Scripture

December 24, 2020 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Thanksgiving 2020 Installment IV -Thankful in All Circumstances

The third step in a successful Christian life is to be thankful in all circumstances. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

This is the fourth and final installment of my Thanksgiving 2020 message. It focuses on the third step in Paul’s stairway to a richer, fuller Christian life found in I Thessalonians 5:16-18. “In everything, give thanks.” [KJV]

The first thing we need to note about this injunction is that it says to be thankful in all and not for all. This makes a world of difference. Remember, the first step was to “rejoice always.” God wants us to be joyful.

Although we are called to suffer for the cause of Christ, we are not called to be masochists. Masochists cannot escape cycles of self-defeat. They find it impossible to enjoy pleasure without guilt or shame accompanying it. They feel hopeless about the future.

Jesus forewarned His disciples of their coming trials if they followed Him. This image from The Bible in Pictures by Bihn and Bealings is in the public domain.

The Apostles were all aware of what was in their future. Jesus had clearly told them that they would suffer for his cause.

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. [Matthew 16:24-28, NKJV]

This photograph of an angel leading Peter out of prison while guards slept is a faithful reproduction of the 17th-century painting by Pieter de Hooch. Since the original painting is in the public domain, this image is also in the public domain.

The Apostle Peter knew first hand about the trials and hardships that followers of Christ would suffer. According to Acts 12, Peter was imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa. Peter was awaiting sure persecution and possible execution. As the church prayed fervently, an angel miraculously saved him by walking him out past two guard posts and through an unlocked gate. In his letter to Christians in the far-flung expanses of the Roman empire, he wrote.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? [I Peter 4:12-17, NIV]

This photographic image is a copy of a page from the 19th-century Dore’s English Bible. It depicts the aftermath of the shipwreck of Paul described in Acts 27. Since the original work is public domain due to age, this faithful photographic reproduction is also public domain.

Paul’s journey as a minister of the gospel was not a walk in the park. In his first letter to the Corinthian church, he graphically described the trials he had endured.

Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Despite the number or extent of our difficulties, we can always find reasons to thank God. They are outlined through all of the scriptures.

We can be thankful that all things work together for good if we are faithful followers of Him.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. [Romans 8:28, NIV]

This photograph is a faithful reproduction of the 17th-century painting “An Apostle” by Jacob Jordaens. Although not explicitly the Apostle Paul, the subject is in a pose that certainly illustrates an individual pleading with God. The individual’s chin is resting on the palm of one hand. The other hand is holding up the arm of the first hand. Since the original work of art is in the public domain, this image is in the public domain.

We know that no matter what our circumstances, God’s grace is sufficient to carry us through them.

…There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:7-9, KJV]

When trials come, we can be thankful that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:35-39, NIV]

In II King’s 6, Elisha and his servant are surrounded by the army of Aram. Elisha’s servant is terrified. Elisha tried to calm him by saying, “There are more on our side. Look out the window.” MoodyPublishers/FreeBibleImages.org copyrights this image. It is used by permission.

Just a few verses before this passage is the answer to the essence of Israel’s question. In any fight against evil and pain, who do you want on your side and in your corner?

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? [Romans 8:31, KJV]

This concept is not just a New Testament idea. When Paul says, “It is written,” he is quoting Psalm 44. This Psalm is a song of communal lament sung in the temple. Several times in their history, the people of Israel believed that God has forsaken or forgotten them because of the many trials and hardships they were facing. However, the song and Psalm concludes that God is still where He has always been. He is awake, in charge of the universe, and loves them. Since they still have access to Him, they cry out.

Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love.[Psalm 44:26, NIV]

What do you do when this world’s troubles seem to overwhelm God’s presence and help? This is the theme of the book of Habakkuk. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

This Psalm reminds me of the opening complaint of the prophet Habakkuk.

How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted. [Habakkuk 1:2-4, KJV]

God’s response to Habakkuk’s grievance could be an echo of His response to Israel’s complaint.

Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. [Habakkuk 2:2-4, NTL]

The last phrase, “The just shall live by faith,” is quoted three times in the New Testament. The three quotes provide three different perspectives and contexts to the idea of “living by faith.”

