YOU and GOD

Solomon said, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Provs. 18:21)  Nobody has ever yet been able to measure the power of this small mouth member.  Man has harnessed energy and with a button can detonate bombs, yet he has not learned to control the tongue.  The courses of great ships on the seas and equally great air ships are controlled by tiny computer chips, but this tiny member of the mouth is still by and large untamable.

A Japanese proverb says it well:  “A tongue three inches long can kill a man six feet tall.”  Another sage said, “The most ferocious monster in the world  has his den just behind my teeth.”  Another journalist spoke wisely when advising:  “If your lips would keep from slips, four things you must observe with care:  to whom you speak, of whom you speak and how and when and where.”

King David weighed in:  “I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue.  I will keep my mouth with a bridle.” (Ps. 39:1)  Job spoke of being hid from the scourge of the tongue.  The Psalmist said of the unrighteous that their throats were an open sepulcher and that with their tongue they flatter.

Peter, in the New Testament, admonishes that he who would love life and see good days should refrain his tongue from evil.  Paul, the Apostle, indicts the human race in Romans saying that the tongue is an instrument of deceit:  “The poison of asps is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

And, in Proverbs there are multiple warnings:  “A fool’s lips enter into contention and his mouth calleth for strokes…a fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.  The words of a talebearer are as wounds and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” (18:6-8)  And “In the multitude of words there wanteth no sin; but he that refraineth his lips is wise.  The tongue of the just is as choice silver,” (10:19,20); and “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop, but a good word maketh is glad,” (12:25) and “He that hath knowledge spareth his words,” (17:27); and “seeth thou a man hasty in his words, there is more hope of a fool.” (29:20)

Of course, the classic scriptural dissertation on the believer’s speech is found in James, chapter three.  In this treatise, the half-brother of Jesus, speaking to the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,” (1:1) teaches about the “perfect” man as being one who has mastered the discipline of not offending with the tongue. (v. 2)  To be sure, “perfect” here as in most all other New Testament occurrences of this word means “mature,” or “in full bloom.”  Not only is the mature believer one who has learned how to skillfully use God’s Word (Hebs. 5:11-14), he is able also to not offend by ill-spoken words and therefore able to “bridle the whole body.”  These admirable traits are the ultimate levels of spiritual maturity to which every sincere follower of the Lord Jesus Christ strives.

Then, beginning in James 3:5, the writer turns his attention to specific problems that our tongues can be blamed for. First, an untamed tongue is a boaster of great things. (v.5)  The boaster talks of what he has done, what he could do, what he will do and what he might do.

“A lion met a tiger, as they drew beside a pool. Said the tiger, ‘Tell me why you’re roaring like a fool.’  ‘That’s not foolish,’ said the lion, with a twinkle in his eyes, ‘They call me King of Beasts because I advertise.’  A rabbit heard them talking and ran home like a streak.  He thot he’d try the lion’s plan, but his roar was just a squeak.  A fox came to investigate, had luncheon in the woods.  So, when you advertise, my friend, be sure you’ve got the goods!”  (copied)

Next, James likens the tongue to a fire. (v.6)  It is raging, destructive, unpredictable, uncontrollable and fueled perpetually.  A lady justified the quick outbursts of her tongue by saying “It passes quickly,” to which Billy Sunday, the sawdust evangelist, replied, “So does a shot gun blast.”

James continues: It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison, i.e., the poison of gossip, slander, cursing, filthy speech and deceit.  Sadly, this little member can both praise God and curse men, to which James affirms “these things ought not to be.”

A.T. Peirson was in George Mueller’s study and he glanced through the Bible that the renowned orphanage director had open on his desk, stopping at Ps. 37:23: “The steps of a good man are ordered by Jehovah.”  He noticed that in the margin Mueller had written, “And the stops.” So, if your tongue knows when to go and when to stop, the whole body will know when and what to do!

