YOU and GOD

Serving God Acceptably, 2

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28) Paul posits in Eph.4:7 that every believer has been given a measure of grace, and James indicates that when we humble ourselves before Him He gives us more grace. (James 4:7) Consider, then, with me the grace of singing.

Music has always been an integral part of worship both individually and corporately. “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.” (Ps.104:33) Having been born into God’s family we echo in our hearts what the Psalmist said: “He hath put a new song in my mouth; even praise unto our God….” (Ps.40:3)

The individual who is saved and filled with God’s Spirit will demonstrate it by singing. In Eph.5:18,19 Paul commands his readers to be filled with the Spirit: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.”

Good music has always accompanied good preaching. The last thing that the disciples did at the Last Supper was to sing a hymn. Paul and Silas when jailed for Christ’s sake in Philippi prayed and sang. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ has always been and will always be a singing church until one day the choir of the redeemed of all ages will sing the song of the redeemed. And they sung a new song, saying “Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals, for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on earth.” (Rev.5:9,10)

Many good and Godly Christian leaders today are alarmed, however, that the present-day sound of music which is coming out of many churches is not that sound.

We’re living today in the age of rock, and the age of rock is not in tune with the Rock of Ages. The contemporary sound in music, which is not only the dominant sound heard on most so-called Christian outlets, and even in many churches which call themselves evangelical, smacks more of Hollywood than holiness. Sadly, in many fundamental churches the music that is sung is not fundamental. Paul exhorts us to teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.

We must, therefore, sing as we are filled with the Spirit. (Eph.5:18b) Then, too, we should be careful to sing the Word of Christ: “…I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” (I Cor.14:5) Mary did this when she lifted her voice of praise in what is called the “Magnificat of Mary” recorded in Luke 1:46-56. She drew upon many Old Testament passages in her pean of praise to her God and Savior, singing with grace in her heart to the Lord. (Col.3:16)

The content of our singing is spelled out in Col.3:16: psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Psalms are words of scripture, especially the psalms of David, set to music and sung with instruments. Psalm 45 is a “song of loves,” (a royal wedding song); Psalms 46 “to or of maidens” sung by soprano voices; Psalms 54, 55 psalms with stringed instruments; and Psalm 13 plus 54 other psalms “to the chief musician,” the choir leader of the Temple as he would lead in public worship, as well as Psalms 120-134 “songs of ascent” sung by Israelis as they journeyed “up to Jerusalem” for their prescribed feast days. It is not so common to hear the psalms sung in today’s worship gatherings, but some churches do it and it can be a great blessing. Psalm 19 and Psalm 48 (in part) have been in the limited repertoire of psalms that our family has enjoyed through the past many decades.

Then, hymns, sacred expressions of devotion and faith. “Our God Our Help in Ages Past,” “O Worship the King,” “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” and so many other hymns of the ages still bless worshipful bodies to this present day.

Finally, spiritual songs, gospel songs, often poems set to music, that testify to a believer’s personal experience with Christ. Whereas hymns are more God-centered and objective, spiritual songs tend to be more man-centered and subjective. “Beulah Land,” “We’re Marching to Zion,” “Living for Jesus,” “Just When I Need Him Most,” “He Leadeth Me,” and, yes, the old favorite of some, “I’ll Fly Away,” are just a few.

As we sing we praise and worship, but we also teach:

Of His power: “Be Thou exalted, Lord, in Thine own strength: so will we sing and praise Thy power.” (Ps.55:16)
Of His mercies: “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever….” (Ps. 89:1)
Of His wondrous works: “Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him: talk ye of all His wondrous works.” (Ps.105:2)
Of His righteousness: “They shall abundantly utter the memory of Thy great goodness, and shall sing of Thy righteousness.” (Psalm 145:7)
Of His honor: “Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious.” (Ps. 66:2)
Of His majesty: “They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord….” (Isa. 24:14)

So, let us ever “have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably,” and always “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Hebs.12:28; Col.3:16)

“Come Thou Almighty King, help us Thy name to sing; help us to praise; Father all glorious, o’er all victorious, come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.”

Thomas Fuller, a man known for his wisdom and quaintness, prayed, “Lord, my voice by nature is harsh and untonable, and it is vain to lavish any art to better it. Can my singing of psalms be pleasing to Thine ears, which is unpleasant to my own; yet, though I cannot chant with the nightingale, or chirp with the blackbird, I had rather chatter with the swallow than be altogether silent; now what my music lacks in sweetness, let it have sense; yea, Lord, create in me a new heart therein to mark melody, and I will be contented with my old voice, until in due time, being admitted to the choir of heaven, I shall have another voice more harmonious.”

“Praise ye the Lord. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the saints.” (Ps.149:1)

Waiting the Call

(This is the triumphant conclusion to the three previous “You and God” posts “His Last 24 Hours.”

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary could not, in the pre-dawn darkness, see the bodies of the soldiers, and by the time they arrived at the tomb the angels had momentarily disappeared; they saw only the huge rock that had been rolled away and they saw an empty tomb. Immediately they ran back to tell John and Peter, and these two disciples had a footrace to the grave. John was the first to reach the empty tomb, and Peter confirmed his findings. The assumption was, at that point, that someone had come during the night and had stolen the body of Jesus.

As John and Peter left to go home, Mary Magdalene made her way back to the sepulcher and, standing at its entrance, she began to weep. Through her tears she got the nerve to again peek into the cave and she could hardly believe what she saw: two angels sitting where Jesus’ body had lain—one at the head and one where His feet had been. They asked Mary why she was weeping, and she told them that someone had taken away the body of her Master. “I know not where they have laid Him,” she lamented.

Turning away from the tomb’s entrance, Mary began to leave when her attention was caught by a man who at first appeared to her to be the gardener. The man also asked her why she was weeping, and Mary replied, “Sir, if thou hast borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

At those words, the supposed gardener looked at the weeping woman and said, “Mary.”

