"Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." 1 Peter 2:17
For the Christian taken up with the joy of fellowship alone with God, the great temptation is to want to do nothing else but remain there basking in his presence. He is in no hurry to return to his former employment with its attendant trials and difficulties. Face to face with the Lord, he senses only joy and holiness and victory; but when he emerges to perform his daily tasks, he encounters discouragement and defeat once more.
Let him be warned that he is in danger of making himself the center, and rendering himself, as a result, unfit to care for the needs of others. Our duty toward men is defined often in Scripture, and our responsibility in the mundane affairs of life is certain. The loftiest Christian experience is never incompatible with the performing of one's duties as a man. To the Lord, there is no conflict between household chores and spiritual ministry. The life of Christ exhibits itself through all sorts of activities.
Watchman Nee
Saturday, October 8, 2011
October 9
"Let love of the brethren continue." Hebrews 13:1
God's heart is great and so should ours be. We must learn to have a love large enough to embrace all God's children. If a man is born of the Spirit, then he is a brother. He is a brother if he understands divine truth clearly, and he is still a brother if he does not. If he stays comfortably at home, he is my brother; and if he falls into a ditch on the street, he is my brother still.
Was he baptized by immersion or by sprinkling? Does he believe that the "great tribulation" will last three and a half years, or seven? Is the "rapture" he looks for to be partial or total? If you base your willingness to love him on any such doctrinal questionnaire, you do wrong. Ask only, Has he the life of Christ or not? Every one who is redeemed by the precious blood is a brother, and a brother who must be loved.
God's heart is great and so should ours be. We must learn to have a love large enough to embrace all God's children. If a man is born of the Spirit, then he is a brother. He is a brother if he understands divine truth clearly, and he is still a brother if he does not. If he stays comfortably at home, he is my brother; and if he falls into a ditch on the street, he is my brother still.
Was he baptized by immersion or by sprinkling? Does he believe that the "great tribulation" will last three and a half years, or seven? Is the "rapture" he looks for to be partial or total? If you base your willingness to love him on any such doctrinal questionnaire, you do wrong. Ask only, Has he the life of Christ or not? Every one who is redeemed by the precious blood is a brother, and a brother who must be loved.
October 8
"The time of my departure is come ... I have finished the course." 2 Timothy 4:6, 7
On at least three occasions Jesus evaded the jaws of death. He did this because he knew that his time had not yet come. The Father had appointed him an hour, and he knew he should not die in advance of that. The Apostle Paul likewise had the frequent experience of escaping death. He was not afraid to die; nevertheless he clearly trusted in God that he would not die before his work was done.
In the Old Testament we read of patriarchs who died "full of years." This means that they lived out totally the days appointed by God. Whether life be long or short, God intends that we should not perish like sinners before our appointed days are fulfilled. Our years should suffice to accomplish whatever, in his eyes, is our life's work. This is the victory over death.
On at least three occasions Jesus evaded the jaws of death. He did this because he knew that his time had not yet come. The Father had appointed him an hour, and he knew he should not die in advance of that. The Apostle Paul likewise had the frequent experience of escaping death. He was not afraid to die; nevertheless he clearly trusted in God that he would not die before his work was done.
In the Old Testament we read of patriarchs who died "full of years." This means that they lived out totally the days appointed by God. Whether life be long or short, God intends that we should not perish like sinners before our appointed days are fulfilled. Our years should suffice to accomplish whatever, in his eyes, is our life's work. This is the victory over death.
October 7
"That he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing." Ephesians 5:27
Children and young people have no wrinkles. When wrinkles appear, it means that age is creeping on. But the Lord plans for his Church a condition of unaging life, where there is nothing of decay, nothing of her sorry past. For her he wants everything in its pristine newness. One day, when she stands before him, it will seem as though she had never had any history of sin. She will be, as God eternally planned, a Church completely Christlike, containing no impurity of man and no savor of sin, having her Lord as her very life.
She will then not only be without spot or wrinkle; she will have no deficiency whatsoever. God will bring the Church to the place where nothing can be said against her in any respect. Mirroring his glory, she will then be completely glorious.
Children and young people have no wrinkles. When wrinkles appear, it means that age is creeping on. But the Lord plans for his Church a condition of unaging life, where there is nothing of decay, nothing of her sorry past. For her he wants everything in its pristine newness. One day, when she stands before him, it will seem as though she had never had any history of sin. She will be, as God eternally planned, a Church completely Christlike, containing no impurity of man and no savor of sin, having her Lord as her very life.