One final quip:  “Says Gossip 1 to Gossip 2, while shopping in the town, ‘One Mr. Pry remarked to me, Smith bought his goods of Brown.’  Said Gossip 2 to Gossip 3, who cast his eyelids down, ‘I’ve heard it said today, my friend, Smith got his goods from Brown.’  Said Gossip 3 to Gossip 4 with something of a frown, ‘I’ve heard strange news, what do you think, Smith took his goods from Brown.’  Says Gossip 4 to Gossip 5, who blazed it round the town: ‘I’ve heard today such shocking news: ‘Smith stole his goods from Brown!’”

“My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall received the greater condemnation, for in many things we (all) offend.” (James 3:1,2a)

“Be anxious for nothing” Paul the Apostle exhorts his Philippian brothers and sisters in Christ (Phil. 4:4) even as he awaited in prison what was certain to be for him a trip to the beheading block.  He was intensely involved in church planting, and the 1^st century climate in which he was evangelizing was anything but friendly to his kind.  Yet, Paul commands: “Be careful (anxious) for nothing,” or “Don’t worry about anything!”

Through the ages others, in poetry and prose, have echoed Paul’s sentiments.  Victor Hugo opined, “Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones.  And when you have finished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace.  God is awake!”  Another author, George McDonald, wrote that no man ever sank under the burdens of a day, but only when the burdens of tomorrow were added onto the burdens of today does the weight of the load become unbearable.  Beecher affirmed that work never killed anyone, but that worry is the killer.  “It is not the revolution that destroys the machinery but the friction.  Fear secretes acids but love and trust are sweet juices.”

We’ve not lacked for reasons during these past twelve pandemic months to worry.  Can we keep our house?  Will our job last?  Should I leave the house for fear of contracting the deadly Covid-19 virus?  Is the vaccine safe?  Will we ever get back to normal?  And worries ad infinitum!

At a time like this it is imperative that people of faith draw deeply on that faith, and it’s from God’s Word that we receive hope and help for the crisis.  Jesus reminded his followers that the very hairs of their head were numbered.  Consider: every one of the hairs of your head has a number and when one hair falls to the ground, that number is removed from the whole!  Again, our Lord said that two sparrows are sold for a farthing (how insignificant a creature!), yet not one of them shall fall to the ground without our heavenly Father taking note of it (Matt. 10: 29,30).  The implication:  if God is that minutely concerned about every small creature, does not his concern for you far exceed His concern for lesser creatures so that you need be anxious for nothing!

A soldier (WW I) decided it was futile to worry about his future.  He thusly reasoned:  “Of two things one is certain: either you are on the front lines, or you are behind the front lines.  If you are at the front, one of two things is certain, either you are exposed to danger or you are in a safe place; if you are exposed to danger, one of two things is certain, either you are wounded or you are not wounded; if you are wounded, one of two things is certain, either you will recover or you will die; if you recover there is no need to worry and if you die you cannot worry, so WHY WORRY?“ (copied)

There are some practical things one can do to lessen the probability of unprofitable fretting:  (1)  Cultivate relationships with friends with whom you may share your burdens and from whom you can solicit prayer support; (2)  Eat, sleep and exercise sensibly; (3)  Saturate your mind with Bible promises or principles such as Psalm 56:3: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.”  (4) Allow good Christian music to flood your soul with its soothing and comforting assurances; (5)  Practice what Jesus taught when he urged us to “take no thought for tomorrow,” and (6)  attend to details avoiding procrastination so that your “things to worry about” list does not grow longer and longer.

Paul, in the Philippian passage that we started with in the greater context of that verse wherein he said that we should “Be careful (anxious) for nothing,” enumerates some key concepts that go with the “Be careful for nothing” admonition:

•  He urges that we should not forget to rejoice (in the Lord and “always).”
• He tells us that we should maintain a “non-combative” spirit.  The word translated “moderation” in verse 5 where it says immediately following the “Be anxious for nothing” command that we should let our moderation be known to all men is a word that means gentleness or kindness.  We are not out looking for trouble or living with a chip on our shoulder.
• Paul, as he always does, exhorts us to pray often and about everything:  “…but in everything by prayer and supplication….” (Phil. 4:6)
• And he declares that we should never abandon a grateful attitude:  “…with thanksgiving…” and, finally,
• Paul assures us that the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

So again, why worry when you can pray?  A medical doctor, having examined studies, said that patients who would meditate and pray could expect to experience a significant drop in their blood pressure.

