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Through the Word in 2020 #144 – Oct. 30 / Christians in Wonder-land

October 30th, 2020

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

There are certain passages of Scripture which have been referred to so often, they find themselves embedded even into the culture. One thinks of John 3:16. And rightly so. The wonder of God loving fallen humanity so that He would give His only Son as a sacrifice for human sin – so that all who would believe in Him would not be lost forever, but be given eternal life instead.

The only thing which dampens the searing glory of such words is the contempt for them bread of familiarity.

A few months ago my wife and I visited Niagara Falls again. We live little more than an hour away. And while the spectacle of it hit me afresh, I looked around to see the massive crowds that had come from all over the world to marvel at what is so familiar to me. So familiar, that I seldom go out of my way to see it – even though it is one of the most amazing sights on the planet.

And out of readings today in 1 John 2:1-6; Jeremiah 49:23-51:64 and John 1:29-42 stands this stunning record: John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

I’m Reid Ferguson. Let me invite you join me in beholding Him afresh for a few moments today on Through the Word in 2020.

God’s Lamb – God’s sacrifice for our sin – Jesus. The One whose blood can wash away every stain of our guilt and shame. The One who came of His own accord. Who left the glories of Heaven to live and die that we might know forgiveness, cleansing and eternal life. What a spectacle.

The old Puritan John Flavel put it like this: The Whole Works of the Reverend John Flavel, Volumes 1-6 Sermon IV: Opens the Admirable Love of God in Giving His Own Son for Us (John 3:16)

It is a special consideration to enhance the love of God in giving Christ, that in giving him he gave the richest jewel in his cabinet; a mercy of the greatest worth, and most inestimable value, Heaven itself is not so valuable and precious as Christ is: He is the better half of heaven; and so the saints account him, Psal. 73:25. “Whom have I in heaven but thee?” Ten thousand thousand worlds, saith one,* as many worlds as angels can number, and then as a new world of angels can multiply, would not all be the bulk of a balance, to weigh Christ’s excellency, love, and sweetness. O what a fair One! what an only One! what an excellent, lovely, ravishing One, is Christ! Put the beauty of ten thousand paradises, like the garden of Eden, into one; put all trees, all flowers, all smells, all colours, all tastes, all joys, all sweetness, all loveliness in one; O what a fair and excellent thing would that be? And yet it should be less to that fair and dearest well-beloved Christ, than one drop of rain to the whole seas, rivers, lakes, and fountains of ten thousand earths. Christ is heaven’s wonder, and earth’s wonder.

Now, for God to bestow the mercy of mercies, the most precious thing in heaven or earth, upon poor sinners; and, as great, as lovely, as excellent as his Son was, yet not to account him too good to bestow upon us, what manner of love is this!

Let that thrill your soul again today Christian.

What a wonder He is.

God willing, we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #143 – Oct. 29 / Identity Crisis

October 29th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

It’s pretty common today, even in Christianity for people to be stressed about getting a sense of their identity – or more popularly, a sense of their destiny. Growing out of the self-esteem movement which steam-rolled through the latter part of the 20th and on into the 21st century – everybody it seems, needs to find out how special they are. They need to have some sense of personal identity that is going to allow them to leave their mark on the World.

The truth is, out of the nearly 8 billion people on the planet today, most of us will only be known to and impact in any significant way – a pretty small number. That doesn’t make the impact we do make insignificant. Don’t get me wrong. God appoints it. Within His plan it is vital, even cosmically important. But in terms of human popularity and valuation – not so much.

So, do each of us really need some grandiose self-concept of destiny in order to be whole? In order to be important? In order to matter? John The Baptizer didn’t think so. And we’ll look at that today on Through the Word in 2020.

I’m Reid Ferguson.

Before us today are 1 John 1:5-10; Jeremiah 46-49:22; Psalm 128 and a fascinating text in John 1:19-28.

