Author Archives: Stephen Rodgers

Devoted to Loving the Word of God

by Cesar Vigil-Ruiz

Recently, a small group of members from our church traveled to Tucuman, Argentina to minister to a church that we have been working with since 2005. Our goal for this trip was to be an encouragement and a source of support for the lead pastor, Jorge Ahualle, and his family. We were blessed with the opportunity to spend time with the church for a retreat weekend together. We were asked to cover topics related to the theme of consecration/devotion, and were directed to speak to different groups within the church. I had the privilege of speaking to the youth of the church, and knew exactly what I wanted to communicate to them.

No matter which youth group will listen, my emphasis will always be the same: devotion to the Word of God. If the youth do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, the primary source to discover it is found in the gospel revealed in the life and work of Jesus Christ in Holy Scripture. If a youth follows Jesus, the way of growth is a vibrant relationship with Him, which comes by way of listening to Him by exposure to His Word, and speaking to Him in prayer.

With the direction our culture is heading, there is no doubt that our youth will be tempted and pulled in all sorts of distractions. What is needed is a singular devotion to Christ, and He is most visible to us in the utterance of God’s words. This is my hope for the youth: that their hearts and minds will be a lifelong pursuit of the glory of Christ in every area of life.

Scripture has many examples of men and women who were devoted to loving the Word of God, but I have found a stellar example in the psalmist of Psalm 119. For 176 verses, this psalmist inarguably demonstrates his deep love for the words of our God, and models it for everyone, especially the youth, to see the wonders of knowing His Word.

“Actions speaks louder than words,” goes the common saying, but this time, these words seem to speak loudly of his heart of devotion. This is someone who will act in light of what God has said. In the psalmist’s mind, there is no expiration date when it comes to the relevance of God’s Word in the affairs of daily life. His Word will lead to action. As we see at the beginning of Psalm 119, we encounter four actions* of a devoted lover of the Word:

1. Walk as a believer of the Word with devotion

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! (Psalm 119:1-3)

The first thing to notice is that the psalmist starts with the word, “blessed.” The literal translation for this word is “happy.” We can read this verse, “Happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD!” The reason believers are happy is that they keep the Word of God! They obey it.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

David recognized where the most amount of joy could be found. It isn’t at the club, or among your friends. It is where the Lord is. It is where endless pleasure is found. If God is the source of full joy, then being in His will will lead to a deep life of joy and pleasure in Him.

Now what does it look like to be a happy Christian? Is it someone who just says, “I love the Word of God?” over and over again? Maybe, but that isn’t enough. Some clear marks of a happy Christian are that they are blameless in reputation (1a), actively obedient (1b, 3), protective of Scripture (2a), and a first-class pursuer of God (2b).

2. Embrace the purpose of the Word with conviction

You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! (Psalm 119:4-5)

The second action of a devoted lover of the Word of God is that they seek to understand what the purpose of the Bible is. What is the reason for why God gave us His Word? He has set up this world in such a way as to fix this purpose: God’s Word has been given to us so that we would keep them diligently. You may read it, study it, memorize it, meditate on it, but if you don’t keep it, if you don’t follow what it says, you are twisting the Scriptures.

All other religions that say they believe the Bible claim that it teaches all sorts of false doctrine, and it warps the purpose of the Bible, and most don’t even know they’re doing it! If I wrote you instructions on how to get to my mom’s house, and you start reading the instructions over and over again, go and talk to your friends about how great these instructions are, sing songs about how great my mom is, even memorize it, but you never follow my instructions, you completely ignored its purpose! Yet, this is what many people do with the Bible. They will spend time in the Bible, not to keep it in their hearts, but to make themselves look good in front of others. Or to convince their parents that they do believe in God. All the while, God’s instructions are being ignored. This can’t be!

Now after pointing to the purpose of the Bible, the psalmist turns to pray to God, knowing the purpose, and asking God for strength to be able to keep it. His focus goes from speaking of those who are happy in God to now taking responsibility to live out what he just described. This is the psalmist’s desire: to keep and obey the precious Word of God.

The Bible is not just some book to the psalmist, even a book that you occasionally show reverence for. This is a book that captures the psalmist to crave and hunger for more of. He desires to be strengthened by it because he knows he is weak without it. Your familiarity with the Word is a good indicator of whether you know you are weak or not. Exposure to the Word is what will make you aware of your weakness, and seeing it for what it is and what it’s for will strengthen you.