“Said the robin to the sparrow, I should really like to know why these anxious human beings fret about and worry so.  Said the sparrow to the robin, I suppose that it must be that they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me.”

“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.” (Ps. 37:5)

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 the 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 in mourning cry,
	Some had traced His life from Mary’s womb.

But from Friday Good 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
	Falling on our knees before Him all.


Anthony Slutz
Easter 2021

“And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from  you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10,11)

It is often referred to as the “Holy Week,” the last week upon earth of Jesus’ life amongst men as the God-man, culminating in the cruel cross crucifixion.  It serves us well to be reminded often of the unspeakable Calvary event, unspeakable because of the rejection of Jesus by His own whom He came to redeem; yet, precious because of the atonement that His dying secured for all men, specially for those who believe. (I Tim.4:10)  The following is an outline of the events of His last week:

On the Sunday before He was nailed to the cross, Jesus entered Jerusalem on a colt, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy that Messiah would come as King “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.” (Zech. 9:9).  On that day multitudes cried “Hosanna to the son of David,” (Matt. 21:9) yet just a few days hence the crowds would be crying “crucify Him, crucify Him!”
Luke notes that “when he was come near, he beheld the city and wept over it.” (Luke 19:41)

On Monday, approaching the city, Jesus curses a fig tree that appeared to be at the stage of fruit bearing but was instead barren.  Arriving in Jerusalem at the Temple site, Jesus surveys the merchandizing taking place in His “Father’s House,” and responds by turning upside down the moneychangers’ tables, driving them out as He proclaimed that “…it is written,  my house shall be called a House of Prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matt. 21:13)  He had similarly done this temple cleansing at the beginning of His ministry as John records in his gospel, chapter 2.  

Tuesday was an extended teaching day for Jesus, beginning in the Temple teaching His disciples in parables and continuing just outside the Temple where the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age issues.  Those questions (Matt. 24:3) initiated a lengthy discourse of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 24,25 called the Olivet Discourse in which Jesus gave signs that would precede His 2^nd coming and the great tribulation that would take place just prior to that coming and the judgment of the nations that would immediately follow His return in power and great glory. (Matt. 25)

On Wednesday of “Holy Week” Jesus, at dinner in the home of Simon the leper, had his head anointed by a woman who poured over him a box of very precious ointment.  The disciples rebuked the woman, but Jesus rebuked the disciples and commended the woman while Judas Iscariot slipped out of the room to seek out Pharisees with whom he could conspire to betray His Master.

On Thursday afternoon, the first day of the feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus instructed  Peter and John to secure an Upper room where He and the disciples could share in the Passover Supper together. It was after this meal that Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, then revealed that Judas would betray Him while He also warned His followers of their pending denial of Him.  Our Lord instituted the Memorial of the Last Supper (Luke 22:17-20) and then launched into a farewell discourse (John 14-16) climaxing with His great Intercessory Prayer (John 17) followed by a short walk to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives where Jesus uttered the agonizing petition, “Let this cup pass from me, nevertheless, not my will but Thine be done.”  It was under the cover of an early morning blanket of darkness that Judas then led his cohorts in crime to the garden where he knew Jesus was wont to pray, betraying Him to Roman soldiers with a kiss feigning love and loyalty, resulting in the arrest of Jesus and his hearing before Annas, former High Priest and father of Caiaphas, the then current High Priest before whom Jesus would next stand to be interrogated along with being accused, mocked, charged with blasphemy, beaten, blindfolded and reviled.  

Friday morning, early, Jesus was formally condemned by the Sanhedrin, about the time, interestingly, that Judas, beginning to feel the awful consequences of his betrayal of the Son of God, went out and hanged himself.  Jesus was led to Pilate where the Roman governor asked Him point blank “Art thou the king of the Jews?”  In keeping with the custom of releasing a prisoner on such festive feast days, the blood-thirsty crowd demanded that the seditionist-murderer Barabbas be released and that Jesus, King of the Jews, be crucified.  Pilate, learning that Jesus was from Galilee, sent Him to Herod Antipas to be judged and it was before Herod that Christ was mocked, dressed for a few moments in a gorgeous robe and then sent back to Pilate where he was chastised and crowned in mockery with a crown of thorns.