A paper bag over one’s head has become the universal sign of shame. This is not Paul because he is declaring his intention of not hiding his head under a bag. This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

Paul quotes Habakkuk as he begins his letter to the Christians living in Rome with the very familiar verses.

I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteous of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. [Romans 1:16-17, KJV]

Paul is obviously referring to the gospel and salvation. Thus, the life mentioned here is eternal life, which is available to us only by faith.

In Paul’s letter to the churches in Galatia, he again references the Old Testament precept in the middle of a discourse on the ineffectiveness of reliance on the law for justification, or right standing before God.

Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. [Galatians 3:10-14, NIV]

What did it take to be included in Faith’s Hall of Fame? Perseverance! This image is courtesy of Presenter Media.

The third time the phrase is quoted occurs in Hebrews in the author’s introduction to his delineation of the Old Testament Faith’s Hall of Fame.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.[Hebrews 10:35-39, NIV]

This passage is obviously referring to the perseverance and sanctification of the saints. We can continue to live and be made holy by continuing in the faith.

Faith is the only way to find salvation, justification, and sanctification. This chart was created by the author using ClickCharts.

Thus, faith is our only avenue to salvation [eternal life], the forgiveness of sins [justification], and freedom from the power of sin [santicification]. Faith is how we entered into a relationship with God through Jesus. It is also how that relationship grows and deepens. We must thank God for his faithfulness and for giving us the faith to believe.

Throughout scriptures, there are many other reasons to thank God in every circumstance. In this post, I will focus on one more. The ideas of praising, worshipping, and thanking God are inextricably linked together. They are woven into one fabric that cannot be separated.

Psalm 100, one of the most loved and well-known Psalms, captures the essence of this idea. It is the only Psalm with the short and sweet inscription, “A psalm of thanksgiving.”

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations. [Psalm 100, KJV]

Since this Psalm invites and demands that we sing unto the Lord, I will close this post with two hymns that encapsulate the idea of thanking God in everything.

This is a photograph of an 18th-century portrait of Charles Wesley. As a faithful reproduction of a public domain work of art due to age, this image is public.

The first is one of 6500 hymns composed by Charles Wesley, an 18th-century Methodist minister. Since Wesley didn’t always title his hymns, this one goes by two titles, “And can it be” or “Amazing love!” These titles come from the opening lines of the first verse and the refrain.

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis myst’ry all: th’ Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above—
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Picture of Cliff Barrows, Billy Graham, and George Beverly Shea at a Rally in Dallas, Texas. This photograph is from the Billy Graham Association.

The second hymn was voted as the second most all-time favorite hymn in a Christianity Today survey in 2001. It is based on a poem written by Carl Boberg in 1885 and set to music using a traditional Swedish melody. The English version came to us, as the original Swedish version was translated into German and then Russian by missionaries. It was translated into English by Stuart K. Hine. During Billy Graham’s England crusades, George Beverly Shea and Cliff Barrows worked with Hine on an arrangement that they could use as an introductory piece. With all that information, you probably have guessed that it is the hymn How Great Thou Art.

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration.
And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee;
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
How great Thou art!

March 19, 2019 By B. Baylis 2 Comments

What would you do with an extra 10 years of life?

Celebrating my 73rd birthday was very special. Image courtesy of Presenter Media.

In my previous post, I originally announced that this post would be entitled “What would make a 73rd birthday special?” However, as I wrote this post, I decided on a new title. The essence of the post is unchanged, but I thought the new title would challenge both me and my readers more.

This past week I observed the 73rd anniversary of my birthday. It was a very special day for me. The 73rd birthday is usually not one that is wildly celebrated. What would make a 73rd birthday special? My 73rd birthday represented ten extra years of life that most people, especially medical experts, didn’t expect that I would have.

In the early afternoon of March 16, 2009, less than a week after my 63rd birthday, I was milling about the university’s conference room, having coffee with colleagues and discussing the agenda for our upcoming business meeting, my last scheduled cabinet meeting as provost of the university. Suddenly, without warning, I suffered a traumatic brain episode. A cerebral aneurysm burst triggering the implosion of a previously undetected, benign meningioma, which was attached to my right frontal lobe.

