Work Out Your Own Salvation With Fear and Trembling1
Philippians 1:27-30
27Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. (Paul was very concerned that the Philippian Christians would be united in their zeal for the spread of the gospel and not back down because of persecution. The world looks on the message of salvation only in Jesus as being inflexible and the courageous saints who proclaim it as hardened heretics. But God looks on their boldness with favor.) 29For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
It would cheer the Philippian saints to remember that they suffered in good company. They were comrades with the apostle himself. We may rejoice when we are ridiculed for Jesus’ sake, because we are in company with the princely army of martyrs.
Philippians 2:1-16
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, and comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (Paul pleads with them intensely. He multiples his words. Love among Christians is so precious that he begs for it as if he were begging for his life. Let us never fan the flames of party strife, but always work to increase holy love among our fellow Christians.) 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus is the divine pattern of love and self-denial. We should make every effort to follow his example. He is now exalted to the highest glory as the reward for willingly being humiliated. His disciples will also rise to honor by being willing to give up everything for his sake. We must stoop to conquer. The person who is willing to be nothing will possess all things.
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (We work out what the Lord works in. The grace of God is not an excuse to be idle. It is a reason to be hard working! God gives us both the will to work and the work to do. Therefore, let us will with strong determination and work with fearless persistence. This is how we will fulfill the good pleasure of the Lord.)
14Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (We cannot be blameless if we complain and argue, because that naturally leads to sin. Our lights cannot shine if, instead of keeping our own wicks trimmed, we spend our time blowing out the lamps of others.) 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
We do not wish to rob faithful pastors of the reward of their labors. Yet that is what we will do unless we wholeheartedly join with them in spreading the gospel and do our best to live in holiness and Christian love.
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1 Philippians 2:12
Year Two, November 2
Stand Firm in the Faith1
Philippians 4
1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
2I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord.
He pleads with these two good women to end their differences. Quarrels can have terrible results, even when they are only between two people, including these two good women.
3Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (We cannot have too much holy rejoicing. We are to rejoice and then to rejoice again. Let us see to it that this is done in this house all day long. Only those who are in the Lord can genuinely rejoice. Are we all in him?) 5Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Do not be worrying, but do be praying. Prayer is the cure for anxiety.
7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Paul gives us a lot to think about. Take each word and study it, and then put it in practice. Every member of the family should learn this verse by heart. It is a big book on virtue pressed into a very tiny space.
9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
10I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
14Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
Paul knew how to be poor, but he did not know how to be ungrateful. True ministers will work for the Lord, no matter how badly their people may support them. Yet it is good to treat them generously and win their appreciation, because their Master is pleased when his servants are treated kindly for his sake. What act of love can we do for our pastor at this time?
15And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
This is a grand assurance. God is the giver; his infinite glory is the storehouse. Jesus guarantees the delivery and the supply is unlimited. For what more can anyone ask? The promissory note from the Bank of Faith makes all believers rich beyond a miser’s dream.
20To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
21Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.
23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. (So, with a fond wish this fragrant letter of love comes to a close. May more of the tender spirit that it breathes be found in each one of us.)
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1 1 Corinthians 16:13
Year Two, November 3
For in Him All the Fullness of God Was Pleased to Dwell1
In the letter to the church at Colossae Paul had to deal with many dangerous errors and troublesome practices. Therefore it is better known for its serious warnings than for those tender expressions that are so abundant in his letter to the Philippians.
Colossians 1:1-20
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, 7just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf 8and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
It is delightful to hear one servant of God praise another like this. There is far too little of this in our day. True soldiers of Christ have a high regard for their comrades and are glad to promote their good reputation. Paul praises Epaphras to the Colossians as his way of recommending that worthy brother to them. Anything less may have destroyed his influence on them and injured the cause of Christ as a result.
9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
The Colossian church needed to gain understanding as much as the church of Philippi needed to achieve unity. They were easily deceived and led away from the gospel. We need to know the gospel well and hold on to it firmly, because there are many around us who will mislead and trick us if we let them.
11being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, (To work and to suffer, and to rejoice in both, is the unique mark of Christians. We need God’s grace for this and there is always an infinite supply to uphold us. Nothing short of the glorious power of God can create Christians or sustain them after they are born again.) 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Now that the apostle has touched this string we may expect sweet music. His expert ability is never so much at home as when he is singing the praises of the Lord Jesus. Listen as he exalts the Son of God.
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
If Jesus were not God the Son, then Paul’s language would be both ridiculous and blasphemous. What more could be said? Is not every word straining to describe the glory of the Redeemer? Blessed be his name. Jesus is everything to us. We adore him as Creator, Leader, Completeness, and Peacemaker. Let others say what they will about him; we will never stop singing his praises. Happy will be the day when all those in heaven and earth for whom the Savior died will join in one happy choir around his throne, united in one body through the atoning sacrifice. Even now we anticipate their victorious song and sing, “Worthy is the Lamb.”2
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1 Colossians 1:19
2 Revelation 5:12
Year Two, November 4
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory1
Paul continues to glorify the Lord Jesus and to stir up his brothers and sisters to remain faithful. He shows how the death of Jesus has restored peace with God and one another.
Colossians 1:21-29
21And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, (The grace of God works in us to produce the highest level of holiness. To be blameless before other people is wonderful, but to be blameless before God is absolute perfection. This will be the condition of all believers when the Lord’s plans are accomplished in them.) 23if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
A necessary ingredient of true religion is reliability. A tree that is often transplanted cannot thrive. Since the gospel is the unchanging truth of God, it is extremely foolish to be lured away from it by the inventive teachings of others. Paul gloried in being a minister of the old unchanging gospel.
24Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body, that is, the church, (When the Head is in pain the entire body suffers. The church must experience a certain amount of suffering and persecution in the process of gathering in all the Lord’s chosen. The atoning sufferings of Jesus were finished long ago. Jesus’ sufferings as part of the body, that is the church, are not for the atoning of sin, but result from our battle with the powers of evil. Paul was glad to receive his share in the suffering for the sake of the body of Christ.) 25of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.
27To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Paul again reminds the Colossians that his call to minister among them came from God, not humans.
