Comrades In the Lord Jesus Christ

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:27

Throughout Paul’s writings in the New Testament, he uses the word “brethren” when he writes to the churches. This word comes from the Greek word adelphos, which is one of the oldest words in the New Testament. In the King James Version, it is usually translated as the word “brethren.” However, it actually has a much deeper meaning than this.

In its very oldest sense, the word adelphos (“brother”) was used by physicians in the medical world to describe two people who were born from the same womb. So when the early Greeks addressed each other as “brethren,” they meant to convey the idea: “You and I are brothers! We came out of the same womb of humanity. We have the same feelings; we have similar emotions; and we deal with the same problems in life. In every respect, we are truly brothers!”

In part, this was Paul’s thinking when he addressed his readers as “brethren.” By using this terminology, he brought himself right down to the level of his readers to identify with their position in life and with their personal struggles and victories. They were truly brothers — born from the womb of God, related by the blood of Jesus Christ, and members of the same spiritual family.

But the word “brethren” also had another very significant meaning during New Testament times, a meaning that it doesn’t have in our world today. It was used during the time of Alexander the Great to describe faithful soldiers. These fighting men were true brothers, comrades, and partners who were united to fight the same fight, handle the same weapons, and win the same wars!

From time to time, Alexander the Great would hold huge public ceremonies where he would give awards to soldiers who had gone the extra mile in battle. When the most coveted awards were given, Alexander the Great would beckon the most faithful soldiers on stage to stand next to him. Before an audience of adoring soldiers, Alexander would embrace each faithful soldier and publicly declare, “Alexander the Great is proud to be the brother of this soldier!”

That word “brother” was this same Greek word adelphos, but in this instance, it referred to military men who were brothers in battle. This was the highest and greatest compliment that could be given to a solider during the time of Alexander the Great.

Thus, to be a “brother” meant that a person was a true comrade. Through the thick and thin of battle, these soldiers stood together, achieving a special level of brotherhood known only by those who stay united together in the heat of the fray. This was also part of what Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Early Church.

When Paul called his fellow Christians “brothers,” he was telling them:

“In addition to being blood brothers, we are all in a similar fight, slugging it out against the same enemy — and this common fight makes us real comrades.…”

I’m sure that Paul’s readers were probably struggling in their personal lives, just as we do today, but they hadn’t given up the fight. They were still on the front lines, slugging it out and plodding along, one step at a time. They were the kind of believers who are worth knowing and worthy to be called brothers because they possessed an ongoing commitment to stay faithful in the battle and committed to the cause.

No matter how well or how badly these believers were doing in the midst of their fight, at least they were still fighting! Others had given up, but they had not. As long as they remained faithful to the fight and refused to relinquish their stand of faith, Paul viewed them as exceptionally fine soldiers — the kind of soldiers anyone would be happy to associate with!

The word “brother” emphatically declares that it’s not really how well you fight in life that counts. What really counts is that you keep on fighting! So don’t give up on yourself, and don’t give up on those believers around you who seem to be struggling. As long as they keep on trying — as long as they stay in the battle — they’re worthy of your friendship! You should be proud to be associated with people of such a spiritual caliber!

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My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me see myself and other Christian brothers and sisters as soldiers in the army of God. Help me develop an attitude of determination that refuses to surrender to hardship or to throw in the towel in the face of difficulty. At the same time that this attitude is being developed inside me, use me to help fortify the same determined attitude in other Christian soldiers who face hostile forces that have come to steal their victory and joy.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

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My Confession for Today

I confess that regardless of how much resistance the devil is trying to bring against my life, I will never surrender to defeat. Others may give up, but not I! As long as I am alive, I will stay in the fight. I refuse to relinquish my stand of faith. I am an exceptionally fine soldier — exactly the kind other Christian soldiers should be happy to associate with — because I am committed and determined to fight until my victory is complete!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1.  Can you name five people who have been real “comrades” in your life?

2.  In your mind, what qualifies a person to be a bona fide friend?

3.  What practical things can you do to become a better friend to those you love, and how can you start this process today?

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.
— 1 Corinthians 3:12

If you are ever fortunate to visit the city of Rome, you will be amazed to see how much of that ancient city has survived the past 2,000 years. Right in the heart of Italy’s modern capital, you   can almost take a peek into ancient Rome as you gaze upon ruins from the time of the Roman Empire, such as the Coliseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, and so much more. It is truly remarkable.

The reason so much of ancient Rome can still be seen today is that most of its buildings were constructed of stone. Romans wanted their greatness to be etched into human history forever. Therefore, when they built the city, they constructed buildings designed to declare the Caesar’s glory for millennia. Government buildings, palaces, streets, monuments, columns, and statues — all of these were intended to tell future generations how great the Romans were.  Although the gold, silver, and precious stones that once adorned these buildings have since been stripped away, scores of these structures remain intact. And just as the original builders intended, they tell us about the glory of the Romans.

However, not all of Rome was made of stone, gold, silver, and precious stones. There was another side of Rome, where the flimsy, poorly made wooden dwellings of the poor were located.

Because wealthy Romans didn’t like to do manual labor, they imported foreigners from across the great Roman Empire and forced them into slavery. As a result of this massive importation of slaves, each year the slave population grew larger and larger until it became the largest sector of Rome. Some estimate that the slave population outnumbered the free population of the city by three to one! In effect, the city of Rome had become a city of slaves who lived to serve the needs, whims, and desires of their masters.

As large as this slave sector was, the ancient dwellings of the slaves did not survive the past 2,000 years. Over the centuries, the weather, decay, and fire that ravaged Rome also ravaged those flimsy wooden structures. The homes of the slaves, who had no personal funds and were generally poorly treated by the rich Romans, were constructed quickly and cheaply using wood, hay, and stubble as building materials. That’s why almost nothing remains of these shabby dwellings today. They could not pass the test of time and were never intended to survive like the massive stone structures that tell about the greatness of the Romans.

Because the apostle Paul traveled throughout the Roman Empire, he witnessed the disparity between the rich and the poor. He’d gaze upon the massive stone structures of the rich. Then right next to those impressive buildings, he’d see the flimsy homes where slaves were forced to live. What a comparison! One type of structure was built to last forever, whereas the other type was so rickety that it wouldn’t even last a lifetime.

As Paul wrote to the Corinthians and urged them to be careful about how they lived and built their lives, he used this comparison as an illustration. His point was this: Although all believers have the solid Rock of Jesus Christ under their lives, what they build on top of that foundation is so very important.

Hence, Paul wrote, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.” In this statement, Paul was asking us:

Let’s look at the building materials Paul listed in this verse. First, he mentioned “gold.” This word “gold” is the Greek word chrusos, which means gold and describes the most valuable material that existed in the Roman Empire. Nothing was more expensive or costly than gold. Gold was extremely rare — especially before the time of Alexander the Great — and was therefore highly prized. Gold wasn’t strong enough to be an actual building material. But if a building was extremely important, gold was used ornamentally on the outside relief of buildings and in the decor of its interiors. When gold was used, either on the exterior or inside décor of a building, it indicated that this building was a structure of great significance.