Friday morning, between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Jesus continues to be mocked by soldiers and then, with reservations, released by Pilate to the frenzied crowd.  He is led to Golgotha just a little before 9:00 a.m. and nailed to the cross where He would hang between two thieves from 9 until noon during which time Jesus would utter “Father, forgive them,” and to the repentant thief “This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise” and to His mother, “Woman, behold thy son,” and to the beloved John, “Son, behold thy mother.” His garments were parted, and soldiers cast lots to see who would get what; and a superscription was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, “This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”  Jesus would suffer hanging upon the hill called Golgotha for another three hours from noon until 3:00 p.m. crying out four more times:  “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” and “I thirst,” “It is finished,” and finally, under a darkened sky where neither sun nor moon shone and where the earth was about to quake, Jesus cried “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” Immediately Matthew tells us that the veil of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom, the earth did quake, some tombs of Old Testament believers were opened, and Old Testament saints were observed walking the streets of Jerusalem (Matt. 27:52) and the Centurion Soldier at the cross was overheard saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.”  Jesus had died for the sins of the world then He was carefully anointed for burial before being placed into the never before used tomb of a wealthy man from Arimathaea, Joseph, who was  also a follower of Jesus.

After three days and three nights (by Jewish reckoning any part of a day is a day, night is a night) Jesus rose victorious over death, hell and the grave whereupon He appeared to many of his followers before ascending back into the heavens in a visible display of His power and great glory, the full display of which is being reserved for His 2^nd coming at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation. (Matthew 24,25)

“Behold He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him:  and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.  Even so, Amen.” (Revelation 1:7)

How powerful a touch can be!  It costs the giver virtually nothing but can be of inestimable value to the recipient.  It can melt hearts hardened by bitter woes, can obliterate man made fences that have obstructed relationships and can soothe cares better than man’s best pharmaceuticals.

Three of Jesus’ disciples, his inner circle including Peter, James and John had just seen the face of Jesus transfigured so that it shone as the sun as they were with him high on a mountain; then they heard the voice of the Father thundering from heaven saying, “this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”  Having seen his unveiled face and having heard God’s voice from heaven the disciples were “sore afraid.” (Matt. 17:6)  It was at that point that Jesus “came and touched them,” and comforted them through their fear.  It was the personal skin on skin touch of their Lord’s hand that more than anything calmed the fearful followers of the Lord.

So many times, it was His touch that made all the difference.  On one occasion He put forth His hand and touched a man full of leprosy saying, “Be thou clean,” and his leprosy was healed. (Matt. 8:3)

He touched the fevered brow of Peter’s wife’s mother and “her fever left her.” (Matt. 8:15)

In the city of Nain, observing a weeping widow who was burying her only son, Jesus merely touched the bier and then commanded the young man to arise and “he that was dead sat up and began to speak.” (Luke 7:14)

When Peter, under the cover of early morning darkness, missed the servant of the High Priest’s neck and instead cut off his ear with his sword, it was the betrayed Son of Man who touched the wounded man’s ear and healed him. (Luke 22:51)

Then there was the time that two blind men followed Jesus crying out for mercy, and Jesus, having ascertained that they believed that He was able to heal them, touched their eyes saying, “According to your faith, be it unto you.”  (Matt. 9:26)  And Matthew records that their eyes were opened.  When in the country of Gennesaret, it was said that “all that were diseased came to Jesus and besought that they might only touch the hem of His garment,” and “as many as touched were made perfectly whole.” (Matt. 14:31)

The touch of the hand is powerful.  It is soothing to those in despair or overcome with fear; it is comforting to those who are grieving and strengthening to those paralyzed by danger. The touch of a father gives hope to the wayward son while the tender touch of a loving mother’s hand can make the weakest or wildest calm, comforted and courageous.  A friend’s kind hand on the stooped shoulder of a fellow pilgrim can do as much or more than a page full of words.  Just a touch at the right time from the right person for the right purpose can cheer, comfort or correct when done in love and when directed by the Holy Spirit.