Colossians 2:1-7
1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
To know Christ is the highest wisdom. However simple the gospel may appear, it is far superior to the wisdom of all systems of philosophy or schools of theology that teach new ideas about Christianity.
4I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 5For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
6Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (May the Lord allow us to do so. The gospel that has saved us is also good enough to live by and to die by. To turn away from the gospel would be throwing out fullness for emptiness, the substance for the shadow, and the truth for falsehood. May the Holy Spirit continue to lead us even further into the knowledge of Christ crucified. May we never in any way quit our sincere belief in the truth or stop being thankful for it.)
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1 Colossians 1:27
Year Two, November 5
You Have Been Filled In Him1
The portion of scripture that we are about to read should be well understood and taken very seriously. It pleads for the purity and simplicity of the Christian faith and inflicts heavy blows on those various human additions that are wrongly tagged on to the simple gospel. We need to stand fast to the plain, simple gospel of Jesus; because to adorn it is to deface it, and to add to it is to dishonor it.
Colossians 2:8-23
8See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (There are those who pretend to be wise and want to improve the gospel. They might as well dream of adding brightness to the sun or fullness to the ocean.) 9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (What more can be needed? How can his gospel be improved?) 10and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.
We have all things in Jesus. We have no use for Jewish rites or the traditions added by the Roman Catholic Church and others. We are dead and buried to all of these. Our baptism teaches us that. By faith we are risen from all dead ceremonies into a new spiritual life, a life that does not need human ceremonies to support it. We should beware of those showy rites that many celebrate, but which deface the gospel of Jesus.
13And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Christ on the cross has conquered sin and ended the ceremonial law. Let us not return to the bondage from which his death has set us free.
16Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. 17These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (We are free from all human laws that deal with holy days and fasts and ceremonies. They are mere shadows while Jesus is the true reality.) 18Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, 19and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. (How plainly the angel worship of the church of Rome is condemned here! What have we to do with adoring angels when we are already members of a body that has a divine head?)
20If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21“Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22(referring to things that all perish as they are used)--according to human precepts and teachings?
Why tie yourselves with the world’s commands when you are dead to all of them in Christ? Jesus gives you liberty, why put a new yoke on your shoulders?
23These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh. (Human rules about celebrating different days and avoiding certain kinds of food appear to be wise and to promote humility. They may seem to work, but in reality they fail to do so. Christians are under the law of liberty and should refuse to be enslaved by man-made rules. We have only one Master and that is Christ. It is enough for us to obey his will and hold on to the liberty that he has so dearly purchased for us and so graciously given to us.)
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1 Colossians 2:10
Year Two, November 6
Do Everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus1
Colossians 3:1-25; 4:1
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
We are so completely changed by regeneration that we are dead to the old life. Our new life is in Jesus and we can no longer love the things of earth. Our heart is in heaven. Our life is where Jesus is, and until he returns we live a secret life that the world cannot recognize or understand.
5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (To become a Christian is to begin a new life. New lives should have new clothes and new ways of living. The filthy rags of our old sinful living must never be allowed to dishonor and contaminate us now.) 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices (The heathen2 praise people for cleverly tricking others with their lies, but Christians abandon falsehood of every kind.) 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
12Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. (Delightful rule! How often it is forgotten! “Be thankful.”) 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus is the golden rule for all times, places, and actions. Life on earth would be like heaven below if this was always followed.
18Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22Bondsevants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4:1Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
We are free from the traditions of others, but we are under Christ’s law of love. Let each one of us follow the principle that governs our new life in Christ. May the Spirit of all grace make all of us patterns to follow. Whether as parents or children, employers or employees, teachers or students; let us live lives that honor God and bring him praise.
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1 Colossians 3:17
2 heathen - In its lightest sense, it simply means an unbeliever. It is often used as a synonym for pagan, infidel, idolater, heretic, skeptic, agnostic or atheist.
Year Two, November 7
Walk in a Manner Worthy of God, Who Calls You1
The First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians is the first of his letters. He probably wrote it from Corinth, after he left Athens, and when he was joined by Silas and Timothy. Paul had planted the church at Thessalonica and it thrived greatly. However, it also suffered greatly from persecution. This is the reason he writes a lot about Christ’s second coming, it provides the richest comfort to persecuted saints. The portion we will read today gives us a lovely picture of the apostle’s depth of concern for the good of God’s people. It also provides us with a great example of how we should serve the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
1For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. (If the preacher of the word is not bold and truthful he cannot expect a blessing. A person who represents the gospel must be faithful to carry out their responsibilities.)
5For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness. 6Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. (Gentleness wins far more than harshness. Many will be led who will not be driven.) 8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. (If we want to do good for others, we must be willing to sacrifice ourselves. Selfishness and soul winning never go together. Love is power. What are we doing for our neighbors? Do we have a loving concern for their eternal welfare? If we do not, then how can we hope that we are truly converted?)
9For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11For you know how, like a father with his children, 12we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (The great goal of preaching is holy living. Listening to good sermons means nothing if it does not lead to this.)
13And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved--so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. (The Jews had no love for either God or people. It is said that they would not even help a traveler of a different religion who was asking for directions. Their intolerance destroyed their humanity. Nothing hardens the heart more than religious pride; it is the death of love.) But God’s wrath has come upon them at last!
People cannot oppose the gospel without increasing their guilt before God. If they reject the Savior who saves to the utmost, then they bring on themselves God’s wrath to the utmost, and that must be terrible indeed. May none of us bring such a doom on our own head.
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1 1 Thessalonians 2:12
Year Two, November 8
Rejoice Always1
Paul spoke to the Thessalonians about the coming of the Lord. 2 He now tells them not to waste time speculating about the time and date the Lord would return. Instead, they were to live every day in preparation for the Lord’s appearing.
1 Thessalonians 5
1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
To others, Christ’s coming will be an unexpected disaster, but for us it will be a long hoped for day of rejoicing. Life or death makes no difference to us, because we will live with Jesus forever. A child in their father’s house is at home whether sleeping or awake. Whether we are here on earth or in heaven, we are still living together with Jesus.
11Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Are we encouraging one another? Working to encourage and guide one another in the Christian faith is much too rare these days.