The word “silver” is the Greek word arguros, which often referred to silver money because silver was the primary metal used for coins. For example, the Bible tells us that Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus for “thirty pieces of silver” (see Matthew 26:15). The word “silver” is this Greek word arguros and conveys the idea of money.

However, silver was also used inside special buildings for ornamentation and decoration, similar to the way gold was used, and items for worship or prestige were often fashioned of silver. In Acts 19:24, we read that idols depicting the goddess Artemis in Ephesus were made of silver. Anything in the ancient world that was made of silver was considered expensive and precious.

The phrase “precious stones” in Greek is lithous timious, from the word lithos, the Greek word for stone, and the word timao, a Greek word meaning honorable, costly, or precious. When Paul mentioned “precious stones,” he was not alluding to diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or other gemstones. Paul was referring to expensive building materials, such as marble or granite. These materials were considered top-of-the-line building materials because they could endure weather, fire, and time. Any building made to last was fashioned of marble or granite.

Gold, silver, and precious stones (marble and granite) were the most expensive and the highest quality materials used in the construction of a building in Paul’s day. These were durable, long-lasting, resilient materials! That’s why buildings made of these materials are still standing today.

But Paul went on to describe another category of building materials: wood, hay, and stubble. Let’s also look at these words for just a moment to see why he mentioned them in this verse. You are about to see that Paul was making a very dramatic comparison!

First, the word “wood” is the Greek word zulos, and it means wood, wooden timbers, branches of a tree, boards, or anything made of wood. It primarily denoted building materials. However, this word was also frequently used to depict fuel for a fire. This word zulos describes a building composed of cheap, temporary, perishable, burnable materials. You can quickly build such a building, but a house of wood is never built to last for the ages. This was the primary material used in construction of slave dwellings in Rome. These wooden houses were homes that could go up in smoke very easily.

Second, Paul mentioned “hay,” which was another material used in the construction of slave dwellings. The word “hay” is the word chortos, and it means grass or hay. This “hay” should never have been used as a construction material, for it was meant to be the food that was fed to animals; in fact, it was often used to mean fodder. In other words, this “hay” was meant to be eaten, not used for construction. Because of its fragile, transitory nature, hay was considered to be the poorest material to use in construction. Yet in the slave homes of Rome, it was commonly used for the roof.

Third, Paul mentioned “stubble.” This is the Greek word kalame, which simply means straw or stubble. This material was so inferior that even animals wouldn’t eat it. Yet in the homes of slaves, it was used as a floor covering, as insulation, and as stuffing for beds. It was cheap, disposable, and replaceable. Think of it! These slave dwellings were made of wood and sticks; the roofs were made of grass; and the walls were insulated with straw. No wonder these dwellings didn’t last!

As I’ve stated, one type of building was built to last forever, whereas the other was so rickety that it wouldn’t even last a lifetime.

By using this illustration, Paul was confronting us with the question: How are you building your life? Are you building hastily and with perishable materials? Or are you taking your life seriously, building carefully with materials that will last throughout your life and are strong enough to impact not only this present generation, but also the generations to come?

This is precisely what Paul was saying when he wrote, “Now if any man build upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble.”

The Foundation under our lives is Jesus, but what we build on top of that Foundation depends on our personal commitment and the level of excellence we demand of ourselves in every area of our lives. So I ask you: Are you building something with your life that will be enduring — or are you building so hastily and poorly that everything you’ve built could go up suddenly in a puff of smoke?

Look at your life and ask yourself:

How am I building my marriage?

Based on what I am doing today, will my marriage flourish or perish?

How am I building my children?

Will my children pass the tests of life because of what I am putting into them?

How am I building my relationships?

Am I building my relationships so they can stand up against any storm?

How am I building my ministry?

Am I doing a lot of “quick fixes” that aren’t real solutions to problems in my ministry, or am I taking time to build my ministry right so it will last a lifetime?

How am I building my business?

Will the steps I am taking today build a long-term business, or will I later regret that I didn’t make longer-lasting decisions?

How am I building my finances?

Am I using money in a way to build my future, or am I throwing away my future by being reckless today?

How am I building my health?

If I keep doing what I am doing right now, will I be healthy later in life, or is my present lifestyle jeopardizing my future physical health?

Yes, Jesus is the Foundation under your life. Thank God for this awesome truth! But what you build on top of that foundation depends upon you. I advise you to ponder the questions I’ve posed to you in this Sparkling Gem and to spend some time talking to the Lord about how you answer them. This is such an important issue, because the ultimate outcome of your life depends on your getting those answers right.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Lord, as I start my day today, I ask You to help me seriously consider the way I’ve been building my life, my finances, my business, my ministry, my relationships, and my family. Forgive me for getting in a hurry and for doing things too hastily at times when I need to be concentrating on doing things right. Help me build my life in such a way that it will survive the test of time. Give me the insight I need to know when I am building correctly and when I am building too quickly. I know that my life is important and that You have trusted me as a steward over everything I have. So today I confess that I need Your help to build with the right materials and to build in such a way that what I do for You impacts future generations and passes the test of time.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that with God’s help, I am building my life wisely and with materials that will pass the test of time. My life is a gift from God, and I am a careful steward over this wonderful gift. Instead of being too hasty, I am carefully taking one step at a time, building my life, vision, business, and family so they will be strong for years to come. I would never be smart enough to build a life that lasts in my own strength, but with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning to build my life wisely, carefully, and for longevity!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of areas of your life that were built incorrectly and therefore didn’t last the way you had wished? What were those areas, and what did you learn from these experiences?
  2. Are you presently building certain parts of your life with shaky, flimsy materials? If so, what steps are you going to take to change this?
  3. Take a few minutes today to let the Lord help you review your life so you can honestly ascertain if you are building your life correctly or incorrectly. Never forget that your life is a gift from God and that you are called to be a wise steward of that gift by building your spiritual house with gold and silver and precious stones!

The Dead-End Places of Life

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.
— 2 Corinthians 1:9

Although we don’t like to admit it, we all occasionally run into dead-end places in our lives where we don’t know what to say, what to do, where to turn, or even how to pray. Sometimes it seems like we’ve hit a dead-end — in other words, it seems like everything is finished, over, and done with! If you’ve ever been in a place like this, you know what a hard place this can be!

Through these kinds of experiences, you and I discover that in our own strength, we are no match for some of life’s problems. That’s why we must learn to depend on the power and wisdom of God!

The apostle Paul tells us that he, too, went through this kind of learning experience when he found himself face-to-face with life-threatening situations in his own ministry. In Second Corinthians 1:9, he says, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” Paul was definitely at one of those dead-end places that we’re talking about today. In fact, the situation he faced was so acute that he compared it to a sentence of death. That’s dramatic language!

Notice the word “sentence” in the verse above. It is taken from the Greek word krino. This word krino normally refers to a jury who just handed down their final sentence in a court of law. You could say that the word krino denotes a verdict or a sentence pronounced as the result of a court trial.

After all the evidence is presented and the judge has examined all the facts, a final verdict is issued by the court. This is exactly the word that Paul uses in this dramatic verse. In using such a word, Paul is telling us that so much evidence and so many problems were stacked up against him and his companions, by all appearances it looked like there was no way for them to escape or even to survive. It looked like they had hit a dead-end; everything for them seemed to be finished, over, and done with!

