EVERY PRAISE FROM EVERY PERSON IN EVERY PLACE

 

God desires and deserves every praise from every person in every place. This is the repeated refrain of Psalm 67. “Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” That concludes two stanzas, and in summation, “Let all the ends of the earth fear him!”

We praise God for HIS REDEMPTION FOR ALL PEOPLE (v.1-3). The chosen people plead for God’s grace and blessing in order to extend it to all nations. They want to experience God’s shining presence among the Jews that they might express God’s saving power among the Gentiles. God did not choose Israel to the exclusion of the others, but to be the means of inclusion.  In this dispensation, the church is God’s missionary force. We declare His redeeming grace as available to all men everywhere. Jesus paid the price at Calvary, and God is glorified when people receive that forgiveness by faith.

We praise God for HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR ALL PEOPLE (v.4-5). We rejoice in redemption because it is desperately needed by all people as none of us can meet God’s righteous standard and thus face judgment. God will judge everyone with equity. The perfect righteousness of Christ must be ours or we will experience the wrath our sins merit.  So the question, “Will God judge those who have never heard the Gospel?”  The answer of the book of Romans is that all are without excuse, as everyone has some knowledge of God. The problem is that sinners reject that light and turn to darkness. The question for those who have heard is why have we not told everyone everywhere?  “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Rom.‬ ‭10:14-15‬‬). 

We praise God for HIS RICHES FOR ALL PEOPLE (v.6-7). The rains that water the fields of the just also produce crops for the unjust. The Lord gives a witness to His grace in the bounty of His blessings, leaving men without excuse if they do not turn to Him (cf. Rom.2:1-3). “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4).  The harvest from seed in earth is meant to yield a harvest of souls for eternity!

God’s people are to explain this and call all mankind to fear God. “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Rev. 7:9-10‬‬)

THE ROYAL LAW

 

A group of us are to fly to Vermont this morning where God has planted a church and is making inroads with the Gospel. Seed has been sown in a spiritually harsh climate. We want to see where God is working and join Him in that work. Only one thing should motivate us—the royal law of love!  It is our love for God and those made in His image that compels us to spend time and money to see sinners saved and saints strengthened.

In Stephen Olford’s excellent devotional book, “According to Your Word,” he writes:

“Fulfill the royal law.” – James 2:8 

The royal law is defined thus: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself ” (v. 8). And it is the command that the Lord Jesus pointed out as including all other commandments. Of course, this command implies love to God first, and then love to man. James points out that the fulfilling of it is the hallmark of kingship or royalty. So that if I am a genuine king and priest to God, I am one who fulfills this command. He goes further to explain that he who shows partiality and who breaks this royal law commits sin. “God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34); so why should we? Whether poor or rich, they should be loved, honored, and recognized without partiality. 

No wonder the Lord Jesus was the Friend of Sinners! 

Teach me to love others as You love me, Lord. (p.219). 

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 16

Remember the Mustard Seed

“He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but when grown, it’s taller than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13:31-32‬ ‭CSB‬‬

If the disciples were here today, they would be amazed at the expansion of the kingdom of God thus far. They were witnesses to these words spoken by Jesus in the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. They would remember at that point, gospel expansion resided largely in Jerusalem, but it’s impact would begin to spread like a contagious (welcomed) virus. Perhaps they would look out at the tribes, tongues and nations who are following Jesus today, and they would whisper to themselves in remembrance, “the mustard seed!” Their labor has been carried on for centuries after their deaths, and the fruit of their work has lived on. The kingdom started small, but it has grown to epic proportions, and it continues to grow. What a privilege that we play a small role in the kingdom’s expansion. As you see men and women, including your one, come to faith in Jesus, remember the mustard seed.

Pray your one would be added to the kingdom of God and would join the rich heritage of gospel-proclaiming believers who have come before them, including yourself! (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

WHO’S YOUR ONE? Day 7

As You Go, He Is with You

“Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭CSB‬‬

One of the most beautiful lines in the Great Commission is the promise of God’s abiding presence as we take the gospel message, in word and in deed, to the corners of the earth. The scope of the task is vast. God has commissioned us to go, make disciples, baptize and teach to the nations. This includes those in our own backyards. While we may not board a plane to a remote undisclosed location, we have been called to make disciples of all nations—including our own. The scope of the task is great, but the promise of the Lord to be with us as we go is clear. As you share the good news with your one, remind yourself that you are not alone.

Pray God would remind you, through the Holy Spirit, that you are not alone on God’s mission. (From “Who’s Your One?” Devotional, NAMB)

MENTORS FOR MEN OF GOD

Mentor was the elderly friend and adviser of Odysseus, hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey. When Odysseus went to fight in the Trojan War, he made Mentor the guardian of his son, Telemachus. From this name, we get our English term for a faithful and wise counselor. Mentoring is the process where the teacher’s life and teaching is poured into the disciple. We recognize it in the relationship of Moses and Joshua, of Elijah and Elisha in our text, of Jesus and the Twelve, and of Paul and Timothy.

Let’s consider first THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MENTORING PROCESS (2 Kings 2:1-11).  The Great Commission is about mentoring—reaching people and teaching people.

GOD HAS A SET TIME FOR HIS PEOPLE (v.1,11).  Elijah had a deadline he was going to keep. So do we. Therefore we must redeem the time and make our days count. The greatest thing we can leave behind is a heritage of faith that has been embraced by another generation.

GOD HAS A SUSTAINED TASK IN HIS PURPOSE (v.9).  God’s people come and go, but God’s purpose remains fixed. The mentor cultivates an understanding of the work to be done and develops a desire in the one mentored to continue that work. The bond between mentor and pupil is crucial (v.9-10).

Then, there is THE INTENTION OF THE MENTORING PROCESS (v.12-18).  The intent of the mentoring process is that the work continues undisrupted by the absence of the mentor.

Note THE SEVERING OF THE RELATIONSHIP (v.12).  The tearing of his garments was not only a sign of his dismay, but also a symbol of his dividing asunder from Elijah. The test of a successful mentor is whether the one mentored can stand alone.

Next we have THE SEIZING OF THE RESPONSIBILITY (v.13-15).  Elisha takes up the mantle and ministry of Elijah. An important part of that ministry was mentoring, so he will assume that role also. He will mentor the sons of the prophets. Paul told Timothy to take that which he taught him and commit it to faithful men who could teach others also (2 Tim.2:2).

We’ve seen the importance and intention of the mentoring process, and conclude with THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE MENTORING PROCESS (v.19-25).  There are profound implications when true mentoring occurs.

One of the unmistakable results is THERE WILL BE MINISTRY(v.19-22).  These people had a problem and turned to the man of God for a solution.  Anyone can spot problems, but good leaders solve problems.

THERE WILL BE AUTHORITY (v.23-25).  Those who mock God will mock us—we can expect it. But heavenly authority rests upon us. God will settle the scores.

Have you matured to the place where you can be a mentor? If not, are you being mentored so you can mature?

There is no success without a successor. God help us to become like Christ and be able to say with Paul, “Follow me in the same way I follow Christ.”