“Rabboni,” Mary exclaimed, and she fell at the feet of the resurrected body of the Lord Jesus Christ and began to worship Him.

Thus, the last 24 hours of Jesus’ life upon the earth and His subsequent resurrection from the tomb. All of these events, to be sure, are historical; but they are more than historical, they have a spiritual significance that puts them into a category all by themselves.

They were, indeed, the most significant events in all of history.

Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, Israel’s King, Savior of all men, came into this world for one reason. His testimony to Pilate, in His own words, says it best:

“To this end I was born, and for this cause came I into the world; that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.” John 18:37

Are you of the truth today? Are you listening to His voice? “I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” Jesus said it. John 14:6 If you have not yet done so, will you come to God through Jesus today?

Waiting the Call
Nature blushed in reverence of God’s Son upon the tree,
	While the thirsty mob for death did yell;
Jesus died that day to set His killers free,
	But God refused to leave His Holy One in Hell.

That is why He died though Satan’s worst at Him was hurled;
	That is why from heav’n to earth He came;
There His blood was shed, the Savior of the world,
	Even as in death He suffered shame.

He would die indeed, then in the grave would lie,
	Fragrances of death would fill the tomb;
Followers outside the cave would mournful cry,
	Some had traced His steps from Mary’s womb.

But from the sabbath day to Sunday’s fate,
	Jesus went to Hell to gather up His own;
Captives in the bosom of Abraham did wait,
	To follow Christ through space to their new Home.

We who trust Him now by faith do also wait,
	Listening for the trumpet and the shout;
Waiting for our entrance through His open gate,
	This our blessed hope-without a doubt!

Even so “Come quickly” is our daily prayer,
	Nothing here could make us miss His call;
Surely Heaven’s glories we will gladly share,
	Jesus, risen Savior, before Him all will fall. 

Anthony Slutz

This post is a repeat post as we prepare to once again commemorate the celebration of Christ’s victory over the grave, hell and death.

His Last 24 Hours, Part 3

Pilate tried again to persuade the crowd that he should release to them Jesus, but again they cried for His blood. Finally, at about 6 a.m. he delivered Jesus over to the mob and they took Him and led Him away to be crucified.

Immediately, upon His release from Pilate, soldiers seized our Savior, stripped Him, put upon Him a scarlet robe and pressed into His forehead again the crown of thorns, and they put into His right hand a reed or mock scepter; then they began to say, “Hail, King of the Jews.” Spitting upon Him, they took the reed from His hand and smote Him on the head. They mocked Him more, took off the scarlet robe and replaced it with Jesus’ own garment, then led Him to Calvary.

To the place of the skull He was then led, followed by a great company of people. Already weakened by the brutal scourging, Jesus soon fell under the heavy load of the cross that He bore, and one Simon, a Cyrenian, was conscripted by the soldiers to carry the cross on up the hill to Calvary.

Golgotha was the site of the crucifixion, and shortly before 9 a.m. on Friday, the sinless Son of God was stretched out upon a rough-hewn cross; nails were driven through the palms of each hand while one long spike secured both of His feet to the upright stake. The Roman cross of crucifixion was raised by wicked hands high above the earth, then dropped with a sickening thud into a hole upon the hill while every bone in Jesus’ body was torn and twisted in their sockets. Malefactors were put on crosses on either side of the Savior, and from nine ‘til noon the hill was crowned with three cross-bearing bodies, two thieves and the man on the middle cross, the God man.

Earlier all the Disciples had fled and forsook their Master, but by now word was out that He was on the cross, and one by one many had made their way back to Calvary to watch and weep. Mary, His mother, stood by His cross, as did Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene. John the Beloved Disciple stood beside Mary the mother of Jesus.

From nine ‘til noon, Jesus spoke three times from His place above the earth. First, His prayer of forgiveness was uttered: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Next, to the thief who in a dying breath asked for mercy, Jesus said, “This day shalt thou be with me in paradise” and finally, gazing upon the sorrowing heart of a sad mother He said to John, “Son, behold thy mother.”

While the hot sun beat upon Jesus for three hours, He spoke only three times and each time not for Himself but on behalf of someone else!

At noon, the sun became dark, and for three hours the heavens hid their faces as it were from the shameful scenes on Calvary.

At about 3 p.m. Jesus’ words pierced through and broke the silence as He cried, “Eli, Eli Lama Sabachthani,” “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

Shortly following that, Jesus said again, “I thirst.”

A vinegar-soaked sponge was held to His mouth on a stick, and when He had received it, He cried with a loud voice, “It is finished!” And then, “Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit.”

With those words Jesus gave up the ghost and died. It was Matthew who recorded that at that precise moment, the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks were rent in two, and the graves of many of the bodies of Old Testament saints that had died were opened and they were seen walking through the streets of Jerusalem.

The darkest deed of history was done! Jesus had died; had died a criminal’s death, and the heavens blushed while the earth convulsed.

One of the Roman soldiers who had cast lots for His garments got on his knees and confessed Jesus as the Son of God, while His faithful followers, including Mary Magdalene, came to minister to His body. Joseph of Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, had received permission from Pilate to bury the body of his Lord, and the body was taken from the cross by Pilate’s orders and wrapped in a clean, spice-laden linen burial cloth and placed in Joseph’s tomb, a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock. Nicodemus, the ruler of the Pharisees who had come to Jesus by night, anointed Jesus’ body with spices and perfumes. A great stone was rolled to the door of the sepulcher, and Mary Magdalene and the other women sat by the door to keep watch.

Saturday, the day after His burial, the vile chief priests went back to Pilate and begged of him a detachment of Roman soldiers to guard the tomb, for, as they remembered and reminded Pilate, He had said, “After three days I will rise again.” Afraid that Jesus’ disciples would secretly steal His body away, they sought the Roman watch and secured it from Pilate.

