Tag Archives: commitment

MOTHER’S DAY

12 Thursday May 2016

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Our Mother’s Day sermon came from 1 Samuel, chapters 1 and 2 – the story of Hannah, a great woman of faith. I gleaned from her story some particular points that will certainly benefit us all if we consider them and make some applications.

Hannah was a woman who loved the Lord. What love she had toward the Lord may not have been as great as the love she did come to have, but there is no reason to think that prior to her marriage to Elkanah she did not love the Lord with some great devotion. This emotional quality and behavioral response Hannah exhibited points to two strong reminders in human relations. First, a woman wants to be loved. She wants to be loved by the Lord and she wants to be loved by her family. If she was raised with no love in the home, that no-love experience carries into adulthood and manifests itself in insecurity, anger, distrust, etc. It takes the love of a husband to offset those burdens she carries, but he himself needs to understand what love is and does. Second, a woman wants to give love also. In the case of Hannah, she gave herself to her husband, she loved him. But the love she had for her husband, however great it was, was a love that is not necessarily the same as the love a mother has toward her child. Hannah wanted to have children and share with them her love, as she did with her husband.

Circumstances in life have a great way of drawing one closer to the Lord than what one previously thought was possible. Sometimes we experience travails in life that are not the result of our own doings; sometimes we experience affliction in life that is very much the reason because of our own failings. In both cases, knowing what to do when the travail/affliction comes is crucial to own life progresses from that point.

Hannah was childless and, as far as the Record is concerned, she did not know why. She did know, however, to whom she could turn for a solution to her present problem. Such an important point that many overlook it. It is not overlooked because one is callous, but it is overlooked because it is but a “small” point in the story. That’s just it! It is not small, but very important.

In a different context, the Lord encouraged and gave exhortation to the people of Israel after they returned from Babylonian captivity. Note what the Lord said, “For who hath despised the day of small things?” (Zechariah 4:10, KJV). I really like the way that reads, but we must note the passage has specific application to the rebuilding of the Temple. At that time, some made comparison with the Temple Solomon built (destroyed by Babylon) and then compared it with the Temple the people of Zechariah’s day built; the people wept (Haggai 2:1-5). Though small in comparison, it was quite important.

Hannah’s prayer, though perhaps perceived as a small part of the story, is quite important to the whole of the story.

To the Lord she went in prayer; she poured out her heart and the High Priest Eli took note of Hannah praying and, after an initial correction by her to him, encouraged her in her prayer. Hannah found comfort in the Lord (cf. 1 Samuel 30:6) and she returned home to tend to the matters of ordinary life. What a great lesson here also. Life goes on, and we need to address those ordinary matters of life, even if they are extraordinary. Life does not stop because of my or your heartache, and neither did it stop for her. Hannah appealed to God and to the Lord she turned over her burden (cf. 1 Peter 5:6-7).

The Lord heard Hannah’s prayer and, more than that, He answered her prayer. How easy it would have been with all the joy a loving mother can possibly experience to change her mind after having received God’s gift of a child. “The Lord will understand,” someone might say. Yes, He would understand, but that is not the same as saying that He would be pleased with the change of mind after a previous vow (1 Samuel 1:9-11). This is what makes Hannah stand out; she did not change her mind.

About three years later, after all the nurturing, nursing and bonding that took place – to Shiloh (where the Tabernacle was located) she and her family went. Having arrived, she kept her vow. To Eli she handed her child over, dedicating him to the Lord’s service. Imagine the heartache and tears shed over that, and the many days following!