The headache was excruciating and I was almost completely incapacitated. Due to this experience, I know what the “10” on a pain scale feels like. Everyone in the meeting, except me, thought that I was experiencing a stroke. They immediately called 911. The EMTs arrived within five minutes and loaded me on their gurney for transport to the hospital.

I remember asking someone to call my wife Elaine to let her know what was happening. However, before the EMTs could wheel the gurney out of the conference room, I lost consciousness. I was in a coma for the next four days. My next memory after that request for someone to call Elaine was when I woke up in an ICU hospital bed with gauze bandages all over my head and wires everywhere.

The attending nurse called the on-duty neurologist who just happened to be the surgeon who had performed emergency surgery on me, the evening of that March 16. He rushed to my room and explained what had happened to me in the conference room and the first full day at the hospital. He didn’t pull any punches with a graphic description of the explosion of a cerebral aneurysm and the resultant implosion of a benign meningioma. Twice in the 30 minutes or so that he spent in my room, he spoke the same words: “There are no scientific or medical reasons to explain why you are alive and so alert.”

After the neurologist left I had the first opportunity to talk to Elaine. She told me a tale of terror for her. When she got the call from the university that I was on my way to the hospital, she was too upset to drive herself. She called our pastor who rushed her to the hospital.

By the time she got there, she was not allowed to see me. I was already being prepped for surgery. The ER doctor that she met at the hospital entrance didn’t do much to calm her nerves. She told Elaine to gather the family together. This would be a difficult task since both of our daughters with their families lived in Pennsylvania, a ten-hour drive to where we were living in Western Michigan.

When Elaine asked why she should alarm the family, the doctor indicated that if I survived the operation, which was doubtful, I would never be the same. The doctor said if it were her family she knew they would appreciate the opportunity to say goodbye.

The intervening ten years between March 2009 and 2019 is a tale of roaring firestorm after firestorm and miracle after miracle. During those ten years, I had dozens of medical setbacks. However, I am still alive and able to walk somewhat awkwardly and write somewhat haltingly. Due to my medical problems, I have interacted with scores of doctors who have all said essentially the same thing: “There are no scientific or medical reasons to explain why you are walking and talking.” They all use the same two words to describe me and my conditions: miracle and enigma.

I believe the story of those ten years is one that is crying to be told and I intend to do just that. I am currently working on a separate book-length manuscript which I have tentatively entitled Has anyone seen my life? It was here a minute ago.

The purpose of this post is three-fold. The first is to celebrate an extra 10 years of life that no one in the medical profession expected me to experience. The second purpose is to offer you a dozen of the many lessons that I learned or relearned during the extra 10 years that I have been given. The third and final purpose is to challenge you with the significant question: “What would you do with an extra 10 years of life?

Since this posting is special, I am going to dispense with my self-imposed 1,000-word limit just for this post. I trust you understand my desire to put it all out there in one shot instead of doling it out small piece by small piece.

Due to my medical problems I had to retire from full-time academic employment. This break from 50 or 60 hour work weeks gave me much time to reflect and write. What follows are a dozen of the many lessons that I have learned or relearned through this experience, intensive study, and much contemplation and reflection.

1. God is in control.

There are four scriptural passages that I have kept returning to during this past decade. I challenge you to reflect on each of them and how they apply to your life.

¹⁷And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelations 1:17, KJV)

²²And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. ²³The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. ²⁴Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? ²⁵And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? ²⁶If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (Luke 12:22-26, KJV)

¹⁰Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10, KJV)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ²Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; ³Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. ⁴There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. ⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. ⁶The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. ⁷The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (Psalm 46:1-7, KJV)

2. Retirement is not necessarily in God’s plan for us.

Our modern view of retirement is just that – a recent idea, historically speaking. It was introduced to America in the mid-1930s with the passage of the Social Security legislation. Most of the heroes of the faith found God’s calling to ministry to be a lifetime enlistment. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, John the Baptist, John the Apostle, Peter and Paul all were faithful servants until they were called home. I can find only one scriptural passage that directly speaks of retirement.