12We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. (Get to know your pastor and admire him for the sake of his work and his Master. He has many trials and his work is difficult. Go out of your way to cheer his heart.) Be at peace among yourselves. 14And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16Rejoice always, 17pray without ceasing, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Paul calls the church to praise, pray, and then praise again. This is the sweet rhythm of devotion.
19Do not quench the Spirit. (Do not resist his holy gentle pull or silence his soft whisper, either in others or in your own soul.) 20Do not despise prophecies, 21but test everything; hold fast what is good. (Some people are so busy with testing everything that they forget to hold fast to what is good. They are so busy learning that they do not take the time to apply holy truth to their lives.) 22Abstain from every form of evil.
You cannot be too careful. If there is any indication of evil, however slight, avoid it immediately. If you flee from the lion’s roar, you do not need to fear his teeth.
23Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
25Brothers, pray for us. (If the apostle asked for prayer, how much more does our pastor need it! We should never forget him, either in family prayer or on our knees alone.)
26Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. (Or as our western custom is, give them all a hearty handshake. Christianity delights in sincere and loving good manners.)
27I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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1 1 Thessalonians 5:16
2 See Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible, Year One, June 29
Year Two, November 9
Let No One Deceive You in Any Way1
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians was misunderstood, so he therefore wrote them a second time. They had come to believe that the Lord would return right away, while all that Paul had said was, that the Lord would certainly come, that the time was not known, and that, therefore, they should be on the lookout every day. He corrects their wrong ideas in this letter.
2 Thessalonians 2
1Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first; and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
It is difficult to give this passage any other interpretation than the one common today. The evil system of Roman Catholicism was foreseen by the apostle and every day seems to prove it. A few months ago the Pope claimed to be infallible.2 But long before that, he had been publicly adored, and spoken of as “our Lord God the Pope.”3 The Popish system teaches that the priest creates his Creator, and, in doing so, it sets the son of destruction above God himself. If the Pope has not yet formally proclaimed himself to be God, we have only to wait a little and even this peak of blasphemy will be reached. Perhaps the Lord will immediately come when this final blasphemy takes place, but that is not for us to know.
5Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. (Even in Paul’s day, there were evil influences at work that would have developed even faster if persecution had not hindered them. Human tradition was already beginning to mislead the church, and Paul saw that in later years, when the civil powers stopped their opposition, human pride would be uncontrolled, and the church would give in to Antichrist.)
8And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (It is hard to account for the apparent sincerity of Romish missionaries and the victims of their deceptions unless we accept that they are given over to strong delusions, and are justifiably left to perish in their own folly.)
13But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Electing love has called us out of the world and saved us from the bad priestcraft that slays its thousands. Let us thank God for this as long as we live.
15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (Hold to apostolic traditions, but not to human traditions.)
16Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (A blessed prayer. Comfort and building up--two choice blessings; Lord give them to us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.)
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1 2 Thessalonians 2:3
2 On July 18, 1870, The First Vatican Council declared “When the Roman Pontiff speaks EX CATHEDRA...he possesses...that infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his Church to enjoy.” Pope Pius IX was the pope from 1846 to 1878.
3 From the Canon Law of Rome (1685), “To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed,” etc.
Year Two, November 10
The Lord of Peace Himself Give You Peace at All Times in Every Way1
2 Thessalonians 3
1Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2and that we may be delivered from wicked (or unreasonable) and evil men. For not all have faith. (Unreasonable people are almost as troublesome, and just as dangerous, as those who are really evil. People who are dishonest and without faith are extremely difficult to work with.) 3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. (God is faithful. This is the answer for all the threats and actions evil people bring against us.) 4And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command.
5May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. (They had let their emotions get the best of them when they thought the Lord would return immediately. Now Paul urges them to be patient in their waiting. They were to be clearheaded and patient while looking for the Lord’s return, and not act like those fanatics who quit their jobs and ignored their responsibilities because they were convinced the end of the world was near.)
6Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, (Paul and his friends had not acted like fanatics when they were among the Thessalonians. They had worked hard and lived well-ordered lives, and Paul now reminds them to follow their example. When men or women neglect their work and use religion as their excuse they are not acting properly, and honest Christian people should not tolerate them.) 8nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. (Laziness is sin. There is food for those who work hard, but not for the idle. May no one in our household ever disgrace themselves and us by being sluggards.) 11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
Some eat other people’s food almost their whole lives. It is pleasant to help the needy, but it is a hard task to have to support the lazy. Young people should strive to ease their parents as soon as possible from the job of supporting them. And those who receive help from the church should make it a matter of conscience to never take a penny more than they absolutely need.
13As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 14If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother. (Members of Christian churches have serious obligation to each other and must not avoid discipline when necessary. If someone is considered a fellow Christian they should be treated like one. If they behave incorrectly our interaction with them should not be the same as with those who live their lives properly. We must love them as a brother or sister, but they must be made to feel that their sin grieves us.)
16Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. (This holy wish seems even now to whisper its gentle benediction over this family. “The Lord be with you all” is a sweet sounding blessing falling from an apostle’s lips. The best of people may joyfully add their heartfelt “Amen.”)
17I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. 18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
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1 2 Thessalonians 3:16
1 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Year Two, November 11
Christ Jesus Came Into the World to Save Sinners1
Up to this point, we have only read portions from Paul’s letters to churches. We will now turn to one of his four letters written to individual Christians. It was written to Timothy, who was very dear to the apostle. He was one of the most loving, faithful, and gifted of his spiritual children.
1 Timothy 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.
2To Timothy, my true child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. (Jews who pretended to be teachers of the law, had slipped into the churches and introduced false doctrines. They taught that there were secret things that could not be understood by the intellect, including foolish myths, mysteries that had hidden spiritual meaning, and rules about severe self-discipline. Paul did not hesitate to call them “irreverent, silly myths”2 and “irreverent babble.”3 Timothy was stationed at Ephesus to battle these mischief-makers and set the church in order. There are tendencies to similar senseless teachings in our own day. We should be on our guard against them. Teachings that pretend to be wiser, deeper, or holier than the word of God come from the father of lies.)
5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. (There are some teachers in our own day who are forever raising questions on points that have no practical value. Let us keep clear of such useless noise and follow the simple teachings of our Lord Jesus.)
