Tag: Margin Notes

Through the Word in 2020 – Aug. 19 / Gold in the dark mines of Job

August 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.

By all accounts, Job is a tough book to read. Its poetry is sometimes quite dense. And the subject matter itself is unpleasant: unexplained, deep and long term suffering. Many a reader chooses not to wade all the way through it. It’s harrowing. And the repetition – which perfectly mimics the way we turn unanswered questions over and over in our minds when suffering – make us uncomfortable. We find ourselves crying out with Job: “when will it end?” But there are great riches in the dark mines of Job.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and we’ll talk about that a bit today on Through the Word in 2020.

I am grateful that 2 of our passages today 2 Timothy 1:1–2 and Luke 11:33–36 are brief, in that tackling Job 3–8 is a lot.

But let’s go back and set the stage from Ch. 1, where we are introduced to the righteous and prosperous Job. Then – devastating loss. His flocks, his 10 children, and even his health is severely attacked. One cannot read those passages without feeling the enormity of his grief.

But the grief of his losses are nothing compared to what they generate internally. Without answers, Job (like us) is left with no “ease”. He remains uneasy. He cannot rest. Nor can he be quiet. His heart and mind are in constant upheaval. All this trouble rushes in upon him over and over like gigantic, random waves. Grief is a heavy load. That it is even recorded for us here in this way, is proof that our God knows what it is we suffer. He is so good.

Then Job’s three friends arrive. Make no mistake, these men really were his friends. They were not enemies in disguise. It’s what makes the painful discussions which follow all the more difficult for Job. He knows these men. They fellowshipped and served God together. They are not coming to hurt him, they love him and want to help him. But in their failure to understand the real situation, and in their very narrowly constructed theology – they end up pummeling him with their words like a thousand sledgehammers. It is unbearable to read in places.

One’s mind reflects back on the circumstances of Horatio Spafford – the author of “It Is Well With My Soul”.

Born Troy NY in 1828, Horatio became a successful lawyer. He marries Anna, only to have their first son die at the age of 4. The next year, he lost most of his investments in the Chicago fire. Friends of D. L. Moody and needing a break – he decides on a family vacation to Europe and to meet up with Moody while he was preaching there. Delayed by business, he sent his wife and 4 daughters on ahead of him: eleven-year-old “Annie”, Margaret Lee 9, five-year-old “Bessie”, and Tanetta, 2. However, their ship was struck by another and sunk in Nov. 1873. 226 died. Including Spafford’s 4 daughters. His wife Anna sent a simple, devastating wire: “Saved alone”. Later, sailing over the spot of that shipwreck Spafford pens the now famous lyrics to “It Is Well.”

But it didn’t end there. The Spaffords went on to have 3 more children. Of those, their 2nd son dies at the age four. Then, as though this much grief is just too much, their church, like Job’s 3 friends, declares they must be suffering under some sort of divine judgment – and they are asked to leave lest this infect them all. They leave, moving to Jerusalem to set up humanitarian works. And only a few years later, Horatio dies at 60 of malaria.

Is it any wonder then that Job’s opening lament in chapter 3 can be summarized in very few words? It is a brief, anguished cry:

“I wish I had never been born. Life is pain.”

Job was not the first to have been there, and certainly not the last. And if this where were the account ended, we would be at a total loss. But it is not. God will still be seen in His glory. And our dear friend Job will come to live life again – because of the faithful love of our Living God.

And you my suffering friend in Christ – will too.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #98 – Aug. 18 / The Devil is in the Distractions

August 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.

It was a beautiful clear day, early in the morning with very little traffic. I was behind another car driving down a main thoroughfare at maybe 30-35 miles per hour. With no other cars in sight – at first – the car in front of me began to cross left over the double solid yellow lines. It was then I saw the car coming the other way. But it was too late. In a moment’s time, the car I had been behind struck the car in the oncoming lane head on.

The driver in the car I was behind was unconscious and badly injured. The elderly couple in the car he struck were in very bad shape. The husband died .

And why all this tragedy? Distraction. The driver I was behind, had dropped something on the floor and was trying to recover it, causing him to drift into oncoming traffic and taking the life of another.

Of all the weapons in the arsenal of the Enemy of our souls it is this one which I find most deadly – distraction.