²⁴This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: ²⁵And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more: ²⁶But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge. (Numbers 8:24-26)

The Levites were charged with serving the people of Israel by caring for the tabernacle, preparing and administering the sacrifices, packing up, moving and reassembling the tabernacle. This was extremely heavy labor and was reserved for the young and strong. The older Levites were given the task of ministering, guarding and advising the younger Levites who were doing the heavy lifting that required the strength of young bodies.

3. There is a special place in God’s economy for seniors.

Beside the Numbers passage above where the senior Levites were called to minister, guard and advise the younger Levites, there are other passages that indicate what the elders in the congregation should do.

¹⁷O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. ¹⁸Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. ¹⁹Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee! ²⁰Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth. ²¹Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. (Psalm 71:17-21, KJV)

¹²The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. ¹³Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. ¹⁴They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; ¹⁵To shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. (Psalm 92:12-15, KJV)

³Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: ⁴And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar [gray] hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. ⁵To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like? (Isaiah 46:3-5, KJV)

4. Obey the scriptural commandments and commissions.

It matters not how old we are, God expects us to obey all of his commandments. However, there are some that are very special and deserve our utmost attention.

³⁵Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, ³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Great Commandment – Matthew 22:35-40, KJV)

¹⁸And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. ¹⁹Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ²⁰Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Great Commission – Matthew 28:18-20, KJV)

²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. (Creation Mandate – Genesis 1:27-28, KJV)

5. Watch carefully. Always be on guard.

You need to constantly take stock of your surroundings. Know your friends, coworkers, and enemies. Praise them when they do something right. Admonish them when they are wrong. Be patient with everyone in all circumstances. Pray without ceasing and give thanks without regard to your condition.

¹¹Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. ¹²And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; ¹³And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. ¹⁵See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. ¹⁶Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ¹⁹Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰Despise not prophesyings. ²¹Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. ²²Abstain from all appearance of evil. ²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Watch carefully – I Thessalonians 5:11-21, KJV)

6. Equip yourself for the coming battle.

Whether we are talking about a job, a ministry, or even just everyday living, it can and will at some point become a battle. We need the whole armour of God to fight the battle.

¹¹Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. ¹⁷And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ¹⁸Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; ( Whole armour of God – Ephesians 6:11-18, KJV)

7. Memorize and meditate on scriptures.

The only offensive weapon in the listing of the armour of God was the scriptures. Always have it handy. Be ready to depend on it in every circumstance.

¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. ¹¹Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. ¹²Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes. ¹³With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. ¹⁵I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. ¹⁶I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. ¹⁷Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word. ¹⁸Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. ¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. (Memorize and meditate on scriptures – Psalm 119:10-19, JKV)

8. Give yourself to God, since He gave himself for you.

We must present ourselves as a sacrifice, willing to do anything we are asked to do. It is our reasonable service.

¹I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Be a living sacrifice – Romans 12:1-2, KJV)

9. Do everything as unto the Lord.

Whatever we do should be done as if we were doing it to honor and praise God.

¹⁴And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. ¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:14-17, KJV)

This is not just meant for our “religious life.” It carries over to our everyday life. Translating it into “plain English” I believe the message is simply

- Work hard
- Play hard
- Eat well
- Sleep well
- Watch carefully
- Listen intently
- Be accountable
- Give credit where credit is due
- Love deeply

10. Be where you are until you leave.

I wish I could take credit for this saying, but I can’t. Christ used a similar statement in instructing his disciples.

⁷And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; ⁸And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: ⁹But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. ¹⁰And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. ¹¹And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. (Mark 6:7-11, KJV)

Christ was trying to teach his disciples not to go from house to house seeking better accommodations, but to be satisfied with what they had. I first heard it from a wealthy Christian businessman, financier, and philanthropist, who was known as a generous but demanding boss. When he used it, he was suggesting that people in a given position should do the job they were hired to do until they left for another position.

I met this gentleman only once. The occasion was at a luncheon given in his honor by a college for which I was serving as the chief academic officer. In addition to honoring this individual for his service to the Christian community, the college was also asking him for a significant donation.

When we were introduced at the luncheon, the first thing he said to me was, “I’ve heard about you, and I like you.” I must have had a perplexed look on my face because he continued by saying, “You follow what I have tried to teach all of my employees: “Be where you are until you leave.”

