Wait On The Lord

We live in a fast paced world.  It seems like people thrive on fast food, fast Internet and fast cars.  They want to get ahead of the other guy.  We tell people, “Eat my dust” and compete in what some call a “rat race”.  We want things “ASAP” or “Done yesterday” (Is that even possible?)  Some even say, “I can’t wait for tomorrow!” (What else are they going to do?)  Such frenzied living has caused many to be stressed out and others to suffer from mental and physical maladies.

This impatient attitude has afflicted some of God’s children.  In the time of Isaiah, Jerusalem was beset round about by enemies.  They were crying out for deliverance and thought that God wasn’t listening or was unable to help in their time of great need.  This led many to despair and others to give up their faith and turn to idolatry.  They demanded that God operate on their time table.  However, in Chapter Forty, Isaiah comforts the people, reminding them of God’s wisdom and power.  He then instructs them to “wait” on the Lord and reminds them that those who patiently wait on the Lord will be blessed. (v. 31). 

Like Jerusalem of old, we must learn to trust in God and allow Him to work things out in His own time.  Christians are encouraged, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).  We are to walk by faith not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7).  Those who are impatient with God are walking by sight.  Faith is unshakable acceptance that leaves no room for doubt.  When one walks by faith, he takes God at His word and trusts in His Wisdom.  Prayer must be offered in faith without wavering (James 1:5).  Persistence in prayer doesn’t imply doubt or impatience (Luke 11:6-8). 

One thing that will help with impatience in life (secular and spiritual) is to learn contentment.  Paul stated, “...I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).  Paul declared, “...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12).  So, when things seem hopeless, wait on the Lord and He will deliver you!

Bruce Stulting

SOMETIMES LOVE HURTS

One of the greatest things that God gave to man is love. It can take man to the highest of joy. The number of songs and poems written on the subject demonstrates how important love is in our lives. Someone has gone so far as to say that “Love is what makes the world go around”.

As great as love is, there is a down side. Some times love hurts. If you don’t believe me, just ask someone who has been dumped by their first love or a parent who has lost a child to an accident or illness. Those who go through such grief often find it hard to continue living. The reason for such emotional grief is love. Think of the grief of our Heavenly Father, when he “gave his only begotten son” (John.3:16). After all, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). The fact that love can be the source of the greatest joy and the greatest grief is one of the greatest conundrums of all time.

Another reason that love sometimes hurts is corrective discipline. Most if not all have heard of a father who said, “This is going to hurt me more than it’s going to hurt you.” Furthermore, most if not all have heard a child argue this point. The fact is, the father is talking about emotional pain and the child is talking about physical pain. In this regard, the writer of Hebrews stated, “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:5-7).

Unfortunately, society (and even some in the Lord’s church) believe that physical punishment of a child is abusive and motivated by hate. The folly of this perversion of love is easily seen in the effect it has had on society (especially in our schools). Those who withhold corrective discipline really don’t love their child. In fact, all who are without corrective discipline are considered fatherless and not sons at all. Remember, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24).

Yes, sometimes love hurts. Often that pain is unfortunate, but, at other times it is necessary. Don’t avoid corrective discipline because of the pain that it brings. Whether you are on the giving or receiving end, be sure that it is always understood that it is done in love for the greatest good of all.

Bruce Stulting

Courage In The Face Of Adversity

One of the hardest things for a Christian to do is remain faithful when faced with adversity. Paul warned Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Timothy 3:12). True godliness is at odds with the world. The wicked will always oppose the good. Jesus faced similar opposition in His time. “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). The question that ought to concern every Christian is, “How will I respond to adversity when it comes my way?”

Some Christians take the easy way out. Some keep quiet when they should speak up. This led Peter to deny the Lord (Matthew 26:69-75). Others go along to get along. Paul had to rebuke Peter to the face for this behavior (Galatians 2:11). Still others give up altogether (Matthew 13:20-21). Such failure is hardly worthy of God’s blessings.

Paul is a great example of one who know how to face adversity. Consider Paul’s courage in the face of adversity, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:22-24).