This is precisely what Paul must have felt when he was facing overwhelming problems in Asia. He used the Greek word krino to let us know that as far as he was concerned, there was only one possible outcome for his life — death!

In essence, Second Corinthians 1:9 could be translated:

“As far as we were concerned, the final verdict was in, and the verdict demanded our deaths….”

But in spite of how it looked, Paul didn’t die, nor did he fail at fulfilling the job God had given him. It may have looked like it was the end of the road, but it was really the beginning of a new supernatural flow of divine power into Paul’s life. That’s why he went on to say that through it all, he learned not to trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead.

Paul had been under such intense pressure that he felt death was unavoidable. Then right from the midst of this horrible situation, God’s power was released and Paul was rescued! Paul said it was as if he and his companions had been raised from the dead.

When you don’t know what else to do and when you have no one else to turn to, that’s usually when God’s resurrection power begins to operate in you to the greatest measure! You see, there’s no such thing as no hope. As long as there is a loving Heavenly Father you can call on, there is still hope for you! If you learn to rely on Him, that dead-end place in your life that you’re facing right now can become a new beginning!

So call out to your Heavenly Father right now. Expect Him to release His resurrection power on your behalf to turn your dead-end situation around!

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My Prayer for Today

Lord, I have found that in my own strength, I am no match for life’s problems. I thank You for revealing this to me today. From this day forward, please help me turn to You immediately when I come up against a dead-end place in my life. I ask You, Lord, to help me fully surrender each of these areas to You so You can have full access to them and raise them, one by one, from the dead.  Please show me Your life-giving power today.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

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My Confession for Today

I confess that God’s resurrection power is released on my behalf to turn all dead-end situations in my life around! I do not trust in my own efforts or human thinking but in God and His life-giving power. I choose to partake of this power today by releasing every dead-end place to the Lord. I trust Him to perfect that which concerns me, and I look to see His power made manifest this day in my life!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1. Can you think of other people who faced impossible situations, but later experienced the delivering power of God that changed their situation?

2. Can you name Bible characters who learned to rely on God and experienced the same delivering power?

3. What kind of faith confessions can you start speaking to get your faith in gear and to release God’s supernatural power into your situation?

…But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
— 2 Corinthians 10:12

Earlier in life, I struggled terribly with an inferiority complex. Inadequacy, insufficiency, incompetence, and deficiency are just a few words to express the feelings that tried to master my self-image. Today I want to share what I learned from that experience, as well as a great truth I found in my studies of Second Corinthians 10:12, which says, “…They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” I believe that the principle I discovered in this verse will help you if you’ve faced a similar struggle and you long to be free.

When our teaching ministry was first getting started, I wondered, Who will ever want to have us minister in their church or conference? Denise and I had been living in a small city and had very few contacts beyond our little circle, so it seemed like a logical question. On one hand, I knew that God had called us to teach His Word across the earth, but on the other hand, I questioned that call — how it would be fulfilled. No one knew who we were. No one had ever heard us teach the Bible. There was simply no logical reason for anyone to invite us to teach the Word in their churches or conferences.

We began to schedule meetings in small churches all across the United States. We joyfully walked through every door and took every opportunity that opened for us, even accepting invitations to speak in home Bible studies. But frequently the enemy would bombard my mind with tormenting thoughts to inflame old feelings of insecurity: You’ll never do anything on a large or significant scale. Your entire ministry will be to small groups of people! When we got in the car to leave those meetings, I shared my struggling thoughts with Denise, and she’d try to encourage me. But the devil was hounding me with accusing thoughts of impending failure, telling me that I would be insignificant for the rest of my life.

I especially felt assaulted when we attended conferences or seminars to hear other speakers. Rather than be blessed, I vividly recall the devil telling me:

I fell into the trap of measuring and comparing myself against others, with the end result of always feeling like I fell hopelessly short. The devil literally tried to devastate me with feelings of inadequacy, deficiency, and inferiority. The more I compared myself to others, the more I felt “less than” — that is, until God’s Spirit reached into my heart and set me free!

The reason I share this intimate struggle from my past is that I know there are many who compare themselves to others as I once did. That may be your struggle. If it is, today I want to share what I found in this scripture that helped set me free. I believe the principle I discovered in this verse will help set you free as well!

When the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he explained an important principle along this line: “…But they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). The word “wise” is the Greek word sophos, which means specially enlightened, wise, sharp, or bright. This means the verse could be interpreted: “Comparing yourselves among yourselves is not the sharpest or brightest thing to do!”

I can attest from personal experience that habitually comparing yourself to others is not the brightest thing to do. It can be a fruitless endeavor that makes you feel worse and even more inferior. The word “comparing” is the Greek word sunkrino, and it is the picture of two or more who stand side by side to thoroughly examine themselves in comparison to each other and then to critically judge who is superior among the candidates. One group is classified as superior, and the other is classified as inferior. It is a fleshly endeavor that produces no spiritual fruit. It elevates one and puts another down, and it fails to recognize the many diverse graces of God that exist within the Christian community.

The Corinthian believers were fighting among themselves to prove who was the greatest among them. When Paul wrote this verse, he wrote it to rebuke them for making such comparisons. They didn’t have a problem with inferiority, as I had struggled with earlier in life. They had an issue with feelings of superiority and were in fierce competition with each other. Paul wrote this verse to rebuke the Corinthian believers for making comparisons, exhorting them to stop their infighting as they tried to prove who was the most spiritual among them.

In the March 4 Sparkling Gem, we will address the ugly spirit of superiority that should never be permitted in a believer’s life. However, there is a principle in this verse that the Holy Spirit used to help set me free from a spirit of inferiority. So here is the point I want to get across to you today: God intentionally made you different from others. You are actually a result of His divine design. Your mannerisms, insights, and style that are different from others may be the very qualities that make you uniquely positioned to fulfill a specific need.

Of course, we all have areas in our lives that need to be changed, and God will show these to you one at a time. But if you will quit comparing yourself to others — if you will stop disparaging the very qualities that cause you to stand out from those around you — you’ll open the door to freedom from a spirit of inferiority so your unique gifts can begin to shine brightly as God intended.

The thing that personally bothered me most was that I felt so different from other people. In fact, the issue of feeling strange or “less than” others began when I was a child. Even when I was very young, I felt that I was different in comparison to others. While all the other boys were playing football, I was visiting museums. While other boys were talking about and watching baseball games, I was taking art lessons and visiting the symphony. Although it’s true I was different in many ways from my peers, that difference didn’t mean I was inferior to them. However, at that young moment in my life, the devil used those differences to sow harmful thoughts into my soul that something had to be wrong with me because I was different than others. Years later when I was an adult, this root was still affecting me as I fell into the trap of comparing myself to others and constantly feeling that I was too different to be accepted by them.

What I thought was a negative trait — being “different” from others — was the very thing that made me uniquely qualified to fulfill my call. When I finally understood that God was the One who made me different, I began to see that I could shine His light in ways that others could not. What I thought would hold me back is actually what gave me my place in His plan! When I began to accept who God made me to be, I was freed from the devil’s mental assault and began to step out of the shadows so God could begin to use me in a greater way. I was finally able to embrace my uniqueness that made me shine differently from others.

