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Through the Word in 2020 #76 – July 17 / The Sacredness of Work

July 17th, 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.

One of the misnomers that has made its way into the minds of many Christians, is that work is a kind of necessary evil, unless of course you are in some sort of “ministry.” Our reading in Colossians 3 today should divest us of both errors. Sadly for some, that error leads them to very frustrating lives. We’ll talk about that today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

Colossians 3:18-4:1, Luke 6:43-45 and 2 Chronicles 9:13-11:17 finish up our reading for this week. And once again, we could say so much about each portion. But I’d like us to consider the idea in Colossians 3 of the sacredness of work.

Pastors, preachers and teachers are often heard telling people about the nature of their high calling, and how there is nothing higher in life. There’s some truth in that. It is a high calling. But the way that is often heard, is that if you are not engaged in some sort of teaching or preaching ministry, that somehow, you are doing what is less than best. That teachers and preachers are some separate sacred class. It isn’t so.

And I’ve personally known an almost endless parade of good men who would settle for nothing less than a “ministry” role in order to feel good about themselves. That any kind of secular work was somehow a step down. And many of these have grown bitter, frustrated and angry because they’ve not been used by God that way.

It is a very sad thing to see. And in truth, they end up ruining what usefulness to Christ they might have had.

As The Holy Spirit speaks in this passage, He says something to wives, husbands, children, parents, employers and employees – about their individual roles. As a side note here, I’ll mention that nowhere are the instructions to one group ever nullified because another group fails at their role. Each of us is responsible for our sphere, irrespective of how others fare in theirs.

That said, it is vs. 23 which deserves some special focus. “Whatever you do” – note the “WHATEVER”. Whatever place of work or employment you might find yourself in – do THAT work heartily – as unto the Lord. Serve Him there. Serve Him in it. Knowing this: “That from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Here is the amazing sacredness of work – all work, when engaged in by a Believer. Doing a “secular” job as unto Christ, while the world pays you for it, and the Father prepares to reward you for it. The World paying us to earn Heavenly rewards. Imagine. And we, whether we are butchers, bakers or candlestick makers, we are His workers in that place with those people. It is as important and sacred to our God to have us there, as it is to have the most gifted preacher in the pulpit.

Mechanics, engineers, doctors, cable installers, lawyers, coders, undertakers, housewives, writers, clothes designers, musicians, honey-dippers, soldiers and even politicians. No matter what field we might find ourselves in – our call is to work there, heartily – as unto the Lord! Because then, we are serving the Lord Christ as His agents in that place. And we can have no more sacred occupation than to serve Him. The theater of service is wholly irrelevant.

Be about your next shift at work – whatever work that may be, and know that if it is done as unto Him, that it is every bit as sacred as any so-called ministry role in the Church.

And then, you’ll find a satisfaction there you never knew could be. For you are serving the Lord Christ. The truth is, if you cannot serve God with contentment in secular work, then you won’t if you find yourself in “ministry” either.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #75 – July 16 / Eye Surgery

July 16th, 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.

Out of the 4 passages before us today: Psalm 112, 2 Chronicles 7:1-9:12, Colossians 3:1-17 and Luke 6:37-42, I’ve little doubt the latter is the one most familiar to most of us. Taking the log out of our own eye before trying to take a speck out of someone else’s has become proverbial. I’m Reid Ferguson, and I’d like (no pun intended) to take another look at that passage today on Through the Word in 2020.

As Christians, we spend a lot of time thinking and talking about sin. One can’t read the Bible without that theme being found everywhere. The entire plan of redemption and Jesus’ death on the cross is in reference to sin. To deliver us from sin’s penalty, power and eventually, its very presence. But when our interest in sin is more about other’s sins than our own, bad things can happen. Hence Jesus’ reference in Luke 6.

He asks a very pointed question: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” We tend to fix on the comparison here between a speck and a log, and we are meant to notice that feature.