More on that today as we look at Esther 10–Job 2; Luke 11:27–32 and especially 1 Timothy 6:3–21 on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

In this letter to Timothy, Paul had warned his young charge over and over to avoid and disentangle himself from any number of things which would do harm both to his soul, and those he was to minister to.

We can’t go back and list all that Paul warned him about here, but when get down to today’s portion, with its particular emphasis on not getting wrapped up in chasing material prosperity, he summarizes all of the previous issues he’d addressed. And Paul puts it this way: As for you man of God, FLEE these things!

But his exhortation isn’t just “stop doing X”. It is much more powerful than that. For the rest of vs. 11 goes on “PURSUE!” In other words, one can’t just stop being drawn off after the things of the World without a clear alternate direction. We never stop sinning in a vacuum but need to practice the opposite righteousness as the very means to do so.

We could well read it like this: “Flee these things BY pursuing these other things.” It is redirection. Refocus.

The Enemy of our souls as denominated in Eph. 2:2 has an incessant and ever increasing influence over the world in general, to keep all people – but especially those in Christ, diverted from what is essential, eternal and spiritual by a strategy of 24/7 bombardment of distractions. Some legitimate, some not. But all aimed at keeping us from what Paul outlines here.

So, what are we being diverted from? What are we to be giving ourselves to pursue in fleeing from all these distractions? 6 things.

Righteousness. Growing in the character of Christ while looking to the Holy Spirit to bring it to life in us.

Godliness. Devoutness in following Christ. Earnestly seeking out what pleases Him most.

Faith. Intentionally trusting God’s character, promises and Word. Looking to Him increasingly.

Love. Searching out His glories more so that I love Him more – with a love that then overflows to others.

Steadfastness. Patiently enduring stress and distress while trusting His care for us. Not running to other places for the comfort that is found in Him alone.

Gentleness. Refusing to buy into the anger and angst driven atmosphere of the day. Learning to be meek and mild in the face of a raging society.

These, are what Satan wishes to distract us from as our focus. And it is in the pursuit of these, that we end up fleeing materialism, false doctrine and “an unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions and constant friction.”

Sounds like a plan to me.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #97 – Aug. 17 / Light from the Shadows

August 17th, 2020

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

Some days – like today, our readings are so full and rich, choosing which to meditate on seems impossible.

Key instructions on how the Church and ministers are to be ordered in 1 Timothy 4:6–6:2. A plea for inward transformation so as to live pleasing to God in Psalm 119:33–40. Jesus’ exposing the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders of His day while manifesting His kingdom in Luke 11:14–26, And then this exciting account of the Jews in captivity in Esther 6:14–9:32. Each deserves so much attention.

But I’d like to suggest to you that what we have in Esther is one of the most sweeping overviews of the story of salvation – why we need it and how it was accomplished – to be found anywhere in the Bible. It is an amazing picture painted for us in the real life events of that small but powerful book. You could almost see it as a play in 6 acts.

Consider these amazing parallels to redemptive history in terms of some types and shadows. Indulge my imagination a bit. Remember, these are just shadows. Hints at the realities.

Think of King Ahasuerus as the God type figure.

Queen Vashti as representing humanity back in the Garden, before the Fall.

The Banquet as the scene in Eden – Man created to reflect the glory of God. A rightful display of created beauty.

Then Vashti’s refusal as mankind refusing to remain in our created glory.

Council = The Human response to sin. We make laws and commands to reign in all. An attempt to produce righteousness by mere rote obedience.

Mordecai enters as a Christ figure. In the likeness of fallen man, as a Jew in captivity because of our collective sin.

Esther then takes on the cast of the New man / The Bride and Queen in Christ. The redeemed.

Haman is easily the Satan figure

And Haman’s plot is what Satan’s has always been, an attempt to destroy God’s “Queen” for personal vanity.

Haman’s “decree.” Satan uses God’s own law to condemns us. Even though we are now married to the King.

In Esther’s time of prayer and fasting we see how we are to seek the Lord’s judgment on the enemy. We cannot do it ourselves.

Then the King makes a decree which unfolds how grace overrides the Law without repealing it. The heart of the book and redemption is found here. It is the most profound, graphic illustration of
Romans 8:2 – “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

Haman’s death portends Satan’s defeat.