That can be your story too! You can make the decision today that you’re never going to go down that bumpy, twisted road of comparing yourself to others and always coming up short. Today you’re going to start celebrating the differences that make you uniquely you!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the ways in which You made ME unique and different from others. Forgive me for the times I’ve struggled with being different. Now I understand that my differences distinguish me from others. You specially made me to fulfill a role no one else can fulfill. I accept what You have made me to be, and, Holy Spirit, I surrender my life to You. I ask You to help me present all that I am to the Father, changing what needs to be changed, so that my life will bring glory to Jesus Christ.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that what I am, I am by the grace of God and that He didn’t make any mistakes in the way He made me! He gifted me with talents, emotions, humor, insights, perspectives, and unique qualities that set me apart from others. My differences are some of the most positive attributes in my life, and I will not reject myself anymore simply because I am different. Being different puts me in a special category that I will no longer despise, but will use for the glory of God!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you struggled with being “different” from others? In what ways do you think you are different from other people?
  2. After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, can you see how being unique puts you in a category of your own? Why not take a few minutes to write down the ways that being unique is a positive factor in your life?
  3. How can you maximize your uniqueness? Every product is known because it has something to offer that other products do not offer. What do you have to offer that distinguishes you from other people?

What Should You Do When Your Plans Seem Hindered?

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
— 1 Thessalonians 2:18

Have you ever pursued something that you believed was God’s will, yet obstacles seemed to keep you from doing what you thought you were supposed to do? If you have, don’t feel alone, because many people have been in that same position! Even the apostle Paul felt this way from time to time! But what should you do in times like these?

Today I want you to particularly notice the word “hindered” in the verse above. It comes from the Greek word egkopto, an old word that was originally used to describe a road so deteriorated and broken up that it was impassable.

Have you ever driven down a road on your way to your destination, only to discover that the road you’re driving on is too full of ruts and holes to continue your journey? As a result, you have to turn around, go back, and find another route to get where you are going. Well, that is exactly the image the word egkopto portrays to us!

Paul uses this word to describe hindering forces that kept him from going to see the Thessalonians. There is no doubt that this means Paul was on his way to see them — not once, he says, but twice. But the journey became so filled with danger and unexpected bumps that Paul had to turn around, go back, and rethink his strategy on how he was going to get to the church at Thessalonica. Can you think of a time when you encountered something like this in your own journey?

But the word egkopto means even more than this! It was also used in Greek times in an athletic sense. It was used to portray the moment when a runner comes alongside another runner and literally elbows him out of the race. Although the second runner was running a good race, he is shoved out of the way by the aggression of his fellow runner. As a result of this action, the runner who was elbowed loses the leading edge he previously held.

This categorically means that Paul understood Satan’s tactics. The enemy had tried to make use of dangerous and unexpected bumps along the way to throw Paul off track and to elbow him out of his spiritual race. In fact, Paul was convinced that Satan had specifically engineered these unforeseen and unanticipated hassles to keep him from getting to the Thessalonian church.

When these two ideas are combined together, the primary idea of the word “hindered” becomes that of an impasse so severe that it prohibits you from going where you need to go or an aggressor who unkindly elbows you off course in your spiritual race.

Paul is actually saying:

“…Satan created an impasse that kept me from coming to see you.”
“…Satan put obstructions in my path to prevent me from getting to you.”
“…Satan cut in on me and prohibited me from visiting you as I wanted to do.”
“…Satan tried to elbow his way in on me to keep me from coming to see you.”

When something happens that seems to prohibit you from doing the will of God, remember that you are not the first to encounter such difficulties. Others have been in the same quandary. In time, however, the devil’s attack ceased, and the way for them to move ahead became clear. In the same way, you can be sure that God is going to empower you and give you the wisdom you need to get where you need to go!

Don’t despair — the story isn’t over yet! Don’t throw in the towel and give in just because you’ve hit some kind of impasse. The devil has never had the last word on anything, and he isn’t going to have the last word on this situation either. Regardless of what the devil has tried to do, it’s time for you to remember that what God promised SHALL come to pass as you hold fast to your faith in Him!

sparking gems from the greek

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I’ve run into an impasse, and I don’t know how to get past it by myself. I have done everything I know to do, but the problem continues to persist in my life. Today I am asking You for the strength I need to keep pushing forward and to overcome the obstacles that Satan has set in my path. I know that greater is He who is in me than he that is in the world, so today I fervently ask that the power of God residing within me be released to overcome each attack the devil has tried to bring against me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

My Confession for Today

I know I am not the first to encounter difficulties. Therefore, I confess that with God’s help, the devil’s attack will cease and the way for me to move ahead will become clear. God is going to give me the exact wisdom I need to get where I need to go! I am not going to give in just because I’ve hit some kind of impasse. The devil has never had the last word on anything, and he isn’t going to have the last word on this situation either! 

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1.  Can you think of times in your life when you’ve experienced impasses that eventually moved out of the way?

2.  What actions did you take that caused those devilish assaults and roadblocks to dissipate?

3.  Have you asked the Holy Spirit to show you the real root cause of any current impasse you’re facing, as well as the steps you can take to close the door to the devil and reverse your situation?

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth….
— 2 Timothy 2:20

There are many different roles in God’s Kingdom, and each role is significant and important. The devil often tells people that their role is not important because it is less visible than the role of others. Let me address that misconception by first telling you about an experience I had many years ago in an antique store that specialized in ancient relics.

When I looked at the shelves of the antique store, I was amazed at the many antiquities that appeared to have been sitting there for decades and were covered with a thick film of dust. An archeologist’s treasure trove, this shop was also a housekeeper’s nightmare because it hadn’t been cleaned in years! I sneezed as I accidentally breathed in dust while rubbing my hand across the front of a beautiful vase I had taken from a high shelf.

From where I was standing, it appeared to me that the higher shelves were loaded with interesting historical items, such as vases of marble, jasper, and alabaster. I grabbed a stepladder and stretched upward on my toes so I could peer deeper into the cache of relics on that top shelf — and there I discovered genuine Roman antiquities made of silver and gold. Astonishment is the only word I know to describe the intense emotion that rushed through me as I reached out to take hold of those precious artifacts.

The lower shelves were also filled with memories from the ancient world, but these were primarily items made from stone and clay. I saw pottery from the Iron Age, oil lamps from the Byzantine period that had been dug from the soil of Israel, and authentic pottery from the ancient city of Corinth that was still completely intact.

As I stood back and looked at the floor all around me, I could see that I was surrounded by less expensive ancient items that were primarily made from wood, such an ancient harness used for oxen, feeding troughs, and Egyptian baskets of woven ancient reeds from the Nile River. The thought hit me strongly that whether these different objects were made of superior or relatively inferior material, they had all successfully endured the test of time and survived thousands of years.

