September 24, 2017
Read 1 Peter 1:11. Those words “the sufferings of Christ” hold so much in just a few words. The same is true of the next words: “the glory that should follow.”
Hymn 306 - Like a little wandering lamb
Prayer
Last time we spoke about diligence, and we saw the bad side of it: the lazy man with the weedy vineyard and the broken-down wall. Let’s look at the good side of diligence today. Nike’s slogan, “Just do it!” is quite appropriate for diligence.
Proverbs 25:13. It’s a possibility that people in Bible times had a way of storing snow so that they could enjoy it as a treat during hot times of the year; and that is what this verse is talking about. When we’re hot, it’s refreshing to eat or drink something cold. When you send a diligent worker to do a job, you get that same refreshing feeling. You don’t feel refreshed when you send a lazy worker to do something. When we’re asked to do something, it’s very easy to get distracted and start doing other things; but that is not what a diligent person does.
There’s a story told from the Spanish-American war, where the president of the United States needed to get a message to General Garcia, who was somewhere in Cuba. Somebody suggested a soldier named Rowan, who was known for always doing his duty. They gave Rowan the message, he sailed to Cuba, and in three weeks had found the General in the mountains, and delivered the message. This was used as a good example of diligence back then, and it still is today.
Proverbs 22:29. The diligent do what they are supposed to do, and they stand before kings. That’s like Daniel. He was diligent in his work, and he stood before several kings.
Proverbs 6:6-8. The sluggard is a lazy person, and God tells him to consider the ant. The ant is a tiny creature, with no boss to tell him what to do, but he still gathers food and is always working. A while ago I saw an ant pulling a butterfly across a manhole. The butterfly would get stuck and the ant would have to change positions, but it never rested or gave up, it just kept on working. When I looked back a little while later, it had pulled the butterfly out of sight. The ant is a good example of working hard, doing what it’s supposed to do, and storing food.
Once there was a foolish, lazy, grasshopper who played all summer long instead of working and preparing for winter. He laughed at the diligent ants who were working so hard, but when winter came and he had no food, he ended up begging at the ant’s door. He learned his lesson!
Proverbs 10:4. The Lord wants us to be faithful in what we do, and if we are faithful at our jobs, it will go well for us in the long run.
Proverbs 12:24. Hard workers are leaders. Maybe we don’t have the skill or ability that someone else has, but we can still work hard and get good results. It’s like the tortoise and the hare. They had a race, and the hare ran fast, but part way along, he stopped for a nap. The tortoise just kept on going, never stopping or resting, and won the race. Maybe we don’t have great abilities, but if we’re diligent, we can still accomplish much.
Finally, Ruth is a good example of diligence. Ruth and Naomi had come back from Moab after their husbands died, and they needed food. The law said that you could pick up grain that the harvesters had dropped in the fields. It wasn’t a fun job; it was hot and hard, but Ruth did it. Ruth 2:7b. She was diligent, and continued at her work. Verse 17 shows us that she was there all day long. We know she had one rest for lunch, but she’s a good example of doing what needed to be done in order to provide food for herself and Naomi.
Ecclesiastes 9:10. Whatever we find to do, we should do with all our might. We need to be faithful in our work. The Lord wants us to be diligent in studying Scripture, doing our schoolwork, and helping around the home. So many people are lazy about their job. Being diligent is a way to honour the Lord, because it stands out in the workforce as a good witness for Him.
Titus 2:11-15
You read everything Titus had to do, and it’s a little overwhelming. But when we reach today’s verses we learn of “the grace of God”. Grace is the free and unlimited favor of God to undeserving ones. It isn’t us. It’s all God. It’s “God’s riches at Christ’s expense”. We read in Timothy that we are to be strong in grace, and in Peter we’re commanded to grow in grace. Are we strong in grace? Are we growing in grace?
Revelation 22:1
A writer by the name of Mr. Snell sees the river mentioned here as a river of grace. Grace is something that flows. God doesn’t leave us to our own resources. We have been made the objects of constant care. God provides us with whatever we need, and we don’t deserve it. One might be able to say the Bible is the story of grace. Grace is mentioned one-hundred twenty-two times in the New Testament. The Old Testament is usually about the law, but if you look in the book of Ruth you find that the interaction between Boaz and Ruth is a picture of grace. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Revelation 22:21 is the last reference that mentions grace in the Bible. It’s almost like God couldn’t finish His book without mentioning it. This grace brings salvation. That salvation is “Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin”. It’s not just a doctrine; it’s a Person.
Darby translates verse eleven as, “For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared,“. Salvation is for all men. Not all are saved, but they could be. This is the strong contrast to the law. Jesus didn’t come just for Israel; He came for everyone in the entire world. Verse eleven is to all men, but the next verses are to those who are saved.
The scriptures say that we should be looking for the Lord’s glorious appearing. Our life with Christ begins at salvation and continues with Him even after the rapture; and even then, we will be looking for that appearing. Grace teaches a life style appropriate for the salvation we received: to be sober, righteous, and godly.
1 Timothy 3:16
One writer brought out that the mystery of godliness was the knowledge of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. The knowledge of what He went through is the mystery of godliness. Having godliness before us is the antidote for ungodliness while being harassed by our old nature.
Soberness is behaviour toward our self, righteousness is behaviour toward others, and godliness is behaviour toward God.
Peculiar means special. We are to be zealous of good works. Darby puts this verse as, “who gave Himself for us, the He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify to Himself a peculiar people, zealous for good works”. These are Paul’s words of encouragement to Titus.
Hymn 13 - Grace! ‘tis a charming sound
Prayer