8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11in accordance with the glorious gospel of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.
12I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
This is an accepted Christian truth, a statement familiar to all believers, and worth repeating and accepting by all mankind; “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”
16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (Paul could hardly think of the grace that saved him without breaking out with a doxology.4 Who can blame him?)
18This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. (Perhaps, under the influence of Satan, these two were left to follow the natural outcome of their false doctrines. And perhaps, after seeing where their teachings would land them, they would then have grace to repent. May the Lord keep us free from all false teaching, so that we will not come under the condemnation that Hymenaeus and Alexander did.)
1 1 Timothy 1:15
2 1 Timothy 4:7
3 2 Timothy 2:16
4 doxology - A short hymn or song of praise to God; often used in public worship and usually mentioning at least one of his attributes.
Year Two, November 12
Keep a Close Watch on Yourself and on the Teaching1
In this letter to Timothy Paul condemns those false teachings that have caused trouble in the Christian church in all ages. They are strongly disapproved, as they deserve to be. They are those who are involved with spirits (or claim they are), those who multiply religious rituals and ceremonies, those who make religion a matter of what people do or do not eat and drink, and those who claim legends and traditions are as important as the scriptures.
1 Timothy 4
1Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (This leads to the worship of angels, the fear of demons, and attempting to communicate with the dead. In every age there have been deceivers and deceived ones who have wandered down this path. Christians! Avoid such darkness!) 2through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, (As a hot iron deadens the flesh that it burns, their conscience is no longer sensitive, and they can tell lies without feeling remorse.) 3who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (How well this describes the Church of Rome, which teaches both of these superstitions. Other sects have also criticized marriage and made laws about eating and drinking. They make things to be sins that are not sins.)
4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.
6If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you followed. (Holding tight to the true faith is one of our first responsibilities. To be always chopping up and changing our beliefs is an unhappy and dangerous occupation.) 7Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8for while bodily training is of some value, (It may, when done properly, promote bodily health, but that is all.) godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 10For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
All mankind gains some benefit from Jesus’ death. They are spared, they enjoy the common blessings of providence, and they enjoy the fact that the Lord controls everything in the universe. But redemption has its own special advantages that are reserved only for believers. The Savior’s death and resurrection has purchased some good things for all people and all good things for some people. Are we believers? If we are, then Jesus is our Savior in a special sense.
11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. (The most gifted ministers were to study and meditate even when the church enjoyed the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. How much more should they be required to do so today? Those who speak without thinking seldom say anything worth thinking about.)
15Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (Being careful about doctrine will protect the teacher from serious error and keep his hearers from the same evil. This should lead us to be very prayerful, and careful about what we accept and teach to others. Doctrines are not to be taken lightly, they are life and death matters. Lord teach us your truth.)
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1 1 Timothy 4:16
Year Two, November 13
The Love of Money Is a Root of All Kinds of Evils1
The First Letter of Paul to Timothy ends with practical words for various groups in the church, along with a serious message for the young pastor himself.
1 Timothy 6
1Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.
Teach and urge these things. (For Christian employees to take inappropriate liberties because their employers are believers is shameful. Instead, they should give them more respect and more willing work.) 3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain, (Godliness makes us truly happy. It makes us thankful for what little we may have and sweetens all the trials of life. “Poor and content is rich, and rich enough.”2) 7for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. (Enough is as good as a feast, and very often better, because it saves us from overeating, which is the sin of greediness.) 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Money can be used for the best of purposes, but the love of it is idolatry and the cause of countless evils. Why is it that so many professed Christians live only to make money and are just as eager to become wealthy as self-declared unbelievers?
11But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15which he will display at the proper time--he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (Having spoken to those who try to be rich, he now cautions those who actually are wealthy. They must not store up just to please themselves, but store up treasure in heaven by generously sharing what they have with others during their life. Do we own property or have large portfolios? Let us hold them as stewards of the Lord. It is both our duty and our happiness to use all that we have to glorify Jesus who, “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.”3 Is he truly ours? Then let everything we have truly belong to him.)
20O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
Grace be with you.
Oh Lord, grant that your grace may be with us also, this day and until the last great day. Amen.
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1 1 Timothy 6:10
2 William Shakespeare: Othello: Act 3, Scene 3. Meaning, The person who is poor and yet content is rich enough.
3 2 Corinthians 8:9
Year Two, November 14
Follow the Pattern of the Sound Words That You Have Heard From Me1
Paul’s second letter to Timothy was probably the last letter the apostle wrote. It contains dying advice and was written while he expected to be martyred any time. Paul looked ahead to the executioner’s axe calmly, while writing this letter to his favorite disciple, and encouraging him to be faithful to the death.
2 Timothy 1
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.
Here we see the innermost heart of Paul. Many of his friends have deserted him, he is old and feeble, he is expecting a cruel death, and he cherishes the memory of his beloved young disciple and longs to see him face to face one more time. With joy, he remembers the holy mother and grandmother of his friend and the genuine godliness of Timothy himself. It is a natural and touching scene!
6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
8Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner (Do not hesitate to come to Rome and join with me in the disapproval and dangers that belong to ministers of Christ), but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
“The old man eloquent”2 feels his soul warming as he describes the glories of the gospel, eternal in its purpose, and matchless in its achievements. He sits on the brink of the grave and sings of the One who has put an end to death. Only faith in the resurrection could inspire such triumphant words.
13Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (This is the main concern of the apostle’s pleading with Timothy, “Follow Christ Jesus.” We need the same encouraging warning, because this is an evil day, and thousands are swayed by public opinion and change their minds like the wind changes direction.) 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
15You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me-- 18may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day!--and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.
This good man is here immortalized. When Onesiphorus risked his life to find and help a poor despised prisoner, he little knew that he would live forever on the page of church history. His cup of cold water given to an apostle has received an apostle’s reward. Are there any alive today like Paul to whom we might minister in love the way Onesiphorus did?
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1 2 Timothy 1:13
2 A nickname of honor given to John Quincy Adams, the 6th president of the United States. “Old man eloquent” can also be found in a 17th century sonnet of John Milton which is what Spurgeon is probably referencing.
