January 24, 2016
Scripture:
Scripture:
Hymn 366 - We are little children, very young indeed
Proverbs 1:8-10, 15, 17
In Proverbs, Solomon uses the term, “My son” a lot. This term also includes daughters as well. Instruction is good for all.
What is instruction? Well, when you get a new game or toy, it comes with a set of instructions: directions on how to play or build it. Proverbs gives us directions on how to live life. We are supposed to hear the instruction of our father, and obey the law of our mother. Parents are to teach the Word of God to their children. It is the children’s responsibility to obey it.
It goes on to say that, if the instruction is followed, it will be like an ornament to us. An ornament is something that looks nice and you usually put it on display. But then, it goes on to say they will be like chains about your neck. What does that mean? If you have attended a track and field event or seen the Olympics, you know that the person who wins gets a medal placed around their neck.
There is beauty in an obedient child. They are a blessing. So as a child of God, we should seek to follow instruction.
There are those who want to entice us to get involved in things that are wrong; to take things that don’t belong to us and hurt someone while doing it. In the story of the Good Samaritan the man fell among thieves, who hurt him, and then took everything from him. We also need to careful of our companions. We want to keep ourselves from those who encourage us to do wrong.
There are some people who catch birds so they can put a tag on their legs and study them. That’s not what is meant here. The person who spreads the net is the enemy. But if the bird is up high, and the net is on the ground, it can’t catch the bird at all. If we are walking near to the Lord, the enemy can’t catch us either.
There is a story about an eagle. It lived in a very beautiful place. There were several mountains in the area. At the bottom of the mountains was a lake that had plenty of fish for the eagle’s meals. The shore of the lake stretched out with a mix of sand and grass. The eagle would sit on the far side of the lake, across from the shore, and often eat his fish in the trees that were at the edge of the lake, looking over his domain.
One day he noticed a new rock on the other side of the lake. He flew around it to investigate. It seemed harmless. So he perched on it. His keen eyes again looked over his surroundings. He found that close to this new rock was a dead fish. That was odd. The fish were never this far from the water. But this didn’t appear to be anything dangerous either. So he took the fish and sat on the rock to eat it.
This went on for several days. The eagle could come and find fresh dead fish every morning. It was now something he expected. One day when he came to find his fish there was a net extended over his rock. He took a look at it, but again saw no harm in it, picked up his fish and sat on his rock to eat it. The next day he performed the same ritual. But this time as he sat eating his fish the net fell on top of him. A trapper had lured him in and now he was trapped. He would never be able to go back to his nest. Never again could he enjoy the heavenly heights of flying.
If we keep feeding on the Word of God, we to can enjoy the heavenly heights, and do well. The eagle allowed himself to get used to what was strange. It slowly lead him to the point of being trapped. If we are not down on the ground, we can’t be caught. The enemy won’t be able to hinder or distract us.
So we need to be careful of our friends. We don’t want to be lead to evil. If we keep ourselves up in the enjoyment of the Lord’s things, the enemy can’t trap us.
Philippians 1:12-21
Paul was far from these friends, and in prison, just for trying to preach the gospel. The Philippians were probably feeling sorry for him, and thought he was upset. But Paul told them, “Listen. I want you to understand that the things that have happened to me have caused the gospel to spread further than when I was out of prison.” The Devil must have rejoiced when he got Paul tied up, but it only made the gospel spread further. All of a sudden, Paul had an audience that he hadn’t had access to before. The Devil must have been chagrined!
Because of this, Paul could now send greetings from the saints among Caesar’s household. He was a like a spreading infection. Soldiers would be sent to watch over him, and they would hear the gospel and get saved. Maybe he had told them of the Philippian jailer, the earthquake, Lydia, and other stories. Then when he said he was writing a letter to these saints, the new believers would say, “Say hello for me!”
The result of this ministry-from-the-inside was that people knew Paul wasn’t a criminal; rather he was in bonds for Christ. Paul says it was known in the palace and other places. This is how the apostle lived: wherever he was was a mission field. The soldiers that guarded him, cooks that delivered meals, etc. all probably heard the gospel. Paul didn’t have to go to them, they came to him! For Paul, to live was Christ; it just radiated out of him.
As a result of Paul’s imprisonment, others were emboldened to preach the gospel. They saw Paul was limited in what he could do, and began to pick up the work and proclaim the Word of God without fear. Throughout history, many people have been persecuted for preaching, and Paul himself was in prison for it; yet these brothers preached without fear. This is supposed to be normal Christian experience!
Some people were trying to hurt Paul more by preaching. Preaching for strife, though, or preaching for love; either way Paul was happy that the gospel was going forth. The Devil must have been frustrated: he couldn’t make this man unhappy! That was good, because Paul was a man of action; whether against Christ or for Christ. The Lord had a plan for putting Paul behind bars, though. Romans says that “All things work together for good to them that love God;” and the “things” that had happened to Paul certainly did.
Verse 19 may make us wonder: was Paul not saved? Of course he was; he was just referring to the salvation of our life. Paul didn’t want to waste his life while sitting in prison. Are we wasting our lives? Opportunities come that we can seize and make count for the Lord and the gospel.
Paul rejoiced in the supply of the Spirit and the prayers of the saints. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives when we’re saved, and the prayers of other believers are also a big help. Paul was looking ahead, and didn’t want to be ashamed (fail to do his job). He was in the hands of Caesar, who could decide to kill him at any moment. If he lived or died, though, he had a mission: to glorify God. This was like the Lord. No person could ever glorify God like Jesus did, and no event glorified God like the cross did. We can see so many of His attributes there: justice, mercy, grace, etc.
Paul wanted to glorify God in his body, either in life or in death. He realized he could be martyred. Martyrs are sometimes called the “seed of the Church” and Paul was willing to be the seed that had to die. Christ wants to be manifested by our lives; that’s why He leaves us here, instead of taking us straight to heaven once we’re saved. Are we becoming more Christ-like?
Paul had no earthly attachment other than to do the Lord’s work. For him, to live was Christ. Dying would be gain, for he anticipated greater blessing in heaven. He had been to the third heaven, and there were no words to describe what he’d seen. If left here, he would manifest Christ to the world. If he died, it would be even better.
Hymn 335 — I am so glad that our Father in Heaven
Prayer