The Jew’s response to the new law shows our part in the destruction of the enemy and his machinations. That not only is Satan defeated, all that he has set in motion is also reversed.

And as the Jews gain victory but take none of the spoils, so in Christ, we gain the victory over Satan and sin, but not to obtain any of this World’s goods – but to have an eternal inheritance in the heavenlies.

So here’s a summary:

Act 1 – Ch. 1-2 / The Fall. Adam in rebellion, and a new “bride” sought. The Church secured.

Act 2 – Ch. 3-5 / The jealousy and evil opposition of Satan. And Christ’s interposition in and through His saints.

Act 3 – Ch. 6 / The exaltation of Christ and the humiliation of Satan.

Act 4 – Ch. 7 / Satan trampled underneath the feet of the Church.

Act 5 – Ch. 8-9 / The triumph of grace over the Law.

Act 6 – Ch. 10 / The glory of Christ in the history of man, and His love and intercession for His people.

Muse on that all a bit today.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #96 – Aug. 14 / Getting in Tune

August 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.

I don’t know if you play an instrument, but even if not, you probably know every instrument needs to be tuned. Be it a bassoon, a recorder a french horn or a piano – every instrument needs tuning. Even drums need to be tuned believe it or not. And for stringed instruments like a guitar, getting all six strings tuned first to a single note like from a tuning fork or some other source – and then to each other to get them all working in harmony and in right relationship. Then, the music can be played and heard as it ought to be. But did you know our souls as instruments in the Master’s hands need to be tuned too? I’m Reid Ferguson and we’ll talk about that today on Through the Word in 2020.

We’re looking at 3 texts today: Esther 3–6; 1 Timothy 4:1–5 and Luke 11:1–13. And it is to the tuning activity of praying as Jesus taught us that strikes me afresh this morning.

No doubt you are aware that Jesus dealt with the topic of prayer in more than one place. The account in Luke is separate from the Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 6. Both address some key points almost identically. The Matthew passage being a bit more detailed. In fact, it fits neatly with my guitar simile. Jesus lays out the six strings our souls need to be re-tuned every day when He says: “Pray like this.”

1. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name: The need of Recognition and Reverence.

To begin the day recognizing who it is we pray to and will be about serving today: Your Father and Christ’s. Revel in that relationship. Let it sink in that Christ’s death has purchased this place for you. The Father will hear you as really as He will Jesus Himself. Take a moment to revere His glory.

Nothing more reveals the heart and mind of Jesus than this petition. And as His slaves – we are to be about His business – framed by His priorities. And this is HIS passion – that the universe would be restored to the place where every sentient being knows, and loves His Father even as He does.

2. Your kingdom come: Remembering that this life, this world so fraught with sin, sorrow, sickness and strife is so because we rebelled against His Lordship. And that only the return of Christ can set it to right. To cry out for that day – and to experience as much of that as possible even now through being submitted to His indwelling Spirit.

3. Your will be done: Submitting all of our requests to Him knowing His wisdom knows what is better for us than we do. Trusting He’ll answer best. And that we might be agents of service to Him as unquestioningly as the angels in heaven.

4. Give us this day: Remembering that our greatest need is Jesus, the Bread of Life broken once more to our souls – and to be completely satisfied in His provision. Remembering that all our needs are met in Him.

5. Forgive us: Acknowledging our sins so as not to become hardened to them; and receiving His grace which necessarily overflows to all those who have sinned against us with equal lavishness.

6. Lead us: We are not Jesus. We are too weak to face evil on our own. Keep us from thinking we are sufficient, when only Jesus is.

With those six strings re-tuned, you are now ready to be an instrument of praise to His glory wherever you go.

Not just to sing, but to be a “Hallelujah” chorus.

God willing, we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #95 – Aug. 13 / The “Law” of Love

August 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.

Romans 3:23 says that all of us have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But what does it mean to fall short of God’s glory? Out of today’s readings in 1 Timothy 3:8-16; Psalm 119:25-32; Nehemiah 12:44-Esther 2 and Luke 10:25-42 – Jesus’ exchange with the Lawyer in that passage gives us the most insight.

