“Be Ye Therefore…” – Wise as serpents, and Harmless as doves

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Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Introduction

This is the third in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series. In these last days, a Christian needs spiritual discernment now more than ever.  The Lord is reminding His disciples that as they serve among enemies within and without, they are to combine the wisdom of the serpent and the simplicity and humility of the dove.

We Have Met the Enemy… And He is Us

Christ reminds believers that He is sending us forth as sheep among wolves.  But wolves will also creep into our midst.  The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders this in his final meeting with them before going to Jerusalem and imprisonment, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30  This is why it is particularly important in the last days to heed the advice of our Lord.

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Nothing Says “I Love You” Like a Hedgehog

Introduction

Each year on Valentine’s Day I pick out a little figurine, stuffed animal or trinket to give my wife.  This year’s model, a hedgehog.

For the first time ever my daughter accompanied me when I went out to find that perfect “I love you” item.

Yesterday morning, when I presented my 2014 model, my daughter asked her mother how many of these items had she kept.  After she asked I thought, good question, how many are still in existence?  After all we are talking about 28 Valentine’s Day items.

The Big Reveal

 

Help

A sister in Christ has called out for help. I don’t know any details but God is on the throne. Please take the time to call out to God on her behalf.
A Servant

 

The Next Pillow Over

Introduction

On the eve of Valentine’s Day I expect there will be a number of posts covering the big day of romance.  Ever the oddball I’ll be touching on the subject but with a twist.

A day of flowers, candy and dinner at a favorite eatery will be popular choices but I am wondering… how do we show our love for that special person “The Next Pillow Over” the other 364 days of the year?

Do I think it is wrong to go all out one day of the year? No, of course not, but this cannot represent a major portion of expressed love for the year.  Priority #1: Make sure every day is special.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Perfect

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Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Introduction

This is the second in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  Christ is speaking here during what is referred to as the Sermon on the Mount. He starts out this part of His sermon with verse 20 of this chapter.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20) He goes on to describe the kind of righteousness a person must have to enter the Kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is when Christ sets up His everlasting kingdom here on earth and heaven rules here. Anyone who enters will have to be perfect as the Father is perfect. When Christ brings up several points of the law such as adultery, He shows that God’s standard of righteousness is higher than we can attain to. Why, if a man even looks with lust on a woman he has committed adultery. The pharisees had reduced righteousness to just an outward showing of obedience to the law.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Courageous to Keep and Do His Word

Introduction

Here at ServantsJournal.com we strive to possess a servant’s heart for service and for the things of God.  We also want to encourage fellow believers in their walk too.  I found something unique and fitting.  In God’s word numbers have symbolic meaning.  For instance the number five is the number of grace.  Eight is the number of new beginnings.  And seven stands for perfection or more properly completion.  Well, a while back there was this phrase that stood out in my mind, BE YE THEREFORE…

In searching for every instance of that phrase in the bible, I found that it only appears exactly seven times!  How appropriate!  When thinking of an encouraging thought, that which I would say to you appears seven times which is the number of completion.

The phrase ‘BE YE THEREFORE’ appears once in the old testament and six times in the new testament.  In each case, the phrase is used to encourage God’s people to be or do that which is for their good and for God’s glory.  There are, in total, seven short posts in this series.  I hope it will bless you the reader and help you to be a more complete (see why seven is important? 🙂 ) servant of God.

 

“…And yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”

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Introduction

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner so I wanted to share a thought on love and one of the most convicting passages in the Bible.  Later this week I will be starting a short series on the phrase ‘Be Ye Therefore…’ which occurs seven times in the Bible and each time it appears it is used to encourage God’s people to do something that will be for His glory and their good.  But for now, let’s talk about love…

The apostle Paul had just been dealing with spiritual gifts in the twelfth chapter in his first epistle to Corinth and he finishes with the following verse.  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. (1Corinthans 12:31)

The Things We Think Are Important

Paul, according to his own testimony in Philippians 3, had at one time considered works and the outward observance of the Law of God to be profitable unto him and the Lord.  According to the standards of the religious elite of his day, Paul was a great man before Christ found him on the road to Damascus.  He said he was, “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”  Paul had come to realize that all that he used to think was profitable or gain for him was loss for Christ.  His position among the Pharisees, all the keeping of the law, everything that he had at one time considered precious he now saw as dung.  To lose such things was nothing now to Paul for he had gained the excellency of knowledge of Christ.

Friend, we say we love the Lord.  We say we serve Him.  But do we?  Is our works motivated by our love for Jesus?  Or do we do what we do out of some sense of duty?  Remember I mentioned that this is one of the most convicting passages in the Bible.  Well Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.   And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.   If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”  So we see that love is the first of the fruit of the Spirit that should be born by you.  Love is not a gift but rather evidence of the Spirit within you.  Paul reminds us In the first three verses of I Corinthians 13 that to truly love Christ is to love Him with all our heart, all our mind, and all our will or soul. 

 

A Father’s Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Tonight I saw my son walk across the stage, and for the very first time, open his bible and preach the gospel in the church where he was raised. I asked you when he was born to help me to train him up in the way he should go and you heard my prayer.  I remember the day I had the honor and privilege to show him in the bible how to be saved.  He is a man now, a husband and a preacher.  I want to praise you for calling my son into your service.  I want to thank you for allowing me to be his father.

I am not worthy of such joy.  Today I know what David meant when he said “my cup runneth over”.  Father, to see my son following you is my greatest triumph.  To see him proclaim the gospel causes my heart to rejoice.  If this was the last day of my life you saved the best for last.

Saying thank you sounds so shallow yet I have no other words to express the joy I feel.  In the things that matter I am the richest man on this earth.  I want the world to know that I love you with all my heart, in Jesus name, AMEN

A Servant