In the Biblical account, John the Baptizer was a pretty big deal. As Jesus’ cousin and forerunner, he plays a vastly important role. But from today’s text, we find out he didn’t think of himself that way. Nor did he need to in order to fulfill prophecy, be the first to recognize Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, baptize the Messiah and prepare God’s people for Jesus’ arrival.

His preaching had caused quite a stir and so the Jewish leadership sent men to find out just what this John was all about. And they asked him:

Are you the Christ? The Messiah, the anointed one? He said – no.

Banking off a prophecy intimating some sort of connection with Elijah and the Messiah from Malachi 4:5 they asked if he were Elijah?. But he said no again.

Then they asked if he were “the prophet” – mentioned in Deut.? Strike 3.

Now later, Jesus will connect John with the Elijah prophecy – but here’s the point – John didn’t. He didn’t have some grand idea either of his person or ministry. Instead he says: I am just a voice crying out in the wilderness – get ready for the Lord – the way Isaiah said. But note, he does not say THE voice. Just a voice.

The point is this Christian, just being willing to serve God as and who you are, where you are – is enough. You don’t need to fret about having some detailed concept of being called to this or that or the other thing, either to be useful – or to fulfill your destiny. You just need to be who and what God made you, surrendered to do His will. Right where you are. With whatever you have.

He, has made you one of His living stones. He is assembling you together with other Believers to be built up as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

He knows your name.

He placed you there.

Seek Him and live out the life of the Spirit right there in your living room. At your job. With your family. In your prayer closet. And the final day will declare the role you played. Whether you ever get a sense of it here or not.

He didn’t waste His blood saving you. Live freely in that.

The universe functions on the glory of the ordinary. Shooting stars, are eye-catching, but only noticeable on their way to extinction.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #142 – Oct. 28 / Vital Signs

October 28th, 2020
For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

For a human being to be considered alive, there are certain things which must be present. The two biggies are: A heart beat – circulation. And, there must be respiration – breathing. Most add to those these days, brain activity. If there’s no brain activity, no heartbeat and no respiration – then the undeniable conclusion is – this person is dead.

Not surprisingly, there are some vital signs which must be present when someone is spiritually alive as well. If they aren’t present, something is horribly wrong.

That’s our topic today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m your host, Reid Ferguson. Jeremiah 41-45; Luke 24:50-John 1:18 and 2 Peter 3:14-1 John 1:1-4, fill our reading roster today. And 1 John is a letter all about spiritual vital signs. A book that is deceptively deep. On the surface, its brevity and emphasis on love make it appear simple. Yet it is one which many commentators consider exceedingly complex. In its complexity, the book answers a most important question: How is a Christian distinguished from all others?

In a modern climate where people seem to most often define themselves more by what they are against than what they are for – 1 John argues that a true Christian’s vital signs are located in what he or she loves. Contrary to the 2 or 3 vital signs which indicate biological life, spiritual life has at least 5. 5 loves, which if not present, indicate a dire state indeed.
1. The one who has been born again by the Spirit of God – loves God. Not just the idea of God, but comes to have a genuine affinity for God Himself. They possess a newly created desire to know and please Him. And their awareness of His grace and mercy in salvation warms them so as to love Him.
2. He or she loves the brethren, other Christians – no matter how little else they have in common. They may not like them very much at times. They might rightly see their faults, failures and foibles, but they love them. They have an inward need to be around them, and to bless them. They are blessed by them.

3. They love God’s Word. Oh, they may struggle to read and study it. They may not be natural “readers” and find it takes serious effort to bring themselves to it. But they know instinctively it is God speaking, and they want to hear His voice and know all He has to say.

4. They love holiness and strive after it no matter how elusive. They want to be like Christ. They want to please their heavenly Father. They want to be free of the sins that formerly bound them.

5. They love Jesus Christ. They know Him as their substitute. That He died in their place on the Cross. And they long after Him. They want to serve and honor Him. They love Him, having never seen Him.

Each of these is a divine vital sign. If any is missing, life is missing.