This is why the prolonged isolation this current pandemic has necessitated with it burdensome and bothersome mandates, though for legitimate health reasons, has been so very devastating.  God made us in His image:  to know, to love, to will and as such it is unnatural not to hold, touch, share, shake a hand, commune, laugh, love, cry and talk relating person to person in community with our family, our friends, our church family, our neighbors and our extended circle of friends.  Rubbing elbows just does not take the place of a hearty ungloved handshake!   Smiles hidden behind masks are better than nothing because we can “read the eyes” but they are no long-term substitutes for genuine unmasked interaction with those we love and with those who are part of our lives.  Jesus by His own example taught us the power of not only a well-spoken word but also the power of a well-timed touch—a touch of love, gently placed from one’s heart through his hand on our hand to our heart.  May we never grow accustomed to a world where our sense of touch has been so sanitized that it only comes through the medium of artificiality.

“And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” (Isaiah 6:7)

One wintry night in 1985 I knocked on the door of a west side Indianapolis house where a couple lived who had recently visited our Sunday services, paying a follow up visit in hopes of getting to know this gentleman and his wife better.  It took a while for anyone to answer my knock, but at length a tall, kind looking, middle-aged man came to the door and after I introduced myself, he invited me to come in out of the cold.  It was not until later that I learned that Jerry and Fran retired fairly early in the evenings since he usually was up around 4:00 a.m. to get ready to go to his workplace at Allison Turbine.  They were gracious and we had a pleasant visit and I rose to my feet to leave but waited at the door for Jerry to retrieve my coat which he had hung in the closet when I had entered their living room.  We must have visited another 10 minutes at the door before he remembered to get my overcoat after which I departed following a parting prayer.  Later, in recalling that first visit, Jerry conveyed to me his frustration with my not leaving promptly, keeping him from precious, fast fleeting sleep time in lieu of his early rising.  That would be the first of countless visits I would make to the Farley home over the next 30 years, a place where I was always welcomed and where fellowship and prayer was always in order, and never bothersome to this godly duo who had begun their married life attending Dr. Ford Porter’s Lifegate Baptist Church in downtown Indianapolis where Jerry trusted Christ and followed his Lord in believer’s baptism, Fran having already made those faith decisions.

Jerry just dropped by my office last week to visit as he has been prone to do beaucoup times through the past three plus decades.  He and his wife became members of the church I pastored shortly after that first mid-winter visit to their home, and they were always a “preacher’s friend,” faithful in attendance, generous in giving, selfless in serving and always sensitive to the needs of the local church body of believers.  There was nothing they would not do for you.  Until Jerry retired from his day job, he was not able to get too involved in our on-going day to day ministry at TRBC, but after he retired, he was like an unpaid staff member.  His mechanical skills were extraordinary.  He could fix just about anything and if occasionally he ran into a brick wall in trying to solve a problem, he would “sleep on it,” and invariably before morning he would have figured out the solution and by breakfast it was probably fixed.   I have thought so often that every church needs a Jerry Farley (and God has given such men to most every church I am sure), and I could never thank our heavenly Father enough for this right-hand man!

In time, Fran became incapacitated to the point that Jerry could no longer care for her at home so he entrusted her care to a nursing home facility where she would spend the last two or three years of her life, with Jerry visiting her every day making sure she was being well taken care of and assuring her of his continued presence with her.  He was with her when she drew her last breath.

Sometime after Fran had passed, Jerry watched as one of my teen-age grandsons rode his bike, sitting backwards on the bicycle seat, in our church parking lot.  Jerry was in his early 80’s at the time and what he saw Tim do reminded him that he had done the same thing as a youngster.  He thought he could do it again, so he tried, and he did!  Shortly thereafter, Jerry bought the first of several Harley Bikes that he would own and upon which he would ride from coast to coast, north to south, east to west, thousands of miles seeing the USA from a unique vantage point and living out a childhood dream that, because growing up on a farm in post-depression years as a lad with only chores and work from dawn to dusk he could only dream of motor cycles and trips to faraway places.  The last “toy” that he bought was a “slingshot,” a three-wheeled, low to the ground bike that can barely seat two and that from a distance looks like a miniature Indy race car.  