Year Two, November 15
Let Everyone Who Names the Name of the Lord Depart From Iniquity1
2 Timothy 2
1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
Soldiers must be free from other employment. It is good for pastors not to be restricted by other activities. They should be able to give themselves completely to their Master’s work. For that to happen, their people must see to it that they are supplied with everything they need, just as a nation sees to it that its soldiers have everything they need.
5An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! (This was his comfort, he was bound, but the gospel was not.) 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
These verses were used as a hymn in the early church. They should be learned by heart and quoted often.
14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene.
We must stay away from mysterious teachings or trying to give a spiritual meaning to everything that happens. Be cautious about accepting traditions and avoid idle controversies. Clear sailing is best for Christians.
Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (The sentences engraved on this seal are precious and practical. There is the secret knowledge of the Lord and the open display of it. Election and holiness are very close companions.)
20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
Ready to be used by God! Is not this a glorious way to be? Prepared not for some good work, but for every good work! Is not this cleansing a grand achievement? Let us aim at this and never rest until we reach it.
22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Leave theories for those who like them. By the grace of God, live and love the real life of the Christian, whatever it may cost you.
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1 2 Timothy 2:19
Year Two, November 16
Continue in What You Have Learned1
2 Timothy 3
1But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
These people will be in the church and greatly trouble it. They are all around us and their number is growing. It is of little use arguing with them or trying to set them straight. We would be better off leaving them alone. They are in the Lord’s hands. He knows how to deal with them.
6For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (These deceivers spread their teachings secretly among those who were less wise and entangled in sin. Truth is not afraid of the light, but falsehood is a night bird that flies where it will not be noticed. If any religious teacher asks us to hide what they tell us from our friends, then we may be sure that they are good for nothing.) 8Just as Jannes and Jambres (Pharaoh's magicians) opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.
Paul explained the underhanded methods of the false teachers, boldly exposing them. However gentle we may be, we must not allow falsehood to be secretly taught, but must drag it into the light, and strike it until it dies.
10You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra--which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (Christ’s soldiers must expect hard blows. Those who trust in the Crucified will always have a cross to carry. Those who try to avoid it are lazy and unwilling to shoulder their share of the weight.
“Must I be carried to the skies,
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?”2)
13while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (Timothy was fortunate to have been prepared like this for his battle with false teachings. He was even more favored to be given the grace to remain loyal to the truth that he had been taught from childhood. Still, he needed to be urged to remain firm, and so do we. May none of us ever, ever, give an ear to false doctrine, but may we cling to the gospel with all of our might.)
16All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (Let us never forget this. The whole Bible is inspired and is to be wholeheartedly received as the infallible truth of God. Get away from this and we have nothing left to hold on to. Whatever we do, let us never give up the Bible. Those who would weaken our deep respect for it are our worst enemies.)
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1 2 Timothy 3:14
2 From the hymn, Am I a Soldier of the Cross, by Isaac Watts. He wrote this hymn in 1721 while preparing a sermon on spiritual warfare based on 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
Year Two, November 17
The Lord Will Rescue Me From Every Evil Deed1
Paul’s second letter to Timothy begins with a very serious command. Coming from someone who would soon be sealing his testimony with his blood, Timothy must have felt the power of Paul’s words as long as he lived. Older believers should impress the value of the gospel on the young.
2 Timothy 4:1-18
1I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (A minister is never off duty. He should not only win souls whenever an opportunity presents itself, but he should also make opportunities. Reliable teaching and zeal must go together in equal proportions. Dr. Ryland well said, “No sermon is likely to be useful that does not have the three R’s in it: Ruin by the Fall; Redemption by Christ; Regeneration by the Holy Spirit. My goal in every sermon is to call sinners, to stir up the saints, and to be made a blessing to all.”2)
3For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. (Paul was suffering and he was ready to endure it even to death. Yet how sweetly does he speak about his execution as a mere departure! He looked on death as only a move from one place to another, a short journey to a better country.) 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. (He looked on life as a battle, a race, and a stewardship, and having been faithful in all these he expected a gracious reward.)
9Do your best to come to me soon. 10For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. (As the leaves fall away in winter so do friends leave us in difficult times.) 11Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. (This was the Mark about whom Paul and Barnabas had “a sharp disagreement” in Antioch.3 This proves that Paul had changed his mind about Mark. The apostle was not like some who will never change their mind. He was as ready to praise as he had once been to criticize.) 12Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
Shivering in prison the poor and aged apostle needed his cloak. He still desired to study the word of God, so he also asked for his books and notes.
14Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. (Paul spoke as a prophet, not out of personal anger, because the man opposed the gospel.) 16At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (This probably refers to the Roman Emperor Nero who was called “The Lion” by Seneca.4 It was a well deserved title for such a monster of cruelty. The Lord strengthened Paul during this terrible and painful experience.) 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
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1 1 Timothy 4:18
2 This may be the English Baptist minister, John Ryland (1753-1825).
3 Acts 15:36-41
4 Seneca the Younger (4 BC - 65 AD).
Year Two, November 18
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Be Perfect, As Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect1
Titus was another of Paul’s sons in the faith. The apostle called him, “My partner and fellow worker.”2 He had been sent to the churches of Crete. Paul wrote this letter to give him instructions on how to take care of those churches.
Titus 1:1-9
1Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-- (The gospel had been preached in Crete and converts made, but the churches needed to be organized properly. Churches without elders are like an army without officers. Those who think a church should not have official organization are mistaken.) 6if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. (The Church of Rome has no right to forbid ministers to marry.) 7For an overseer (called an elder in verse five), as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
First, understand what ministers should be, and then pray that many who are qualified may be found for our churches.
Titus 2:1-14
1But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Older Christians are closer to heaven than others and should be more heavenly minded.
3Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (The young woman’s first responsibility is the home.) 6Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
9Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative (not talking back or being disrespectful). 10not pilfering (or stealing little things because you think the boss “owes” it to you), but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Christians are often called “different.” Let us be different in holiness.)