It was early—about dawn but still dark—on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, that Mary Magdalene and another Mary stole secretly to the tomb with sweet spices with which to anoint their Master’s body. Wondering who would roll away the stone for them, their question was soon forgotten as they came and saw the stone had been rolled away already.

What the women did not know at that time was that in the wee hours of the morning, a good while before daylight, God had shaken the tomb with an earthquake, and the angel of the Lord had descended from Heaven to roll back that great seal. The Roman soldiers fell to the ground and were as dead men, and the angel of the Lord sat down upon the stone. Jesus arose from His burial place triumphant over death and Hell, and two angels from Heaven came and folded neatly the linen cloth that had been wrapped around His body and the napkin that had been wrapped around His head.

(Read the “You and God” special Easter Sunday installment for the conclusion.)

“This post and the next one are repeat posts as we prepare to once again commemorate the celebration of Christ’s victory over the grave, hell and death.”

His Last 24 Hours, part 2

As was pre-planned, Judas, seeing Jesus, ran up and greeted Him with “Master, Master,” and kissed Him on the cheek. Jesus looked at Judas and said, “Judas, betrayeth thou the Son of Man with a kiss?”

The soldiers who had fallen to the ground were still stunned and as they regained their composure, Peter pulled his sword from its sheath and cut off the ear of one of the soldiers. He was immediately rebuked by Jesus and told to put his sword up. The Lord then restored the ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest, and, turning to the band who had come to take Him to the high priest, He said, “Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and with staves to take Me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple and ye laid no hold on Me.” With those words, the soldiers took Jesus and bound Him and led Him away to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas the then high priest.

All the Disciples, Mark notes in Mark 14:50, forsook Jesus at this point and fled. Peter also fled but soon turned back, with John, to follow afar off to see what would become of their Lord.

It was before dawn on Friday, the day of Jesus’ death (by Jewish reckoning, any part of a day would be considered a day and a night, thus the crucifixion was on Friday, rather than Wednesday, cf. Mark 15:42.) The soldiers led the peaceful prisoner first to Annas. Jesus was led into the presence of the former high priest while most of the soldiers who had taken Him captive waited in the hall outside where a fire had been kindled so that the pre-dawn chill could be broken. It was at that fire that Peter stood warming his hands when a young maiden saw him and recognized him as a follower of Jesus, and when she asked him if he were not with them in the Garden, Peter flatly denied it. Going out to the adjoining porch, Peter heard, almost unconsciously, the cock crew. A short while later, another maiden said, “This is one of them,” as she pointed out Peter, and again he denied it vehemently. About an hour later, others of the soldiers said to Peter, “Surely you are a Galilean and a follower of this Jesus—your speech gives you away.” At that Peter said, “I swear unto you, I do not know this man!” The words had barely fallen from his lips before the cock crew the second time, and instantly the fisherman follower remembered the earlier prediction of His Master: “Peter, before the cock crew twice, thou shalt deny Me thrice.” Peter, when he had thought upon that, went out and wept bitterly.

While Peter was denying Jesus outside Annas’ house, the former high priest and father-in-law of the then ruling high priest, Caiaphas, was inside questioning Jesus concerning His disciples and His doctrines. Jesus’ reply was straightforward: “I spake openly in the world; I taught in the synagogue and in the temple-in secret have I said nothing. Why do you ask me? Ask them which heard me what I have said to them, they know what I said.”

An officer of the high priest, thinking Jesus’ reply to be disrespectful, struck the Savior with the palm of his hand and said, “Dare you talk so to the high priest?” Jesus said, “If I have spoken evil, then bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you smite me?”

Jesus was then taken from before Annas to Caiaphas the high priest where He was further interrogated. False witnesses were sought and two were finally found who came and accused Jesus by saying that He had said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.” Jesus made no reply, and Caiaphas, pressing Him to answer said, “I adjure Thee by the living God that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” “Thou hast said,” was Jesus’ reply. Caiaphas, upon hearing those words, rent his clothes and exclaimed, “He hath spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? What do you think?” he asked his hastily convened council. They said, “He is guilty of death.” Those standing by began to spit on His blindfolded face and slap Him, saying, “Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee?”

It was early Friday morning, just after dawn, when Caiaphas ordered Jesus to be taken bound to Pontius Pilate.

Officers of the High Priest led Jesus to Pilate’s Judgment Hall. Judas Iscariot, having had second thoughts about what he had done in betraying Jesus, hastened in the meantime to the council with the thirty pieces of silver that they had given him: “I have sinned,” he said, “in that I have betrayed innocent blood.” The priests were not interested in either Judas’ confession or his money, and they bade him leave. Matthew tells us that Judas went out and hanged himself.

It was in Pilate’s judgment hall that Jesus was first asked by the Roman governor, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” The Savior did not deny it, but said simply, “Thou sayest.” Pilate’s initial response was that he could find no fault with Jesus, so he ordered Him to be taken to Herod, for Jesus was from Galilee and Herod had jurisdiction of Galilee.

Herod was glad for the opportunity to interrogate Jesus Christ, for he had heard much about Him and had hoped to see one of His famous miracles. This was not to be though, and silence was the only response that Herod received from each of his questions to Jesus. Distraught, he and his soldiers began to mock Jesus, putting a gorgeous robe upon Him, and calling Him, in jest, a King. Their sport ended, they sent Him back to Pontius Pilate.

Bringing Jesus back to the Roman governor, Pilate was ready with his first question of those who led the prisoner: “What accusation bring ye against this man?” They who would settle for nothing less than Jesus’ death assured Pilate that this man was indeed a malefactor, and that since the Jews could not lawfully put any man to death, he would have to give the order. Pilate went back to his judgment hall and calling for Jesus, asked Him, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “Thou sayest I am a King. To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world: that I should bear witness of the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”

Pilate said, “What is truth?” Pontius Pilate again went out and addressed the crowd: “I find in Him no fault. You have a custom that I shall release unto you one at the Passover. Will ye therefore that I should release unto you the King of the Jews?”