In all of this Mr. Farley never lost his desire or commitment to serve his Savior and to labor faithfully serving in the church, and in other churches.  A church he once visited when in Florida needed a heater for its baptismal tank replaced and Jerry was the one who could and would do it.  When he found out that it was not working, he would not rest until he made another trip to the sunny south to replace a part that was needed to get the heater working properly.  If a family needed a ride to Virginia to attend a loved one’s funeral, Jerry was the go-to person.  If something needed worked on at church or at the parsonage, call Jerry first.  I can attest that, though few people were ever probably aware of it, Jerry saved our church multiplied thousands of dollars just by applying his skills for the church in jobs that otherwise would have necessitated calling a professional for help.

Now, Jerry is still living at the age of 91.  In fact, before I post this, I will probably ask him to read it just for accuracy and he will probably protest my posting it, but I will probably kindly overrule him this time.  All things being equal at 91 unless the rapture occurs in the not-too-distant future, not too, too long from now we’ll get the call that Jerry has joined his beloved wife and is with His Savior on the other side.  His eye doctor says he is “one click” away from being legally blind.  He had a fever for two weeks at the peak of the Covid-crisis but never went to the hospital and God spared his life.  I am writing these few lines in tribute to Jerry realizing that he will not get any enjoyment out of any flowers we send, but though he will protest the publication of this, he may just have some realization of how very much he has meant to so many and to this grateful pastor and his wife whom he always treated as he would family.  And, I want to pay tribute not only to Jerry Farley and but to all the “Jerrys” out there who keep a ministry moving, that unseen and unsung cadre of men and women who work behind the scenes doing whatever has to be done so that when the pastor mounted the pulpit on Sundays to preach, the furnace was working, the flowers were stunning, the leaky faucet in the bathroom was fixed, the front door had been put back on its hinges, the water that had leaked into the main auditorium when AT&T had been digging just outside the church wall causing a Valentine’s weekend small flood in our building was all vacuumed dry by service time, and the fire extinguisher chemicals that had been sprayed all over every square inch of the sanctuary by a 2:00 a.m. break-in on Sunday morning leaving a mess that was unimaginable, was all cleaned up by Sunday School time Sunday morning and on and on and on….

So, thank you Jerry!  Thank you all who, like Jerry Farley, worked to please your Savior, to serve your church and to make sure your pastor always looked a lot better than he ever could have had he not had your unselfish, loving support.  Thank You!

Author’s note:  Last Friday, I had the pleasure of reading the script of this post to Mr. Farley knowing that he would not be able to read it himself and not wanting to assume that anyone else would do so.  It was difficult reading (trying to keep from chocking up) but I managed to get through it with a tear drop falling into my coffee cup as I read the last line.  I told him that if I were still alive when he passed and had any opportunity to have a part in his memorial service that what he had just heard was his eulogy (with any appropriate modifications necessary at that time).  He did not protest, and we spent the next hour reminiscing about times past.

“His lord said unto him, Well done good and faithful servant….” (Matt. 25:23)

Maybe the Merriam-Webster folk will get ahold of this post and help me to ease into the vernacular of our day the concept of “held.”  Much like, within the last few years, the word woke has been eased into the slang vernacular of this 21^st century.  A cursory study of the origin and meaning of woke, according to Merriam-Webster’s “Words We’re Watching,” reveals that woke originated from some vernacular of a dialect called African American Vernacular English (AAVE), as in “we need to stay angry, stay woke,” or “alert to injustice in society, especially racial injustice or racism.”  It is a word that has become entwined with the Black Lives Matter movement and calls its followers to be woke.

So, what does woke have to do with held?  Well, we who are committed to Biblical principles, to life styles ordered by our faith in Christ and obedience to His Word, would do well to have #held as our call to action.  We need to hold fast to the things which have been committed to us.