So we ask, are you alive in Christ?

Do you have these vital signs?

The question is not how strong each one is – only whether or not they are present.

Among his other reasons – John says he wrote this little letter stating that “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” (5:13)

So, do you? I pray so.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #141 – Oct. 27 / A Most Surprising God

October 27th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Sometimes, when Christians with differing views of certain doctrines debate with each other – they indulge in what some call “dueling verses.” This guy sights a certain verse and then his opponent cites her verse – and they seem to contradict. On they go, like in a fencing match. Never stopping to consider that since the Bible is penned from front to back by the same Holy Spirit – that these passages do indeed – harmonize. But we’re not seeing it. Just such a thing arises as we look at our readings today from Psalm 127, Jeremiah 38:7-40:16, Luke 24:36-49 and 2 Peter 3:1-13.

More on that today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

In our Luke passage, the Disciples had trouble reconciling Old Testament passages about a Messiah who would vanquish all enemies and usher in the Kingdom of God, with Jesus dying on the Cross. They had neglected the “suffering servant” passages and never thought they both had to apply.

In 2 Peter, there are those who look at the Old Testament predictions of how God will judge the world, and cannot reconcile it with a continuing human history. They don’t understand His amazing patience in calling many to salvation yet.

And in Jeremiah we have God’s judgment poured out on His people for their sin, contrasted with Psalm 127’s insistence that even though we sin, and suffer for it, yet life is not only worth living, but children born even in the worst of times are still a heritage from the Lord. And it is this very point I’d like to call your attention to today: the reality that children are a gift from God remains true, no matter the circumstances. This is a display of truly amazing grace. And the World has no category for it.

Every time a child is conceived, whether that be in the context of a loving, monogamous home, in fornication or even rape, we are led to see how our God blesses instead of curses.

Those who indulge in sex outside of marriage, ought to be punished. But one way they are not – is in conception.

Conception is not punishment.

Ever.

It is rather, a token of grace in the midst of sin.

Here is where God shows up.

God gives life in place of the death we deserve for our sin.

It becomes an astounding type of the salvation which is in Christ. If only we would see it.

And if we could hear it, this is true even for the victim of rape. God in His amazing grace brings life out of the pain, the violence and the tragedy. It is a miracle – meant to show how He blesses in the very worst of all circumstances.

It is meant to draw our eyes toward heaven in wonder and awe. And so that the victim may take comfort, that though sin sought to destroy, God has overruled and brought forth life instead.

He is a most surprising God indeed.

Let that soak in today Christian.

And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #140 – Oct. 26 / Read the Old Testament, why?

October 26th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Even among Evangelicals today, there seems to be a rising tide of disregard for portions of the Bible – especially the Old Testament. Which is why a passage like Luke 24:13–35 takes on massive importance. We’ll look at that a bit today where we read that passage along with 2 Peter 2 and Jeremiah 35–38:6.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and this is Through the Word in 2020.

Providentially, in my preaching yesterday, I had occasion to refer to the Luke 24 section that is part of today’s reading. And what is so amazing in it, is how the resurrected Jesus repeatedly reinforced the importance of the Old Testament Scriptures. One might have thought, since everything has changed, since He had already died and was risen, we could kind of set that old stuff aside. But not so. We must never forget what Paul wrote to Timothy: “All scripture is breathed out by God.” All of it. Not just part of it. And if God has said it, we need to know it.

So what happens in Luke 24?

First, Jesus enters the conversation with the 2 on the road to Emmaus and rebukes them as foolish. The reason why they were confused about what had happened regarding His crucifixion He says, is because they were “slow of heart to believe all that that prophets have spoken.” Spoken where? In the Old Testament.

Second then, “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Starting back in Genesis – He shows them where He is painted everywhere in the Word. Slow of heart could just mean they were hesitant to believe. But it could also mean they were just lazy. They hadn’t taken to time to read, study and search it out for themselves. As cultural Jews they were looking for the Messiah. But they had never really researched the Scriptures so as to recognize Him and know His mission like they should have.