We don’t read anymore of Hannah, but we read of the greatness of her son, God’s prophet, Samuel. The story of Hannah is but a small (short) story, but the legacy of her virtue is her mark in human history. RT

Religious Loyalty and Commitment

02 Monday Dec 2013

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When the apostle Paul was being prosecuted (Acts 23) by those in authority, it did not take long before Paul took advantage of the situation to bring the “trial” to a stand-still. He noticed the divided loyalty that existed amongst those  persecuting him for the cause of Christ. Taking advantage of the situation that he knew was nothing more than a farce he threw the proceedings into confusion by bringing his own religious heritage into the discussion. Those of a similar persuasion then set themselves to defend their own honor by defending Paul against a contrary persuasion (the Sadducees). For many, religious loyalty is still like that today; there is more commitment to one’s own honor than to the Lord’s way of righteousness. RT

Strength in the Local Church

25 Monday Nov 2013

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The strength of the local congregation, especially small ones, is found in the following areas.

First, there is one’s commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is paramount, and the foundation to it all. Without the foundation in place the strength of a local congregation is only perceived (imagined), not real. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:16, NKJV). Note the following from this simple declaration. Jesus is THE way, he is THE truth, and he is THE life. Thus, if anyone would know of truth, if anyone would know the way, if anyone would enjoy life, then one must go through Jesus. Furthermore, Jesus said, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46)

Second, the strength of the local congregation is found in its people. If the members of the local church are committed to Christ, then that commitment will show itself in the lives lived. We understand the significance of Jesus, but this does not always translate into actions completed. In Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, he gave exhortations that was to shape lives in conformity to the Holy Spirit’s will.  These exhortations consisted in seeking those things that are above (the things of God); this means physical life is NOT the answer to one’s satisfaction. Additionally, after seeking those things above, the Christian is to set his (or her) mind on those things that are above (the things of God). This anchors one’s heart in those spiritual things in life that are transcendent. Finally, Christians need to put to death those things on earth that do nothing but corrupt the purity of that which the Lord has prepared for us.

Third, the strength of the local congregation is also found in attendance. There are some who feel as if this is not important. The Holy Spirit knew some would think this way, so he authored these words: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries” (Hebrews 10:24-27).

It is this last point that needs to be developed a bit further. The Lord’s church in Sullivan is small; those committed to the Lord and his way will not be discouraged by such a thing. They will, on the other hand, “roll up their sleeves” and set themselves to the Lord’s work. This includes not only evangelistic efforts outside the walls of the building, but also a working effort that tends to the needs of the saints who gather within. In small congregations, young families are of great encouragement; they can be very helpful to the local body by also “rolling up their sleeves” and setting themselves to the work. If they leave, they have removed themselves from being a local solution to what they consider to be a discouraging problem.

The ultimate solution to a congregation, in the final analysis, is: the Lord, one’s commitment to him, one’s willingness to work, and perseverance.

Cohabitation

24 Friday Sep 2010

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Live in relationships are easy and selfish. They are easy because the two people living together have convinced themselves that there is less of a commitment than if they were married. It is easy because with that less of a commitment, there can be a separation and less of a financial strain doing so. This is also selfish. All the while, the Lord looks at this and remembers.

Why do people live together? The obvious answer is because of a desire to have intimacy without commitment, but there is another answer also. “The number of unmarried couples living together is rising sharply as many young adults who are having a hard time finding jobs are now ‘doubling up’ with significant others” (Journal-Gazette, p. A-1, 9/24/10).

Doubling up with significant others? Coupled with economic difficulties we see that relationships already established merely desire an additional reason for their cohabitation. This seems to lessen the moral “weight” about it, I suppose.

Is there any responsibility of society, the government in particular for such predicaments? Perhaps there is, but the greater responsibility lies with the people who are cohabitating. Do they have a moral compass, and is this moral compass sold to the highest bidder? Someone might claim, “You just don’t understand!” There are many things I don’t understand, but I understand what is right and what is wrong – I even understand why it is that way. I also understand that man will stand before the Almighty one day as well.

Rejecting the Lord’s way perpetuates moral confusion.

Some will reject this because it does not bring out the “best” in people, it has been stated. I guess the moral philosophy which has produced such moral chaos as cohabitation is that which is “best” for us. Is it not interesting that as people try to determine what is “best” for others, it corresponds exactly to our moral confusion? Those who dredge up such moral uncertainty simply desire to be confused.