I pondered all these objects for a moment, wondering:

When I picked up the items made of wood and clay, I could still see stains that remained from ancient times. I wondered:

Before me were vessels of gold, silver, stone, wood, and clay, all of which had survived the test of time and now sat in that shop as a reminder of a people from the ancient past. The rich, the poor, the upper class, the lower class, the educated, the uneducated, old and young — all the various classes of society were represented in the array of utensils and articles before me that day.

When I saw this amazing mixture of gold, silver, wood, and earthen vessels, my thoughts went to Paul’s words to Timothy, where he told the younger minister, “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth: and some to honor, and some to dishonor” (2 Timothy 2:20).

I want you to notice that Paul began this verse by writing about “a great house.” At this point, Paul reached into the secular world and borrowed an example to make his point. In his mind, he recalled the magnificent homes that belonged to the rich upper class. When he wrote about a “great” house, he used the word megale. The word megale depicts something very large. The word “house” is oikos, the regular word for a house. But when the words oikos megale are used together, it no longer refers to just a regular residence or house like any citizen would live in. Now it paints the picture of a very large house.

Remnants of large, elegant residences from Paul’s day are still evident today in cities like Rome, Athens, Pompeii, and ancient Ephesus. Such homes belonged to the wealthy upper class and were both splendid and grandiose. Paul used the illustration of these impressive houses to depict the majesty of God’s house, which is the grandest and greatest of them all.

Paul went on to say that just as in the large homes of the wealthy, in God’s house, “…There are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earth….”

The word “vessels” is the Greek word skeuos. It refers to a vessel, container, or utensil. In ancient times, there was a wide array of skeuos, and each had a specific and designated purpose. The word skeuos could be used to depict utensils, agricultural instruments, baggage, equipment of various sorts, vases used in worship, kitchen items, and elegant articles of gold and silver put on public display.

Vessels made from “wood and earth” were usually functional items used for everyday household chores. The wooden items were also used as containers for water, flour, oil, or wine. Vessels fashioned from “gold and silver” were evidently intended for exhibition and therefore displayed in visible places in the homes of the rich. Gold and silver objects were meant to be seen and appreciated rather than serve a practical function.

There is no doubt that Paul was describing real gold and silver vessels, because he used the word chrusos, the Greek word for gold, and the word arguros, the Greek word for silver. The Greek word for “wood” is zulina, which describes any vessel made of wood. The word “earth” is the Greek word ostrakinos, which refers to pottery. (For a deeper study of the word ostrakinos, see the February 13 Gem in Sparkling Gems 1.) What a variety of vessels we see in this verse!

With this example, Paul teaches us that all kinds of vessels and people are needed in God’s house. Imagine how dysfunctional a house would be if all the vessels in it were made of gold, silver, precious stones, or highly priced porcelain. You couldn’t function in such a house! In fact, you would probably be afraid to even move about in a house where everything was made of precious materials. For a house to function normally, it needs regular pots and pans. The utensils in the kitchen may not receive the same adulation as the more elegant objects displayed in the living room showcase, but kitchen utensils are indispensable for the proper functioning of a household. Just try cooking bacon and eggs in porcelain vases or with utensils made of gold and silver, and you’ll be quickly reminded how important regular ol’ pots and pans are!

By using such imagery, Paul let us know that all kinds of vessels — people with different functions and roles — are needed in God’s house. Although they are different from each other, each is important and special. Each serves a specific purpose. Just as was true with the vessels of the fabulous ancient homes, in God’s house there must be many different kinds of people with different positions, functions, and purposes. In fact, His house is filled to overflowing with human vessels whose various gifts and talents are essential to the effective functioning of God’s house. Some people have visible positions; other people have less visible positions. But each person is vital to the operations of God’s house.

As you ponder your own role in God’s house, it is important for you to remember that some people’s roles are more visible, while others have a less visible part to play. Yet everyone’s role is vital and of great consequence. If those working behind the scenes didn’t do their part, those with more visible roles wouldn’t be able to do their parts.

Human beings tend to glamorize people who perform on the stage, but entertainers wouldn’t seem so glamorous if they had no makeup artists to prepare them. They wouldn’t shine so brightly if there were no lighting specialists to light up the stage. Their voices would be unheard if there were no sound technicians. The makeup artists, lighting specialists, and sound technicians are unseen, but I guarantee you that their absence would be noticed if they didn’t do their jobs! They are all vital for the show to go on!

So don’t let the devil badger you into thinking your role is not important because it is less visible than others. Your part is very important in God’s house!

There are many different roles in God’s Kingdom, and each role is significant and important. Maybe your role is visible, or maybe yours is behind the scenes. Regardless of the role you have right now, consider it an honor that God would use you in His house! I encourage you to say yes to the role God has given you at this time. Throw open your arms, embrace it, and hold it close. Take deep into your heart the place of service to which God has assigned you for this season. Master that position — fulfilling its responsibilities with an excellent attitude — and then watch Him move you to higher levels of responsibility according to His will and His purposes for your life!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for speaking to me so strongly today about my role in Your House. I admit that in the past, there have been times when I was tempted to think that I was less important than others because my role wasn’t as visible as theirs. But now I understand that my part in Your house is just as vital as those who are more public, for without my role, it would be much harder for them to do what You have called them to do. I ask You to give me grace to embrace, hold close, and take deep into my heart the position You have given me at this time in my life. Help me master it and fulfill my part in a way that is helpful to others and that honors and glorifies You.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

 

I confess that I am thankful for the role I have in God’s house. I am not a complainer or one who bemoans the task that has been given to me. I fulfill my role with a happy heart, as unto the Lord, knowing that I will answer to Him for the assignment He has given me. Because I do my part, others are able to do their part. We are a team, and each of us is very important to the proper functioning of God’s household. I appreciate my role; I value those who have different roles than mine; and I am known as a person who expresses my gratitude to others for what they do in God’s house.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Have you ever been frustrated with the task that has been given to you in God’s house? Did you think your role was less important than others’ tasks because yours was only a supportive role? After reading today’s Sparkling Gem, how has your attitude changed toward the supportive role you have been given?
  2. Can you think of someone you know who is infected with “star sickness” and who treats others badly if they don’t hold a prominent position? What have you learned by observing this person’s inappropriate treatment of other people? Through observation, what have you learned that you never want to do to other people who have less visible roles than yourself?
  3. Has the Holy Spirit spoken to you today about embracing your place in God’s house? What changes do you need to make in your attitude to be successful in your present role in His Kingdom?

Have You Paid Attention to Yourself Lately?

For I My that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.
— 1 Timothy 4:16

Are you constantly serving others without giving yourself needed times of rest and refreshing? Or do you remember that you have spiritual needs too?

When Paul wrote First Timothy 4:16, Timothy was a young pastor working ferociously to see his ministry succeed. Timothy was serving as the pastor of the giant church of Ephesus — the world’s largest church at that time. In the process, he was learning to deal with all the problems that go along with serving as the senior pastor of such a large church.

Timothy was discovering that taking care of a large church was an all-consuming task. He was giving every ounce of himself to serve the needs of that church and to make sure it was well taken care of. In fact, he was so busy taking care of everything and everyone else that he was forgetting to take care of himself!

Have you ever been guilty of running around and taking care of everyone else except yourself? Have you ever gotten so busy helping others that you forfeited your own vital time with God? Be honest! Have you ever done this so regularly that you began to feel drained, and you knew it was because you weren’t taking care of your own spiritual needs?