Third, after Jesus reveals Himself to them at dinner, they say to each other: “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?” It wasn’t the mere revelation of who it was that was with them at that moment that carried the day. It was how He opened the Scriptures to them. That is powerful.

Fourth, later in the chapter when Jesus appears to the 11, what does Jesus say to them? “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” He sends them back to their Bibles again. And uses the classic 3 divisions of the Old Testament they had, and we have today: The Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. The very same 39 books you have in your Old Testament right now.

Lastly, He then caps it all off in vs. 45. Just before He tells them He’ll be sending the Holy Spirit: “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” As A. W. Tozer was wont to say, He didn’t send to the Holy Spirit to make Bible study unnecessary, but to make it profitable.

Look for Jesus on the pages of your Old Testament. In the types, shadows and prophecies you will find Him fleshed out in vibrant ways you never thought possible. You’ll come to see Him in deeper, richer and sweeter ways.

As Jesus said in John 5:39 – “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”

God willing we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #139 – Oct. 23 / Living for Eternity

October 23rd, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

I appreciate people who have a clear sense of what they are about. Who know who they are, what they are here for and where they are going. But to be truthful, there aren’t a lot of them. And even among them, it seems those realities are only conceived of in terms of the here and now. Not with an eye on eternity. And life without reference to eternity is exceedingly short sighted. Though it inevitably leads to Hell.

The Apostle Peter used to be that way. It’s what made him so impetuous. A slave to his passionate responses to the moment. But he changed. After Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit – his focus completely changed. Today we have 4 passages before us: Luke 23:50–24:12; Psalm 126 and Jeremiah 32–34. But it is the redirected passion of Peter that calls for my attention today in 2 Peter 1:3–21.

I’m Reid Ferguson. And you are listening to Through the Word in 2020.

Living life now with a clear eye on eternity is the only way to live the Christian life. Peter captures it well when considering what he is writing to the saints in this letter. He is aware that he will not live much longer. And so he commits himself to reminding them of the Gospel truths upon which they are already established. And, he intends to make them easy to remember after he is gone.

It begs the question – if you knew you were going to die soon, what would you strive to make memorable to those you love?

For Peter, that is summed up in 11 things in this passage – which can then be distilled into just a few.

It is a master class in practical theology.

1. (1) Every Christian has A FAITH of Equal Standing with the Apostles

No apostle has a faith of higher standing than any saint, and no saint a faith of lower standing than any apostle.

That’s because Christ is all of our righteousness.

2. (2) Multiplying Grace & Peace is only found in the (increasing) knowledge of the person and work of Jesus

A. Who Christ is.

B. What He has done.

C. What He is doing now.

D. Why he does what He does.

3. (3) We possess Divinely Granted Promises sufficient for life and godliness – thru the knowledge of Christ

4. (3) We are Called to His own Glory & Excellence

5. (4) Thru these promises we are partakers of the divine nature

6. (5-7) Because these first 5 things are true, we are to be Supplementing our Faith – building on it, not stagnating

7. (8) Increasing in these prevents us from being Ineffective & Unfruitful in the faith

8. (9) We need warned lest we have a Forgetful Lack of these essentials

9. (10) We must be engaged in Diligent Pursuit of confirming our election – not just resting upon it

10. (11) This is all preparatory to fully Entering The Kingdom

11. (16) There are no Myths what we’ve been taught in the Bible. It is breathed out by God and holds all authority for us

All of which we could summarize in this, that Peter was exercised on these points:

Know God.

Know Christ Jesus.

Know who you are in Christ Jesus.

Grow in it.

In these, you too will be able to live a life now, aimed at the known eternity of the fulfilled promises of Jesus Christ.

Now that’s a life worth living.

God willing, we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #138 – Oct. 22 / The Last Adam

October 22nd, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

Eschatology is the theologian’s word for the study of last things. Theologians, like other scientists love their big words. Ever try to read a medicine package?

