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Through the Word in 2020 – May 22 / Memorial Day

May 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.

In the US, this is the Friday before Memorial Day. Following the Civil War, it began as Decoration Day. A time to remember those who have served in our military and died in that service. In 1971 it became an official holiday. That such remembrances are fitting needs no explanation. All of us who live in the freedoms we presently enjoy find it simply right.

Many will remember by name those who have given their lives for this nation. Family members or friends, even if no one else remembers them individually. And it strikes me as providential that in today’s reading in 2 Samuel, we have a memorial chapter honoring those heroes in David’s ancient army. Let’s pause and think on that for a minute.

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

Circumstances prevented me from visiting with you yesterday. Those readings were 2 Samuel 19:16–23:7; 2 Corinthians 10:1–11:15; Psalm 92; Mark 12:1–17. Today they are followed with 2 Samuel 23:8-24:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 and Mark 12:18-27. And since Monday is Memorial Day – we won’t be together then – but please do continue to read the assigned portions on your own.

As one reads the list of names in 2 Sam. 23 -very few of them are familiar to us. They served. They fought. They performed great exploits in defending God’s earthly Kingdom. And here, they are memorialized. Perhaps forgotten by men, but never by God. Our service for the cause of Christ is never forgotten by Him. Each one who is known to Christ as His own, have their names written in what Revelation 21:27 calls “the Lamb’s book of life.” Memorialized by God for eternity.

The Church has had many heroes of the Faith throughout the centuries – early names like those of the Apostles, or later luminaries. Augustine, Athanasius, Justin Martyr and many others come to mind. And then those at later epochal moments like Martin Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Whitefield, Edwards and the like. Or from our more recent past, Spurgeon, Ryle, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones – and some contemporaries too.

But the truth is, for each of these, there are multiplied thousands, whose names we’ve never heard – in every generation who are true heroes of the Faith. Those who in the rigors, woes and challenges of everyday life in every generation and under all sorts of adverse circumstances served Christ faithfully.

Who prayed for their children. Nursed their afflicted loved ones. Carried cheerfully on in widowhood, disability, loneliness and childlessness. Having suffered abuse, abandonment, hardship and adversity of every kind. But in it all they sought Christ. They longed to know Him, serve Him, love Him and make Him known. They quietly and secretly pursued growth in grace. They lived in their sphere to honor Him in all things. Unknown. Unrecognized. Unsung. And yet eternally memorialized by their King.

One wag, once trying to exacerbate a rift between Whitefield and John Wesley asked Whitefield if he would see Wesley in Heaven. “No sir,” he replied; “I fear not. He will be so near the throne and we shall be at such a distance, that we shall hardly get a sight of him.” And so it will be with so many I have just cataloged above. These faithful saints who silently, courageously, faithfully and hidden from public view fought the fiercest battles on the forsaken front lines of keeping the faith alive where they were. Despite loneliness, fear, weakness and doubt. Lone candles in deep darkness. Maintaining Gospel light by their lives, lived for Christ.

Let us remember them this weekend along with our civil heroes. And pray for the day when we can glory in their reward in Christ with them at the resurrection.

Let that soak into your soul today lonely Christian. Your God, has not forgotten you any more than He has each of them.

God will bless, and God willing, we’ll be back next Tuesday.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 20 / Running like Ahimaaz

May 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.

One of the most misunderstood concepts among Christians, is the difference between faith, and presumption. So in Ps. 19 David prays that he might be prevented from “presumptuous sins.” What does that look like and how do we get there from today’s readings?

You’re listening to Through the Word in 2020. And I’m your host – Reid Ferguson.

2 Samuel 18:1-19:15; Mark 11:26-33 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 are our selections for today. But it is the running style of a man named Ahimaaz in 2 Samuel that catches my eye – and a simple statement with an awful lot of theological importance when it comes to the practical reality of living the Christian life.