As a college administrator and cabinet officer, I have always served at the pleasure of the President of the institution I was serving. I changed institutions four times during my career and was in the midst of a fifth change when I had the traumatic brain incident in March 2009. For each change, the president and I were on different sides of at least one question.

When the president and a subordinate disagree, the subordinate never “wins.” Even if the president loses, the subordinate doesn’t win. With each change, I had the privilege of continuing to serve the institution for a period of time until I could find another position. While I remained at the institution from which I was departing, I always did my job to the best of my ability. Every one of the presidents that I served commended me for that quality. The Christian businessman, in his due diligence of checking out our institution as a prospective recipient of one of his gifts, had asked two of those presidents about me.

Wherever you are, do the job that God has given you until He assigns you another task. It is the right thing to do. At some time in the future, you will be rewarded for your diligence.

11. Leave people or a place better than you found them.

There are many forms of this quotation. One form attributed to the legendary football coach Vince Lombardi is the following:

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.

Jesus always left those with whom he encountered in a better place or position than when he first met them. Consider the woman at the well, the woman taken in adultery, the blind beggar, Zaacheus in the tree, the 10 lepers, the woman with the issue of blood, Jarius and his daughter, the demon-possessed man named Legion.

The parables of the talents and the unjust steward help us understand that we need to be faithful in the little things.

¹⁰He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. ¹¹If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ¹²And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:10-12, KJV)

12. Help fellow pilgrims along the road.

We are called to minister to others and help them find the straight and narrow way. The apostle Paul in writing to the Christians in Rome let them know that they should follow Christ’s example. They were definitely called to be “their brothers’ keepers,” just as we are.

¹We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ²Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ³For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me. (Romans 15:1-3, KJV)

These are some of the lessons that I have learned or relearned in the extra 10 years that I have been given. I hope and pray that at the conclusion of my life on this earth, I will be able to echo the words of Paul to the young Timothy:

⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ⁶For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II Timothy 4:5-8, KJV)

In conclusion, what would you do if you were given another 10 years of life? How would you spend that precious time? By’s Musings returns to its regular publishing schedule next Tuesday, March 26 with a post entitled KPI – Part VI: Hierarchical Management.

April 15, 2017 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Advent Wreath Resolution at Easter

As we celebrate Easter 2017 are you still keeping up with your Advent Wreath Resolutions? In this reminder post, I return to consider two candles. The first is obviously the Christ candle, while the second is the Peace candle.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/license/by-sa/3.0/

Advent and Easter bookend the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, God’s son. They celebrate two commonalities that the incarnate Christ shared with all humanity: birth and death. Without going through both birth and death, Christ could not have been fully human. One of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith is that Jesus is at the same time fully God and fully human. Without being fully God, he could not have been without sin. Without being fully human, he could not have been the perfect sacrifice in order to be the propitiation for the sins of all mankind, so that he could satisfy the penalty for sin.

As an indication of Christ’s humanity he was born of a woman; grew up in the traditions of the first-century Jewish culture; and was nurtured, nourished, and cherished by an earthly mother.

¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2: 1 -7, JKV)

Image courtesy of WIkimedia Commons and Giovanni Dall’Orto. This photograph contains details from a Nativity scene, painted on paper sheets glued on wood panels, made by Francesco Londonio (1723-1783) around 1750. It is on display in the Cappella del Presepe in san Marco church at Milan. This kind of presepe was rather common in the past, but very few such specimens have survived until today. This one is remarkably well preserved, and it was carefully restored a few years ago. The photograph is by Giovanni Dall’Orto, April 14, 2007.

²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (Luke 2: 21 & 22, JKV)

Constable’s Chapel – Presentation of Christ and Purification of Mary – Cathedral of Burgos. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro / CC BY-SA 3.0. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him…⁵¹And he went down with them, … , and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2, 40 & 51-52, JKV)

Ivory Madonna with Child. The original artist is unknown. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the photographer “3dnatureguy.” It is licensed under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation;

In order to fulfill his mission on earth, it was necessary for Jesus to be born. Although it was necessary, it wasn’t sufficient. He had to be subjected to all the temptations that we face. Yet in spite of those temptations, he had to live a sinless life and then sacrifice His life as a ransom for mankind.

