It is very common today to hear people say something like, “We just need to preach Jesus and not trouble each other with the Bible’s peripheral teachings.” Or, “We mustn’t get caught up in the details, just in Jesus.” Oftentimes, such things are said in an attempt to avert controversy. “Since all professed Christians believe in Jesus, but not all are united upon His doctrine, let’s just talk about Jesus, and leave the secondary issues alone.”

One of these alleged “secondary” or “peripheral” teachings that frequently is avoided in religious discussions is that of baptism. Since so much controversy has been “caused” by this subject through the years (e.g., Are we to immerse or sprinkle? Should we baptize infants? Is baptism really necessary for salvation?), some believe we can, and should, “teach Jesus” to the lost world, and somehow bring them to Christ, without ever introducing the doctrine of baptism. This may sound like a good idea to some, but we must ask, “Is this a biblical idea?” Did the apostles, prophets, preachers, and teachers of the first century have this mindset? Did they distinguish between “preaching Jesus” and “preaching baptism”?

In Acts 8:26-40, we read how the Spirit of God instructed Philip to approach a non-Christian from Ethiopia, a man of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. When Philip came near the Ethiopian eunuch, he sat beside him, and, beginning at Isaiah 53, “preached Jesus to him” (vs. 35). Now, if Philip had the mindset of some twenty-first-century Bible teachers, his preaching would have been limited to only the “central truths” about Jesus (e.g., His death, burial, and resurrection; His deity; etc.). The very next verse, however, indicates that Philip’s preaching of “Jesus” must have included preaching on the importance of baptism, for the Bible indicates that the eunuch asked, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” (vs. 36). From this one question, we learn that Philip had to have instructed the eunuch previously concerning the necessity of water baptism. Respected Bible scholar J.W. McGarvey commented on this verse, saying,

He [the Ethiopian—EL] had learned not only that there was such an ordinance, but that it was the duty and the privilege of men to observe it when properly prepared for it. He also desired to be baptized, and his only question was whether he was a suitable candidate. As he had known nothing of Jesus as the Christ up to the moment of Philip’s preaching to him, he had certainly learned nothing definite concerning the baptism which Jesus had ordained; and we are consequently forced to the conclusion that what he now knew he had learned from Philip’s preaching (n.d., pp. 157-158).

Indeed, Philip included baptism in his preaching of Jesus. Unlike some preachers today, there was no hesitation about meshing Jesus and baptism together. Why would there be? After all, Jesus stressed the necessity of baptism before His ascension into heaven (Matthew 28:18-20; cf. Mark 16:15). Peter commanded those who heard him preach on Pentecost to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). Philip had preached it among the Samaritans (Acts 8:12-13). And it was a part of the lesson Ananias taught Saul (Acts 22:16). As H. Leo Boles once wrote, “No inspired preacher of the gospel then preached Jesus without preaching the baptism that Jesus commanded; no gospel preacher today can preach Jesus without preaching the command to be baptized” (1941, p. 138). Amen.

REFERENCES

Boles, H. Leo (1941), Commentary on Acts of the Apostles (Nashville, TN: Gospel Advocate).

McGarvey, J.W. (no date), New Commentary on Acts of Apostles (Delight, AR: Gospel Light)

Does God Ever Change His Mind? by David Vaughn Elliott


http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/03/does-god-ever-change-his-mind-by-david.html

Does God Ever Change His Mind?
by David Vaughn Elliott

Does God ever change His mind? Listen to the words that the Lord put into the mouth of Balaam: "God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: has he said, and shall he not do it?" (Num. 23:19). Does this mean that whatever God predicts is sure to happen; that all of God's warnings and promises will be fulfilled -- unconditionally?

That's not how Jonah understood God's nature. When God told Jonah to prophesy doom upon Nineveh, Jonah fled. Why? "I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that you are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and you repent of the evil" (4:2). And thus it happened. When Jonah did prophesy Nineveh's destruction, Nineveh repented and God relented.  

How did Jonah know that God might "repent of the evil"? I don't know; but the book of Jonah itself is a testimony to this truth. So is the word of Jeremiah: "If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good" (Jer. 18:8-10). "Repent of the evil... repent of the good." "Repent" means to change one's mind. Other versions render it "relent," "think better," "reconsider." 

God is not obligated to state these conditions every time He predicts a blessing or a disaster. Like Jonah, we should always keep in mind that God's mercy and justice can call for a change of plans. In Balaam's case, there was no reason to change. God had promised to bless Israel, and he surely would not "repent of the good" simply because the Moabites didn't like it.

In the case of Nineveh, no "if" is recorded. It may not always be easy to distinguish between a promise/warning with conditions and a prophetic prediction that has no conditions. It is essential to consider all the Scriptures that have a bearing on each prediction. 

Deut. 30 foretold that if Israel returned to God, God would "turn your captivity" (v 3). He promised to bless them abundantly, "if you shall... keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law" (v 10). This "if" was predicated on their keeping the Law of Moses. However, there was another condition that was not stated at that time.

The promise in Deut. 30 is like a coupon you have in 2008 that expired in 2006. The coupon is no longer valid. So it is with the promise in Deut. 30. Israelis today cannot fulfill the "if" even if they want to. They have no temple in which to offer the prescribed sacrifices. Worse yet, if they were to demolish the Dome of the Rock and build a temple in its place, God would not recognize it. Jesus blotted "out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us... and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). At that moment, God tore the veil of the temple from top to bottom. From that moment, the Law of Moses was no longer valid. "For the priesthood being changed [from Levi to Christ], there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Heb. 7:12). 

