Living in light of eternity

  Timothy, the young pastor, faced many challenges in leading his fledgling congregation. One issue was especially troubling.    There was an obvious disparity of wealth among the members.    The Apostle Paul gives some great advice to this young pastor: Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share , storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Tim 6:17-19, NASB95)   You can see that Paul has been greatly influenced by Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.   When he says, “storing up for themselves the treasure…” it reminds us of Mt 6:19-21, where Jesus said:   “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, an...

  “You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Mt 5:43-45, NASB95) We are to be like our Father in heaven.   We are to love our enemies just as He loves the unrighteous.   But how do we know He loves with this kind of love?   He has demonstrated His kindness and grace in the world He has created for us.   The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. (Ps 19:1-3, NASB95) Creation itself speaks to us of the glory of God.   His divine nature is seen in all that He has made.   For sinc...

I do not know about you, but I do not like being called “sheep”.  If someone said, “You and your family are a bunch of sheep”, I would not take it kindly.  I would not be proud of our local high school team, “The Fighting Sheep”.  The connotated meaning is that we are soft, docile, peaceful, and harmless.  Unfortunately, that’s exactly what God says about us.  In the Old Testament we find twelve passages that use the phrase “like sheep”.  Here is one. So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd; And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’ ” (2 Chron 18:16, NASB95)   Jehovah often described Israel as sheep who were scattered, lacking direction, straying, and in danger.  Isaiah picks up on this theme and broadens this description to all humans, not just Israel.  (He also promises a Savior to come.)   All of us like sheep have gone astray, Ea...