“No, not this man, but Barabbas. Release Barabbas the robber” the crowd clamored!

A hand written note, hurriedly scrawled by Pilate’s wife, was delivered to the governor at about this time on which she had written these words: “Have nothing to do with this just man. I have this day suffered many things in a dream because of Him.”

The crowd, spurred on by the chief priests, continued to cry for the release of Barabbas. Seeing that they would settle for no less, Pilate had Jesus scourged with a cat of nine tails. Soldiers made a crown of thorns and pressed it upon His brow, and a purple robe was wrapped around His body as they jeered Him with “Hail, King of the Jews!” Some slapped Him with their hands. Thinking the crowd’s thirst for blood would by then be appeased, Pilate brought Jesus, in His purple robe and crown of thorns, His face bloody and His back both bloody and bruised from the brutal beating, before the mob and said, “Behold the man!” “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” was their response.

Disgusted and desperate, Pontius Pilate sent for a basin of water to be brought, and he dipped his hands into the water before the chief priests, declaring that he would not be responsible further for what would happen to this innocent man. “I find no fault in Him.” “His blood be upon us and upon our people,” the Jews shouted.

Once more, Pilate questioned Jesus: “Whence art Thou?” No answer came forth.

Pilate: “Why aren’t you answering me—don’t you know that I have power to crucify you or to release you?”

Jesus: “You could have no power except it were given thee from above.”

(To be continued)

“This post and the next three are repeat posts as we prepare to once again commemorate the celebration of Christ’s victory over the grave, hell and death.”

His Last 24 Hours

Since 20 centuries separate us in time from the events that occurred when Jesus was crucified, it might be helpful for us to retrace His steps, through a compilation of the gospel accounts, the final steps of our Savior that led Him to Calvary. In so doing I believe we will have a greater appreciation for what He did for us the day He died. Let’s walk where Jesus walked the last 24 hours of His earthly life.

It began on Thursday afternoon, the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, better known as Passover. As was the custom, the Passover meal would be eaten in the evening with family or close friends, so, on that Thursday afternoon, Jesus’ disciples began to ask Him where they could prepare the Passover so that they could eat together. Jesus told them to go into the city where they would meet a man bearing a pitcher of water. They were to follow the man to his house and then say to the Goodman (Butler): “The Master saith, my time is at hand: I will keep the Passover at thy house. Where is the Guest chamber that I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” Jesus assured them that they would be shown a large upper room that was already furnished. “There make ready for us,” He told the disciples. They went and did as He commanded, and finding the man and the house and the room, they made ready the Passover meal.

By Thursday evening the meal had been prepared and Jesus was gathered in the Upper Room with the 12 Apostles to eat the Last Supper. Sitting at the table with them, Jesus said, “With desire have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” Taking bread, Jesus blessed it and brake it and gave it to the Disciples, saying, “Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. This do in remembrance of me.” Next, taking the cup, He gave thanks again and then passing it to them said, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you.” In those words, the Lord Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper which New Testament churches everywhere have been commanded to keep until He comes again.

Rising from the table, Jesus took a towel and a basin of water and began to wash the feet of His Disciples. Peter protested, but Jesus overruled his protest declaring, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.” Peter then asked His Lord to wash not his feet only but his hands and head also. The spiritual meaning of this very act Jesus then revealed by assuring the Disciples that he who had been washed spiritually—that is cleansed by the washing of water by the Word, or as He told Nicodemus, “Born again,” needed never again to be washed all over, or “saved” again, but he only needed to be cleansed or restored to fellowship through confession of sin, and this restoration or cleansing was represented by the washing of the feet of the Disciples by Jesus.

It was at that moment that the Lord, knowing that His betrayer was still with them, became troubled in spirit and announced to His Disciples that one of them would betray Him, and that it was one whose hand was at that very moment on the table! Consternation swept through the room. In sorrow and amazement, the Disciples began to look at one another wondering which of them would dare do such a dark deed. Peter motioned to John who sat next to Jesus, asking him to enquire of the Master who the betrayer would be. Jesus replied, “He is he to whom I shall give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.” Then, dipping the sop, Jesus gave it to Judas Iscariot with the command, “What thou doest, do quickly.” Judas abruptly got up and went out into the night to seek those with whom he would conspire.

The Devil having departed, Jesus was left alone with the 11 in the Upper Room. In the few hours that followed, the Master shut the world out and drew to Himself those 11 men who would form the foundation of the Church that would bear His name and of which He would be the chief cornerstone. He taught them that night many precious truths concerning the Holy Spirit whom He would send to be with them after He departed. “I will not leave you comfortless; I will come unto you,” He promised. And again, “Nevertheless, I tell you, it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart I will send Him unto you.” Precious moments of learning and loving were spent in the Upper Room that night, and just before Jesus was to conclude His famous discourse (John 17) He turned His eyes toward Heaven and prayed what we now call His great Intercessory Prayer: “Father, the hour is come; glorify Thy Son that Thy Son may glorify Thee. I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou gavest me out of the world; Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou has given me that they may be one as we are one…Father, I will that they also… may behold My glory which Thou hast given Me, for Thou lovest me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hast not known Thee: but I have known Thee, and these have known that Thou hast sent Me.”

Having finished that great prayer, Matthew says,” When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”

Making their way toward the Mt. of Olives, nearing the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus startled the eleven when He announced, “All of you shall be offended because of Me tonight.” He then went on and predicted His death and subsequent resurrection. When He was finished, it was Peter who broke the long silence: “Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, I shall not be offended!” And, lovingly, Jesus said to the well-meaning Peter, “Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that thy faith fail not.” “Lord,” Peter said with fervor, “I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!” Just before they reached the Garden, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Peter, before the cock crows twice this night, thou shalt deny me three times.” “No, Lord, though I should die with Thee, yet I shall never deny Thee.” Ten other disciples, in a chorus of assent, affirmed that they, like Peter, would never deny their Lord.