Classically, eschatology covers all the Bible has to say regarding what happens from the moment of death, through the intervening time before Christ’s return, His return, the resurrection from the dead, final judgment and the new heavens and the new earth. All of it reminding us that He has had a plan for the end of the ages all along. His plan for humanity wasn’t cemented into a perpetual Eden. He was aiming at more from the beginning.

And one problem that creeps up in our study of God’s Word, is how we can take what God does at one point in time, and assume that is the way it is supposed to be for all time. A case in point is that of Adam and Eve. We forget that Adam was not God’s endgame that simply went wrong. Romans 5:14 reminds us, Adam, was a type, a precursor or prototype of the One who was to come – Jesus, The Son of God incarnate.

And as is true of all such types and shadows, there are similarities to the one the type was pointing to, and contrasts. So along with our readings today in 1 Peter 5:12–2 Peter 1:2 and Jeremiah 29–31 there are some stunning contrasts between the first Adam in the Garden, and the Last Adam Jesus on the cross in Luke 23:26–49.

We’ll look at just 3 of those contrasts today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

As the old hymn goes:

Could we with ink, the oceans fill

And were the skies, of parchment made

Were every stalk, on earth a quill

And every man, a scribe by trade

To write the love, of God above

Would drain the oceans dry

Nor could the scroll, contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky

Let me note just 3 stupendous contrasts, and let your heart soak them in today.

1. When Adam sinned, he hid himself from God. Red with his own guilt – he tried to avoid the face of God.

In contrast, Jesus went TO God, when laden with our guilt. “Father forgive them” He cried. And then, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” The unfathomably brave Jesus, facing the wrath of God, red with our guilt – unflinching that we might go free.

2. Adam tried to cover himself so as not to be exposed. He sewed those flimsy, foolish fig leaves together as though they somehow could cover up the cataclysmic change which had come as the result of his disobedience.

On our behalf, Jesus was stripped naked and exposed to the world. Sin was not to be covered – even though it was not His own sin, but ours. Everything had to be out in the open. The shame that sin is and the heinous results of it had to be laid bare. He was shamed in our place. So the Word says “everyone one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.”

Oh blessed Jesus!

3. Adam pointed the finger at his wife as the reason for his fall. Then, at the God who gave him his wife.

Jesus instead took the whole of our guilt upon Himself, that His Bride might be covered. He refused to separate Himself from us even when it meant His death. Owning us as His bride regardless the cost. He hid us behind Himself while the just fury of God’s own holiness hurled it fiercest condemnation upon Him.

To write the love of God above, would drain more than the oceans dry; it would deplete the whole of creation in all of its vastness.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #137 – Oct. 21 / Sober up – Part 2

October 21st, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

If you are keeping up with our reading schedule, you know we have 4 wonderful portions before us today. Wonderful not in the sense that they are pleasant, but in that they display the sovereign hand of God. He is orchestrating the events of Jesus’ death; Babylon’s conquests over all the nations, not just Israel; the providential care of His people and preparation for the Believer’s suffering.

These are all found in 1 Peter 5:1–11; Luke 23:18–25; Psalm 125 and Jeremiah 25:15–28:17.

But as I began yesterday, so I want to return to 1 Peter 4 and to the announcement that “the end of all things is at hand.”

I’m Reid Ferguson and that’s our focus today on Through the Word in 2020.

As we noted yesterday, when Peter says in 4:1 that the end of all things is at hand, he then says “therefore.” His point is that given the truth of the statement, we are to respond to it in a certain way.

Now it should be obvious by the text that our response is not first and foremost panic. Self-control is his first admonition. Because the end of all things is no more out of the hand of our sovereign God than anything else in all the universe. The end is nearing because God is judging. But those who are His in Christ need not fear that judgment, because ours has been comprehended in the sufferings of Christ. So don’t panic, but be self-controlled.

And he adds to self-control, be sober-minded.

