AUGUST 29, 2023

 “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.” (1 Sam. 2:1-3)

Hannah was one of the wives of Elkanah the Ephrathite, who was barren and unable to have children. Elkanah’s other wife, Peninnah, had many children and she often teased Hannah for this, which made her very depressed, and she went to the temple of the Lord to pray. At the temple, she immediately drops to her knees. She begins begging the Lord to give her a son, vowing that she will “…give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.” (1 Sam. 1:11). This prayer is answered by the Lord when He does give Hannah a son; the Prophet, Samuel. She then drops to her knees and says another prayer, this time one of thanksgiving.

This prayer is found in the first ten verses of 1 Samuel chapter 2, and in it, she thanks the Lord for hearing her prayer as well as the provision He has shown. Both prayers show a heart deeply affected; in the former, with her own wants, and in the latter, with God’s goodness.

There are several vital observations we should take away from this show of thanksgiving:

1. When she had received mercy from God, she repaid it by singing the Lord’s praises. Praise is our rent or tribute, and we are unjust if we do not pay it.
2. The mercy Hannah had received was an answer to prayer; therefore, she thought herself especially obliged to give thanks for it. What we win by prayer, we may wear with comfort and must wear with praise.
3. Thanksgiving is an essential part of prayer. In every address to God, we must express a grateful regard to Him as our benefactor. This gratitude for mercies will be accepted as a petition for further mercy.
4. She states her wonder of God and His government of the world for the good of His church. Whatever gives rise to our praises, they should be stated before our Father.

Notice that she makes no particular mention of the mercy in which she is made to rejoice. This is truly remarkable, considering how desperately she desired a child. Instead, she chooses to overlook the gift and praise the giver. We may forget the provider and focus solely on what was received in this life. But every stream should lead us to the fountain, and the favors we receive from God should raise our admiration of the infinite perfections there are in God.

This is a sobering reminder for us all: we should be called to declare there is none beside Thee as Hannah does. This glory is due unto His Name when things go right for us, and not only because there is none like Him, but that there is none besides Him. All others are pretenders.

AUGUST 22, 2023

 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)

Paul begins this chapter by posing a question about the implications of the statements that ended Chapter 5. There, he wrote that where sin abounded, God’s grace did much more abound. As sin increased, so did God’s grace abound to cover the sin of all those who trusted in Christ’s death to cover their sin. Men literally could not out-sin the grace of God.

What does that mean for those who have been reconciled to God through faith in Christ? What are Christians supposed to do about sin now that we are Christians? Paul here asks if we should then keep sinning so that God’s grace can just keep increasing. This seems to have been a common criticism of Paul’s teaching, as he often refutes it in his writings. It’s a frequent charge against the Gospel of Grace even today, suggesting that the gospel is really just a license to sin.

He answers this charge with, “By no means!” As a teaching tool, Paul often asks ridiculous questions and responds with the same Greek phrase, “mē genoito.” In short, Christians should not keep sinning to increase the grace of God. In fact, Christians should not keep sinning willfully and intentionally at all. Elsewhere in Scripture, we’re given more details on why a life of persistent, willful sin is inconsistent with those who have truly been saved. He writes in Galatians, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Gal. 5:24). In verses 19-23, Paul outlines how Christians should be living, as well as the sin we must forsake. If we are indeed Christ’s, having salvation in and through Him, as well as His will written on our hearts, we can no longer continue in sin. We must give up this disreputable behavior, repent, ask for forgiveness, and run to God. We can no longer live to sin.

Paul responds to this question with another question: How can people who died to sin still live in it? This raises a whole new aspect of Paul’s gospel message. As he will show in upcoming verses, all people who come to God in faith, believing in Christ’s death in their place on the cross to pay for their sin, are said to have “died with Christ” in a sense. More specifically, we are said to have died to sin through faith in Christ.

Paul will expand this thought, but the idea is this: Those who are not in Christ live under the rule of sin. They cannot avoid sinning. However, Christ’s death on the cross to pay for our sins broke sin’s rule over our lives. We now have the power, in Christ, to stop sinning. We have not lost our desire to sin, but, thank God, sin no longer has dominion over us.

AUGUST 17, 2023

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Gal. 4:6-7)

Paul describes the fantastic truth that those who come to Christ by faith are freed from slavery to the law and their sinfulness. They are adopted by God as His children, pointing to the Holy Spirit as the confirmation of this adoption.