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

The Lawyer’s response in Luke is profoundly insightful. It points to the one thing which every human being is bound to – the Law of Love. The Jews were also bound to the Mosaic Law. To the things which marked them out as God’s chosen people among all the other nations.

But there is another law, one which is binding upon all mankind – the obligation to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength – and its necessary corollary – to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is what every human being is guilty of having transgressed – even those who did not sin in exactly the same way Adam did – and why death has reigned even in those who did not violate the first code – “thou shalt not eat…”

Behind every external code which may be expressed for mankind to obey, Jews or Gentiles – is this – the law of love. Nor is it a law in the same way as any external code. It is a law of “nature” if you will. It is the image we were originally created in. We were made to bear Christ’s image, who as man, truly loved the Lord with all His heart, mind, soul and strength (which is why he came and died – lovingly doing the Father’s will) and His neighbor as Himself – dying FOR US! This love is what is broken and defiled in us. This is what He is restoring in salvation.

And it is on this basis that every man will be judged. For every sin ultimately is but a defect of – this love. When we fail to love God rightly, supremely and entirely – we sin. Every sin shares this component – the failure to love God supremely. And, we cannot love men rightly, unless we first love God supremely. THIS – is what makes us “sinners.”

The manifestations of that sin are countless. But behind each and every particular manifestation – is the defect in the love we were created to live in. The failure to bear His image – the image of the God who “is love” (1 John 4:16). This is my commandment Jesus said, “that you love one another as I have loved you.” No hoops to jump through. No ceremonies to carry out. No high duties to accomplish. Take care that a full and right and consuming passion for God rules our hearts and minds – and all the rest will be accomplished by default. Fail at this, and nothing we do is worth a thing.

To love Him. To have Him as our highest prize, our chief delight, our deepest desire, our sweetest notion, our most lovely vision. To find Him more beautiful than anything. To see in Him every excellence, and to be compelled to look only at Him to the exclusion of all others. To want to know Him, be with Him, hear the music of His voice, feel His touch and smell the holy fragrance of His presence. To count knowing His heart and mind more precious than anything which can capture our imaginations or desires here. To find Him so pleasing, that nothing else can satisfy. This is to love Him in only the barest terms. Oh to study to love Him with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind and all my strength. This, is to cease from sin.

God willing Beloved, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #94 – Aug. 12 / Not getting all “wrapped” up

August 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.

I remember when my daughter was still very tiny. Her 2nd and 3rd Christmases. It was with her as it is with others of that age, that when presented with a gift, the real joy and fun was in attacking the wrapping.

The brightly colored paper and the act of ripping and tearing with abandon gave far more joy than discovering whatever was in the box. And then, she got older. And the more mature she got, the less interested in the wrapping she became, and the more focused on the gift. And then it went further – for it was the thought of who had given out of love that transcended either the wrapping or the gift. That is the progression of maturity. And it applies spiritually as well.

We’ll talk about that some today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m Reid Ferguson.

1 Timothy 3:1–7; Luke 10:17–24; Nehemiah 10:28–12:43 are before us today. And it is the report of the return of the 72 Jesus sent before Him to heal and preach the coming of the Kingdom that holds a vital lesson in maturity for Believers.

When this group ended their assignment and came back to Jesus, they were excited. Specifically, they were just over the top recounting how even the demonic spirits were subject to them in Jesus’ name.

And I don’t want to overlook the miraculous nature of that. Jesus Himself says in effect – “yeah, while you were doing that, I saw Satan himself being brought down.” It was a big deal! They were rightly amazed.

Nevertheless – Jesus begins in vs. 20 I don’t want you to be overly impressed by that. It is good and right and yes supernatural and miraculous. And yet there are some things which are to be regarded as even more wonderful than any such experiences – it is the knowledge that our names are written in Heaven. This truly deserves our awe.

3 things here to note.

First, we can be so fascinated by things supernatural and miraculous, that we can forget they are not the stuff of salvation itself. Sadly, there are many in the Church today who are enamored with signs and wonders, who forget that these are signs – not the gift itself. They are the wrapping paper that signifies something more. Maturity should move us past the wrapping. As we grow in Christ, we ought to be looking beyond the outward – no matter how spectacular.

Second, as with the disciples in this passage, so caught up with the outward wonder, we can place less value on the gift itself. “Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you” Jesus says. “Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven!”