Coming now to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said to His followers, “Sit here, while I go yonder to pray.” Then, beckoning to Peter, James and John, Jesus went on ahead and, as Matthew tells us, He became very sorrowful and heavy. “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here and watch with me.” Going about a stone’s cast further, Jesus fell upon His face and prayed, “Oh, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless, not My will be done, but Thine.”

Coming back He found the three disciples asleep. He wakened them and asked them again to watch and pray, and again Jesus went back to His place of prayer. Luke, the beloved physician, tells us that an angel came from heaven and strengthened Jesus, for He was in great agony of spirit, and as He prayed His sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling to the ground.

Three times Jesus returned to His select inner circle of three disciples, only to find them asleep each time in spite of His warning to watch and pray lest they fall into temptation. Upon finding them sleeping the third time, Jesus said, “Rise up, let us go: Lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.”

A noise and lights appeared in the dark distance and soon the clanging of swords and flames of torches and lanterns was heard and seen. A band of men and officers sent from the chief priest, with lanterns, torches, swords and staves, led by Judas Iscariot, was coming to the place where Jesus was concluding His early morning prayer time. As they approached, Jesus said, “Whom do ye seek?” to which they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said, “I am He,” and when He said those words the soldiers fell to the ground. Again, Jesus said, “Whom do ye seek?” and again they replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

(To Be Continued)

“This post and the next three are repeat posts as we prepare to once again commemorate the celebration of Christ’s victory over the grave, hell and death.”

Serving God Acceptably, 1

Simply stated, grace means “unmerited favor.” We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8)—that is, apart from all human effort or merit—because of divine favor freely bestowed through faith upon all who believe. This is the essence of saving grace.

But, when we speak or think of grace, there is much more to consider than just the grace that saves. W.H. Thomas, in a little book that bears his name, titled Grace and Power, said well that “grace means not merely favor, but help; not only benevolence, but benefaction; not simply feeling, but force; not solely good will, but good work. It is the divine favor expressed in and proved by His gift: attitude shown by action.”

The focus of this and some ensuing posts on grace will be “serving” grace. First, a couple of preliminary considerations: (1) Every saved person has received a portion or measure of grace with which to serve our God: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Heb. 12:28) And, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” (Eph. 2:7) (2) Our service to and for God following salvation is determined by two things: the measure of faith, Romans 12:3; and the measure of grace, Romans 12:6.

Are we therefore locked in by a measure that is not as great as another? Paul says in
Romans 15:17 that we all have received “abundance of grace,” and Peter exhorts us to “grow in grace.” (2 Peter 3:18) Furthermore, we learn in Hebrews 4:16 that we can ask for grace, and in James 4:6 that grace is given when we humble ourselves before God.

Having noted these preliminary truths about serving grace, the remainder of this post will focus on the serving grace of speech. Col. 4:6 says: “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Our speech should be always with grace! Derivatives of grace—like “gift, give freely, forgive, bestow graciously, joy, rejoice, thanksgiving, thankful, gratis, gratitude, grateful, gracious”—ought to characterize our speech, as opposed to “ungrateful, ungracious, unthankful, disgraceful, unforgiving, vindictive, bitter, malicious.” Certain phrases will find their way into our everyday speech when it is marked by grace: “Thank you,” “Please,” “That’s all right,” “You go first,” “I’m sorry,” “I know how you feel,” “Please forgive me.”

Our speech ought to be “seasoned with salt.” Salt is a spoilage retardant, and so ought our words be free of that which is corrupt (Mark 9:50—“Have salt among yourselves”). Salt is for seasoning, and the presence of it makes food palatable; so ought our speech be tasteful, desirable and delightful, free of that which is rude or crude.

Our speech with grace, seasoned with salt, is for the purpose of answering every man: honest enquirers, hateful critics, and fellow-saints. Our answers should come from God (Provs. 14:1—“the preparations of the heart and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.”). Our answers should be the source of joy (Provs. 15:23—“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is”). Our answers should not be given in haste (Provs. 29:20—“Seeth thou a man hasty with his words…there is more hope of a fool than of him”). Our answers should be given with forethought (Provs. 15:28—“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer, but the heart of the wicked poureth out evil things”). Our answers should be in a soft tone when responding to anger (Provs. 15:1— “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger”).

A Korean Christian who had a problem with his temper heard a missionary say that every burst of anger pierced the heart of Jesus; so, he hung a picture of Jesus on a wall, and every time he had an outburst of anger, he stuck a thorn into the picture. Soon it was covered with thorns.

God’s grace is the sine qua non of salvation, but also of Christian service. And there is no area in which His grace is more crucial than in serving Him through godly speech. May our “speech be always with grace.”

Theologian John W. Stott wrote: “Grace is love that cares, and stoops, and rescues.” We might well say, too, that it causes us to guard our tongue and speak with wisdom, love, and caring forethought.

“Only a word of anger, but it wounded a sensitive heart. Only a word of sharp reproach, but it made the teardrops start. Only a hasty, thoughtless word, sarcastic and unkind. But it darkened the day before so bright, and left a sting behind.” (anon.)

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” (Provs. 25:11)

More on Music

I make no pretense of being knowledgeable about music, but I happily confess that I love the great hymns of the faith, and also classical music as well as some traditional popular music that does not fall into the category of “rock.” I pastored half a century and always loved a good choir to prepare hearts before I would preach, as well as dedicated men and women and young people who were willing to contribute musically to a worship service. Most pastors would be in my corner regarding the importance of good music as part of a worship service.

Martin Luther wrote, “Besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart…my heart which is full to overflowing has often been solaced and refreshed by music when sick and weary.”

Gordon Greer recognized the importance of music in worship when, in the “Calvary Contender,” he wrote: “The only way this music thing is going to get cleared up in fundamental churches and fellowships is when we stop talking merely about melody, harmony, and rhythm and begin focusing on the primary matter of obedience to the Word of God and how this relates to His holiness and which music is acceptable to Him. We have forgotten that our music is to be directed to Him and not to men.”