3. Receive the blessings of the Word with thanksgiving

Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. (Psalm 119:6-7)

When you are tempted, remember: every act of obedience will produce a blessing from God. What’s the blessing that we find here? No shame. If you walk as a believer of the Word and embrace the purpose of the Word, then you will not be ashamed!

Here is what the Bible does to your life: it exposes sin in every area of your life. At first, that sounds bad. But imagine this: if you have a disease, and need to know where it’s located, you would want to have the best equipment available to find it and then get rid of it, right? Every time you expose yourself to the Bible, you always have two options: you can either run away and ignore what it says, or you can turn from your sins and ask for forgiveness.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. (James 1:23-24)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

The blessing not only removes shame, but it also provides thanksgiving in your heart. This isn’t the kind of thanksgiving that is fake, or shallow, but “upright.” It means to be smooth or straight. Receiving the Word with praise and thanks honors the One who gave the Word. God’s Word is identified as rules that are righteous. In other words, these are what the divine Judge has ruled to be right. To receive the Word in this way, demonstrating understanding of what the Word really is, will lead to a heart that praises God the way He should be praised.

When was the last time you gave thanks to God for the Scriptures? When did you last thank God for opening your eyes to see the true nature of Scripture?

4. Ask God to help you obey the Word with resolve

I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! (Psalm 119:8)

The final action of a lover of the Word of God is prayer. All prior actions have been a willingness on the part of the happy Christian to involve the Bible to play a primary role in one’s life. The psalmist returns to pray to God, first offering a big promise: “I will keep your statutes.” Statutes here means what the divine Lawgiver has laid down. The psalmist is determined to follow the Law of God.

Many people in the church are scared to make a concrete decision, either towards God or away from God. They don’t want to be seen as someone who rejects God, but they also fear what it will cost to fully follow God. To be entirely wicked or entirely righteous is facing two extremes that seems equally scary. Many choose to be right in the middle, and come to church, but not commit much else. In today’s day, this is what is called apathy. In Scripture, Jesus calls this being lukewarm:

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.’” (Revelation 3:15-16)

This is like the person who says they’re coming to your house, and then halfway there, turns around and then tells you, “Well, at least I got there some of the way!” This is like someone who says they will clean their room, and the moment they can see a little bit of the floor after picking up some clothes, says, “Ok, I’m done!” Keep your focus on the Word! Don’t even give your parents a chance to tell you to read your Bible. Get to reading! But see that God doesn’t want you to be half-hearted in your willingness to do so.

The last thing the psalmist writes is for God to not forsake or forget him. He knows his weakness in failing to fully obey God in everything, but he also knows that God is gracious to His people and will help him keep the Word. He also knows God is just and can rightly forsake him should He choose to.

Notice that the psalmist doesn’t turn to anyone else but God to strengthen him and also forgive him when he fails. If you do not truly desire to have a strong desire to obey God’s Word, it will show in your lack of prayer to Him.

Our plea

In the end, our prayer is that every youth will come to know the God of the Word by way of the Word of God. This year, as it is for every year before, is to pray and trust that God will draw each youth to Him to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to grow in His grace and knowledge for the glory of the King. I hope this will be your prayer as well.

*I have been greatly helped by Seth Kniep’s helpful work, Loving God’s Word: 7 Strategies for Slaying Bible Apathy for these insights.

Brethren, Pray For Us

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

1 Thessalonians 5:25

This one morning in the year we reserved to refresh the reader’s memory upon the subject of prayer for ministers, and we do most earnestly implore every Christian household to grant the fervent request of the text first uttered by an apostle and now repeated by us. Brethren, our work is Solemnly momentous, involving weal or woe to thousands; we treat with souls for God on eternal business, and our word is either a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death. A very heavy responsibility rests upon us, and it will be no small mercy if at the last we be found clear of the blood of all men. As officers in Christ’s army, we are the especial mark of the enmity of men and devils; they watch for our halting, and labour to take us by the heels. Our sacred calling involves us in temptations from which you are exempt, above all it too often draws us away from our personal enjoyment of truth into a ministerial and official consideration of it. We meet with many knotty cases, and our wits are at a non plus; we observe very sad backslidings, and our hearts are wounded; we see millions perishing, and our spirits sink. We wish to profit you by our preaching; we desire to be blest to your children; we long to be useful both to saints and sinners; therefore, dear friends, intercede for us with our God. Miserable men are we if we miss the aid of your prayers, but happy are we if we live in your supplications. You do not look to us but to our Master for spiritual blessings, and yet how many times has He given those blessings through His ministers; ask then, again and again, that we may be the earthen vessels into which the Lord may put the treasure of the gospel. We, the whole company of missionaries, ministers, city missionaries, and students, do in the name of Jesus beseech you ‘BRETHREN, PRAY FOR US.’