Far more important, of inestimable value above any miracle of supernatural wonder – is that the names of redeemed sinners are written in the Lamb’s Book of life as His eternal family. This is the gift behind the wrapping. And there is no comparison between the two.

Now that is something to really contemplate. That when these two are placed side by side, miracles next to our names written in Heaven, miracles aren’t even remotely on the same scale. And maybe, we need to mature a bit here so as to begin to truly value and appreciate what the real gift is.

Lastly, we must look even beyond both of those to Whom it is that has written our names there. It is none but Christ Himself. And our names are written in His blood. This transcends all. That He so loved us, to give His life for us, that we might be registered as His for all eternity.

Oh that we would truly value the Giver above any gift – and lavish in Him.

Meditate on that a bit today beloved.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #93 – Aug. 11 / Prayer – our “last” resort?

August 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.

Have you ever heard someone say “well, there’s nothing we can do now but pray?” I have. And in its expression is a subtle inference: “we’ve exhausted all practical means, I guess all we can do is pray.” As though prayer is the last resort. We retreat to it only when everything else fails. But the Bible paints a very different portrait of prayer. It places prayer at the head of the line. For good reason. Prayer is in fact the most practical thing we can do. Unless we don’t think it really does any good. More on that today on Through the Word in 2020.

Prayer plays a central role in all 4 of our passages today. In Luke 10:13-16, Jesus’ instructions to the 72 He sends out will give way to a prayer of thanksgiving in the next few verses. Psalm 119:17-24 is part of a prayer. Nehemiah 8:1-10:27 records one of the most important prayers of confession and thanks in all of Israel’s history. And in 1 Timothy 2, Paul instructs the Church in how to pray, especially in regard to governmental authorities. How timely eh?

In a time of great political unrest and what seems to be a government with its wheels spun off – what can we do? And if our first answers are vote, be vocal, write letters, protest, form pacs, enter into civil-disobedience, etc. We’ve started the list in the wrong place. All of those may be good and well and right in their place. But in fact, they are way down the line from – you guessed it – prayer.

Truth is, that for most of us, even as believers, we really don’t see prayer as either practical or particularly effective. More like a nice religious sentiment we’re “supposed” to do. But not expecting any real results from it.

How foreign to the Bible.

So note a couple of things in 1 Timothy.

4 things we are to hope for from our governments. That under their care, we may lead lives:

Peacefully – Not be war seeking, but warring only when needed to bring peace.

Quietly – Not creating disquiet in society, but calm.

Godly – Nothing interfering with our service to God.

Dignified – Protecting the dignity and sanctity of human life.

Paul’s exhortation in this passage is meant as a truly practical guide to getting those results in our society. In any society. But I wonder if our prayers are actually shaped by a passage like this – or that praying to these ends is thought to be effective? We do need to search our hearts on this. We want to be activists. But few of us think of prayer as activism. That, is a grave mistake. No wonder we’re making so little progress toward the goals we’ve just outlined.

This may serve too as a good guide regarding those whom we are to vote for in elections to government positions: Those whom – as best as we can discern – will be most likely to aim at these very same goals.

But again, how is this CHIEFLY to be brought about? Prayer. Earnest prayer for those on all sides of our political and social discourse. That those we agree with and those with whom we have the most vigorous disagreement, would themselves find peace in reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ. That they might be possessed of a quieted demeanor, manifesting the influence of the Holy Spirit. That they would seek godliness in their private and public lives. And that in embracing the truth of mankind created in the image of God, they might seek to walk in and restore the dignity that rightly attaches itself to such.

It is easy to just pray about people. But our call is to pray for them. We cannot legislate, nor vote into existence a peaceful, quiet, godly and dignified society. We can only pray it into existence.

I’m Reid Ferguson. And God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #92 / Aug. 10 – A Triple Threat

August 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.

For a period of time when I was younger, I lived and worked in a funeral home. My labors were in exchange for rent. And one of my duties was to stand “calling hours” – to greet and assist people as they came to pay their respects to the one who died and sympathize with their family. One thing which was evident was the vast difference in the atmosphere of those gatherings when the deceased had known Christ and when that was not so.