1 Matthew 5:48
2 2 Corinthians 8:23
Year Two, November 19
Brother, I Want Some Benefit From You in the Lord1
This has been called “The Polite Letter,” because Paul used great courtesy and tact in writing it. Onesimus, a slave (or bondservant), had robbed his master Philemon, and then ran away from him. Thinking a big city would be the best place to hide out, Onesimus had fled to Rome. While there he heard Paul preach and became converted. The apostle sent him back to his Christian master with the following letter of apology. Although its original goal was only to restore a runaway slave to his master, it is an important letter, and every syllable has meaning.
The Letter of Paul to Philemon
1Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house;
3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. (Paul knew Philemon was a true believer. Therefore he prayed that others might feel the power of his Christian walk, by seeing how he acted in this case.) 7For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.
8Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9yet for love’s sake, I prefer to appeal to you--I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus-- (This is the best kind of pleading. Philemon’s heart would be sure to fulfill Paul’s request for “love’s sake.”) 10I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. (Onesimus is so dear to me that my heart goes with him wherever he goes.) 13I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. (Though he felt certain that Philemon would have been glad to spare his servant to care for his elderly friend, Paul would not take the liberty of using his services without asking. Instead, he gave Philemon the opportunity to do it of his own will if he thought it was the right thing to do.)
15For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. (Providence2 permitted him to run away so that he would come under Paul’s influence and become a Christian. The gracious purpose of God overrules evil for good.)
17So if you consider me your partner (or true comrade in Christ), receive him as you would receive me. 18If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. (Is not this a graceful way of putting it? Who could have the heart to resist pleading like this? And still, every word is gentle and quiet. Mild language is mighty.) 22At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
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1 Philemon 1:20
2 providence - refers to God’s will, his divine intervention, and his predetermination (predestination).
Year Two, November 20
Your Throne, O God, Is Forever and Ever1
We have now reached that wonderful part of Holy Scripture that is found in the Letter to the Hebrews. To fully understand the Book of Hebrews we should thoroughly study the Book of Leviticus. Only diamonds will cut diamonds. The Word of God is its own best interpreter and the New Testament is the key that unlocks the Old.
The letter opens by declaring what the prophets said was given to them by God. God spoke through the prophets. The Scriptures are very clear about this. The writer’s opinion is very different from those who claim that God is not really the author of his own word!
Hebrews 1
1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (We enjoy the clearest of all God’s revelations. In Jesus we see far more of God than in all the teachings of the prophets.) 3He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again, (When Nathan the prophet spoke to David about his son Solomon as a type2 of Christ.3)
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
This is not said about an angel, but it is said of Christ, his anointed, in the second Psalm.
6And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Or, “worship him all you gods!”4 By nature Jesus is infinitely superior to the greatest created beings. He is God and is to be worshiped as Lord of everything and everyone.
7Of the angels he says,
“He makes his angels winds,
and his ministers a flame of fire.”
8But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”5
Angels are servants, not kings. They fly on their divine errands like flames of fire, but they do not wave a scepter, nor do they sit on a throne forever and ever. Jesus is the anointed king, and though we share in the anointing yet is he far above us. Christ is infinitely greater than Christians. We are quite glad to have it that way.
10And,
“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,
and the heavens are the work of your hands;
11 they will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment,
12 like a robe you will roll them up,
like a garment they will be changed.
But you are the same,
and your years will have no end.”6
Since the Messiah is described as unchangeable and having no end he must be divine. To deny that the Savior is God the Son is a deadly error. Dr. Owen gives us these reassuring words: “Whatever changes we may experience, inward or outward, yet Christ does not change. Our eternal condition is safe in him and he provides comfort in our current troubles and miseries. The unchangeableness and eternity of Christ are the source of support and security in every situation. Human nature, like all created things, is weak and dying. The only solid comfort we can receive comes from being heirs of the unlimited power, the supreme authority, and eternity of Jesus Christ.”7
13And to which of the angels has he ever said,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
14Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Angels are servants of God and our willing guardians, but they are not to be worshiped. Jesus is Lord of all, and we are required to adore him, and him only.
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1 Hebrews 1:8
2 type - something or someone that represents something or someone else, usually in the future. In this case, Solomon represents, or is a type, of the future Lord Jesus.
3 2 Samuel 7:14
4 Psalm 97:7
5 Psalm 45:6-7
6 From Psalm 102:25-27
7 John Owen (1616-1683). From his Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Year Two, November 21
Year Two, November 22
He Had to Be Made Like His Brothers1
Hebrews 2
1Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. (It was as though our apostle was saying, “Christ is so excellent, and his gospel is so glorious, we should take great care to admire his person, respect his authority, appreciate his ministry, and believe his message. Let us pay attention and never allow our memories to become like leaking containers whose contents slip away from us.”) 2For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Let that question ring in our ears, “How shall we escape?” There will be no escape; there can be no escape if we refuse the Lord Jesus. Do we want to be lost? Do we dare to continue neglecting such a great salvation?
5For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Jesus died so the message of salvation could be delivered to everyone and so that each person who believed on him could be assured of his pardon. No one is denied mercy except those who refuse it.)
10For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
This passage occurs in Psalm 22:22, It is a psalm about Christ’s suffering with the title, “To the Doe of the Dawn.” That is, the morning deer, the one a hunter decides to track that day. When Christ was being hunted down, he prayed to be delivered, and promised to praise God’s name in the midst of his spiritual brothers and sisters.
13And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
All of these expressions indicate the closeness of our relationship with Christ and the kind willingness of the great head of the family of God to be identified with us.
14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. (Angels were passed by and humans redeemed. God’s sovereignty is wonderful and marvelous!) 17Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation2 for the sins of the people. 18For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Here is delightful encouragement to put our entire trust in him and approach him without fear. Let us come very close to him in prayer.)
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1 Hebrews 2:17
2 propitiation - The act of satisfying someone’s demands and changing that someone from an enemy into a friend. When Jesus Christ died on the cross he satisfied the demand of God the Father that a sacrifice for sin must be made to him. The wrath or anger of God was used up on Christ so that God’s justice was satisfied and we who were once the enemies of God became his friends.
Therefore Strive to Enter That Rest1
Hebrews 3:12-19
12Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. (No good ever comes from being careless. The person who never examines their life will eventually move away from the truth and not even realize it.) 13But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Sin will slyly suggest itself and, left unchecked, will slowly make inroads into our lives. Therefore we must carefully guard against it.) 14For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15As it is said,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Salvation requires remaining in the faith. Only those who keep going to the end are truly saved.