What we tend to overlook is answering Jesus’ question – why is it we do this? And the answer is clear, we are most often blind to our own sins because they are so large – they prevent us from seeing clearly. And that then makes us pretty poor candidates for addressing other’s sins. But that doesn’t stop us much does it? Attacking other’s sins seems to be a national pass-time right now – both inside and outside of the Church.

That aside, let’s note a few other things of importance here.

First, this portion is not talking about mere public rebuke of public wrongs. It is about personal investment in helping one another grow in Christ.

Those not well accustomed to dealing with their own sin, are never qualified to deal with someone else’s. Those that are like a bull in a China shop with other’s sins, are those who have little experience dealing with their own. Their aggressiveness and vitriol is a dead give away.

Second, Jesus’ reference to taking something out of one’s eye is wonderfully informative. For the eye is tender, and dealing with something in the eye takes:

a. Carefulness. Other damage is easily done. Such surgery can cause permanent blindness if not handled well. The old Chinese proverb: “Never remove a fly from a friend’s face with an axe” comes to mind. We must be very clear what “speck” we are after, and judge it a speck. We are to see their sins as less than our own. And remember that a speck needs tweezers, not a crowbar.

b. Gentleness. Eyes are sensitive and tender. Sins are often very dear to our hearts. Our object is to be curative, not retributive. Think of how painful it has been when facing your own sins. And if you do not have that experience, hand this off to someone else. The Church Father Origin who emasculated himself trying to deal with lust, is not the guy to go to if you have a problem with lust. Until, maybe, long after he had found his methods severely wanting.

c. Relationally. Dealing with people’s individual sins is not something you do walking down the street with strangers. Do I have the person’s trust such that they will trust me with a sensitive area? Have I earned that? Do they know I have only their best interest at heart, and have some skill in what I am approaching, and some experience of how delicate a thing it is?

We need to be about helping one another with our sins. But we are not prosecuting attorneys. We are fellow convicts, leading each other to grace.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #74 – July 15 / From Temple to Temple

July 15th, 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.

Church. When we think of coming to or going to Church, we think of entering a building, gathering with other Believers, sitting in pews or chairs, singing, praying, hearing the Word of God preached and fellowship with one another. The Old Testament Jews in Solomon’s time had a very different experience. One we can not identify with at all. The why behind that massive shift is something worth our consideration – which we’ll do today on Through the Word in 2020.

Circumstances wouldn’t allow our visiting yesterday – but I trust you continued reading. If we take yesterday’s and today’s portions together, they lead us through Psalm 111, Colossians 1:15-2:23, Luke 6:17-36 and 1 Chronicles 29:23-2 Chronicles 6.

Now the section in 2 Chronicles is probably most familiar to us due to Solomon’s prayer there, and God’s oft mis-applied answer in Ch. 7.

But if you read the description of the construction of Solomon’s Temple carefully, the one thing you may have noticed is that it had no place for the average guy or gal to sit. In fact, it had no seating at all. And as the singular house of worship for the entire nation – for millions of people – it was only 90’ long and 30’ wide. You see, it wasn’t meant to provide access for the average worshipper at all. All of their sacrifices, all of their worship activities were done outside. Only the priests could enter at all. And then, only the High Priest – once a year could go into the most Holy Place.

God and His people were separated. Until Christ.

It is why when Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the Temple, separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two. And why Hebrews 10:19-22 can read:

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let 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.

Jesus has given us the access directly to the Father no generation prior to His coming ever had. And even our architecture reflects this astounding reality.

The next time you enter a Church building, remember that this way of gathering together before God as a people was unheard of prior to Jesus death, burial and resurrection. Even the synagogue (which didn’t come about until long after the Temple was destroyed) served mainly as a teaching and social gathering place. They had no concept – and still don’t – that all these were symbols of the Temple He is building out of the living stones we as Believers are.