Both groups grieved. But the Christian groups grieved with genuine hope. There was loss, but the sure knowledge of the resurrection and reunion around the throne of Jesus. Others ranged from a nebulous religious optimism, to nothing but loss. Why such a disparity? The difference is between genuine Biblical faith, and what often passes for it.

I’m Reid Ferguson, and we’ll talk a bit more about that today on Through the Word in 2020.

Of our 3 reading sections today – Nehemiah 5–7; Luke 9:57–10:12; 1 Timothy 1:3–20 – I’d like to consider the last one.

As Paul writes to Timothy who is ministering in Ephesus, he urges him to challenge and charge the folks in the Church there not to teach any other doctrines than what they had received when Paul had been with them, and to be sure not to give any weight to myths or genealogies. His concern is this: Faith, genuine saving and sustaining faith cannot be fostered by: untruth, myths or genealogies.

In short, he’s telling us what real faith does require: 1. It must be rooted in truth, God-revealed Biblical truth. Understanding what the Bible really teaches. 2nd, it must be based on historical, Biblical fact. The reality of the incarnation, and Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. And 3rd, it is dependent upon a personal connection with God through Jesus, by the Holy Spirit.

You see, un-Biblical doctrines or teachings, myths and putting your trust in being related to someone who supposedly has a connection to God (that’s the idea in genealogies) can only promote mere speculation. They make salvation an issue of guesswork. A “hope so” proposition. Speculation is not, and must not be confused with genuine faith.

Faith always appeals to the sound and clear teaching of Scripture. Not feelings. Not opinions. Not imagination. It is not the stuff of “I think”, “I feel” or “I heard.” It is the “I know” because this is what God has revealed in His Word.

Once, while standing calling hours, a gal told me she was confident in the deceased’s state because he had several family members who were priests, and others who were nuns. She then purchased a prayer card to enroll him in a society which promised to add his name to their daily prayers to lessen his time in Purgatory. Her confidence (which she expressed for herself as well) was based upon doctrines not taught in the Bible, a genealogical connection and a myth. A present day demonstration of the very thing Paul was writing about to Timothy.

So what is your hope and faith rooted in today? The Apostle John wrote to a group of disciples: “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.” That my friend is faith. Knowing, based on God’s Word.

And if you’re trusting Christ as your sin-bearer, as having taken God’s just wrath due to you on the Cross of Calvary, that His righteousness might be accounted to you – you can KNOW you have eternal life too.

As Jesus prayed in John 17: Father…you have given me authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given me. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.
Through the Word in 2020 #91 – Aug. 7 / Gloom, despair and agony on me!

August 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.

Does life ever get you down? It sure does me. A global pandemic and all the uncertainties surrounding it; an economy in free-fall; a virtual circus of political insanity; moral decay on every front; Evangelical leadership bringing shame on the cause of Christ; in-fighting among Christians; isolation; 24 hours of bad news pumped into our homes; social unrest at a new high; racial tensions, and more. It reminds me of the refrain from the old Hee-Haw show:

“Gloom, despair and agony on me,

Deep dark depression, excessive misery.

If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all.

Gloom, despair, and agony on me.”

That’s what makes the opening verses of Nehemiah 2-4 stand out in such a startling way.

I’m Reid Ferguson and we’ll consider that passage today on Through the Word in 2020.

Luke 9:49–56; Psalm 119:9–16; 1 Timothy 1:1–2 and Nehemiah 2–4 are our reading sections today.

And what a striking reference verses 1 & 2 are in Nehemiah 2. This almost off-handed comment shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially in context.

Think about it, Nehemiah was in captivity due to the sins of his people. He was conscripted into the service of a pagan king. He was but a slave in a foreign land. And yet – his usual countenance was one of such joy and contentment, that to be noticed as being sad was notable indeed. And it leads me to ask how are you and I in our circumstances? Would others find it odd that we are sad? Or do we walk about as though our God has abandoned us and forsaken our needs?

Nehemiah is a wonderful exemplar in this regard.

The story is told of the Reformer Martin Luther on the occasion of his having been brooding for a few days. He was troubled by persecution, reports of groups of peasants in revolt, political pressure from the Roman Church on the nobles who were backing Luther to turn on him. He always took his own sins very seriously and then there were those who used his name and cause to do things he would never countenance. He felt truly hopeless.