Ahimaaz is a relatively obscure character. His name only appears a few times. The son of Zadok, the high priest, he is portrayed as loyal to David during two attempted coups. In today’s passage he is noted as one of a pool of men who accompanied armies into battle. These men apparently had a talent for running great distances – and before the advent of communications technology, were used to carry messages back and forth from the front lines. Today – it was with the news that the attempted overthrow of David by his son Absalom had failed, and the battle – which tragically took 20,000 lives – was over.

As David awaited news from the front lines, his watchman sees first one runner then another on their way back. Then he makes this seemingly innocuous observation: “I think the running of the first is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok.” Just what was so distinctive about his running style we aren’t told. But it was something which others could readily see and identify.

Whether we know it or not, we are all known by how we “run” too. Or don’t run.

In 1 Corinthians 9 the apostle Paul asks rhetorically – “Do you not know that in a race all runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” And here, is where these 2 passages play off of one another. Where a question of real importance is raised: Are you and I “running” in the race toward Heaven, in any recognizable way? Or do we presume on the grace of God – so that there is no deliberateness in the way we live – marking us out from from those who do not believe at all?

Can anyone look at us and say: “They run like they are striving for the prize?” If not, we may have crossed over from faith – which is believing God’s Word and ordering our lives accordingly – to presumption; which incorrectly relies on the the promises of God while failing to take the admonitions of Scripture seriously.

So it is Hebrews 12:1 reminds us:

Therefore, 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,

The Christian life beloved is not a spectator sport. If we are not running so as to obtain what God has laid before us as important to strive after – it’s no wonder no one takes notice.

May the Lord be pleased to goad our hearts again into action if we’ve grown lazy in Christ, haphazard, or maybe even dropped out of the race altogether. Take a page from the obscure Ahimaaz. Seek to run toward Heaven in such a way – that even the most obscure among us, can be recognized for that.

And if we’ve sensed some loss in this – then let us cry with David in Psalm 119:32 – “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart.”

Heavenly Father – enlarge our hearts once more.

Let that challenge your soul today Christian.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 19 / Living in “The Shadow”

May 19th, 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.

Psalm 91 is one of the most comforting and reassuring of the Psalms. Many hold that it was penned by David after the severe chastening he had brought on Israel when against God’s command, he numbered the people in 2 Sam.

Regardless of the specific occasion, what overflows from it is the way God loves to make promises to those who put their trust in Him. How He delights to reassure and comfort us when we run to Him as our shelter in times of trouble. And the reality that we would spare ourselves terrible seasons of anxiety if we would just take Him at His word. In other words – if we would live by faith.

More on that in a moment in today’s edition of Through the Word in 2020 – I’m Reid Ferguson. Thank you for joining us.

2 Samuel 15:13-17:29; Mark 11:20-25; 2 Corinthians 9:1-5 and Psalm 91 form our reading assignment for today. And they are each rich portions indeed.

Psalm 91 is neatly arranged into 4 major sections.

Vs.1 Contains: The Announcement

Those who “dwell”, not just visit from time to time but make it their business to live in the shelter of The Most High – will abide – will continuously know what it is like to live under His protection. In other words, nearness to Him brings safety.

Now the great assumption of this passage, and what is behind this announcement, is that we NEED “shelter”. That we instinctively know something is horribly wrong in the universe. And that left to ourselves, without shelter – we will all be cosmic victims.

V2 Then is: The Response

If what is announced in vs. 1 is true – then by golly I will respond to the Lord by calling Him my personal refuge; the fortress where I will live; and my God. But not just my God in name only – but my God in “whom I trust.” You see, apart from actually trusting Him, merely calling Him my God does nothing. Faith must exercise trust in the One it looks to.

Vss. 3-13 detail The Explanation of why this way of living makes sense.

To be exceedingly brief – there are two issues we face which cry out for the shelter announced to us in verse 1. Two things from which we need deliverance above all others:

a. There is a “fowler” – an enemy out there – an “evil one” who seeks our destruction. Who sets traps for us. A cosmic reality we oft times forget.

b. “Deadly pestilence” – which v. 8 defines as the “recompense” or reward of the wicked. i.e. God’s judgment on our sin. The ravages that the Fall has brought into this world. War, disease, death, violence, wickedness of every kind – natural disasters and more.

