March 19, 2017
Scripture:
Scripture:
When the darkness came over. The darkness is all most finished, and the Lord is crying out “God why hast thou forsaken me?” Most people where looking-on on the most greatest transaction in the world. Stroke upon stroke of sins. Theses words are not dertctley, about the cross, but indertctly in a sence.
Hymn 286 - When Israel by divine command
Prayer
There is a verse format that we get 16 times in the Bible: “Better is…something…than…something else.” These verses were all written by Solomon, and we’ll look at some of the ones in Proverbs. Some of them repeat lessons that we’ve already had, but that’s all right, because Proverbs is all about teaching us wisdom, and it doesn’t hurt to repeat it.
Proverbs 15:16-17 gives us our first comparisons: having the fear of the Lord, or treasure and trouble; and eating vegetables or eating steak and having trouble. It’s better to honour the Lord, and give Him the place as the Object of our Life, than to have lots of treasure along with trouble. It’s better to eat a simple meal of vegetables, and know you’re loved, than to have an abundance of everything, but hate each other.
Proverbs 16:8. Revenue here means money or treasure. There was a man in the Old Testament named Naboth who had a vineyard that King Ahab wanted. The king asked Naboth for the vineyard, but Naboth wouldn’t give it up. So Queen Jezebel had Naboth killed so that the king could have the vineyard. It is better to have little and be doing right, this verse tells us, than to have a lot because you were doing wrong like Ahab and Jezebel. We must be content and thankful for what we have. Elijah told Ahab that the Lord would punish him for what he had done.
Proverbs 16:16. The world tells us that silver and gold are important, but Proverbs says having wisdom is better than both of them. Our life down here is short compared to our eternal life, so it’s better to invest in eternity. We can’t take our possessions to Heaven when we go; but if we even give someone a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, we will be rewarded.
Proverbs 16:18-19. It’s better to be humble and lowly than to be proud and have a lot of stuff. In the book of Esther, Mordecai refused to bow to Haman. Haman was proud of his position, and this bothered him so much that he wanted to kill Mordecai and all the other Jews. He ended up dying on the very gallows that he had made to hang Mordecai! Pride came before a fall. It’s better to be humble than proud. Everything we have comes from God, so we really don’t have anything to be proud about.
Proverbs 17:1. It’s better to have a small, quiet dinner, than to have a feast and arguments because there are so many people.
Proverbs 19:1. It’s better to be unknown and walk in honour to the Lord; than to be loud and outspoken, and be a fool. We shouldn’t try to have people know about us, instead we should be humble. Some people try to be foolish to attract attention, but it is better to be quiet and upright.
Proverbs 27:10. It’s better to have friends that are close by and can help us, than a brother who is far away. The Lord is closer to us than even a brother, and it’s better to go to Him for counsel than anyone else.
Proverbs 28:6. In the gospels we get the story of the unrighteous rich man and the righteous beggar Lazarus. The rich man ended up in Hell, but Lazarus ended up in Heaven. It’s better to be upright than to dishonour the Lord. Lazarus was poor but he ended up with the blessing. The world tries to attract us with a lot of things, but God says, “Them that honour me I will honour.” That is the better part, and the Lord wants us to have it.
1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Paul might have felt he left a job undone when he left the Thessalonians. He had had to leave quickly when things got heated. So, he sent Timothy to find out what was happening. Timothy brought back the good news that they were going on well. Paul didn’t just want them to be saved; he wanted them to go on in the truth he had taught them. According to vv. 6, 7, & 10 they had faith. But there is the faith for salvation, and then faith to go on in the path.
Paul had remembered the Thessalonians, and was happy to hear that they also remembered him. They also wanted to see him again. They loved him just like he loved them. It is wonderful to see this relationship between God’s people. Paul was comforted over them because of this.
Paul had affliction and distress not just from the enemies of truth, but also from the care of the churches. He mentions it in 2.Corinthians 11:28. Paul said he could live because of the good report from them. Their testimony of faith was very precious to him. It’s what he lived for. It was his life. His consuming passion to bring others to the Lord. Saul had been out to destroy, but Paul was out to bring life. It was two totally different paths. Paul rejoiced when they left idolatry, and he rejoiced again when he heard how God had helped and sustained them to go on. He praised God for all of this. The affliction and distress passed and were replaced by joy.
The Thessalonians were a subject of prayer day and night for Paul. Maybe there had been something else he wanted to share with them before he left. Perhaps it’s the reason for this epistle: to pass on more truth.
Paul was sensitive to the involvement of his life with God. He saw things as divinely arranged. He knew if God wanted him to go back he would. It is right to put our way in God’s hands. We need His care. He can order things better then we ever could.
We also need the Lord’s help to love all men. Not every one is easy to love.
God has made us holy and unblamable in His sight. He knows us.
Some saints seem to never have their heart stablished. Their eyes are off Jesus, and there always seems to be something wrong. But we know that we do have the truth to look to.
Hymn 167 - I know not why God’s wondrous grace
Prayer