God sends His Spirit to live in the hearts of His adopted sons and daughters. The Holy Spirit is referred to here by Paul as the Spirit of His Son. He moves into our hearts and gives us the right, along with Jesus, to call out to God as a young child. Abba means “father” in the Aramaic language. Because it’s easy for young children to say, like the English term dada, it’s what most young children would call their father. Without sinfulness and the law standing between God and us, we can live with God as little children do with a trusted father.

Many people wrongly believe that everyone is a child of God from birth. Since humans are created in God’s image, aren’t we all His children? The Bible says no. Every human being is designed and loved by God, but we can only become His children when He adopts us. Our sins must be forgiven and our natures restored before we can have fellowship with the One we have offended. Jesus taught that becoming children of God means we must experience the new birth. To be a child of God means our old sinful nature is replaced with a heart that wants to please Him, our sins are paid for, and our fellowship with Him has been restored.

For those who have come to God by faith in Christ, their slavery to sin and the law is over. They have become God’s beloved little children. And, as children of God, they are also His heirs. Because they are in Christ, they are entitled to share in all the inheritance that is due to Him from God the Father.

As a result, believers in Christ are entirely provided for throughout all of eternity. We are protected, loved, and included in the plans and purpose of our God. Without Christ, we would have nothing. Because we are in Him by faith, we have everything a child of God can have.

A child of God has an eternity in heaven guaranteed. Jesus has already paid the entry fee for every person who trusts in His death and resurrection. A child of God is eager to do good works because saving faith is a faith that changes us. They are no longer a child of the devil and no longer play in the devil’s backyard. God sets about transforming His children through the power of the Holy Spirit, and they begin to take on a family resemblance. If we do not start to look like our Heavenly Father in word, desire, and action, we are most likely not really His.

AUGUST 15, 2023

 “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” (Romans 13:14)

This text sums up the concluding exhortation of the thirteenth chapter. “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ…” Paul begins this last paragraph with this acknowledgement: “And that, knowing the time…”He speaks of his Roman brethren as “knowing the time.” It is a great tragedy when one does not know the time as to the day of his own life; day is here analogous to one’s life, particularly the life of a Christian. It begins when he is awakened out of sleep, when he hears the morning call: “It is high time to awake out of sleep.” This is the spiritual awaking that happens when the Holy Spirit by regeneration, calls one out of death’s dark night into the marvelous light of life in Christ.

The Apostle next instructs all newly awakened souls as to the first order of business for the new day, or the new life. We must put off our night clothes, or as the Word reads, “cast off the works of darkness.”These works of darkness are the old ways and habits of sin. We must then get dressed for the day, or in the words of the text, “Let us put on the armour of light.” This word “armour” may describe the garments and equipment of a soldier, or the term might also be used in reference to appropriate apparel for any kind of work.

The Apostle might have given a long list of articles that make up the Christian’s dress, but he chose to make it very simple. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” To put on Christ is to put on every item of the Christian’s apparel at once. Thus, He will be seen in every aspect of our life. We will mind the same things (Phil. 2:5), walk the same walk (I John 2:6), manifest the same fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-25), and live to the glory of the same heavenly Father – His Father and ours.

This apparel is for those who have been awakened to receive the Light and would now “walk honestly, as in the day.” (Vs. 13a) Christ must be IN us before He can be ON us. The King’s daughter was madeall glorious within, before she was adorned with wrought gold (Psa. 45:13, 14). This morning call is addressed to all who are born again. He is not telling them how to become Christians. Some religious people want to put the cart before the horse. Grace first puts Christ in us (Col. 1:17). Christ IN us is ourhope of glory; Christ ON us is the evidence that we have this hope. Christ is in the heart by faith; He is seen in the life as we obediently put Him on. To put it another way: The secret of Christian life is Christ in us; the beauty of the Christian life is Christ put on.

What a beautiful and wonderful expression! “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” He is our whole armor. He is our entire wardrobe. Clearly, Paul is not here speaking about imputed righteousness. This has to do with everyday practical Christian living. This is not, however, to exclude faith. We are fully aware of our own nakedness with respect to righteousness as well as armor. We must cover our weakness with His strength. We must cover our failure with His triumph.

Christ is our one and only outfit, for He is our all in all. Thankfully, He is a “one size fits all” Savior; whatever one’s age either naturally or in the Lord. Whether you are, spiritually speaking, a “little child,”a “young man” or a “father” (I John 2:12, 13), Christ will be the perfect fit. In fact, for believers of every age, nationality, race, culture, etc., this clothing is never out of style, and it fits all the saints exactly.

To put on Christ means to be clothed in His Person, Character, and Attributes. Putting on Christ is our defense against every temptation. “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”