To those who trust in the Lord, while these remain realities, there are new dimensions to consider:

He covers us in it all. He remains faithful.

We need not fear the terror of the night – the unknown, nor the things which we can see that are harmful in plain sight.

While thousands all around us are consumed by these circumstances – the real damage they could do – to our souls – will not come near us. We’ll see it all for what it really is – the recompense for sin on the World – sin we’ve been forgiven of and justified from through the blood of Christ.

He even attends us with the invisible and imperceptible protection of the angelic host. And a final victory over it all is assured. Even the devil himself will one day be trampled under our feet.

Vss. 14-16 give us reassurance of all this in God’s Personal Promises

And once again, here is the nature of true faith: Trusting Him.

Listen to these 7 precious promises that fall from the lips of our God. Believe them. Look to Him. Trust him. Seek Him.

To those who look to the Lord as their refuge from a universe gone askew due to sin:

1. There WILL be God’s personal deliverance. His Kingdom WILL come.

2. There will be protection for our souls until that day comes. Jude 24

3. We will live in a state of knowing our prayers are heard and answered.

4. We will know His presence with us in every trial.

5. We will be rescued from His day of wrath that will come upon the whole world due to sin.

6. God Himself will “honor” those who trust in Him. Amazing! What must it be to have our God bestow honor upon us?

7. Eternal life – with the utmost of satisfaction in being allowed to delve into the mystery of God’s salvation. A vision of the secrets of His heart that are so overwhelming and glorious – we could never want for anything more.

Let that soak into your soul today Christian.

And trust Him.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 18 / The Devised Means of the Cross

May 18th, 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.

King David is by far the most prominent type and shadow of the coming Christ the Old Testament has to offer.

To be sure, there are others – each in their own way: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Daniel – even Solomon. Each in their finest attributes reflects something of the perfections of Jesus – the God/man. And each also fails greatly. This is true for David as well. Scripture is brutally honest with David’s sins. And nowhere do those sins come more to light than in our last look at 2 Samuel and today’s in 12:26-15:12

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But we learn by the negative as well as the positives – and today – the essence of the Gospel comes to light even in one of the sorriest accounts in the life of David.

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

Along with our reading in 2 Samuel today, we also have Mark 11:12-19 and 2 Corinthians 8. But as you’ve no doubt guessed, it is 2 Samuel that is our focus today.

The account of David, his 2 half-brother sons Amnon and Absalom and David’s daughter Tamar is tragic on so many levels. Incest. Rape. Failed justice. Fratricide. Alienation. Betrayal. And the stunning failure of David as a father in his own household – precipitating and aggravating it all.

Amnon has little if any self or impulse control, resulting in his raping his half-sister Tamar. But as 13:21 notes, “When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.” But he did nothing. Nothing. Not as King. Not as Amnon’s father. Not as Tamar’s father. Nothing.

Absalom waits “two full years” for something to be done. And still nothing. Till at last he takes matters into his own hands and executes Amnon. Still David does nothing. And 3 more years pass with Absalom in a self-imposed exile. Until Joab, David’s general steps in with a plot to reunite David and Absalom.

Joab locates a wise woman and gets her to tell a parable to David that addresses the principles of his estrangement from his son – and at last David sees it, and sends for Absalom to come home. Sort of. For the text tells us David sent to have Absalom come home, but would not let him back into his own presence. He lived nearby, but they had no restoration of their relationship. And here is where we find the key verse and principle in it all.

It comes from the lips of the “wise woman” – and it shows us how Gospel reconciliation in grace through Christ does what David’s pitiful half-forgiveness completely failed to do:

2 Samuel 14:14 ESV “We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.”

We all bear our guilt and the sentence of death because of our sin.

And the undoing of our sin is so complete, worse than Humpty-Dumpty – like spilled water, we can never be regathered and restored.

“But God.” But God, will not let that situation remain. “He devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.”