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How Many Are Mine Iniquities And Sins?

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Job 13:23

Have you ever really weighed and considered how great the sin of God’s people is? Think how heinous is your own transgression, and you will find that not only does a sin here and there tower up like an alp, but that your iniquities are heaped upon each other, as in the old fable of the giants who piled Pelian upon Ossa, mountain upon mountain. What an aggregate of sin there is in the life of one of the most sanctified of God’s children! Attempt to multiply this, the sin of one only, by the multitude of the redeemed, ‘a number which no man can number,’ and you will have some conception of the great mass of the guilt of the people for whom Jesus shed His blood.

But we arrive at a more adequate idea of the magnitude of sin by the greatness of the remedy provided. It is the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only and well-beloved Son. God’s Son! Angels cast their crowns before Him! All the choral symphonies of heaven surround His glorious throne. ‘God over all, blessed for ever. Amen.’ And yet He takes upon Himself the form of a servant, and is scourged and pierced, bruised and torn, and at last slain; since nothing but the blood of the incarnate Son of God could make atonement for our offences. No human mind can adequately estimate the infinite value of the divine sacrifice, for great as is the sin of God’s people, the atonement which takes it away is immeasurably greater. Therefore, the believer, even when sin rolls like a black flood, and the remembrance of the past is bitter, can yet stand before the blazing throne of the great and holy God, and cry, ‘Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died; yea rather, that hath risen again.’ While the recollection of his sin fills him with shame and sorrow, he at the same time makes it a foil to show the brightness of mercy-guilt is the dark night in which the fair star of divine love shines with serene splendour.

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Whoso Hearkeneth Unto Me Shall Dwell Safely

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Proverbs 1:33

Divine love is rendered conspicuous when it I shines in the midst of judgments. Fair is that lone star which smiles through the rifts of the thunder clouds; bright is the oasis which blooms in the wilderness of sand; so fair and so bright is love in the midst of wrath. When the Israelites provoked the Most High by their continued idolatry, He punished them by withholding both dew and rain, so that their land was visited by a sore famine; but while He did this, He took care that His own chosen ones should be secure. If all other brooks are dry, yet shall there be one reserved for Elijah; and when that fails, God shall still preserve for him a place of sustenance; nay, not only so, the Lord had not simply one ‘Elijah,’ but He had a remnant according to the election of grace, who were hidden by fifties in a cave, and though the whole land was subject to famine, yet these fifties in the cave were fed, and fed from Ahab’s table too by His faithful, God-fearing steward, Obadiah.

Let us from this draw the inference, that come what may, God’s people are safe. Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in twain, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest. If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven. If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be the place of their reception and their safety. Be ye then confident, when ye hear of wars, and rumours of wars. Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil. Whatsoever cometh upon the earth, you, beneath the broad wings of Jehovah, shall be secure. Stay yourself upon His promise; rest in His faithfulness, and bid defiance to the blackest future, for there is nothing in it direful for you. Your sole concern should be to show forth to the world the blessedness of hearkening to the voice of wisdom.

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Weekly Links (9/7/2018)

by Stephen Rodgers

So there’s a lot going on in the world, but we’ll try to keep this simple and short. As always, here’s some free resources that might be helpful.

  • How to Battle Depression and Suicidal Thoughts by Ray Comfort (free audio book) – This is the free resources for the month by christianaudio.com. I really can’t vouch for it one way or the other, but it’s there if you think it would be something that would be helpful.
  • Preaching and Teaching the Last Things: Old Testament Eschatology for the Life of the Church by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr. (free Logos resource) – Again, I don’t have first-hand knowledge of this particular book, but Kaiser is a reputable scholar who has done some good work, so if you’re a Logos person, this might be worth clicking a few buttons for.
  • “Between Two Worlds” (September Tabletalk) – Look, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Tabletalk is awesome. This month the theme is the Christian as a dual-citizen. Highly recommended.
  • “Idolatry” (CredoMag) – Last but not least, there’s a new issue of CredoMag on the topic of “idolatry.” They lead with Calvin’s famous quote (which you might expect), but they certainly don’t leave it at that. Another recommended resource.