The word means to be vigilant, but circumspect. Not intoxicated by fear or anything else but well balanced, clear and in full possession of one’s senses.

Now these are good in and of themselves, but when you read the sentence as a whole, it takes on amazing new dimensions. The call is to be self-controlled and sober-minded – “for the sake of your prayers.” And the point is this: A sound prayer life is founded upon sober thinking about matters. And that will translate into a prayer life that is focused upon the purposes and plans of God, in the midst of the crumbling chaos around us.

In other words, it will be prayer still centered in seeking the restoration of the glory of God’s name in the universe above all other priorities.

Prayer for the return of Jesus for only in His return, only in His Kingdom coming can this world be set right. Nothing short of the 2nd advent can address the evil of this present age. No election. No political turn. No economic shift. No social program. Christ coming and ruling. And until then, His Kingdom through His Spirit in the hearts and minds of Believers.

Prayer for His will to be done in all the matters we face – irrespective of our own personal preferences or short-sighted wisdom.

Prayer that our souls will be satisfied daily with a full portion of The Bread of Life Himself. And to never settle for satisfaction with anything less than Christ and Christ alone.

Prayer for the forgiveness of our own sins, and that we will be filled with the same forgiveness toward those who sin against us – that we desire from Him.

And prayer that we will not be led astray by the lies, diversions, and deceptions of the Enemy of our souls, but rather led by the light of God’s Word, and the illumination of His Spirit.

Prayers, supplications, intercessions and thanksgivings for all people, including those in political power – no matter what their party or affiliation – that we may lead peaceful and quiet lives, godly and dignified in every way.

It takes great self-control and sober-mindedness to keep on this track. And it is the Divine way to face the end of all things – even as it is right at hand.

Settle your heart and mind there Believer.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #136 – Oct. 20 / Sober up

October 20th, 2020

For the audio Podcast of this and every episode, find us on Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify or HERE

If you’d like to join us in our journey reading all the way through the Bible this year, drop me a line at reid.ferguson@gmail.com, and I’ll be glad to email back a copy of the reading plan we are using.

The European folk tale of Henny Penny or Chicken Little brought the phrase “the sky is falling” into popular use. In all versions, a real event, in most an acorn dropping on a hen’s head, starts the whole thing rolling. The hen, concludes that since something fell randomly out of the sky and hit her – then the sky must be falling. And the story proceeds with her spreading the news with its accompanying panic as far and wide as possible.

The moral of the story – depending upon which version is either to have courage in the face of the unknown, or not to believe everything we are told, no matter how sincere the source. Both good lessons. Both only partial, even as her story was. Her experience was real. Her interpretation of the event was gravely in error.

But what are we to do when the Bible itself tells us “the end of all things is at hand”, as it does in today’s reading of 1 Peter 4? Fortunately, the same passage supplies that answer.

I’m Reid Ferguson and that’s our topic today on Through the Word in 2020.

1 Peter 4; Luke 23:6–17 and Jeremiah 21:11–25:14 round our our reading today. And all 3 address cataclysmic events. The end of all things in 1 Peter; the God ordained destruction of Jerusalem in Jeremiah; and rapidly approaching end of Jesus’ earthly ministry in Luke 23.

The Disciples would view Jesus’ death as the shattering of all they anticipated in the Messiah. Until His resurrection. The Jews would view Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion as the end of Jerusalem. Until Cyrus sent them back 70 years later. And in 1 Peter 4 we’re told the end of all things is at hand – yet goes on in Ch. 5 to remind us that Christ will bring Believers into His eternal glory yet.

But what are we to do in the face of a world that is in fact coming apart at the seams? The real events happening now – especially in the United States – seem to portend the end of all things, at least as far as prognosticators on each side of our upcoming Presidential election will tell you; if the other side wins.

In truth, the REAL, the eternal end is at hand – no matter which side wins.