And what is that divinely devised means? Nothing other than the Cross, and the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. So that all who put their faith in His death for their sins, do not have some half-peace or tenuous reconciliation to God – but no longer remain outcasts. We are brought back into His presence – Christ having led the way for us. Having paid for our sin. His blood cleansing us from every stain of sin. And reconciling us fully to the Father, that we may dwell with Him – in His house – forever.

Such is the good news of the Gospel.

Let that soak into your soul today beloved.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 15 / What Miracles Really Mean

May 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.

Virtually all of the miracles done by Jesus during His earthly ministry – speak to some aspect of how sin has affected us. And then, in those miracles, we also see how it is Jesus is the sufficient Savior for all that sin has ruined.

We’ll look at that a bit more closely in this account of Jesus healing a blind man named Bartimaeus. That record is found in today’s reading in the Gospel of Mark which includes – 10:46-11:22. I’m Reid Ferguson, and this is Through the Word in 2020.

Along with the portion I’ve already cited in the Gospel of Mark, we’re also scheduled to read: 2 Samuel 10:1-12:25; 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 and Psalm 90.

The miracles of Jesus prove to be of little benefit to you and me, unless we really take in what is being communicated by them. And that is far more, indeed, far more important than any healing an individual might have been graciously blessed with.

Sin, is complicated. And pernicious. It doesn’t just make us guilty before God, it has tangible devastating effects in our entire being: Body, soul and mind.

So it is there are a number of categories of miracles Jesus performed – all opening up to us the horror of sin, and the glory of Christ’s triumph over it.

There were Miracles of Provision – like turning the water into wine at Cana or feeding the 5,000.

In them, we see how sin has bankrupted us from the knowledge of Christ being God’s sufficiency for our eternal joy and satisfaction. Jesus’ provides Himself as the very Bread of Life.

Then there were Miracles of Healing like the one before us today that shows how sin blinds us to the truth about God, life, Creation, sin and salvation. In all the healing miracles, we see how our entire constitution is ravaged by sin. And how that affects all ages, and appears on the surface in greater and lesser degrees

Sin is incurable, infectious and fatal – apart from Christ.

He performed miracles which demonstrated His authority over the powers of darkness, binding demons and casting them out.

There were Miracles of His Person – how He walked on water and supernaturally evaded His enemies before His time to die on the Cross.

Miracles over Nature – Withering the fig tree and stilling the storms. And more.

But it is the healing of blind Bartimaeus that captures my attention today.

You see, there comes a time, especially to those who were born physically blind, they come to realize that even though they cannot – others can see. Others have an experience and a faculty they do not. Blindness is not such a thing that one cannot know that they are blind.

And spiritually, when the spiritually blind are around those who CAN see, they get it. They get that these people see something they do not. And it is then they are ready for the touch of the Savior. Then, that they are ready for salvation.

No doubt there are some listening to me right now for whom this rings very true.

So let me ask – do you know that you are blind? When you hear others talk about God, the Word, the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ dying for sins, do you recognize that you have no firsthand knowledge of this, but only what you hear them say? That you do not see these for yourself?

Then now is the time to take your cue from blind Bartimaeus and cry to Jesus as he did: “Son of David, have mercy upon me!”

And if you tell Him you desire to recover your sight, He will heal you. And you will see Him. You will know Him.

Let that soak into your soul today friend.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll see you Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 14 / All of Grace

May 14th, 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.

Orphaned. Abandoned. Disabled. And grandson to David’s fiercest enemy – Saul. And yet greatly loved for the sake of another – his father Jonathan. Few Old Testament figures so perfectly typify the reality of the Believer as does the case of Mephibosheth. We’ll look at that a bit more today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m your host Reid Ferguson. Thanks for joining us today.

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Mark 10:35-45 and 2 Samuel 7-9 make up our reading block for today. Each could be an episode or more on its own – but our focus today will be on chapter 9 of 2 Samuel and the interesting picture of grace in the life of this man, Mephibosheth.

Chapter 4 tells us this man was only 5 years old the day his father and grandfather both died in battle. Fearing the defeat might spill over and their lives be in danger too – his nurse grabbed him to flee to safety. In her haste, she fell and both of his feet were damaged. He was disabled the rest of his life.