We, The Temple of God, indwelt by His Spirit who is no longer hidden behind a curtain, gather together in groups and worship without the aid or need of priests, artifacts or minutely prescribed rites and ceremonies. We draw near with true hearts in full assurance of faith and sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. Because of Christ and Christ alone.

Lay hold of the miracle and the privilege the ordinary Church service is. Those humble pews, communal hymns, common prayers, hearing of God’s Word and sharing at the Lord’s Table were purchased with nothing less than the blood of the eternal Son of God – for us.

Don’t neglect it.

I’m Reid Ferguson. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #73 – July 13 / “He’s our guy!”

July 13th, 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.

What do you look for when it comes to leadership – especially in the Church? Business expertise? Oratorical skill? Advanced degrees? Organizational savvy? Musical ability? Years of experience? Good looks? A powerful voice? A winning personality? All of those are good and well. And if a new leader brings some of these to the table – well, all the better. But what are the key things? The things which ought to be non-negotiable? The things which go beyond our wish-list of preferences – to what we we really need? The things which ought to make us say: “He’s our guy!” Some thoughts on that today out of
1 Chronicles 27:16-29.

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

It’s interesting to see how all 3 of our passages today dovetail. 1 Chronicles, Luke 6:12-16 and Colossians 1:3-14.

In Colossians Paul marks out the value of Epaphras’ ministry by simply saying “he is a faithful minister of Christ.” Probably not the first item on the list of most pastoral search committees. But oft repeated in the New Testament. Then, when Jesus appoints His apostles to leadership in Luke 6, He’s not drawing from the best schooled and certainly not from the most experienced.

I dare say that many would argue that leadership is no place to learn the ropes. Yet this is precisely what Jesus did with His Disciples. Some things must be, and can only be – learned on the job. It does not mean they are not responsible, they are. But neither must every man be so fully equipped before he enters into service, that there is no room for mistakes and growth. We must beware of not choosing total novices on the one hand, and of not requiring more than is meet.

Which brings us back to David’s charge to Solomon his son as he is about to enter into leadership over Israel. And 4 things which are indispensable in my opinion, but again, rarely seen on the qualifications list of most pulpit committees.

Here are the priorities of true leadership as outlined in our text:

1. Knowing God – not just knowing about Him. “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father.”

Many know lots about God, the Bible and maybe even doctrine. But we need men in leadership who KNOW God. Personally. Those we can get a sense of as walking with Him in private – who carry on an ongoing, living relationship with God.

2. Serving God. And this David marks out in two categories:

a. Serving God with a WHOLE heart. They have given themselves to serving God above just having a ministry or career.

b. Serving God with a WILLING mind. One lexicon says the word “willing” means one who takes pleasure and delight in serving the Lord. Whether they have a position, a career in ministry or not, they will seek places to serve and do so with joy – irrespective of life circumstances.

3. Seeking God – that He may be found. One who makes it their practice personally to be seeking the Lord. Seeking to know Him more, serve Him better, walk with Him more closely, love what He loves and hate what He hates. One who has a personal passion to grow in their relationship with Him.

4. Being careful and strong in the building of Christ’s House, the Church. Having the goal of building up the saints in the most holy faith. Not worried about building up a reputation, a ministry or championing some cause.

These are the ones we look for. And granted, these qualities may not be as easily discernible as the ones which fall more easily into categories of gifts or abilities. But these are those who will lead His Church, because of where they are going. They are pursuing Christ, and Christ-likeness. Follow them as they follow Him.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #72 – July 10 / Change isn’t a 4 letter word

July 10th, 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 don’t know about you, but speaking for myself, I resist change. The older I get, the more I seem to resist it. I get used to and come to like the way things are.

Of course this is a tendency which has to be resisted itself, for it militates against the continual growth and change in the image of Christ all of His children are called to. A life of perpetual change in being made more and more like Him.