Paul wasn’t ashamed of the Gospel. He was always glad to be identified with Christ. He stated on one occasion, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Paul was not afraid of a goal. He knew where he was going. He pressed toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 3:14). He also knew what it was going to cost him to get there, yet he still refused to ease up. We need Christians today who are not lukewarm or halfhearted! Are you such a person? May we all be willing to learn the will of the Lord and have the courage to do it regardless of the personal cost.

Bruce Stulting

Backsliding

As surprising as it may seem, many do not think that backsliding is a Biblical term. In Old Testament times, backsliding was a continual problem of God’s people as shown in Jeremiah 8:5, which states, “Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” To backslide is to turn away from God’s truth and return to one’s former wicked life.

There are many warnings in the Bible concerning the danger of backsliding. Paul wrote in I Corinthians 10:12: “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Even Paul himself was not immune to the danger of backsliding. In I Corinthians 9:27, Paul wrote, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

In guarding against backsliding, it is necessary to determine its cause. A little boy trying to explain why he fell out of bed said, “I just went to sleep too close to where I got in.” This simple illustration helps explain why some fall away from Christ after becoming a Christian. Upon entering the kingdom, it is necessary that one grow spiritually. It is sad that many refuse to grow, but remain close to where they entered the kingdom. We are exhorted in Hebrews 6:6 to “go on unto perfection.” Likewise, we are admonished in II Peter 1:5-7 to add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. By growing in these qualities, we will guarantee that we will not “go to sleep too close to where we got in.” In fact, II Peter 1:10 states, “if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

Many refuse to grow because they remain closely tied to things in the world. In the parable of the sower, Jesus spoke of some who allow the “care(s) of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, (to) choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). To avoid this, we must sever our ties to the world and turn our full attention to spiritual growth. By pressing on to perfection, we will not “slide back” into the ways of the world which we left when we became Christians.

 Bruce Stulting

“Let Us Be Noble”

Thoughts on Bible Study

The Hebrews writer stated: without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Knowledge of God can come in one of two ways: the natural revelation, which is the creation and the special revelation, which is the Bible. Regarding the natural revelation the Psalmist said, “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament sheweth his handiwork” (Psalms 19:1). Also, Paul stated: the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,  being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20). From the foregoing we learn that it is possible to know some things about God, however this knowledge is insufficient for salvation. For this cause God has given us the special revelation—the Bible. The faith spoken of by Paul comes from this source: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalms 19:7). Since the Bible is the source of saving faith, it is the most important book man has ever been privileged to read. This article is designed to encourage devoted Bible study so Bible devotion can be perfected. There are many difficult problems with which we must deal with in this life. When seeking answers to these problems, the world often turns to manmade philosophies and self-help books with the results often leading to more complicated problems. The only answer to a better life today and eternal life in the future is by living a life of faith as the Bible directs. With this in mind let us prayerfully consider the following. The Bible is the only all-sufficient guide to all of our spiritual needs. We are told that God “hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3). There are many things that are attributed to the Word of God. Notice the following:

  1. The Word will be our standard in the Day of Judgment, it will be that by which we shall be judged (John 12:48).
  2. The Word has the power to cleanse us (John 15:3).
  3. The Word is an agent in sanctification (John 17:17).
  4. By abiding in the Word we become true disciples (John 8:31).
  5. The use of the Word brings knowledge which in turn brings freedom from sin (John 8:32).
  6. The Word produces faith (Romans 10:17).
  7. The Word exerts an influence in the lives of people which can increase and grow in its effect (Acts 6:7; 12:24).
  8. Through the Word Christians are able to comfort sorrowing loved ones (I Thessalonians 4:18).
  9. The Word is able to pierce the inner- most self of man (Hebrews 4:12).
  10. By having the Word living and abiding in us, our prayers will be more effective (John 15:7).
  11. The directing of one’s life should be left to the power of the Word (Matthew 4:4).
  12. It is through the Word that we are begotten again unto salvation (I Peter 1:23; James 1:18).
  13. The Word is God’s instrument of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:19).
  14. The Word is able to save sinners (James 1:21; Acts 11:14).
  15. The Word, which is the Gospel, is also said to save (Romans 1:16; I Corinthians 15:2).
  16. Finally, the Word is able to produce growth to maturity in Christ (I Peter 2:2).

Bruce Stulting