¹⁷Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 12: 17 & 18, JKV)

⁴⁵For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45, KJV)

⁷But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. ⁹Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2: 7 – 9, KJV))

The Disposition by Rembrandt. When the Romans were assured that Jesus was dead. They allowed Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to take the body of Jesus down, get it prepared for burial and to take it to the tomb. This photograph by Jan Arkesteijn is a faithful reproduction of a two-dimension work of art that is in the public domain and hence is in the public domain. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Jan Arkesteijn.

But the Easter story doesn’t end at the tomb. On that first Easter Sunday morning, as Robert Lowery’s song says,

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Rembrandt’s Christ and St. Mary Magdalen at the tomb, painted in 1638. The original oil painting is a two-dimension work of art that is in the public domain. This is a faithful reproduction of that work and hence is also in the public domain. The image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and the photographer. It is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Thus, there is an obvious connection between the Christ candle in the Advent Wreath and the Christ of Easter. What’s the connection of the Peace candle of the Advent Wreath and Easter? In the two posts concerning the Peace candle, Advent Wreath Resolutions: Peace and Advent Wreath Resolutions; Peace – Part II I mentioned that the word “peace” is used more than 400 times in the King James Version of the Bible. In 10 of those times, the idea being conveyed is that of silence, using something like the phrase “held his peace.” Two of those references occur during the trial of Jesus.

⁵⁷And they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. ⁵⁸But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest’s palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end. ⁵⁹Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; ⁶⁰But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, ⁶¹And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. ⁶²And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ⁶³But Jesus held his peace, And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. ⁶⁴Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. ⁶⁵Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. (Matthew 26: 57 – 65, KJV)

⁵⁷And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying, ⁵⁸We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands. ⁵⁹But neither so did their witness agree together. ⁶⁰And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? ⁶¹But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? ⁶²And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. ⁶³Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses? (Mark 14: 57 – 63, KJV)

The references in Matthew 26 and Mark 14 to Christ holding his peace (keeping silent) reminds us of the Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 53:

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. ⁷He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. ⁸He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. (Isaiah 53: 6 -8, KJV)

Christ was the lamb of God, the perfect sacrifice. He “held his peace” before being led off to the slaughter. The Jewish high priest used the passage from Isaiah to build a false case against Christ so that they could be rid of him. The same passage was later used to bring an Ethiopian official to a saving knowledge of Christ.

²⁶And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. ²⁷And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, ²⁸Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. ²⁹Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. ³⁰And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? ³¹And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. ³²The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: ³³In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. ³⁴And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? ³⁵Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. ³⁶And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ³⁸And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. ³⁹And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8: 26 – 39, KJV)

In this Easter season, are you prepared to let the light of the Christ candle be reflected in your life? Are you prepared to “not hold your peace” but speak boldly about the sacrificial lamb of God that stoically held his peace, and died in your place?

February 26, 2017 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Advent Wreath Resolutions: Peace, Part II

As we enter the ninth week of 2017 and finish off the month of February, are you still keeping up with your Advent Wreath Resolutions? In this reminder post, I return to the peace candle.

Image used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

As I noted in the first posting about the peace candle of the Advent Wreath, the word “peace” is used 420 times in the King James Version of the Scriptures. Among those 420 occurrences, there are at least six different connotations or meanings. These six connotations or conventions include:

use as a greeting or farewell, inquiring about one’s health or state of mind, or wishing one well;
an absence of internal or personal conflict, the state of internal harmony or completeness;
an absence of external or interpersonal conflict such as warfare or fighting between people, a state of external harmony;
the cessation of conflict, whether internal or external
the state of silence or quietness;
the state of death or heavenly rest.

The first time the word “peace” is used in the King James Version of Scriptures, it refers to death and burial.

R.I.P. – Rest in Peace. Image Courtesy of Presenter Media

In Genesis 15 we find God speaking to Abram in a dream.