We unconsciously imagine our attitude toward spiritual maturity should correspond more directly to our attitude toward physical maturity with its unpleasant prospects of decline. We forget that our present declines are only for the season we spend in our present physical bodies – and that we have an eternity before us, not the few decades or less we might be facing now. More on that in a minute on Through the Word in 2020 – I’m Reid Ferguson.

Today’s readings bring us to: Philippians 4:21–Colossians 1:2; Psalm 110; Luke 6:1–11; 1 Chronicles 23–27.

1 Chronicles 23:26 makes a most interesting observation. For hundreds of years, since the Israelites first came out of Egypt, God appointed the Levites over the administration of His tabernacle. One set of those Levites had a special job: to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings and equipment wherever the Lord led them next. Now, they were settled in the Promised Land and Solomon was about to build a permanent Temple. And these Levites it seems were out of a job.

What were they to do? Were they now useless? Antiquated? It was a new day. Things had changed drastically. They were going to have to find a new focus, when their entire sense of identity had been wrapped up in this one thing for generations.

By way of the immediate context, the issue here points to an important principle for those of us in ministry. I wrestle with it now in contemplating my own impending retirement from a pastoral role.

Those who have God appointed ministries MUST not think them so absolute, as to think a shift in efforts is somehow a loss or demotion. As times and circumstances change, so might the focus of those once committed to a certain kind of ministry shift to another. This is right and good. It is sad that many who have filled pastoral rolls, find themselves somewhat lost when time and circumstances mean they cannot serve in that same capacity any longer. They often see it as becoming useless. But it is not so.

But this issue is not faced by those in ministry alone. Many a man after a long career in the workplace finds a severe disorientation upon retirement. No longer the “breadwinner” – how is one to think of themselves? Or that Mom who has devoted all of her life to raising children – now finding herself an empty-nester. Widows and widowers. The newly disabled or declining who can no longer serve and do as they once did.

These can be harrowing times in life. But here we see the principle. As the Levites did, so we – we learn to accept these changes in focus and settle upon new avenues of service. We embrace them as the next steps toward the eternity just before us, rather than the loss of what was never meant to be permanent anyway. We grow.

Oh to receive God’s gracious seasons with grace ourselves. To learn to pray: Father, as you have brought me to this new place, use me as will best serve your Kingdom: However and in whatever capacity in your perfect wisdom you determine that to be.

He is not done with you Christian, wherever you are. He’s just led you to the next step. Seize it by faith.

God willing, we’ll be back next Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #70 – July 9 / I can do ALL things?

July 9th, 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.

There are certain passages of Scripture which seem to take on a life of their own – wrestled out of their context and misapplied with frightening ease. And 2 of them appear in our reading today in
Philippians 4:10-20. We’ll talk about that today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

I am reluctant to pass over Luke 5:27-39 because of the vast importance of our knowing our need of Christ if we are to be saved by Him. This is profoundly important and I would ask that you take some time to think on vss. 31 & 32 carefully. If you are not aware of your brokenness, sinfulness, alienation from God and lostness, you cannot be saved. Jesus only saves those who are in desperate need of Him. So too, the account of David’s numbering the people in 1 Chronicles 20-22 is packed with needed instruction. But due to the popular misuse of 2 verses in Philippians, I opted to fix our eyes there.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” has become a popular and ubiquitous slogan. Irrespective of what Paul meant in this passage.

He was NOT, please hear me, not talking about jumping higher, running faster, getting better test scores, winning more games, outselling competitors, losing weight or doing more reps at the gym. This passage is about being able to serve Christ rightly regardless of external circumstances.

As with Paul, abounding and suffering need are the two spheres in which we encounter our severest temptations.

When in need we can feel shortchanged and sinned against – even by God. And in abundance and prosperity, we can feel privileged and self-confident; the two most perilous places we can be. How we need the Lord’s help in these hours. To teach us contentment that beards both of these ravenous lions in their dens. These are the “all things” Paul is referring to. And to ignore the peril of overcoming the spiritual pitfalls of either abundance or need is to leave us still drowning in the values of the culture around us – rather than seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Jesus didn’t die to make you successful – He died to save you from the just wrath of God, and to reconcile you to the Heavenly Father.

