December 18, 2016
Hymn 349 - News for little children
Prayer
Several weeks ago, we looked at what Proverbs had to say about being upright. Then, we looked at the life of Job. Job was wealthy, but he lost everything he owned and his friends accused him of sinning. However, God blessed him in the end.
We’ve all heard about the wise old owl. “The wise old owl sat in the oak, the more he heard, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can’t we all be like that wise bird?” Proverbs is all about becoming wise, and today we’ll look at what it says about listening to instruction. We won’t look at them all, but there are many verses about this. Instruction is being taught how to live, or how to do something. If you joined the army, you would be trained on how to use equipment, and how to do certain things, some of which would keep you safe. That’s what instruction is.
When you’re young, you’ll learn and take instruction from your parents, but once you grow up, you learn directly from the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Are we willing to listen to instruction, and apply it to our lives? As children, we need to listen to our parents. That will keep us safe. There was one farm boy who was told how to load a truck, but he disobeyed. The load fell on top of him, and he could have lost his life. We learn life lessons from our parents, and we’ll learn character lessons from God’s word.
Proverbs 12:1. This verse compares 2 people; the one that loves instruction and wants to be wise, and a person who hates instruction, and doesn’t want it. Even when we’re young we want to be independent and do things on our own, but we need to listen to instruction. When I was young, there was a peninsula that came out into the water in front of where we would swim at the lake. I thought I could swim to it, but was told that it would be too far for me. If I hadn’t listened, I may have made it part way out, and then been in serious life-threatening trouble.
Proverbs 13:1. We need to be willing to listen to instruction; like the wise old owl. If we are, God considers us wise.
Proverbs 19:20-21. This verse again encourages us to listen. Samuel was a child, but he listened to God, and God instructed him. We can start with what our parents teach us, and learn more as we grow older. God’s word is always true, and we can build our lives on it.
Proverbs 23:12. Sometimes, we may have to put in some effort to get instruction. We can go and ask for it from those that are older and wiser than us, and learn from them. Jeremiah 15:16.
Proverbs 23:23. We have bought the truth when we apply it to our lives. We shouldn’t give up on it, or give it up for something that isn’t worthwhile. Wisdom, instruction, and understanding are what Proverbs is all about.
We need to learn to listen to our parents, because that is how we learn to listen to God when we get older. God instructs us all the time through His word, so we need to learn to obey now. We can learn the hard way, by not listening to instruction, or we can listen and obey, and be blessed
Colossians 4:7-18
We have ten names mentioned in this list of names. Some have special comments about them. From what I can tell from Tychicus to Demas are all with Paul, but by 2 Timothy Demas has deserted Paul. If God was writing a book about us, what would He say? Even though these epistles are written to assemblies, Paul always singles some out. Though the church is so big God has a purpose for each individual.
Paul values each one here to a different degree. It is important to love all the brethren, but there are some in particular that mean something special to certain ones.
Tychicus was given a special mission. He and Onesimus have brought this message to the assembly of Colosse. He helped write and deliver the letter, and now that he has delivered the letter he gives them an update on Paul. Paul refers to him as a beloved brother, faithful minister, and a fellow-servent. He was greatly valued by Paul and the Lord. We have brothers in the flesh, and also in the Lord. Paul calls Tychicus a “beloved brother”. He has a special attachment to him.
It is precious to see those who are faithful. Different gifts were given to different people, and we can be thankful for those in ministry. Whatever has been given must be done faithfully whether it’s a physical activity, handing out tracts, or preaching the gospel. Are we doing our ministry faithfully?
“Fellow-” is used three times in the passage read today. Verse seven has fellowservent, verse ten has fellowprisoner, and verse eleven has fellowworkers. It is the fellowship of having a common desire. Paul considered himself a servant and worker, and he was a prisoner.
Paul trusted Tychicus to have the insight to understand the Colossians, and what was happening to them, so he would know what to say and how to comfort them.
Onesimus is also mentioned in Philemon. Paul calls him “a faithful and beloved brother”. Aristarchus was his fellow-prisoner.
His situation was similar to Paul’s, and he is also sending greetings to Colosse. Marcus is the one who wrote the Gospel of Mark, and was nephew to Barnabas. He had forsaken Paul on his first missionary trip. It’s wonderful to see how he was restored, wrote one of the gospels, and was valuable to Paul’s ministry. Justus is Jewish, and is Paul’s fellow-worker. Paul was working well in prison, sharing the gospel to any who would listen, and it saw a number of people saved even in the palace. Artistarchus, Marcus, and Justus were all a comfort to Paul.
Colossians 1:13 shows present, and verse eleven of this chapter shows future. Epaphras was also mentioned in chapter one and verse seven. The desire he had is wonderful. May we pray for each other that way. One who desires to travel may become a missionary, one who loves to write may encourage others with their writings, and one who has a heart for Christ will labor fervently like Epaphras. Paul loved Luke. Although he wrote Luke and Acts he was still Paul’s “beloved physician”.
Hymn 213 - Thou my everlasting portion
Prayer