Our narrative picks up no less than 7 years after that event – and possibly a good many more. Regardless, a number of the details powerfully portray the nature of God’s saving grace.

Sin brought about Saul’s and Israel’s defeat – just as sin brought about Adam’s and the defeat of all of those in him – you and me.

Saul’s defeat resulted in his grandson’s being permanently disabled and unable to walk rightly from his tenderest years through the rest of his life. In Adam’s fall, came ours too. And we, from our earliest years cannot walk uprightly before our God.

King David remembers well his love for his dear friend Jonathan – Mephibosheth’s father – and seeks to bless his offspring in his name. He blesses him because of his love for Jonathan. And so it is we are greatly beloved of God and He seeks to bless us on behalf of another – even Jesus Christ who died in our place and for our sin.

Mephibosheth appears trembling before the king with nothing to commend him but his relationship to Jonathan. Permanently and completely disabled – he can offer nothing to the King. And we appear before our king with nothing to commend us but our union with Jesus Christ through faith. We must depend upon His grace completely.

Mephibosheth is not only received by King David, but is greatly loved by him, and given a place at his royal table throughout all his days. And we, who come in Christ, are so greatly loved, and seated with Christ Jesus in the heavenly places. We are to dine with Him and eat at His table eternally.

Mephibosheth will fail David later – probably through the deceit of a man named Ziba. But David spares him being unwilling to ever break his oath – his promises and his love for Jonathan (21:7) And we too, at times fail our gracious King through the deceit of the Devil, the World, and even our own flesh. But because He is faithful to all His promises – and because of His great love for us – we are spared and restored.

How the Gospel comes alive in this Old Testament narrative. And how we modern Mephibosheths of today – need to remember that our salvation is all of grace, all of grace, all of grace.

All praise to our glorious Christ and King.

If our salvation depended upon our lame selves – we would be lost forever. But it is the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ that delivers us from death – and brings us into the Royal family – secure in Him.

Let that soak into your soul today Christian.

God bless, and God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 13 – A Faithful God

May 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.

Here is a thought to engage everyone of us – what of God’s steadfast love do we make known in such a way that the generations after us will hear of it?

The thought makes me want to pray: Lord, allow my legacy to be that those who come after me, for as long as Christ tarries, will hear of your goodness in the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ until His appearing. Let me leave that to them that they might be saved, and your glory made known.

That and more as we consider Psalm 89 today.

Mark 10:17–34; 2 Corinthians 5:1–6:13; 2 Samuel 5–6 and Psalm 89 round out our readings for today.

As Psalm 89 progresses, watch how it begins contemplating God’s promises to David (and thus to His Kingdom) and how David in person does not see all those promises fulfilled – how One must yet come who will be THE David of whom David is but a type.

Then note how the author of this Psalm – Ethan – wrestles with how God will yet bring those promises to fruition which due to sin seem to be ruined. And how Ethan ends simply trusting that somehow, because God is faithful, all WILL yet come to pass. Whether we experience seasons which seem to contradict God’s promises or not, He will be faithful, and in time, they will come to pass. None will fail.

Now what is the device Ethan uses to encourage his own heart in this regard? As is stated elsewhere, “the heavens declare the glory of God, and day unto day utters speech”.

Here, the Psalmist reminds us that one way the created order “speaks” to us is in its amazing regularity. The sun rises and sets on its perfect schedule. The tides rise and fall. The orbit of the earth around the sun, the moon’s orbit around the earth and the earth’s rotation on its axis are all demonstrations of God’s faithfulness. How He can be counted upon to be always the same in His person and in His plans. The regular operations of the “the heavens” are undeniable testimonies of His faithfulness. Don’t let their reality just slip by you unnoticed.

When life seems random and skewed, remember that the sun will rise and set today right on time. The seasons will still come and go. A year will still be a year. Because God is running His universe. And you and I are in it.