• Paul exhorts young Timothy to “hold fast the form of sound doctrine which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Tim. 1:13)
• We are all urged to “hold the traditions which (ye) have been taught, whether by word or by our epistle.” (2Thess. 2:15)  Traditions have been badly bashed in our world today.  Cancel culture is turning upside down good traditions—truth-based traditions—and uprooting them like the statues of historical men, movements and moments that have recklessly been toppled by mobs some of which knew nothing of the history they were sitting in judgment of, monuments to historical milestones that have shaped our lives and our nation’s history.  Not all traditions are bad.  To recite the pledge of allegiance, stand for the national anthem, put a hand over one’s heart when the flag is raised—none of these are bad traditions and most all of them have a biblical basis.
• In Hebrews 3:6 believers are “holding fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope (we have) to the end.”
• And, in Hebrews 4:14:  “Let us hold fast our profession,” and the same exhortation is repeated in Hebrews 10:23.
• Jesus, writing to the church in Thyatira in the first century, exhorts “But that which ye have, hold fast till I come,” (Rev. 2:15) and to the Philadelphian church He says, “Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

Now, to be sure, Paul instructs the Thessalonian church to “prove all things, hold fast that which is good.” (I Thess. 5:21)  It is not a bad exercise to examine our traditions and discard traditions that are unbiblical, hurtful or outdated.  When I was a child, I remember that it was a commonly practiced tradition for women to wear a hat to church on Sunday.  Not anymore.  It might have been a good thing to do at one time, but eventually it ceased being a commonly practiced tradition amongst church going women on Sundays, and I dare say, not many people miss it.

Sometimes culture dictates traditions.  When I visited Russia (the former Soviet Union) in 1989, I was instructed not to cross legs when sitting in a chair. Also, someone told me that I should stop whistling when walking down the street as it might be perceived as calling up demons.  I did not understand those traditions but was surely happy to respect them.  There was one tradition I had no little difficulty with though. I soon learned by observation that at the close of a church service men were wont to kiss other men, not cheek to cheek, but on the lips. I had to whisper some quick and, on the spot, heartfelt prayers for grace to cope with that tradition!

But I want to be a believer who will be known and remembered as one who #held!  Held to the truths of God’s Word, held to the founding principles of our nation:  liberty and justice for all and “one nation under God.”  Held to the belief “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with the certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” held to the conviction that the United States is a government of the people, by the people and for the people; held to the truth that there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man, Christ Jesus, (I Tim. 2:5), and that He, the God-man, is the Way, the Truth and the Life and that all men are condemned and estranged from God by sin and are by nature sinners; but that though the wages of sin is death, God commended His love toward us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us; and held to the belief that “being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1) and held that as He promised, Jesus is coming back first for the Church (Rapture) and 2^nd, with the Church (Revelation) and after a 7-year world-wide tribulation that will have unprecedented devastation, Jesus will establish His literal Kingdom with its capitol in Jerusalem and for 1000 years will reign “where e’er the sun doth its successive journeys run,” and held that there is a place where the redeemed of all ages will be with God and His Son, Jesus, for all eternity (Heaven), and held that there is a place where unrepentant and unbelieving Christ rejectors will be separated from God and from His Son, Jesus Christ, forever (Hell).

So #held.  That’s Me.  It should become a movement.  And should anyone wonder what would be a fitting epitaph when I have laid down my time worn tools and have preached my last sermon and have breathed my last breath, how about just #held?  Nothing would be more coveted to this wayfaring pilgrim having journeyed with Jesus here below than #held.

God help us all to hold!