That’s why Paul admonished Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself.…” This phrase “take heed” comes from the Greek word epecho, which is a compound of the words ep and echo. The word ep means on, and the word echo means to have or to hold. When these two words are compounded into one word, it means to grab hold of something very tightly. In other words, the word epecho describes an extremely firm grip.

It’s so easy to get distracted by other things that scream for your attention. However, if your relationship with God suffers because you are trying to help everyone else, it will just be a matter of time until you run dry, lose your energy and passion, and have nothing more to offer. This is exactly what was happening to Timothy! If he was to continue serving as an effective minister to other people, he had to set aside some private time to develop his own relationship with God.

Paul’s words to Timothy could be translated:

“Get ahold of yourself….”
“Make your own spiritual life a priority….”
“Don’t get so busy that you forget you have spiritual needs too….”

It’s good to serve the Lord and to be willing to work. You should be faithful at whatever He has called you to do. But you should never get so busy that you forget your own spiritual needs and thus end up running dry of spiritual power. Take Paul’s words to heart. Never forget to “take heed unto thyself”!

If you are going to serve God and do His will for years to come, it is essential that you make your own spiritual life your first priority. After all, you can give only what you have inside you. If you run dry because you never spend time with the Lord, it won’t be long until you have nothing left to give to anyone!

So if you wish to continue being effective for God’s Kingdom, it is mandatory that you don’t forget about your own spiritual need to grow and to be refreshed by the Word. As Paul’s words could be understood, “Don’t get so busy that you forget you have spiritual needs too!”

sparking gems from the greek

My Prayer for Today

Lord, help me remember not to neglect my own spiritual life. My time with You is vital if I am to remain spiritually fresh and empowered to serve others. When life gets so busy that I think there is no time to spend with You, help me refocus and reschedule my life so that my relationship with You remains my greatest priority. And after I’ve been refreshed by Your Word and Your Presence, help me then to minister the fullness of Your Spirit and Your love to those around me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

My Confession for Today

I boldly proclaim by faith that my spiritual life is my number-one priority. I pay attention to my walk with God, and I do everything I can do to make sure my spiritual life is alive, growing, and constantly reaching out for more of the Lord. I am sensitive to God’s Spirit. I am attuned to His Word. As a result of putting my own spiritual life first, I am filled with enough power and love to adequately serve the needs of those who are around me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1. How much time do you personally spend alone with God every day?

2. Have you gotten so busy serving the Lord that you have neglected your own walk with Him? If so, write down any problems you may be facing in different areas of your life because of this neglect.

3. What steps do you need to take to reverse this situation and refocus on your relationship with Jesus?

It’s Time To Get Creative In ‘Doing the Word’

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
— James 1:22

Let’s talk about what James meant when he said, “But be ye doers of the word….” The word “doers” is taken from the Greek word poietes, the same Greek word used for a poet. This word carries with it the idea of creativity, such as a poet whose personality includes a creative flair. James is telling us that if we can’t easily think of a way to do what has been preached to us, we must get creative! We must find ways to do the Word.

Ephesians 2:10 is another place where a form of this word poietes is used. Paul writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.…” The word “workmanship” is the Greek word poiema, which comes from the same root word as poietes.

This tells us that when we were saved, God put forth all His best efforts and creative powers to marvelously fashion and create us in Jesus Christ. Because the word poiema is used in Ephesians 2:10, it unmistakably means that God wielded His fullest, greatest, and most creative powers when we were born again. We weren’t just mildly saved; rather, God took us into His hands and marvelously made us new in Jesus Christ as He released His most powerful creative forces and made us a workmanship that would be worthy to bear His name.

Whether the word poietes is used to depict a poet, as mentioned above, or (in another form) to describe God’s creative power, as in Ephesians 2:10, it always depicts someone putting forth his fullest creative abilities to achieve something. Now James uses this word poietes in James 1:22 to tell us that we must put forth our fullest efforts and most creative abilities in doing what we have heard preached! We cannot passively hope that the Word becomes a part of our lives; we have to get creative and find ways to make the Word a practical part of our lives.

Thus, you could translate these words in James 1:22 to mean:

“If you can’t easily think of ways to do what you’ve heard preached, it’s time for you to get creative! Put all your heart and soul into finding a way to act on what you’ve heard….”

You could also translate it to read:

“It’s time for you to get creative in the ways you do the Word of God….”

It could be that you’re thinking, But I don’t know how to do what has been preached to me!

Don’t worry — the Lord isn’t short on creativity! If you will listen, the Holy Spirit will say, “Here’s an opportunity to apply what you’ve been hearing. Do it!” If you have a heart to truly act on the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will show you ways to do it.

Seek the Lord and allow Him to show you how:

Spiritual maturity isn’t measured by the number of meetings you’ve attended, how many speakers you’ve heard, how many books you’ve read, or how many tapes you’ve listened to in the past year. You have to take that Word you’ve heard and find a way to make it work in your life. God is looking for people who actually do what they’ve heard preached!

So if you can’t seem to think of practical ways to apply the Word to your life, ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Here’s one thing you can be sure of: The Holy Spirit is never short on ideas about how you can become a “doer” of the Word!

sparking gems from the greek

My Prayer for Today

Lord, I ask You to help me think of new ways to do the Word of God. You have all the fresh ideas I’ll ever need, so I am looking to You to show me how to put the Word into practice in my life. You are full of creative power and fresh ideas, so please open my eyes and show me how I can serve, how I can bless someone else, or any other way I can become obedient to do the Word that has been revealed so powerfully to my life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

My Confession for Today

I declare that I never run short of ideas on how to walk out the Word that has been preached to me. I do what I’ve heard; I obey what I’ve read; and I get better and better every day at finding ways to put into operation the Word that God has so graciously brought into my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

sparking gems from the greek

Questions to Answer

1. Have you asked the Holy Spirit to show you creative ideas for applying the Word to your life?

2. Can you think of specific people you could be serving and sharing the love of Jesus with? For instance, could you share Jesus with your lost friends, bake a cake for the lady next door, or help your neighbor repair his car?

3. What other ways can you become a “doer” of the Word that has been preached to you?

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
— 1 Thessalonians 5:15

I’ll never forget the day when a man who had been recently saved in our church came to me and said, “Pastor, just say the word, and I’ll send someone across town to eliminate the man who has tried to hurt you and our church.”

Before coming to Christ, this man had been heavily involved in the Russian mafia, and in that capacity, he had done a lot of dark deeds in the name of loyalty for his former boss. Still newly saved, the only kind of loyalty he understood at this point was retribution — and he viewed me, his pastor, as his new “boss.” So when he heard that a man had deliberately abused the church and tried to harm our reputation, he responded the only way he knew to respond. He was so incensed with anger that he was ready to “get” the guy and thereby send a loud signal that no one dare touch his pastor and his church — or they would pay for it!

“Pastor,” this man told me, “I have connections. Just say the word, and I’ll make sure that person never bothers you or anyone else ever again!”