The 2nd one is vs. 19: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

This does NOT mean Christians are somehow exempt from material loss, financial hardship, physical ailment, adverse circumstances, loneliness or any other loss in life but this: The riches of Christ’s righteousness is all ours! Every REAL lasting, soul and eternal need is met in Christ Himself.

This is not a promise of material prosperity but of the full assurance of Christ’s sufficiency for our every spiritual need in living in this life – and bringing us to glory.

And please note the word “need.” He does not supply our every want, wish, desire or preference – but He does meet us in our every need. And as I said above every REAL lasting, soul and eternal need is met in Christ Himself. Oh that we would look to Him as our every sufficiency.

Think on these things today Beloved.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #70 – July 8 / Owing our Thoughts

July 8th, 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.

Peace. At the present time, there seems to be little of it be found anywhere. There is unrest, a decided lack of peace civilly, politically, economically and in the current pandemic with its perpetual antiphonal chants of opposing opinions filling a 24 hour news cycle. What is one to do to find peace? Where is one to go? So many of us are so care-worn, we cannot catch a moment’s peace. So here’s a question – do you just want peace – the noise to go away; or the peace of God, which can only be had when we have the God of peace? That’s our focus today on Though the Word in 2020.

Along with Luke 5:17–26; Psalm 109; 1 Chronicles 18–20:3, our reading today takes us to that very familiar passage Philippians 4:2–9.

Now verses 6 & 7 are often taken as a small section by themselves. Reasonably enough. The emphasis upon prayer bringing us the peace of God guarding our hearts and minds in Jesus, is right and good in and of itself. But it fails to see how Paul’s point is not for Christians to use prayer as a mere mechanism to get peace. As though peace is something we can have apart from – as verse 9 puts it: the God of peace with us. In other words, it is God being WITH us which is the source of all peace. He brings peace, He doesn’t just give it. And if we won’t have or seek Him, in truth, we will not have His peace either. The 2 are inseparable.

So, we major on trying to not be anxiety-ridden by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, making our requests known to God. Good. But there is more to this. For if we do not also take up the call of vs. 8 to govern our thought lives, and live out the truth of the Gospel in vs. 9, we still will not know the God of peace. Peace will still elude us.

So, what do you think about? Do your thoughts run away with you? Or do you put your thoughts into your service? Do you direct your thoughts to ponder things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise?

Let me tell you, you will not find the things which support such a thought life on FoxNews, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The Drudge Report, or any other news or commentary outlet. The only sure source of truth, honor, justice, purity, loveliness and the rest, is God’s Word.

Am I saying we pay no attention to what’s going on around us? Not at all. I’m saying the God of peace does not grant us peace when we allow our minds to fix on what can only agitate by its nature. That we need to reclaim our thought lives. Know the news. But think on, meditate on, muse on, consider the things which are in concert with seeing, knowing and growing in the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ.

The World is not at peace. Nor will it ever be until Jesus returns. And we can think on the broad turmoil roiling all around us, or we can think on other things as the mainstay of our inner dialog.

So, what occupies your thoughts? If it leads to fear, agitation, anger, cursing of others, pointing the finger, complaining, and unrest of soul – something’s amiss. Give your brain a vacation. Every day – for at least some time – “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. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in the likes of Paul —practice, and the God of peace will be with you.”

I’m Reid Ferguson. God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #69 July 7 – Real and false – faith.

July 7th, 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.