Well, it’s September. Fall. Back to school. Just a few more months until Christmas. Take a deep breath, remember what’s important and what endures, and live for the glory of God.

Pro Rege.

 

Trust Ye In The Lord For Ever

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Isaiah 26:4

Seeing that we have such a God to trust to, let us rest upon Him with all our weight; let us resolutely drive out all unbelief, and endeavour to get rid of doubts and fears, which so much mar our comfort; since there is no excuse for fear where God is the foundation of our trust. A loving parent would be sorely grieved if his child could not trust him; and how ungenerous, how unkind is our conduct when we put so little confidence in our heavenly Father who has never failed us, and who never will. It were well if doubting were banished from the household of God; but it is to be feared that old Unbelief is as nimble nowadays as when the psalmist asked, ‘Is His mercy clean gone for ever? Will He be favourable no more?’

David had not made any very lengthy trial of the mighty sword of the giant Goliath, and yet he said, ‘There is none like it.’ He had tried it once in the hour of his youthful victory, and it had proved itself to be of the right metal, and therefore he praised it ever afterwards; even so should we speak well of our God, there is none like unto Him in the heaven above or the earth beneath; ‘To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.’ There is no rock like unto the rock of Jacob, our enemies themselves being judges.

So far from suffering doubts to live in our hearts, we will take the whole detestable crew, as Elijah did the prophets of Baal, and slay them over the brook; and for a stream to kill them at, we will select the sacred torrent which wells forth from our Saviour’s wounded side. We have been in many trials, but we have never yet been cast where we could not find in our God all that we needed. Let us then be encouraged to trust in the Lord for ever, assured that His ever lasting strength will be, as it has been, our succour and stay.

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God’s Design and Purpose for the Family: An Introduction – Part 2

by Josh Liu

Although College Life has ended, it will be helpful to highlight certain principles concerning the biblical foundations of marriage and family that we talked about during the school year.

(Again, the following notes are adapted from Dr. John Street of The Master’s University and Seminary.)

We can identify two kinds of families in the Bible: spiritual families and physical families.

Every person belongs to a spiritual family. Several passages in Scripture refer to believers as the spiritual family or children of God (1 Tim. 3:15; Eph. 2:19; 3:15; John 1:12; Rom. 8:16-17; Gal. 3:26; 1 John. 3:10). Other passages refer to unbelievers as children of the wicked one or of the devil (John 8:38-44; Matt. 13:38-39; Acts 13:10; 1 John 3:10). These spiritual families are based on one’s relationship to God and have eternal consequences. To become a child of God, one needs to be redeemed (e.g., have Christ’s redemptive work applied to a repentant sinner); otherwise, he remains a child of wrath (Eph. 2:3). The spiritual position, or family, of belonging to God is accompanied with commands of how one ought to conduct himself (Matt. 5:9ff; Mark 3:31-35). The spiritual family continues after our physical death (Rev. 21:7).

Every person also belongs to a physical family. God has defined the design, purpose, and responsibilities of physical families. While every human being is related—descendants of Adam and Eve—God intentionally creates family units through marriage (Gen. 2:24-25). This particular physical family is known as the traditional (nuclear, immediate) family, consisting of a husband, wife, and/or children and important childrearing responsibilities for unmarried children (Gen. 2:24; cf. Ps. 28:1-4; Eph. 5:22-6:4; Col. 3:18-21; 1 Pet. 3:1-7). The Bible also refers to the kind of family that would be regarded as extended family, including grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.—any person with a near biological connection or association (cf. Gen. 10:5ff; Ruth 2:1; Luke 2:4; 1 Tim. 5; Mark 7). Physical families are based on birth, marriage, or adoption. The physical family is only enjoyed while on earth.