16For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. (Many who appear to become Christians have only a temporary experience because they lack true faith. Those who are not kept and supported by faith soon become tired of holiness and provoke the Lord.)
Hebrews 4:1-16
1Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,
“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”
although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 5And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”
6Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”
8For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, (Clearly there is a rest made by God and some will enjoy it. But because Israel did not reach it, it is still there for God’s people. Oh, that we might, by faith, be among those who find that rest!) 10for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (We rest in the finished work of Jesus and feel that the battle for salvation has already been won. We no longer work for our own righteousness. The work we now do is for another reason, because our faith has brought us into joyful rest.)
11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (We should try hard to live honestly before God. He knows if we are living a lie. The Lord’s word exposes us and opens up our secret lives. Oh, to be clean before the Lord! This can only come by faith.)
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Since Jesus has already completed the work of salvation, let us hold on to it and enjoy the blessings that follow it. We would be very foolish to walk away from such riches of grace.
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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1 Hebrews 4:11
Year Two, November 23
He Became the Source of Eternal Salvation to All Who Obey Him1
Hebrews 5
1For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. (An angel for our priest would be out of place. People need patience and sympathy, so the priests of old were men with natures like ours. This is also true of our Lord Jesus, who is most certainly and really a human being like the rest of mankind in all things except sin; that stain never tainted his holy nature.) 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
This refers to the typical high priest, but our Lord had no sin of his own. He “bore our sins,”2 but “in him there is no sin.”3
4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus was not some unauthorized priest who appointed and ordained himself. He was placed in that position by the Father. “It was the will of the [Father] to crush him”4 and “It was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness [of deity] to dwell in Him.”5 We have solid ground for depending on Jesus. He is the go-between of God’s choosing and the ordained guarantee of the everlasting covenant!
7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. (The cup was not removed,6 but he was given the strength to drink it. If the Lord does not answer his people one way he will answer another. Jesus understands our feelings in prayer even when we cannot express them except by strong crying and tears. Experience has made him the prepared interpreter of suffering hearts.)
8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (A perfected Savior provides all believers with a perfect and everlasting salvation. He was always perfect in character, but his life of sorrow on earth completely qualifies him for the office of Savior, in a way nothing else could. Who would not obey a Master who has undergone all kinds of sorrow so he would be able to sympathize with his servants? Who would not want a salvation that was won by one who was “made lower than the angels”7 for our sake?) 10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. (The apostle rises to a great height here, and then suddenly pauses, as he remembers how far short people’s minds fall in their ability to understand this mysterious truth.)
11About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, (Too often we learn and unlearn. Our progress is slow and we remain babies when we should be full grown men and women in Christ. We draw on the church’s strength when we should be contributing to it.) 13for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (We should not only desire to be saved, and to know the elementary truths, but to be advanced students in Christ’s school, so that we can handle the deeper doctrines, and teach them to others. Good Master, have patience with your servants, and continue to teach us!)
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1 Hebrews 5:9
2 1 Peter 2:24
3 1 John 3:5
4 Isaiah 53:10
5 Colossians 1:19 NASB updated (margin reading).
6 Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
7 Hebrews 2:9
Year Two, November 24
Jesus Has Gone Into the Inner Place as a Forerunner1
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Hebrews 6
1Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Children are taught to read so that they may go on to higher levels of education. Believers should know the basics of the faith, but should then advance to higher achievements and strive to understand the deeper mysteries of God’s word.) 3And this we will do if God permits.
4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
If the real work of grace were to fail it cannot begin again, the case is hopeless forever. Therefore, carrying on to the end is an absolute necessity. To turn back completely would be fatal.
7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God 8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
When all that is possible is done for a piece of land, and yet it produces no harvest it must be given up. If the Holy Spirit’s work in a person should prove fruitless, he must be given over to destruction, there is nothing else to do. Will any truly regenerated person ever be in this condition? The apostle answers this question in the next two verses.
9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things--things that belong to salvation. 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
To persevere2 like this in work and love requires intense conviction and so he adds:
11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (We will most certainly inherit these promises, because we will, by grace, be empowered to remain faithful until we die.)
13For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
We are given the most serious warnings against abandoning the faith and the declaration that total desertion would be fatal. Does this contradict the great truth that all true saints are eternally safe? No! They are safe because of the covenant promise and God’s oath guaranteeing their security. Their hope is placed where it cannot fail. Jesus has gone, in their name, to take possession of heaven. Has he gone on ahead on behalf of people who will perish along the way? God forbid! Where our Head is now, the members of his body must be before long.
1 From Hebrews 6:19-20
2 persevere - continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty
Year Two, November 25
Without the Shedding of Blood There Is No Forgiveness of Sins1
Hebrews 9:15-28
15Therefore [Christ] is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (It was absolutely necessary that guilt was punished and that is why Jesus became a mediator.2 Nothing short of this could secure the eternal inheritance for those who are called. Take away the atonement3 and you have robbed our Lord of his greatest reason for being a mediator at all. We love and live on the truth of his atoning death.) 16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. (That is, the covenant or will is not in force until the victim’s death certifies it. The death of Jesus was necessary to guarantee the blessings of the gospel.)
18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. (Under the law, blood was seen everywhere. It was essential to its teachings. The blood of Jesus is the very life of the gospel. A ministry without the blood of Jesus in it is dead and worthless.)
22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (This all-important truth needs to be learned well and remembered. Nothing can cleanse us except the blood of Jesus. Sacraments, prayers, regrets are all useless as a substitute for faith in the blood.)
23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (The blood of animals would be enough to purify the tabernacle and its furniture and services. They were the copies, or types, of heavenly things. They represented our eternal redemption that required a more valuable sacrifice for cleansing.) 24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Jesus was offered as the sacrifice once and only once. All attempts to offer him again, as the priests pretend to do in the mass, are blasphemous, and imply that the one offering was not enough. As for us, let us rest on the once offered atonement, and, in humble faith, know that we are fully accepted.
27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Every person’s death ends their work and nothing remains except the final judgment. When Jesus died, he finished his atoning work and nothing remains except for him to come a second time, not to die again, but to receive his great reward.)