There are some principles in Scripture which need to be revisited over and over. They are like the foundation stones of a skyscraper. If they give way, everything gives way. If they are compromised, instability is the inevitable result. These principles can appear quite inconspicuously, unless you really stop to consider them. They greatly inform key strands in Scripture and the Christian life in such a way that they prevent the Believer from very destructive and debilitating thought patterns. We’ll look at one of those principles in Luke 5:1-16; which along with 1 Chronicles 15-17 and Philippians 3-4:1 comprise our reading block for today.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and you’re listening to Through the Word in 2020.

As I’ve already mentioned, our passage in Luke brings up one of the most important foundation stones for living the Christian life; the necessity of developing right thoughts about faith. Faith, real faith, Biblical faith, not what is often foisted off on us as faith, is truly an issue of the utmost importance. So rehearse it with me again today.

In vs. 5 of Luke 5, the words and actions of Peter in response to Jesus telling him to put out into the deep and let down his nets for a catch, hold the clearest and most succinct exposition of faith to be found anywhere. Faith reasons in the face of everything else – “but at your word.”

So note carefully, faith does not groundlessly hope. It does not pluck its expectation from the air. It is not the product of imagination, or a contrived desire. We cannot have faith regarding that which God has not said. No. It roots itself firmly in one place: What God HAS said. And then acts accordingly.

So many, sadly, do almost irreparable harm to their own faith. They do so when they hold God to promises He never made, or to impressions they thought came from Him. Then, when He appears not to have come through, they inwardly undermine their own ability to believe Him in the things He HAS said.

Though stated in another context, Paul’s words in 1 Cor. 4:6 have broad application and especially in this issue: “learn by us not to go beyond what is written.” What God has said, what He has inspired by His Spirit to have written down for us in His Word – these are the things (rightly interpreted) in which we can have absolute faith. And when we go beyond that into thoughts, desires, impressions or hopes of our own creation – we open ourselves to faith-destroying disappointments.

Let Peter’s example be your guide – “But at your word.” And you will find a safe haven for your soul. A truly firm foundation for your faith. But if you hold God to something you may THINK He has said to you, or an impression you have in your heart and mind – no matter how vivid, and it does not come to pass – in time, you will not find it reasonable to believe what He has actually said in His Word. Faith will either become some sort of strange means of manipulating God – superstition – or it will simply wilt and become useless.

God cannot lie. If it appears He has – then we’ve either misinterpreted His Word, or put our trust in something other than His Word and His character. Know and trust what you can verify He has said by soundly understanding the Scriptures. And your faith will be increasingly steadfast and sure.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #68 – July 6 / The Priority of the Gospel

July 6th, 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.

Setting proper priorities is part and parcel of living life period. Not everything that even has a legitimate claim on our time, interest and energy has exactly the same claim. Spiritual matters must take precedence over temporal ones. Bodily health over recreation. Family over work. And even in these, there are emergencies which may lay temporary claim over normal things – but then need to be set back into proper order in due time. No one understood or lived this better than Jesus. And we’ll look at that reality for a few moments on Through the Word in 2020. I’m your host, Reid Ferguson.

Of our 4 passages today Psalm 108, 1 Chronicles 12-14, Philippians 2:19-30 and Luke 4:38-44 it is the short but enigmatic account of Jesus in Luke that captures my attention today.

Short as the Lukan passage is, it presents 3 short vignettes. The first 2 we grasp easily and resonate with. First, Jesus entering Peter’s house where his mother in law lay ill. They ask Jesus to do something and He heals her. Second then, the crowds who brought their own loved ones, to be healed of all sorts of afflictions. And in His mercy and grace He “laid His hands on every one of them.”

The third comes the next morning. Jesus goes out to pray alone when more show up to seek Him out and get Him to stay there. After all – aren’t there still a host of needy folk? But Jesus responds – no. He says to them “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. And He was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” This scene is harder to digest.

And here we learn what a priority is placed upon the Gospel.

To those who came with sicknesses, infirmities, or loved ones afflicted or demon possessed, it must have been hard to comprehend why He would make the preaching of this message in other places more important than their immediate, felt and very real needs.