I’m not Henny Penny nor the son of Henny Penny, but I can read today’s text. And most happily, it not only reads: “the end of all thing is at hand”, it adds the all important word: “Therefore.” Therefore. Here’s the plan of action for Believers.

1. Be self-controlled. Self-control is one of the gifts of the Spirit. And if you “lose it” every time you think about what life will be like if your side loses – then you need to be about the business of being filled with the Spirit and mastered by His influence once again.

2. Be sober-minded. This, along with self-controlled, for the sake of your prayers. And because this is so important, I’ll expand on that tomorrow.

3. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly. Don’t let the present crises divide you from any others who place their eternal hope in Christ and Christ alone.

4. Keep serving the Body of Christ with whatever gifts God has given you. Don’t be distracted from it by any present or coming distress.

5. Don’t be shocked by the fiery trials to come. God knows. And remains on His throne.

6. Rejoice that as Christians, we get to experience the same groaning with this present lost world Jesus did. That is a high privilege.

7. Keep entrusting your soul to your faithful Creator while doing good.

Now that is a sober plan.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow for one more look.
Through the Word in 2020 #135 – Oct. 19 / “Get’em God!”

October 19th, 2020

As you know, I end each podcast saying “God willing, we’ll be back…” whenever. Well Providence intervened Friday and I was not able to be with you. But if you’ve kept up with reading, then we are brought to today’s passages: Jeremiah 17:19–21:10; Psalm 124; Luke 22:66–23:5; and 1 Peter 3:8–22 with a most interesting connection between Jeremiah and 1 Peter.

What do we do with passages like the dozen or so Psalms where the Writer calls on God to destroy or punish their enemies? Or like we see in Jeremiah’s prayer in 18:9-23? Especially in light of a passage like 1 Peter 3:9 1 Peter 3:9 “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

What do we do with Scriptures that seem to just say “Get’em God!” How do we harmonize that with the Gospel?

That today on Through the Word in 2020.

I’m Reid Ferguson.

Poor Jeremiah. He’s not called “the weeping Prophet” for nothing. His heart is broken over the sins of his fellow Jews; broken at God’s word of judgment against his brethren; and broken at how he is persecuted for merely bringing God’s People God’s Word.

He can’t win.

And as we see in today’s reading, he is even beaten and imprisoned for speaking the truth. Leading him to pray: “deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword” – and host of other ills.

And the first thing to note is: Jeremiah expresses his heart, but, BUT, then leaves the disposing of it to the Lord. “Deal with them in the time of your anger” is how 23 closes. He does not take matters into his own hands. He knows it is best to leave it with the Lord to dispose of as He sees best.

The 2nd thing to see is that God does not answer his prayer as prayed.

Jeremiah prays for judgment in reference to how he is rejected and persecuted. But in 19:4, God says there will indeed be judgment, but not for Jeremiah’s sake, but because of their sin against God. And this where things harmonize with 1 Peter.

We may well pray our imprecatory prayers knowing that God will only do what is right with them. We are free, indeed instructed to bring those things to Him. To express our true heart and mind at the time. And then, leave it with Him. He disposes as is best. We do not then take up our own revenge for the wrongs against us. We have taken our plea to the highest court – and He will do what is just concerning us, our persecutors, Himself and His Kingdom.

It is right to pray God’s judgment upon sins, even those against us – when we leave it to Him to act on as He sees fit, and we continue to bless our enemies in our actions. As in Jeremiah’s case, by not ceasing to still faithfully bring them God’s Word.

There is one exception to all this: Pray God’s judgment and unsparing wrath upon the Devil and the demon hosts that seek to hinder the Gospel, thwart the cause of Christ, tempt us to sin and torment the heirs of salvation. Feel free to unleash your most violent imprecations against the rulers, authorities, the cosmic powers of this present darkness and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

But know again here too – this is of God’s disposing, not ours. He WILL avenge us on the enemies of our souls in due time. Tell Him your heart without restraint. And trust Him fully to do what is best.

He will.

Without fail.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.