¹²And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ¹³And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; ¹⁴And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance. ¹⁵And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. ¹⁶But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. ¹⁷And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. ¹⁸In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:” (Genesis 15: 12 – 18, KJV)

The English word “peace” in verse 15 comes from the Hebrew word שָׁלוֹם (shalom). The idea that death brings peace to the righteous is reinforced in Isaiah 57: 1 & 2

¹The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. ²He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

This concept is not just an Old Testament construct. The most common New Testament Greek word that is translated “peace” is εἰρήνη (eirḗnē). It appears twice in Luke 2. The first time is part of the message that the angel and the heavenly host brought to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14, KJV). The second occurrence is part of the story of Simeon meeting Mary and Joseph and seeing Jesus at the Temple after his birth.

²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. ²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, ²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, ²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; ³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. (Luke 2: 25-32, KJV)

One day, Simeon went to the Temple as he most likely did many days. On many of those trips, Simeon would have seen parents bring their children to the Temple to present them to God. However, on this particular day, the Holy Ghost had a special message and treat for him. On this day, he was to see God’s salvation for Israel and the whole world. Why was this important to Simeon? The Holy Ghost had promised Simeon that he would not “see death” until he had seen “the consolation of Israel.”

On the day when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple, God’s promise of salvation to Israel and the whole world was wrapped up in the form of a baby. Simeon had now seen the individual through whom God would work out salvation. Simeon was satisfied and could now die, and “depart in peace.”

Have you gone to the Temple and seen God’s salvation? Are you prepared to depart in peace? Do your family, friends, and neighbors have the same peace of mind concerning their ultimate destination? What have you done to help them find that peace?

February 11, 2017 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Advent Resolutions: The Christ Candle – Light

We are into the second week into February. More than 10% of 2017 is gone and we will never get it back. Where are you in your New Year’s Advent Wreath Resolution?

mage used under creative commons license available at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The large white candle in the center represents Jesus Christ, God Incarnate, the Light of the world. Jesus knocks on the door of our heart and invites us to follow Him. There are two types of light in this world: physical and spiritual. I believe Jesus is speaking of spiritual light here in John 8:12. He is claiming to be the only source of spiritual truth. Since He is the light of the world, he will enable us to see where we are going. If we follow in His footsteps we will stay on the path of righteousness.

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12, JKV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1, JKV)

Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Lighthouses are an international symbol of a beacon of safety and guidance. Some of them indicated the entrance into a harbor. Others showed sailors where dangerous cliffs and reefs lurked. Lighthouses kept sailors off the rocks in calm, as well as stormy weather. Christ, the living word and light of the world can keep us from running aground on the rocky shores of life or the shallows of a sandy beach. The light from a lighthouse can keep us safe amidst life’s storms and tempests. If Christ is on our side and guiding us, of whom or what should we be afraid? After all, he calmed the storm using just his words.

³⁸And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? ³⁹And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? ⁴¹And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4: 38-41, KJV)

God guided His people with His light throughout the whole Bible. In the wilderness, as the Hebrews fled Egypt, God used a pillar of a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire during the night to guide the steps of the Hebrews as they fled Egypt.

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. (Exodus 13: 21 & 22, KJV)

With Christ guiding us, what is our final destination?

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Rev 21:22-24, JKV)

Are you glorifying and honoring God as the light of the world, as well as your life and world?

And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord‘s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2: 2-5, KJV)

Is it ironic that the United Nations is man’s attempt to eliminate wars? How has that worked? Since the UN was founded after 1945, there have been more than 140 wars somewhere in the world. That’s an average of slightly more than two wars per year. Man’s only hope for peace is God, and walking in His way and in the light he provides us.

In 2017, are you walking in God’s light and working toward His peace? Are you helping others to find this path?

January 30, 2017 By B. Baylis Leave a Comment

Advent Wreath Resolutions: Peace

The end of January is in sight. How are you doing with your Advent Resolutions? This week we come to the fourth candle of the Advent Wreath. The third blue candle of the Wreath has traditionally represented peace. We find the mention of God’s peace throughout scripture. In the King James Version, the word “peace” is used 311 times in the Old Testament and 109 times in the New Testament.

Between the multitude of meanings of our English word peace and the 400 scriptural references to peace, I came to the immediate conclusion that one posting will not be sufficient to do justice to the concept of peace and our New Year’s Resolution related to the Advent Wreath. In this first peace posting, I will deal with just three phrases that use the word peace. They are “Prince of Peace,” “peace of God,” and “peace with God.” In future postings I will attempt to deal with at least eight more concepts associated with the word “peace.” The majority of those concepts are directly referenced in scriptures, while some are only alluded to in the KJV version and some are even more tangential.