I had to explain to this man that retribution is not the way we do business in the Kingdom of God. “If there is any retribution,” I said, “that is something God would deal with, not us.” I continued by telling him that we are in the business of redeeming lost men, not killing them when we get angry!

Nevertheless, when this newly saved man presented me with his sincere offer, I inwardly chuckled because I had never heard anyone be so blatant about his desire to “get” someone. But as I thought about it, I wondered how many times Christians have wished they could render some form of justice against someone they were upset with because of something that person had done or failed to do.

Any of us can be tempted to be vindictive from time to time — especially if someone has seriously disappointed us, harmed us or our families or friends, or tried to hurt our personal reputation. But no matter what evil others have done to us, we must remember what the apostle Paul wrote in First Thessalonians 5:15: “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

The Greek tense in this verse is not a suggestion but the strongest form of a command. When Paul wrote, “See that none render evil for evil,” it could be translated, “I am unquestionably commanding that none of you renders evil for evil.…” It is absolutely clear that Christians are commanded to abstain from all acts of retaliation and self-vindication. The word “none” is all-inclusive, letting us know that this order is categorically directed to every single person. This means that regardless of the circumstance, no one who calls Jesus his Lord should be involved in the practice of rendering evil for evil.

The word “render” in this verse is from the word apodidomi, a compound of the words apo and didomi. The word apo means back, as to return something back to its original owner or to send something back to someone. The word didomi simply means to give. When these two words are compounded into the word apodidomi, as we find it in this verse, the new word means to send back, to return, or to pay back. In other words, it is never our task to retaliate, to get even, to get revenge, to make someone pay for what he did, or to settle the score with someone we think did evil against us.

The word “evil” is the Greek word kakos. It describes an action that is harmful, hurtful, or injurious or something done with an evil intent. These are the actions of a person who intentionally acts to cause some kind of damage or ruin in someone else’s life. But this verse talks about “evil for evil” — the Greek phrase kakon anti kakou — which carries the idea of a person who thinks, You did wrong to me, so now I’m going to do wrong to you. I’m going to do to you exactly what you did to me! In God’s view, such vindictive behavior is completely unacceptable for committed Christians, even if someone has grievously wronged them.

Instead, Paul wrote that we must “…ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.” The word “ever” is pantote, a word that means always, at all times, or constantly. The word “follow” is the word dioko, which in historic Greek literature meant to hunt, to pursue, to chase, or to track down and kill. It is the picture of an outdoorsman who is so determined to hunt down an animal that he will stop at nothing to pursue, chase, track down, and ultimately get his game!

Do hunters accidentally bag their game, or do they strategize and plan to get a good kill shot each hunting season? Hunters strategize! They talk to other hunters about the best places to hunt. They dress in camouflaged clothes. They often perch themselves high up on tree branches and wait for hours upon hours for an unlucky deer to walk into their path. Once the deer comes in range, they shoot to kill! They hunt, hound, and stalk that animal until they finally get their game. Then they throw the big catch in the back of their truck and head home with their trophy — and the prospect of many good venison meals in their future! That is exactly what Paul meant when he told us to ever “follow” that which is good.

The fact that what is good must be pursued means doing the right thing does not always come easy! But regardless of how hard it is to do it, you and I must always be committed to doing what is good and right. The word “good” in this verse is the word agathos, the Greek word that means anything that is good, beneficial, or profitable.

You may be tempted to resist being a blessing or to do nothing for someone you feel has done wrong to you. But as I’ve noted, it is never your job to pay someone back for what he or she did to you, or to withhold a blessing when you are able to give it.

Paul plainly taught that it is God’s will that we “ever follow that which is good.” That means we must be dedicated to pursuing that which is good, beneficial, and profitable. But must we really do good to all men? Must we seek to do good even to those who have done wrong to us?

Paul answered that question when he wrote that we must behave like this “both among yourselves, and to all men.” The phrase “among yourselves” in Greek is eis allelous and it unquestionably refers to the relationships that existed between the brethren in church. But we are not to be in the occupation of doing good only to our fellow brethren. Paul also went on to say “to all men.” This phrase “all men” would include those outside the Church, or those who are outside of Christ and therefore non-Christian.

If you feel that someone has committed an injustice against you or simply treated you badly, and you find yourself wishing you could “get back” at that person for what he or she did, that is a moment when you must take charge of your emotions and remind yourself that vindictive behavior is never God’s will. Regardless of the evil others have committed against you, it is imperative that you remember what the apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in First Thessalonians 5:15: “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”

An interpretive translation of First Thessalonians 5:15 could read:

“I am commanding you that not a single one among you should be involved in the business of retribution or revenge. It is not your task to retaliate, to get even, to take revenge, to make someone pay for what he did, or to settle the score. Your assignment is not only to pursue anything that will be beneficial and good for your Christian friends, but also for people who are outside of Christ.”

Never forget that retribution is not the way we do business in the Kingdom of God. If there is any retribution, let it be something taken care of by God and not by you or me. Let’s remember that we are in the business of redeeming the lost, not taking revenge or getting even with people when they upset us!

To consistently do good to others who haven’t treated you right will require your commitment and dedication to obey Jesus. Achieving this will take your utmost concentration, undivided attention, and empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Commit yourself to following God’s command not to render evil for evil, but to ever follow that which is good. As you do, the Holy Spirit will stand right alongside you to help you carry out this act of obedience. Leave retribution in God’s hands, and make it your business to do good to all men.

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I ask You to help me have a right attitude and heart toward people, including those who have hurt me and let me down. You know how deeply disappointed I have been in people that I expected to behave on a much higher level. Help me recall the many times I’ve let You down, yet You have never forsaken me, rejected me, or cast me aside. In spite of my personal failings, You continue to show Your love, mercy, and forgiveness to me — and Your blessings continue to abound in my life. Just as You have been steadfast in Your love for me, I ask You to help me have a steadfast heart filled with love, mercy, and goodwill for others.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I declare that I am filled with the love of God and never want to do harm to anyone. God wants me to be a blessing to everyone I know and meet. Therefore, I am determined that strife, vengeance, and retribution toward others are not, and will not be, a part of my life. Jesus has called me to walk the high road, and I am committed to getting on the road of love and forgiveness. I will be a blessing to my Christian brethren and even to those who are without Christ. I will obey God’s Word and always seek to do good to people I know and meet. Other people’s lives will be more richly blessed as a result of being around me and knowing me.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. In this Sparkling Gem, I related the story of a man who wanted to “get” someone who had wronged us and our church. Did you identify with that story? Have you ever secretly wished you could pay someone back for the wrong you perceived he or she did to you?
  2. Have you ever felt like the brunt of someone’s efforts to “get back” at you for some wrong he perceived you did to them? When that happened, were you shocked to find that this person thought you had deliberately tried to mistreat him?
  3. If you look at the people in or near your life right now, in what ways can you begin to reach out to benefit and bless them?

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.
— Galatians 1:15,16

I know it sounds fantastic to believe, but the first time I ever saw a Russian Bible, I was instantly able to phonetically read it. I didn’t understand what I was reading, but phonetically, I could pronounce the words and read them out loud. As you may already know, I had studied classical Greek at the university level, but I didn’t realize the vast similarities between Greek and Russian. The two written languages are so close that I could phonetically read Russian the first time I picked up a Russian Bible.