Ethan then makes a powerful connection in reasoning this all out. He records God’s words: Even if the King’s children “forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules, if they violate my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I WILL punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but I will NOT remove from Him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness. I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that went forth from my lips. Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David. His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies.” Selah.” Vss. 30-37

Why will you endure Christian? Not because of your great faithfulness, but because of His. And Because Christ Jesus is your King to whom all these promises are sworn. If He is your King – all of this is divinely and eternally secure, and cannot be broken.

Let that soak into your soul today weary Christian. Christ is on His throne, and you are His.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 12 / Suffering and Meaning

May 12th, 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.

Suffering without meaning is what brings about despair. The human psyche seems to need to attach meaning to our suffering in order for us to endure it. And for the Christian – God supplies us with reasons to never despair, but to know that all of our suffering – no matter the source or cause, is NEVER meaningless.

We’ll look at that a bit more today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson – welcome.

Today we’re reading Mark 10:13–16; 2 Corinthians 4:7–18 and 2 Samuel 2:12–4:12

But it is the passage in 2 Corinthians that speaks directly to the issue of suffering in the Christian life.

Quite frankly, the portrait of the Christian life given in vss. 7-12 is so foreign to our Americanized Western Christianity as to be as unrecognizable as it is most often rejected out of hand. The picture painted is of a people constantly or at least repeatedly brought to the end of themselves by circumstances of every kind. But the text doesn’t stop there. There is a wonderful little word in the Greek that shows up more than 600 times in the New Testament. It’s often the very point of a passage. It’s usually rendered “SO THAT”, or “TO”. In other words, it helps us understand the author’s conclusion.

How does that work in regard to suffering?

Like this: Christians have a “treasure” within us. Vs. 6 says this treasure is “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

God has so designed the Believer and life, that in order for that glory to be made known to the World through us – He has made us very brittle creatures. SO THAT – “the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” Power for what? To live in joy and peace, even in the midst of unexplained and continued suffering. So that His supernatural sustaining power might be demonstrated through us – IN us.

While we live in these bodies, we are always being given over to circumstances which would seem to destroy us – and by means of it – He brings others to life. It is beyond our comprehension. But Dear Saint, you who have been tested and tried and who have thought that it must mean God has abandoned you or is hanging you out to dry for some unknown reason – listen to this passage. Ease, success, plenty and no adversity are not the presupposed norms of the Christian life. It’s just the opposite. And those who would tell you different, are not reliable. They don’t get it.

You in Christ who are standing today in the midst of severe trial, and know full well that you are not doing it by means of even the smallest ability of your own – He is manifesting Himself to the rest of us – in your mortal flesh.

And we experience these things not only in terms of deliberate persecution, but also in the simple trials of life: The breakdown of our bodies; sinful and hurtful human interaction; our battles with indwelling sin; natural disasters – like Covid-19, tsunamis, earthquakes, floods and the like.

Each of these individually and collectively trouble us but do not utterly destroy us. Because it is our great God’s intent to make Himself known through the impossible way we endure – trusting and rejoicing in Him.

Yes, we are afflicted in “every way” the text says, but not crushed. Yes, it is confusing and we are often perplexed, but NOT driven to despair. We may be persecuted, but He never forsakes us. We might even be smashed to the ground by circumstances – but we cannot be destroyed – because the very life of Christ remains in us. We are outwardly given over to death every day. But it is that the miracle of our survival will make Christ known.

Let that soak into your soul today suffering saint.

God bless, and God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 – May 11 / Sins That Find us Out

May 11th, 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 was in my early 20’s and singing with a Gospel Quartet. We had been engaged to sing at a 3-day a cross-denominational gathering at a local college. The guest speaker was Bruce W. Thielman – at the time from Grove City College. I had never heard of him before. And he preached on our passage today from 2 Samuel 1. I’ve never forgotten it, and never will.

We’ll look at that a bit closer today. I’m Reid Ferguson and we’re glad you’ve joined us today as we are going Through the Word in 2020.

Our 4 reading selections today are 2 Corinthians 4:1–6; Mark 10:1–12; 1 Samuel 31–2 Samuel 2:11 and Psalm 88

As I mentioned, I want to look at the death of King Saul as recorded in 1 Samuel 1.

