Not For Themselves

1 Peter 1:12 KJV

Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

We live in a self-centered time

·       When parents brag about spending their children's inheritance

·       When our government wantonly spends into a debt our great grandchildren will be left to pay

·       When a person might steal from a neighbor not because they have need or even because the item has value but just because they can

In contrast to that God speaks of the prophets who preached His Word, not for the benefit they would receive, but for the benefit to future generations. They sacrificed everything for their great grandchildren and for those who would come many generations later.

·       They paid a price

·       They endured difficulty

·       They suffered painfully

For people they would never know and for children who could never pay them again.

If it had not been for men and women like this our country might never have come to be. People gave their reputations their fortunes and their lives that we can enjoy a freedom they might never have had.

Would to God we see a revival of that sort of spirit and heart; those who minister not unto themselves but those who come many generations after.

The Way to be Patient

James 5:8 KJV

Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

The Bible urges Christians to be patient in the midst of their trials on two counts:

·       The sure judgment of those who have been the oppressors

·       The soon and certainly coming of the Lord.

Though the trials many believers face are cruel and brutal, still they are on the better end.

The 1777 campaign for American liberty was a tough one.  With winter coming, soldiers on both sides settled in but did so under very different circumstances. The British and their paid mercenaries, having occupied New York, lived in comfortable and warm homes. They dined well and enjoyed parties, social events and dances. The Americans, on the other hand, camped in the field at Valley Forge, had little to nothing to eat, little pay and not nearly enough warm clothing. They shared uniforms when it came their turn to pull guard duty because it was the only way to be protected from the weather. The British seemed to have it all. The Americans seemed to have nothing. But it was the Americans who eventually won the war.

In this world it can seem like the unbelievers have everything and the believers have little to nothing. But we have Christ and His Word and we have this assurance; Christ wins.

Therefore the Bible says to “stablish our hearts”. It has to do with our affections. The way to be patient unto the coming of the Lord is to pursue lively love and affections for Christ. Those affections will keep us on path and keep us about our Christian business.

They Could Have Been Saved; But They Weren't

Jeremiah 51:9 KJV

We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.

Most of the commentaries ascribe this either to the nations allied to Babylon (they would have helped if they could, but there was nothing more to be done) or to the prophets such as Daniel who, preaching in Babylon, could have helped the nation if she had listened to him. They reject that it would be the Jews as a nation because they would have had no favorable sentiment toward Babylon.

I think there is another option; that this is the voice of the Lord.

·       He would have healed Babylon

·       He would have shown them mercy and grace.

·       He would have forgiven her transgressions and healed their land if they had called upon Him

But they did not. Their destruction lay squarely on their own shoulders for God would have healed them. He gave them, in effect; prophets preachers and witnesses aplenty through the Jews He had allowed to be taken captive there. He placed outspoken and godly men as Daniel and the three Hebrews before the king. He gave them time to hear and to repent but they did not.

I see this as an Old Testament illustration of the New Testament doctrine of election. God would save all but not all are saved. He has given

·       Ample opportunity

·       More than enough witnesses and

·       Time and space for repentance

Those who are lost, therefore, are lost of their own doing.

Babylon was destroyed. So will be the end of all who, though they could have been saved, weren't.

He's Not Perfect

James 3:1-2 KJV

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

There is in these verses an implied lesson that might often get missed; the reason one should hesitate taking leadership[1] is because none of us are perfect. None of us so bridle our tongues and tame our temperaments that we never speak anything offensive.

·       Sometimes our flesh gets the better of us and we say things that should never have been said

·       Sometimes we say what needs to be said but imperfectly

We attempt to speak the truth in love and let our speech be with grace, but we fail. We are taken wrong. Our words come short of the message we sincerely and lovingly wished to convey.

This is no reason, of course, to disobey the calling of Christ into ministry positions. If He calls, He will equip. But it does provide for two lessons for the day:

One, let the preacher[2] be humble.

He is called and equipped but he is not perfect.

Two, let the congregation be gracious.

He is called of God and equipped for his work, but he is, after all, no more perfect than the congregation.

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[1] Especially in ministry.

[2] Or minister in whatever capacity.