From what Greer wrote, one might conclude that there has been some disagreement amongst Christians and Christian ministries and ministers about what music is good for worship and what is neither good nor acceptable. Most readers are aware of these tensions.

I read a portion of an interview that a Christian leader had with the late Robert Shaw, the legendary conductor of choral music. When asked whether he believed that music was either moral or amoral, Shaw was not hesitant to affirm: “I believe all the arts are moral. I can’t see how any of the arts are neutral.” When further pressed on the matter of rock music and its impact upon the music of our day, the artist continued, “I am aware of the controversy in Christian music…The church of Bach’s day understood the music in their congregation. I don’t know if the church today understands the music brought into the church. The people don’t understand the music.” The interviewer then said that Shaw gave a brief description of rock music and offered a rather graphic analogy of what the music portrays. “So, you think the music is sensual,” he was asked. He responded without hesitation, “It’s perverse.”

Most Bible-oriented, conservative churches would not incorporate rock music into their worship services. But, it is not hard to comprehend that the music of today has been, by and large, “dumbed down” to appeal to a generation that has pretty much rejected the great hymns of the faith. Hymnals have been replaced by PowerPoint media projections, with choruses that are repetitive and shallow compared with the historic hymns that Christianity has embraced heretofore. Preacher and author Vance Havner once summed up Ernest Hemingway’s description of the “millennium of the untalented” this way: “We are deluged with writers who can’t write, actors who can’t act and singers who can’t sing—and they are all making a million dollars a year! Auditoriums are packed to hear performers who know as much about music as a Billy goat knows about Beethoven.” OUCH!

Well, Hemingway was no authority on worship or Christian music, but he might have been onto something there if one visits a typical church of the day. The evangelist David Wilkerson worked with drug addicts, alcoholics and juvenile delinquents of all kinds. He was at one time accepted by the “Jesus People” of a past generation. In a book that Wilkerson wrote about this unorthodox movement, Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth, Wilkerson wrote: “One of the reasons that God’s Spirit was lifted from the Jesus People was their refusal to forsake their old music. They gave up pot, heroin, alcohol, promiscuous sex, and they even gave up perverted lifestyles. But they refused to give up their beloved rock music. Amazing! I say its hold is stronger than drugs, alcohol or tobacco. It is the biggest mass addiction in the world’s history. Rock music as used and performed in Christian circles is of the same satanic seed as that which is called ‘punk’ and ‘heavy metal’ and is performed in devilish concerts worldwide.”

I understand that most churches, pastors, and people involved in the music ministries impacted by people who will read this are not in any conscious way embracing rock music, but I think that being reminded of how clever the devil has been in infecting much of what is used today in church music—by that which was rejected by worshippers a generation ago—is not unwise.

Now, I’d like to close with something a bit lighter. There was in a certain church an ongoing feud between the choir director and the pastor. The first hint of trouble was when the pastor preached on “dedicating yourself to service,” and the choir director chose to sing, “I Shall Not be Moved.” Trying to believe it was coincidence, the pastor put the incident behind him. The next Sunday he preached on giving, and the choir director led in the hymn, “Jesus Paid it All.” By this time, the pastor was beginning to lose his cool, but the Sunday morning attendance had begun to swell, as had the tension between the two leaders. A large crowd showed up the next week to hear the pastor preach on the sin of gossiping—and, would you believe, the choir sang “I Love to Tell the Story.” That was the last straw, and the next Sunday the pastor told the congregation that he was considering submitting his resignation unless something changed. The church gasped when the choir director led in “Why Not Now?” Truthfully, no one was surprised when, a week later, the pastor explained that Jesus had led him there and Jesus was leading him away. The choir director could not resist: “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.”

Thank God for good music, for churches that still major on music that glorifies God, and for pastors and church musicians who are committed to music that ministers to the spirit and soul. May we never cease to sing, and may our songs be after the fashion of the Music of Moses: “The Lord is my strength and my song: and He is become my salvation; He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” (Exodus 15:2)

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Cor.2:11)

“There Has To Be A Song!”

The renowned composer John Philip Sousa said, “I care not who writes my country’s laws if I may write its music.”

Music is doubtless powerful. Before time as we know it began, the heaven of heavens rang out: “When the morning stars sang together, all the sons of God shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7). When revival in the Old Testament came, we are told “all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded….” (2 Chr.29:28) Ezra notes, too, that “they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because He is good, for His mercy endureth forever toward Israel.” (Ezra 3:11) Paul admonishes, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16)

Charles Spurgeon spared no words in exhorting his congregation: “Let no Christian be silent, or slack in praise, for this God is our God. It is to be regretted that the niceties of modern singing frighten our congregations from joining lustily in the hymns. Sing in tune and measure, so that the public may be in harmony; sing with joyful notes, and sound melodious. For the heartiest praise is due to our good Lord. No dullness should ever stupefy our psalmody, or half-heartedness cause it to limp along. Sing aloud, ye debtors to sovereign grace…let your voices express your thankfulness; let no Christian be silent in praise, for this God is our God. The gods of Greece and Rome may be worshipped well enough with classical music but Jehovah can only be adored with the heart, and that music is the best for His service which gives the heart most play. Select a sacred song and then raise it with your hearty voices…beat your tambourines, ye damsels; let the sound be loud and inspiriting. Sound the trumpets; beat the drums. God is not to be served with misery, but with mirthful music; sound ye then the loud timbrel as of old ye smote it by Egypt’s dark sea.”

Pliny, the Roman governor of Bithynia, sent a report of the activities of the Christians to the Roman Emperor, Trajan: “They meet at dawn to sing a hymn to Christ as God.” The Church alive has always been a church that has gone up to God in Christian praise and song.