This is a great example of learning where we need to be careful readers, connecting up passages that shed light on each other, and seeing how the Scripture also makes its own application in places.

In the first case, as Dr. Thielman preached, he made the connection with vs. 14 where the man who claimed to have finally ended Saul’s life and brought David Saul’s crown, identified himself as an Amalekite. Why was that significant? Because back in 1 Samuel 15, God had pronounced judgment on the Amalekites for their previous sins – and commissioned Saul to wipe them out completely. Something he failed to do.

In fact, it was Saul’s sin of rebelling against God’s commands regarding the Amalekites that precipitates his losing the Kingdom. So it is 1 Samuel 15:23 reads:

1 Samuel 15:23 ESV

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”

And what of the application then? That goes back to God’s warnings to His people in Numbers 32:23

Numbers 32:23 ESV

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out.

Unrepentant sin does not go unaddressed. Eventually, it will not just be found out – as the text says it will find US out. It will reveal who we really are regardless of what we profess.

In Saul’s case, what he refused to do years earlier, finds him destroyed at the hands of the very ones he had been sent to destroy.

And it gives us great pause to think about our own sins.

There is the reality that we cannot treat our sin lightly. Often, by our sins, we set into motion things which will later find us out. And let no one be deceived that somehow they can claim to follow Christ – as Saul claimed to obey God, and not reckon with their sin, but justify it and keep it under cover. Your sin, my sin, will find us out if it is not dealt with.

Saul might have repented of his rebellion and gone back to deal with the Amalekites properly. The affair wasn’t over yet. There was time. He could still end well even if his successor had already been chosen. But the appearance of this young man who ended up beheading Saul demonstrates he didn’t. He let it go. And in the end, it was his undoing.

How desperately our need for a Savior appears in the light of such passages. How amazing His forgiveness is. How merciful He is. How patient and longsuffering with us. How glorious the blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin. The working of His Spirit to bring us to repentance. The promise of His receiving us when we come and confess and forsake our sin – though we still struggle with it at times.

Don’t justify your sin beloved – bring it to Him.

Let that soak into your soul today.

God bless. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Mother’s Day 2020 and Covid-19 / A Poem

May 10th, 2020

It’s Mother’s Day again this year
An odd one – all agree
For most will have to rest content
To visit “technically”

It doesn’t mean we love you less
Tho this year – from afar
We’ll see you on our screens and such
Or drive by in a car

We’ll have to wait a little while
To hug you on the neck
To feel your warm embrace again
And give your cheek a peck

But then again you’ll finally get
To see your dream come true
At last we have all washed our hands
Like you always told us to

We’ve never been so soil free
Each face securely masked
By law we cover all our coughs
Just like you always asked

We stay about six feet apart
So we no longer hear
“Stop bothering your sister”
Or, “Don’t put that in his ear!”

The President and other minds
Blame China for this mess
But my suspicions cast an eye
On Mothers – I confess

I think this was plot by Moms
To finally get their way
To us make do by law, the things
We’ve scorned until today

A virus! Hah! There’s no such thing
An evil scheme it is
To wash our hands incessantly
And avoid those “certain” kids

I get it now, it’s all so clear
The ultimate control
The pow’r to ruin all our fun
I’m sure now, that’s the goal!

To rob us of our right to germs
To sickness and disease
To make us read, play games at home
Enslave us by degrees!

I’m sure we’ll never know the truth
Behind this global plot
If Mom’s are really all to blame
If they wanted what they got

We’ll chalk it up a win for you
You figured out a way
To keep the good kids close at hand
And bad ones kept at bay

That’s pretty clever I’ll concede
You’re smarter than we thought
“Just blame it on the virus”
That’s the bill of goods we’ve bought

But then again, it might be true
You had no hand in this
Some other powers were at work
My suspicions are amiss

And if that’s so, I’m left to this –
There’s but one thing to say
Thank you Moms – for loving us
And have a happy Mother’s Day