“Behold I come quickly:  hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

It’s a question that has stymied many believers who, having trusted Christ for salvation, obeyed Him in Baptism and surrendered to Him for service, have wondered how they can know for certain what God’s perfect will for their life is in their daily walk and work for their Lord and Savior.  They have a heart that is obedient, a will that is surrendered and a mind that is spiritual, yet the nagging question remains, “Can I know for sure that I am right now in the center of God’s perfect will for my life?”  In our previous installment of “You and God” (3/11/21) I suggested that knowing the will of God is not the issue so much as doing the will of God is.  The Psalmist cried, “Teach me to do thy will, O God,” (Ps. 143:10) and affirmed “I delight to do Thy will, O my God.” (Ps. 40:8)  In each case it was the doing, not the knowing, of God’s will that was on the Psalmist’s mind as he wrote his inspired pleas and praises.  I want to tell you what God says about doing His will, the prerequisite of which is to know His will.  First, though, let me enumerate several ways which will guarantee that you will neither know nor do His blessed will:

1.  You will not know God’s will if you are doing something contrary to His Word.
2. You will not know God’s will if you plan to do something and then set out to ask God to bless your plan after you have already set in motion your devices.
3. You cannot find God’s will by asking counsel from people who either do not know God or who are not living obedient, godly lives.
4. You cannot discern God’s will by merely evaluating the circumstances and then proceeding on your way on the basis of what you see or feel.
5. You will not find God’s will by testing the majority opinion.
6. You cannot find God’s will if you are living in sin.
7. You will not know and do God’s will if you are trusting anything or anyone other than God to lead you.

(I will be glad to offer verses and further scriptural insights on any of the above mentioned “cannots” to anyone who wishes more information; just reply with your questions and I will do my best to respond)

So, that being said, what is the positive side of the coin?  The key is found in Romans 12:1,2:“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the will of God (which is) that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Note I have changed the word order of the last clause following “that ye may prove what is the will of God…”  This change of word order does no injustice to the original text and does, in fact, more accurately reflect the New Testament Greek text.  This change suggests that Paul was not describing God’s will as good and acceptable and perfect but that he was defining God’s will as being whatever was good and acceptable and perfect).

Paul states here that there are two qualifiers for knowing the will of God:  (1)  a body that is surrendered:  the method of surrender being that of yielding your members as instruments of righteousness (Rom.6:13), a daily moment by moment surrender; the manner of which is sanctification (holy/separated) and the motive of which is that it is our reasonable service to God. (2) A mind that is being renewed (v2), not conformed or poured into the mold of this world but rather one that is being transformed by daily renewal (2 Cor.3:18) which happens because of a supernatural power (God’s Word, a mirror) through a spiritual process (from glory to glory) resulting in a superseding purpose:  A changed life.

Having put one’s self into the place of meeting these qualifications, a yielded body and a renewed mind (note:  you do not have to attend a seminar or receive a diploma to get to that place:  it can happen at any time through an act of your will as you surrender) then you are ready to realize what it is to be in the perfect will of God.  Verse two says that at that point you will by every word and every deed be proving (demonstrating) what is the will of God, and the will of God will be whatever is good and whatever is acceptable and whatever is perfect.  God is not going to speak to you audibly, nor will He leave a note under your pillow spelling out your every move for the day, but as you walk and work through every moment of every day, surrendered in body and being renewed in mind through His Word, whatever you do will be a living demonstration of God’s will for you:  “He will direct your paths.” (Provs. 3:5,6).  And you will be doing whatever is good, i.e. whatever God puts His approval on as revealed in His Word; and whatever is acceptable, acceptable to God, i.e. whatever is kind, loving, merciful, just, etc., and you will be doing whatever is perfect, i.e. whatever lends itself to your spiritual maturity (that is what the word “perfect” in the New Testament connotes):  mature, complete; and the person in God’s will does whatever is characteristic of maturity as a believer who is growing in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Now, put the simple, yet profound, Biblical formula to practice in your life.  Instead of wrestling with the question “How can I know God’s will?” or “Am I doing God’s will?” just set out each day by surrendering your body a living sacrifice, emptied of self and filled with God’s Spirit and be being renewed in your mind by spending time in God’s Word so that you will be transformed from glory to glory (more like Christ with each passing day and more conformed to His image) and then living, doing whatever is good (by the standard of His Word) and whatever is acceptable (to God) and whatever is perfect (enabling you to mature as a believer) and everything you do that day will be without question God’s perfect will for you.

And, my friend, my prayer and heart’s desire for you is that the “God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,” will

“Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.” (Hebs.13:21)