One morning, deep in his melancholy his wife appeared at breakfast dressed for a funeral. He was used to her being pretty cheerful but not today.

When he asked her what was wrong, she replied with sadness: “God is dead.” Luther shot back: “Woman, that is a terrible heresy. God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. Never say that The Eternal has died. When heaven and earth shall pass away God will remain.”

To which she retorted: “Then why do you waken each morning with such a doleful expression on your face? Why go through the day sighing like the north wind? In your university classes you claim to interpret the mind of God. You have appeared to know Him well, and I became certain, from the expression on your face, that God must surely have expired.”

The account continues that at that – Luther burst out laughing and said: “You have convinced me, Katie, dear, so, if ever you see me again with a melancholy countenance, remind me that God is living, that He will live forevermore. I promise you that I shall try not to appear as dour as a shriveled turnip.”

Maybe it would be good for you and I to remind ourselves too that no matter what happening to us, or around us – God is living. And He will live forever more.

Father, forgive me for how easily and quickly my joy can be taken away, and my countenance prove to be an indictment of your goodness toward me. May the rulers of this age find it odd to observe a Christian with sadness, when we have been promised the fullness of life in Christ both now and forever more.

God willing we’ll be back Monday.
Through the Word in 2020 #90 – Aug. 6 / Who’s The Greatest?

August 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.

Muhammad Ali was famous for saying “I am the greatest!” It came out of his 1964 media speech just before his championship boxing match with Sonny Liston. And for anyone who ever watched him box – that was no idle boast. At least when it came to boxing. In that time. And in that place. But in time, “the greatest” himself fell to someone else. Being great, at least in one’s own sense of themselves is not unique to Muhammad Ali, other athletes, business moguls or any other group. And as our text in Luke 9:46-48 demonstrates – even the apostles themselves. Maybe you’d like a little of that greatness for yourself. Then again, how we define greatness for ourselves or others may need to be informed by how God defines it. We’ll look at that a bit today on Through the Word in 2020. I’m your host, Reid Ferguson.

Today’s reading assignments are brief. The passage already mentioned in Luke, 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 and Ezra 9-Nehemiah 1. And it is this idea of greatness I’d like to examine a bit more.

All of us has some conception of ourselves. For better or worse. And a good measure of how we see ourselves is usually tied to some sense of how we compare to others – either close at hand or afar. We all want to think well of ourselves. In Billy Preston’s powerful song “Music’s My Life” he sings: “God promised to exalt me, if I’d put Him first. I may not be the best around, but I’m surely, not the worst.” So it is Jesus found the apostles arguing among themselves – which one of them was the greatest. I wouldn’t throw any stones here. For while we might not argue that way out loud, we still probably share something of Billy Preston’s sentiment inwardly.

Jesus knew the reasoning of their hearts. And so He addressed it. He took a child, a young child – let’s say, a non-contributor who could bring nothing to the table in serving Christ or the cause of the kingdom, and put him by His side. And He said “whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives Him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”

Well, that was quite the upset. Non-contributors can be great? Non-performers? Those who can DO nothing of measurable value can be great? How?

First, by not having their own agenda.

Little children don’t have grandiose plans. Big dreams. They aren’t out to accomplish independent grand goals – they haven’t thought that far yet. They are wholly at the mercy of their parent’s plans , goals and agendas.

Those who would be great in the Kingdom of God are those who have set aside their own goals and ambitions to be given over to Christ’s. It is not to say they don’t have desires of their own, but they subjugate those desires to His. They don’t need to steer the ship. To get God to sign on their program. They naturally assume they will go along with Him rather than getting Him to go along with them. That’s greatness.

Second, little children aren’t, and don’t pretend to be self-dependent. They look to their parents to provide for them. There is a right and winsome assumption of care. They don’t think about where food comes from, or how money is earned to clothe, house and feed them. That’s adult stuff. There is a native kind of trust. They know who to look to for their needs. And they believe – without even being cognizant of doing it – that those things will be provided. And utterly without reference to what others might or might not have.

It is the least, the least self-motivated and the least self-dependent who are the greatest in His Kingdom.

May I learn to be so great.

God willing, we’ll be back tomorrow.