The promise of return with blessings based on keeping the laws in "this book of the law," is no longer valid. The promise has expired. As Paul told the Galatians, "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace" (5:4). Any promise based on keeping the Law of Moses is out-dated, expired, of no value today. The way for Jews to be blessed of God today is the same as for all of us. "There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal. 3:28-29). Because of Jesus' death, God's requirements and conditions have changed.

GO TO THE ANT by B. Johnson

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Johnson/Edna/Elizabeth/1939/ant.html

GO TO THE ANT

"Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest" (Proverbs 6:6-8).

Here in the tropics, we have every imaginable kind of ant. I am told that in Japan alone there are 262 different species, and it is estimated that there are about 20,000 different species of ants in the world. Each species has its own unique characteristics so that the whole subject of ants is mind boggling. These various types range from the tiny sugar eating ant in most American kitchens to the huge flesh-eating army ants in the jungles of South America.

If you watch ants for any length of time you will see that they really do communicate with each other, and very effectively too. Scouts return and communicate with nest mates by touching each other with their antennae, and they also leave scent trails for others to follow. Young workers can be trained by older workers. "Nurses" feed larvae predigested food and help pupae emerge from silken cocoons.

This month, during the hottest season, tiny brown ants have invaded our kitchen and practically carried us away. As soon as I cook something, they are there to carry off whatever I might spill or drop. Even stew in a covered stainless steel pot attracted them within a few minutes, and they were literally swarming over the lid and sides trying to gain entrance. By carefully following the trail, we were able to block the hole so that they could not come again to annoy us, but that had to be done over and over again. Each day, we left some bait to attract them and then diligently followed their trail to eradicate the colony.

What lesson can be learned from these tiny, diligent workers?

  • They are faithful and persistent in the execution of their duties.
  • They share and cooperate with each other and work for the benefit of the colony.
  • They often fight the enemy for the general good of the group.
  • They work without an overseer while it is "yet day."

Can we as Christian women behave like these tiny creatures? The inspired writer of Proverbs says so. We should not be slothful in business or in our duties to our physical families. We also must not be slothful in our duties to our spiritual family. We need to consider these creatures of God and be wise.

"There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

  • The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
  • The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
  • The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
  • The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces" (Proverbs 30:24-28).

Ants are only mentioned twice in the Bible, yet notice the admonition given about this amazing creature. "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer… … Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (Proverbs 30:25; 6:6).

What is it that the Lord would have us learn from these creatures He has made? Notice two specific qualities as well as the resulting evaluation.

The ant is a creature that is not strong.

Do we sometimes feel weak and inadequate for the job we have been given? Are we seeing what God sees in our lives? We must heed the admonition Paul gave the Philippians when he said,

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Phil 4:11-13).

The Lord has told us that He is our deliverer, and that we need not trust in ourselves or man. Through the prophets, He has given us many such admonitions:

  • In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me (Psalms 56:11).
  • It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man (Psalms 118:8).
  • Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help (Psalms 146:3).
  • The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe (Proverbs 29:25).

She prepares her meat (food) in summer.

  • "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame" (Proverbs 10:4-5).
  • "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute" (Proverbs 12:24).
  • "The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious (Proverbs 12:27).
  • "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat" (Proverbs 13:4).
  • "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men" (Proverbs 22:29).

She is wise and we should be like her.

  • "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it (Matthew 7:24-27).
  • "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Matthew 24:45-46).
  • "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17).

Beth Johnson

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Beyond magnificence! by Gary Rose


https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/quasar-tsunamis-rip-across-galaxies

This picture of a quasar is absolutely stunning. I saw it on the NASA site today along with a lengthy commentary. Since I found the article a bit too long for this blog post, I didn’t include it, but if you are interested, you can read it using the link. I think you be very glad if you do.


As I read the article, I was amazed at the shear power of a quasar; for me it is mind boggling! Imagine this: It is only one quasar in the astronomically huge universe! What power, what magnificence! Can you imagine the power necessary to create ALL THE UNIVERSE?

The Bible says….


Genesis 1 ( World English Bible )

1 In the beginning, God * created the heavens and the earth.

2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

3 God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.

5 God called the light “day”, and the darkness he called “night”. There was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 God said, “Let there be an expanse in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.”

7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.

8 God called the expanse “sky”. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

9 God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.

10 God called the dry land “earth”, and the gathering together of the waters he called “seas”. God saw that it was good.

11 God said, “Let the earth yield grass, herbs yielding seeds, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with their seeds in it, on the earth”; and it was so.

12 The earth yielded grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with their seeds in it, after their kind; and God saw that it was good.

13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

14 God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs to mark seasons, days, and years;

15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.

17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,

18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.

19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

20 God said, “Let the waters abound with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky.”

21 God created the large sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.

22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”

23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

24 God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind”; and it was so.

25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.

26 God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

29 God said, “Behold, * I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.

30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.

31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.


The story of creation is one we have heard of time and time again and yet the scope of it is genuinely beyond our comprehension. Millions, if not billions of light-years is its approximate size, again something beyond my understanding. Yet, the one who made all this is my friend, my savior and my hope! WOW!


If all this doesn’t set your mind reeling in amazement, you just might need a little more humility in your life. God is creator, sustainer and the judge of everything you can see, feel and touch. Honor HIM with your thoughts, your actions and your prayers; HE DESERVES IT!


P.S. Tonight, take a couple of minutes and gaze at the stars, for they are just ONE of GOD’S CREATIONS! When you do, realize that this quasar is out there somewhere, beyond your ability to see with the unaided eye, yet silently demonstrating God’s power! Beyond magnificence, isn’t it?