While it is the physical family that we seek to expound upon, it must be emphasized that one’s membership to the spiritual family of God is imperative. If you do not know God as your heavenly Father—through submitting to Christ as your Lord and Savior by faith and repentance and depending on His death and resurrection to save you from your sins—then you cannot “do” marriage and family God’s way; without faith, it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6; cf. Matt. 7:21-23; Is. 64:6). A fulfilling or “successful” (e.g., well-put together, enviable, conflict-free, “full-quiver,” etc.) marriage and family are secondary to being right with God. Even now, you are able to turn to Christ by faith and repentance and be accepted as a child of God.

As we now examine the physical family, we highlight several specific facts about what the family is and what it should be from God’s perspective.

First, the Bible teaches that the family—specifically marriage—is God’s response to man’s aloneness; marriage is a place where the deepest kind of friendships are formed and experienced. At the beginning of creation, God specifically created a helper for Adam (Gen. 2:18). The spouse is described as a companion, which refers to one who comes alongside or one who accompanies (Prov. 2:17; Mal. 2:14). In other words, the marriage relationship is to be a rich companionship. This one-flesh companion can be further characterized as the biblical friend: a true friend loves, is committed, and loyal (Prov. 17:17; 27:10); avoids flattery and rebukes gently (Prov. 29:5); is concerned about being a positive influence (Prov. 12:26); is sensitive to the likes and dislikes of others (Prov. 25:17, 20; 27:14); encourages and cheers others up (Prov. 27:9); sharpens others (Prov. 27:17); and is willing to sacrifice self and serve others (John 15:13-15).

Second, the Bible teaches that the husband-wife relationship should take precedence over other human relationships (Gen. 2:24). At creation, God intended for the spousal relationship to be permanent and the parent-child relationship to be temporary (e.g., in terms of authority-submission). Parents are to raise their children to leave the home and hold fast to their own spouse (cf. 1 Cor. 14:35). The primary relationship in the home is the husband-wife relationship.

Third, the Bible teaches that the family is to be a place where people are shown honor and respect. Children, in particular, are commanded to honor, not despise, curse, disgrace, scorn, or mock their parents (Deut. 5:16; Prov. 19:26; 20:20; 23:22; 30:17; Mark 7:10; Eph. 6:2). The husband is to delicately care for his wife (1 Pet. 3:7); the wife is to respect her husband (Eph. 5:33); the father is to treat his children with dignity (1 Tim. 3:4) and not provoke them to anger (Col. 3:21; Eph. 6:4); and children are to regard their own family (1 Tim. 5:4).

Fourth, the Bible teaches that the family is a classroom in which the most important lessons of life are taught and learned. Parents have a responsibility to pass on God’s greatness to the next children by instructing them of God’s Word (Deut. 4:9-10; 6:6-25; Josh. 4:21-24; Ps. 78:2-7). Parents have a primary role in the education of their children (though this is not necessarily an argument supporting the priority of homeschooling!).

Fifth, the Bible teaches that the family is a place of safety. God intended the family to be a help during the turmoil of life, which may include social rejection or ridicule, financial distress, physical illnesses or diseases, and spiritual challenges and weaknesses. For example, the husband safely trusts his wife (Prov. 31:11-12); the husband cherishes and nourishes his wife (Eph. 5:28-29); the husband shows his wife honor (1 Pet. 3:7); the God-fearing wife is a blessing to her home (Prov. 14:1; 31:26-28); spouses find satisfaction in one another (Prov. 5:15-20); the family provides for their household (1 Tim. 5:8); the husband provides for his children (Prov. 13:22; cf. 2 Cor. 12:14); and a wise son blesses his father (Prov. 10:1). The family (husband, wife, children) are meant to be a source of encouragement, help, support, gladness, and safety for one another.

This is a sampling of a God-honoring marriage and family—God’s intended design, responsibilities, and blessings. This biblical foundation ought to compel God’s children to prepare for and “do” marriage and family His way. Remember also to carefully watch over your soul by not idolizing (demanding, living for, sinning when not receiving or sinning in order to get) the blessings of the biblical marriage and family. Regardless of the physical family God has brought you into, you can glorify Him in your responses and hope in belonging to the eternal, spiritual family of God.