The one and only mention in the KJV of the phrase “Prince of Peace” is from the prophet Isaiah:

⁵For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. ⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ⁷Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. ⁸The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. (Isaiah 9: 5-8, JKV)

This passage is obviously a Messianic reference. It begins with a reference to a warrior and a fierce battle. However, it switches immediately to talk about a baby, that will eventually rule all nations. The Hebrew people held onto this promise for hundreds of years, looking forward to a visit from God in human form, who would save them from their trials and tribulations. They were looking for a savior that would provide peace from human wars and injustice, peace and freedom in their souls from the stress and strains of everyday human life, and the peace of mind that comes from knowledge and the light. When the angels appeared to the shepherds, the shepherds knew the significance of the angels’ message. The Savior, the Prince of Peace, had finally come. They had to go to Bethlehem immediately to see and worship this baby who would be their Messiah and future King.

The phrase “peace of God” is generally associated with the personal peace given to individuals by God to face the turmoils of their daily lives. These storms can be minor or major squabbles within families, churches and work relationships.

The storms can be real storms or calamities that can cause great physical and environment damage as well as inflict real bodily and psychological harm. Remember Hurrican Katrina, miracle of U.S. Air flight 1549 landing on the Hudson river, and the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear power plant disaster,

Damaged church on Florida Avenue in flood devastated section of the Upper 9th Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. In this area waters from the Industrial Canal smashed many buildings. Photo by Infrogmation, April 2006. Image presented under Creative Commons license 3.0

Passengers on the wings of the Airbus 320 in January 2009, after Captain Chesley Sullenberger made an emergency landing of U.S. Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson river in January 2009. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

How can some people survive such terrible disasters while others do not? The world usually attributes it to “Luck.” The world says “Some people are in the wrong place at the wrong time, while others are in the right place at the wrong time.” God’s answer is found in Psalm 29.

¹Give unto the Lord, O ye mighty, give unto the Lord glory and strength. ²Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. ³The voice of the Lord is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the Lord is upon many waters. ⁴The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. ⁵The voice of the Lord breaketh the cedars; yea, the Lord breaketh the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. ⁷The voice of the Lord divideth the flames of fire. ⁸The voice of the Lord shaketh the wilderness; the Lord shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. ⁹The voice of the Lord maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. ¹⁰The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever. ¹¹The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29: 1 – 11, JKV)

What can we give a God who owns everything? The word translated “give” in the first two verses of Psalm 29 is actually the Hebrew word yahab (יָהַב) which is translated “ascribe” ( which means to accredit or impute) in other places. Thus this verse is telling us to acknowledge God as all-powerful and the most glorious. In verse 3, this all powerful God speaks out of the midst of the storm. We should be able to hear it if we are listening. If we do listen and obey Him, then He will give us strength to weather the storm and bless us with peace. God will place us in the center of His Peace, a place of rest and spiritual well-being. This is the peace of God. Paul reminds us that “… the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, KJV)

Paul also provides us the completest treatise on the concept of peace with God in Romans, chapter 5.

¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ²By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. ¹²Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ¹³(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. ¹⁵But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. ¹⁶And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. (Romans 5: 1 – 16, KJV)

In verse 1, Paul tells us that we can obtain peace with God through Christ. In verse 2, we see that we have access to peace with God through faith by God’s grace. This peace has at least five different aspects. Verse 9 details our justification by Christ’s blood and thereby saved from His wrath. Verse 10 speaks to our reconciliation with God by Christ’s death and salvation through His life. Verse 11 encourages us to rejoice in God’s atonement through Jesus Christ. Verses 12 through 16 is a delineation of God’s free gift through Christ which is an escape from God’s judgment to condemnation.

In John 14, just prior to his crucifixion, Jesus spoke with His disciples about what He was leaving them. ²⁶But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. ²⁷Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14: 26 & 27, KJV)

How are you doing with your Advent Wreath resolutions? Have you made the Prince of Peace the King of your life? Are you living in the peace of God? Have you made your peace with God?