Isaac Watts (1684-1748) was 20 years old when, one Sunday, walking home from church with his father, he commented that the metrical psalms sung that day lacked the dignity and beauty that he felt should characterize hymns of worship. His father challenged the young son to write some music that he believed would be worthy. Isaac took up the challenge and began writing hymns, eventually putting the books of Psalms into rhythmic meter for worship. Coming to Psalm 91, he rendered: “Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart, prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing. Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains repeat the sounding joy.” Watts would write 750 more great hymns, including “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” and “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past,” eventually becoming known as “the Godfather of English Hymnody.” (Wikipedia)

Years ago, a man and wife attended our Indianapolis church and became faithful members until they were called home to glory. He was known by the name “Sparky,” and it was apparent that he had an “holy” spark about him. He had grown up in a southern state, and never had the benefit of a formal education, but you did not have to know Sparky for long before you realized he received an education that money could never buy. He had the love of Christ in his heart and majored in the Word of God. Occasionally, by request, he would sing a solo in a church service, always without accompaniment and most usually a song that none of us had ever heard. But the rafters were moved a bit, we thought, as Sparky, from the deep recesses of his soul and from the bottom of his heart, belted out a musical tribute to God—to His work of grace and to the salvation He provided with the hope of heaven. No one applauded when Sparky left the platform, for they knew that his was not a performance but an offering of praise to God.

One August afternoon in 2004, Kelvin Krueger, our missionary intern at the time, and I visited Sparky and his wife in their home on Indy’s eastside. We had not been there too long before I noticed what looked like an old hymnal. Sparky told me it was his favorite songbook, so I thumbed through it and was delighted to find, written in his hand in the foreword section of the songbook, these words:

“There has to be a song; there are too many dark nights, too many troublesome days and too many wearisome miles. There has to be a song, to make our burdens bearable, to make our hopes believable, to transform our successes to praise, to release the chains of past defeats. Somewhere down deep in the corners of one’s heart, there has to be, like a cool drink of water, like the gentle touch of a mother’s hand, like the tender love of a child, there has to be a song.”

I knew enough of Sparky’s life to know that for him there had to be a song. Since that day when Kelvin and I sat on a couch, and each of us individually read the beautiful words handwritten in the foreword of Sparky’s favorite hymnal, Ellen and I lost a precious grandson (2007) to the ice-cold clutches of death; we both bid a final farewell to our parents, until we meet again at Jesus’ feet; and our dear friend, Kelvin, serving on the mission field in South Africa, was called home to heaven following an incapacitating stroke. And so many, many others of our church family, and our families and friends, have suffered losses and are battling physical infirmities. I thought, when reading those lines there in Sparky’s living room, that I knew something of the meaning of “too many troublesome days…too many wearisome miles.” But I had so much more to learn, and am still learning. And that refrain, “There has to be a song,” has taken on a depth of meaning in my heart that is profound.

Yes, there has to be a song! “Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” (Ps. 146:1,2)

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Eph.5:19)

Good, Better, Best

It is not a sin to be average if that is what you are, but it is a sin to be mediocre, for mediocrity is being average when you have the ability to do better. It suggests indifference and complacency.

Mediocrity is one of the curses of current Christendom. Mediocre Christians attend mediocre churches shepherded by mediocre pastors, ministered to by mediocre deacons, inspired occasionally by mediocre choirs, blessed by mediocre facilities, kept busy by mediocre programs, staffed by mediocre teachers, directed by a mediocre staff, all doing a mediocre job! This is not to say there are not many ministries that exhibit a standard of excellence in ministry, but too many are settling for less than their best. It’s an encroaching affliction on the 21^st-century church.

“It’s a sin to do less than your best,” a great evangelist preached, and with scriptural authority. With unparalleled opportunities available to today’s Christian community, we have succumbed to a comfortable state of mediocrity. We, like the first-century church, are “rich and have need of nothing.” Never before has a church had so much—of opportunities, of freedom, of knowledge, of resources (including money), of manpower, of material advantage, of anything and everything—as the late-20^th and early 21^st-century church.

Yet, we’re not gaining ground on the task of world evangelization. We’re not even gaining ground on the task of winning our own cities!

Why? For many reasons, no doubt, but we’d have to put “mediocrity” at or near the top of the list. We’ve settled for the convenient. We’re content to “get by.” We’ve grown accustomed to being satisfied with past achievements. We need to shake off this stranglehold that mediocrity has on us, and we need to settle for absolutely nothing short of our very best for Jesus Christ.

Here are some basic principles that, if made a part of our mindset and melded into our core-belief system, will help us to avoid the trap of mediocrity as believers living in the last days:

Each of us has been endowed with certain “unalienable” God-given talents, capabilities, and responsibilities. What is “best” for one person will differ from what is “best” for others. God has equipped each of us uniquely to serve Him, and there is probably something that you can do with great skill. Find out what it is and how you can use it to serve God—and do it! You may be multi-talented by the grace of God, and you can use those abilities to bring glory to your Lord and Savior. You can and you should!

The greatest ability is dependability. Jesus taught using illustrations and stories from nature and from life. Remember the parable of the talents that He shared? (Matt. 25:14-30)

A man took a long journey to a far country, but before doing so he gave to his servants his goods, “to every man according to his ability.” To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to a third he gave one talent. After a prolonged period of time, the lord returned and demanded an account of how his servants had employed the talents entrusted to their stewardship. The man who had been given five had put them to work and gained five more; the man who had been given two had also put them to work and had gained two more. The man who had been given one talent hid it and had no gain to report. The first two stewards were commended and blessed for their wise use of what they had been given; the third was cursed and damned for his unwise, indolent misuse of what he had been given to work with. The sober lesson must not be lost: “Thou oughtest, therefore, to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.” The test was dependability according to ability. We are not measured against other servants, but according to what we have done with what we have been given to work with, considering our ability to do so.