I’ll never forget that moment. I was a speaker at a missions’ conference, and as I waited for my turn to speak, I noticed a Bible sitting on the pew next to me. I wondered whose it was, so I picked it up — and when I began flipping through its pages, I understood it was a Russian Bible. But as I looked at it, I realized that I could phonetically read the words. I was literally mesmerized by the fact that I was reading Russian! When the service was over and my time of ministering was finished, I quickly rushed to the front row, picked up that Russian Bible and “borrowed” it for a night so I could keep looking at it. I didn’t know to whom it belonged, but I took it home and read it for hours, planning to return it to the exact same spot where I had “borrowed” it that morning.

That night in my hotel room, I spent hours flipping through the pages of that Russian Bible. Slowly, I pronounced the words, fairly certain that I was accurately pronouncing what I was looking at. God knows I have a love for languages — and that night, God hooked my heart with the Russian language in a Russian Bible. The next morning, I returned that Russian Bible to the exact place where I had found it. But that experience ignited a desire in me to learn the Russian language — and that is really what started my love for the Russian language and people!

I searched for a system of learning the Russian language, and I found one that suited me very well. Every night before I went to bed, I began to memorize Russian words and study Russian grammar. I would practice my new words and phrases on Denise — all the while not understanding why I was so driven to learn this language. In just a short time, I had committed to memory 800 Russian words and could speak key phrases and sentences. Something inside me was calling out for me to learn this language.

Not long after I started studying Russian, I received a phone call from a dear friend, who invited me to join him and a few other men who were going to teach in the first aboveground Bible school established in the Soviet Union for more than 70 years. At first I didn’t want to go, but the idea of practicing Russian in real life had hooked my heart, and I found myself agreeing to join them on the trip. Within a matter of weeks, I was in the USSR, and to my delight, I spoke and understood some Russian without mistakes. That stoked the coals of the fire ignited in my heart on the night I started flipping through that Russian Bible, making me want to understand and speak the Russian language even better.

In Russia, I found myself in a land completely different from our own in the United States, but I supernaturally fell in love with the people, the culture, and even the inconveniences that existed at that time. It was like a spirit of adventure had been loosed inside me. It was, without question, a life-transforming moment in my life. But this divine adventure all started the night I “borrowed” the Russian Bible at the mission conference some months before. That I could immediately phonetically read the Russian language was a miracle to me!

Prior to this revelation, I had always assumed that my life and ministry would be based in the United States, and I never dreamed of ministering in Russia. But I learned that God has deep-laid plans for our lives that are usually revealed to us one step at a time.

This experience makes me think of the apostle Paul, who was perfectly trained to minister to Hebrew-speaking people, yet God sovereignly called him and separated him to minister to the heathen nations of the world. Although he was unaware of it, it had always been a part of the plan of God for his life.

Paul referred to this in Galatians 1:15 and 16, where he said, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.”

According to Paul, God had a plan for him from his birth, and that grace carried him toward his life call even when he was unaware of it. God “separated” him from his mother’s womb for a purpose. The word “separated” is from the Greek word aphoridzo, which means to mark off, to set boundaries around, or to specifically set aside and thus dedicate for a special purpose. Although Paul was ignorant of it, God had already marked his life and dedicated it for a ministry to the Gentiles. Heaven’s plan was set in motion by grace and ultimately led him to his place of divine destination.

Paul went on to say in verse 16, “To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.” Paul uniquely understood that although his entire life had trained him to minister to Hebrew-speaking people, God’s hand was on his life to point him in a different direction: to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the heathen. The Gentile world was totally different from the world Paul knew and felt comfortable in, yet it was his place of divine purpose. When he realized it, Paul said that he “immediately did not confer with flesh and blood….”

The word “immediately” is important, because it tells us that when Paul first realized God’s call on his life, he didn’t confer with flesh and blood. A time came later when he sought the counsel and friendship of Jewish leaders who would affirm his ministry. But initially he simply embraced the call before the Lord with all of his heart. The word “conferred” is the Greek word prosanatithimi, and it refers to obtaining favor or approval from others to endorse one’s activities. Paul knew so strongly that he was called to the Gentile world that he didn’t need or seek the approval of others. This calling was seared into his soul.

Likewise, when I knew that God was calling me to the Russian-speaking people, I really knew it. I did seek the counsel of others out of respect for them. However, their answers wouldn’t have swayed me from my decision, because I inwardly knew that God was moving our family to the former USSR to impart the teaching of God’s Word at a crucial moment in the history of Christianity in that part of the world. I heard God’s call, and I accepted it. I knew that He had marked my life off, set His boundaries around me, and specifically dedicated me for this place of service.

For me, it all started with my picking up that Russian Bible — God used that incident to hook my heart with a love for the Russian language. As I think about my journey from that moment to this present day, I am in awe of God and His ways. How lovingly He works to hook our hearts and get us on the right path for our lives!

In what ways has God hooked your heart to get you pointed in the right direction for your life? You are not here by accident. God has a plan for your life. He separated you from your mother’s womb to fulfill that assignment. If you don’t know that yet, ask the Holy Spirit to begin to open your eyes to see why you are here and what you are to do with your life. Your life will begin to take on real purpose only when you know what you are supposed to do and you begin to follow that plan.

Like the apostle Paul, God’s plan may be different from what you had anticipated. But keep your heart open to Him, knowing that God only has good plans in store for you and that He wants your life to make an impact for eternity!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY


Father, I thank You for the plan for my life that is already written by Your hand deep within me. Father, I realize that Your plan may be different from what I’ve previously assumed. So I choose now, as an act of my will, to lay aside my own preferences. I make a conscious decision right now that my will is to do Your will. Set my feet upon the path of Your perfect plan for me. Holy Spirit, help me not to frustrate the grace of God, but to be open-minded so I can hear You speak to me. And give me the courage to obey what I hear. I know that You have marked off my life and set boundaries around me, preparing me for a special purpose. Help me have open ears and an open heart so I can hear and understand and follow exactly what Your plan is for me.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

 

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY


I confess that according to Ephesians 2:10, Jesus Christ has a predetermined purpose for my life, and His grace is carrying me toward that divine destination. I will not follow the voice of a stranger, but I will follow the voice of my Shepherd as He leads and guides me on the path to the center of His will for my life. I am so thankful that God’s grace is at work in me. I fully trust in this work of grace, and I declare that because of it, I will always be right on time and right where God wants me to be — doing precisely what He has asked me to do and thus fulfilling His will for my life.

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

  1. Can you think of other Bible characters who were called out of their comfort zones to minister to people who were different from them? Who are some of those people? What can you learn by meditating on their lives and experiences as they followed God’s plan?
  2. Do you personally know people, like myself, who thought they knew the will of God, only to find out later that He had a different plan? Who are some of those people? What happened as a result of their redirecting the course of their lives to follow God’s plan?
  3. What do you believe God is calling you to do right now? Is there anything that has hooked your heart and God has used as a “lure” to lead you in a new direction? Pay attention when God hooks your heart, for this may be the way He is revealing the correct path for your life to you.