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1 Hebrews 9:22
2 mediator - a person who attempts to make people involved in a conflict come to an agreement; a go-between. As used in the Bible, Jesus Christ intercedes between God the Father and Christians; that is, he prays for them.
3 atonement - A payment made to satisfy someone who has been wronged and to restore a relationship. Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice to restore the relationship between God and man that was broken when Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden.
Year Two, November 26
By a Single Offering He Has Perfected for All Time Those Who Are Being Sanctified1
Hebrews 10:1-31
1For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5Consequently, when Christ came in the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17then he adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
The Holy Spirit bears witness to the perfection of our Lord’s sacrifice. He declares that the believer’s sins will no longer be remembered.
18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin (and no need of any).
19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
If we reject the atonement of Jesus, there is no other sacrifice, and we will perish as a result.
28Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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1 Hebrews 10:14
Year Two, November 27
Run With Endurance1
After including that wonderful list of the heroes of faith, in Hebrews 11,2 Paul goes on to say:
Hebrews 12:1-14
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (The crowds in the stands spur on the runners in a race. Therefore since all heaven is watching, let us not slow down until the goal is reached.)
3Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. (Jesus is the grandest example. Think of how he ran the race and then bravely follow him!) 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
Our trials are little compared with those of the martyrs in times past. Have courage brothers and sisters; these are small matters to worry over. Besides, our chastenings are tokens of God’s love. Do not be alarmed over them.
7It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. (This is not to say we should pray for troubles or worry if we do not have them. They will come fast enough and thickly enough before long. And when they do, a blessing will be in them.) 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.
We cannot necessarily expect to feel the good result when we are feeling the pain of discipline, but it will be seen eventually. Let us wait and pray.
12Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 13:16-21
16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. (Give help in money, in comfort, and in instruction, as you see the need.)
17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
18Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
20Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (The apostle closes this letter with a rich benediction in which the leading theme is the perseverance3 of the saints. Lord, make this blessing happen in all of us.)
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1 Hebrews 12:1
2 perseverance - Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in reaching the goal.
3 Spurgeon uses Hebrews 11 in five readings in Year One (See Scripture Index). editor
Year Two, November 28
The Testing of Your Faith Produces Steadfastness1
The Letter of James was probably written by that apostle whom many in the church have called “The Just,” and who presided over the council at Jerusalem. His letter is practical rather than doctrinal. Alford remarks “The brother of him who began his ministry with the Sermon on the Mount, seems to have drank deeply from his words and rules of conduct, considering them to be the law of Christian character.”2
James 1
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:
Greetings.
2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (or patience). (Patience will be your crown of honor. Therefore, you may look on your trials as opportunities for strengthening the grace that is in you, and that is why you may rejoice in them.) 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted (or enticed to sin), “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
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. 18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Everything about us that is good is from God, but all our evil is from ourselves and Satan. Let us always give credit where credit is due.
19Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
26If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (These are the best kinds of outward worship. They are the distinctive signs of divine living. The more visiting and praying at sick beds, and help received by orphans, the better. As a family, let us remember these today and help to support them.)
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1 James 1:3
2 From The New Testament for English Readers by Henry Alford (1810-1871).
Year Two, November 29
Has Not God Chosen Those Who Are Poor in the World to Be Rich in Faith?1
James 2
1My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, 2For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? (A person is more than his clothes. A saint in shabby clothing is not a shabby saint. A wicked person is not honorable simply because he or she wears very nice clothes.)
5Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? (There is no good reason for preferring the rich over the poor, since they are rarely the Lord’s chosen.) 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
Most of the persecution against the gospel has been stirred up by the rich and powerful. The church has no excuse for flattering them.
8If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (If you despise the poor, then you fail to behave as Christians should. Whatever else you may do that is right and good, you should not be mistaken about this.) 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Mercy reigns in our salvation. Let it also reign in our behavior toward others. To us it is not sweet to take vengeance, but it is pleasant to grant forgiveness.
14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead.
18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder! (The demons have a more practical faith than those who say they believe and yet live in sin with a clear conscience.) 20Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”--and he was called a friend of God.
24You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. (Faith alone justifies, but a faith that is alone and without works is not a true faith.) 25And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? (In any and every case appropriate works accompany saving faith. It is pointless to claim to be saved by faith, unless our lives are holy.) 26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
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1 James 2:5
Year Two, November 30
Lord, Open My Lips1
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We are usually too fond of talking and are not always careful about what we say. Let us pay attention to what the Scriptures have to say about unholy tongues.
James 3
1Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (People are too ready to set themselves up as teachers and critics. If they really understood the increased responsibility of the position they would prefer to remain students.) 2For we all stumble in many ways, (This should make us cautious about accepting positions of leadership.) and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. (It walks through the earth, attacking the best of people, and even daring to criticize heaven itself.)
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! (If the fire comes from heaven it brings a blessing. If the fire is from hell it causes chaos and confusion.) 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. (Not a nation, or a city of unrighteousness, but a whole world of evil.) The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. (One writer says an unmanageable tongue is worse than the fire of hell, because the fire of hell torments only the wicked, but a tongue on fire afflicts both the bad and the good.2) 7For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Inconsistent language is monstrous. Our words should be consistent and acceptable before a holy God. Does that describe us?
11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. (Holiness, meekness, and gentleness in conversation are the best indications of a mind taught by the Lord. Only God the Holy Spirit can give us this wisdom.) 14But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Old Thomas Adams provides us a quote from his quick wit and humor: “The tongue is a singular part of our body. God has given man two ears, one to hear instructions of human knowledge, the other to listen to his divine teaching. Two eyes, one so he can see his way, another to pity and sympathize with his distressed brothers and sisters in Christ. Two hands, one with which to work for his own living, the other to relieve his brother’s needs. Two feet, one to walk on ordinary days to his ordinary labor, the other to walk on sacred days in the company of the congregation of the saints. Yet he has given man only one tongue; that he may instruct him to hear twice as much as he speaks, and to walk and work twice as much as he talks.”3
1 Psalm 51:15
2 Mr. Spurgeon mentions “Stella” as his source. I have been unable find this reference. Updated. -editor
3 Thomas Adams (1583-1653).
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