Called To Be Saints

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Romans 1:7

We are very apt to regard the apostolic saints as if they were ‘saints’ in a more especial manner than the other children of God. All are ‘saints’ whom God has called by His grace, and sanctified by His Spirit; but we are apt to look upon the apostles as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves. Yet in so doing we are forgetful of this truth, that the nearer a man lives to God the more intensely has he to mourn over his own evil heart; and the more his Master honours him in His service, the more also doth the evil of the flesh vex and tease him day by day.

The fact is, if we had seen the apostle Paul, we should have thought him remarkably like the rest of the chosen family: and if we had talked with him, we should have said, ‘We find that his experience and ours are much the same. He is more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the selfsame trials to endure. Nay, in some respects he is more sorely tried than ourselves.’

Do not, then, look upon the ancient saints as being exempt either from infirmities or sins; and do not regard them with that mystic reverence which will almost make us idolators. Their holiness is attainable even by us. We are ‘called to be saints’ by that same voice which constrained them to their high vocation. It is a Christian’s duty to force his way into the inner circle of saintship; and if these saints were superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them; let us emulate their ardour and holiness. We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equalled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, therefore they grew like Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, ‘looking unto Jesus,’ and our saintship will soon be apparent.

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He That Hath Clean Hands…

by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Psalm 24:4

Outward practical holiness is a very precious mark of grace. It is to be feared that many professors have perverted the doctrine of justification by faith in such a way as to treat good works with contempt; if so, they will receive everlasting contempt at the last great day. If our hands are not clean, let us wash them in Jesus’ precious blood, and so let us lift up pure hands unto God. But ‘clean hands’ will not suffice, unless they are connected with ‘a pure heart.’ True religion is heart-work. We may wash the outside of the cup and the platter as long as we please, but if the inward parts be filthy, we are filthy altogether in the sight of God, for our hearts are more truly ourselves than our hands are; the very life of our being lies in the inner nature, and hence the imperative need of purity within. The pure in heart shall see God, all others are but blind bats.

The man who is born for heaven ‘hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity.’ All men have their joys, by which their souls are lifted up; the worldling lifts up his soul in carnal delights, which are mere empty vanities; but the saint loves more substantial things; like Jehoshaphat, he is lifted up in the ways of the Lord. He who is content with husks, will be reckoned with the swine. Does the world satisfy thee? Then thou hast thy reward and portion in this life; make much of it, for thou shalt know no other joy.

‘Nor sworn deceitfully.’ The saints are men of honour still. The Christian man’s word is his only oath; but that is as good as twenty oaths of other men. False speaking will shut any man out of heaven, for a liar shall not enter into God’s house, whatever may be his professions or doings. Reader, does the text before us condemn thee, or dost thou hope to ascend into the hill of the Lord?

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The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These

by Katherine Lam

For those that don’t know, I’ve never been a “kids” person. I grew up being the youngest of three so I had no experience in taking care of a younger sibling. At church, you would have never seen me play with the kids, let alone ask to hold someone’s child. But surely, God challenged me to grow in my love for children as I was looking into joining a ministry to serve in at Lighthouse.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. (Matthew 19:13-14)

There’s a good number of options when looking at what ministries to serve in, but as I was looking through the list, the children’s ministry particularly caught my eye – not in the best way exactly. The thought of joining made me uncomfortable and I wanted to shy away from it. Yet as I recalled from Scripture Jesus’ tender love for children, I couldn’t help but to recognize my lack thereof and how I needed to grow in it as we’re called to exemplify Christ in all things. Serving in children’s ministry would provide such an opportunity. After some prayer and consideration, I asked to join the Sparklers ministry serving the three- to five-year olds.

Now reflecting upon my time in Sparklers for the past four years, I can confidently say that God has grown my love for children. I still don’t gravitate towards them like some other people naturally do at the church, but I do take delight in developing a relationship with each of them. It’s fun to see their individual personalities come out as you get to know them, but it’s also bittersweet to witness when they first enter from Fireflies to when they move up to Sonlight as you get personally attached.

But don’t get me wrong, there are the frustrating, not-as-easy discipline moments with them as well. There’s even been a time I cried! But what a tremendous joy it is to be in a position to shepherd them, share the Gospel, and hopefully make a lasting impact on their souls.

I encourage you, if you think you disqualify from serving in the children’s ministry because of your lack of love towards them, to pray and reconsider. Ask God to give you a heart for them. Not only is it a way to serve the church body, but it’s also a way to grow in Christlikeness.