There is no difference between the “secular” and the “sacred.” To the believer “every bush is a burning bush, and all ground is holy ground.” Plowing is just as important as preaching, if God has called you to plow. Being a mechanic is just as sacred as being a missionary, if you are doing what God wants you to do with all of your heart and doing it “as unto Him.” There are no “big shots” in His kingdom, just servants. One task is no more crucial than another, one servant no more important than any other servant. The ground is level at the foot of the cross.

To avoid mediocrity in one’s life, the believer—surrendered, serving, and to the best of his ability using his God-given talents and opportunities, and exercising the spiritual gifts he has been equipped with by the Holy Spirit to build up Christ’s body—must be able to affirm that “for me, whether eating or drinking, or whatsoever I do, I will do it, by His grace and in His power, to the glory of God.” (cf. I Cor. 10:31) Above all, rely absolutely upon the power of the Holy Spirit in every endeavor. Jesus did everything that He did in His earthly ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:38); so must we!

Charles Rolls, a co-founder of the Rolls-Royce car company, once walked through his factory and overheard a lathe operator say, “Oh, it’ll do,” as he threw a part into a bin. Rolls stopped and reprimanded the employee with these words: “That may do for anyone else, but it will not do for Rolls-Royce.” Rolls expected his workers to use a micrometer and to be satisfied with nothing less than their very best. That should be our standard for the King of Glory. He has given us His best. How can we settle for giving to Him only what will do? Let us shake off the numbing grip of mediocrity and determine to give to Him our very best!

“Good, better, best; never let it rest, ‘till your good is better, and your better’s best.” (anon.)

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Eccl.9:10)

P.S. If you are a bit taken aback by my bluntness in assessing the church as cursed by mediocrity, let me assure you that this was a judgment that first of all began at the house of God. I preached this message to the church I pastored on the last Sunday of July, 1988, and again on the fourth Sunday of September, 2010. If you took this personally, that is good, for that is exactly how I intended it to be taken. Selah.

Parenting’s 21st Century Challenge

No Christian parent would disagree with the Psalmist’s declaration that “children are an heritage of the Lord,” or that our children are “like olive plants round about thy table.” (Ps.127:3; 128:3). We treasure these gifts from God and do not take lightly the burden of the Psalmist who said that in teaching his children “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done.” He wants to be a faithful parent-teacher of his children so “That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born: who should arise and declare them to their children.” (Ps.78:3-6). His heart’s desire was that his children and grandchildren “might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” (Ps.78:7)

Those words echo the inner most thoughts of every God-fearing parent. We long for and have no greater desire than to see our children embracing our faith and teaching by example and exhortation the faith that we have tried to impart to them, the “faith of our fathers.”

But this generation faces a formidable foe, not a new one but an old one that comes in a delivery system never before available to satanic forces which never cease trying to undermine the words and works of loving parents who strive to guide and guard their little ones to a safe landing in adulthood with a faith that is intact, personal and genuine.

That foe is social media via the internet delivering daily mind-defiling, soul-destroying pictures, words, and philosophies, dangerous and damaging, to the minds of young people (and older folk, too!) beyond measure. One of the deadliest packages delivered non-stop to America’s youth is pornography.

The Christian Post, in a February 23, 2023, article, reported on a recent survey conducted by Common Sense Media in which 1358 teens, ages 13-17, participated. The findings are startling. 44% of the teens surveyed said that they had experienced porn intentionally. 73% of the teens reported that they had experienced porn, almost two out of three do so every week, 38% of them through social media.

Half of these young people admitted feeling guilty about viewing pornography and were ashamed of what they were doing. A majority of them said that they learned about sex through these weekly experiences and most had viewed aggressive or violent pornography.

Most of the surveyed youth related that they had discussed sexual matters with a trusted adult, but less than half of them had included the subject of pornography in those discussions.

A third of these young people said that they were exposed to pornography during the school day. These 1358 teens represented public school students, private and Christian school students, and home-schooled young people. The average age of the teen when first exposed to porn was 12 and 15% of them were 10 years of age or younger when they were first introduced to it.

Now, those are the staggering statistics that this 2022 survey of teens, teens like yours or your grandchildren, teens who attend our church youth groups, have been honest enough to have reported.

The parents of my generation were not faced with this kind of a dark, deranging demon when I was a teen-ager. Yes, there was plenty of evil and wickedness, even pornography, in the 50’s and 60’s, but it was not so readily, easily and widely delivered to the youth of those days.

As a parent of teens coming of age in the 80’s and 90’s I was not faced with this social media nightmare either. Evil was present then, too, and ugly by any face, but again the delivery system was not at the finger-tips of my children and the challenge facing parents today is a world different from any previous generation.

What to do? (1) Pray every day for your children, grandchildren and the youth of your church, neighborhood, community. (2) Make much of God’s Word; read it, have family devotions, attend a Bible-preaching church, supporting the ministry of the pastor, youth pastor, teachers and leaders who are striving to lead by living, loving and listening to the young people entrusted to their spiritual watch care. (3) Attempt to put into place safeguards on the use of the internet in your home and establish an accountability arrangement with your children. Know what they are doing on their phone. Let them know that they can expect unannounced checks at random times of the day. Ask other parents, youth leaders and pastors what they have done or are doing to cope with this unprecedented parental 21^st century challenge.

My heart goes out to every parent and to our youth also. Paul warned that in the last days perilous times would come. Several descriptive words or phrases follow that verse in I Tim.3:1, the last one being “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” Those perilous times are not yet future, they are here today. It behooves all of us to be, in the light of these times, “wise as serpents, harmless as doves.”

The stakes are too high! Eternal destinies are in the balance. We cannot allow Satan and his underworld to win our youth by default. Be wise. Be alert. Be informed. Be involved. Above all, be vigilant in watching and in prayer. It will be a battle. At times, it may get messy. Do not despair. Truth may appear to be on the scaffold today, but truth will triumph over error. Always. Ever. God help us. Amen.

“ Be sober. Be vigilant. Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith….” (I Peter 5:8,9a)