Note first that one may enter Heaven without a foot, blind, deaf or leprous; But one cannot enter Heaven without hearing, believing and obeying the Gospel. Jesus knows, and intends to meet our greatest need above all. He didn’t neglect those He could touch. But then, He didn’t let that become the priority either.

Note second how easy it is for the Church to get sidetracked over this very same issue – of not placing the priority of the Gospel above everything else. Think of our current climate and how the Church is being pulled from every side to take on cultural and social issues. And make no mistake, those issues are real, and need to be addressed. They are as real now as the blindness, lameness, deafness, leprosy and other maladies of those they would have been bringing to Jesus then. But even those things, as real, urgent and legitimate as they are must never be pursued at the expense of leaving off the preaching of the Gospel.

The Church needs to prioritize the mission of the Gospel above every other. As individual Christians, we can and should act on the other issues in their place. But as The Church, we are not here to fix society first, but to preach Christ first – the One who alone can fix society by raising dead souls to life and reconciling lost sinners to God the Father through His own blood.

Jesus did indeed, heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils. But when doing those things prevented Him from preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, He left them off to go and preach.

Father, help us to keep YOUR priorities in our generation as well. That Christ might be all in all.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #67 July 3 / Deputies of Disputation?

July 3rd, 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.

We’ve visited this issue before, and because the Word takes us there repeatedly, we will no doubt go there again – grumbling. It seems to be a national pass-time right now. Even among Christians. If we didn’t have the economy, politics, sports (or the lack thereof), the Corona virus or the public responses to it – I wonder if we’d have anything to talk – or post – about. Many of us seem to have more in common with Oscar the Grouch than with David the Worshiper. A bit more on that today on Through the Word in 2020 – I’m Reid Ferguson.

1 Chronicles 9:35–11:47; Philippians 2:12–18; Luke 4:31–37 are the passages before us today. And it is Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2:14-15 that rebukes my own soul today.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that 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,

Chronic complaining and behind-the-scenes murmuring is a big issue in Scripture. Over 30 times it is cited as something which God has a low tolerance for – and that, in both testaments. And it is always cited in the context of God’s people being the grumblers. None of us have been deputized to be relentless disputers.

We need to note first here that grumbling is not located in simply saying “ouch” when something hurts, or making our distresses known. That’s legitimate.

Chronic grumbling eventually crosses over into accusing God of mistreatment in our difficulties. We look at our providential circumstances, and rather than acknowledging God’s goodness in the midst of these providences, however negative they may be – we leave that aspect missing. Then we enter that realm, accusing Him. Overtly or by implication. And we enter the most dangerous of territories.

But note well how grumbling over God’s providences and appointments, connects with disputing with others. For when we are irritated, we are irritated. It is like listening to the radio – if you turn the volume up or down on any one channel, you turn it up or down on all of them. So it is when we allow ourselves to be agitated toward either God or man, we will usually, in some capacity, also be irritated with the other. They are always linked. And in all honesty, most of our disputes with men arise out of our discontent with God’s arrangements in bringing them and their brokenness into our lives.

We want Him to bring us nice people. People we like. People we agree with and they with us. People who demand nothing of us and who enhance our lives. People who share our likes and dislikes, as well as our views on everything from theology to politics to movies and pass times.

When we are most enraged at others, it is good to stop and ask if we are not also enraged at God for having to endure them. And perhaps, when we stop to consider them in that light, we will also stop and pray for them, rather than simply contend with them, or chafe at them.

For where does our text call us to do all things without grumbling or disputing? “In the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” When we abandon grumbling in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation – there – we shine as lights in the world. And it is at this point we cease to be salt and light as we were called to by Jesus if we take up grumbling.

There is nothing wrong with acknowledging wrong. There is something wrong about living there. Carrying the low-grade fever of underlying irritation. There is something seriously wrong – with grumbling. It extinguishes our light.

Consider that today Christian.

God willing, we’ll be back Monday.