She will then not only be without spot or wrinkle; she will have no deficiency whatsoever. God will bring the Church to the place where nothing can be said against her in any respect. Mirroring his glory, she will then be completely glorious.
Monday, October 3, 2011
October 3
"He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life." John 5:24
The Epistle to the Romans tells us in much detail about the way of salvation, and from a study of it we can learn a great deal about the doctrine of redemption; and yet it was written for the saved. John's Gospel gives no doctrine in any systematic form; and yet it was written for the world. We would have arranged things the other way round; and we should have been wrong!
If your house is on fire, with you on the top story, and if the firemen come and set you up a ladder to save you, will you say, "Not so fast! Tell me first why your ladder does not have to lean on anything. And what materials are your clothes made of that they do not catch fire?" No, you will allow yourself to be saved, and afterwards you may inquire all about the fire escape and the firemen's uniforms and anything else that that interests you.
The Epistle to the Romans tells us in much detail about the way of salvation, and from a study of it we can learn a great deal about the doctrine of redemption; and yet it was written for the saved. John's Gospel gives no doctrine in any systematic form; and yet it was written for the world. We would have arranged things the other way round; and we should have been wrong!
If your house is on fire, with you on the top story, and if the firemen come and set you up a ladder to save you, will you say, "Not so fast! Tell me first why your ladder does not have to lean on anything. And what materials are your clothes made of that they do not catch fire?" No, you will allow yourself to be saved, and afterwards you may inquire all about the fire escape and the firemen's uniforms and anything else that that interests you.
October 6
"David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them." 1 Samuel 17:39
There is no spiritual value conferred by office. Wearing the king's armor does not give a man kingly qualities. It is striking to remember that David already knew himself to be the anointed king of Israel. What more natural, then, than to put on the king's apparel, especially as he was fighting the king's battles?
He did try the armor, but he soon took it off again. Inwardly he must have realized that spiritual power does not come from earthly accomplishments but from a heart relationship with God. David had entered into such a relationship by secret experiences in daily life. These hidden victories with God provided him with a sufficient weapon for his public conflict. He was much better off without the well-intentioned but artificial aids offered by Saul.
There is no spiritual value conferred by office. Wearing the king's armor does not give a man kingly qualities. It is striking to remember that David already knew himself to be the anointed king of Israel. What more natural, then, than to put on the king's apparel, especially as he was fighting the king's battles?
He did try the armor, but he soon took it off again. Inwardly he must have realized that spiritual power does not come from earthly accomplishments but from a heart relationship with God. David had entered into such a relationship by secret experiences in daily life. These hidden victories with God provided him with a sufficient weapon for his public conflict. He was much better off without the well-intentioned but artificial aids offered by Saul.
October 5
"And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came." Matthew 25:10
Wherein did the wisdom of the one group and the foolishness of the other lie? Not in the matter of oil, because the lamps of the foolish were still burning, though their oil was low. Their lamps were "going out," that is, not extinguished but about to be so. Nor was it only a matter of extra oil for replenishing, since the improvident five went off to buy more oil and evidently came back with a sufficient supply.
The difference lay in the fact that the wise had oil in time and the foolish had it too late. It was all a question of readiness and of being in time. It is always wise to be swift in obedience, ready on the spot when called for.
Wherein did the wisdom of the one group and the foolishness of the other lie? Not in the matter of oil, because the lamps of the foolish were still burning, though their oil was low. Their lamps were "going out," that is, not extinguished but about to be so. Nor was it only a matter of extra oil for replenishing, since the improvident five went off to buy more oil and evidently came back with a sufficient supply.
The difference lay in the fact that the wise had oil in time and the foolish had it too late. It was all a question of readiness and of being in time. It is always wise to be swift in obedience, ready on the spot when called for.
October 4
"Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and he it is that speaketh with thee." John 9:37
This man had had his eyes wonderfully opened to see Jesus. Truly to see him, and not merely to judge him by outward appearances, is nothing short of of a divine miracle. Some in Galilee wrongly took Jesus for Elijah. Now Elijah was a prophet of action who faced opponents with courage and vigor, and the Lord Jesus displayed just such a decisiveness of action. When he found men defiling God's house of prayer with merchandise, he forcibly cast them out. He was a true Elijah.
Others mistook Jesus for Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a figure of divine compassion, a weeping prophet; and Jesus fits in here too. He ate at a table with publicans and sinners; he allowed a sinful woman to cry at his feet; and when he saw Mary weeping, he also wept. He was a true Jeremiah.
Nevertheless when people mistook him for either of these, they showed that they knew him only by appearances. It is the Father's revelation and that alone, that shows us who the Son really is. Praise God - the man who really saw Jesus could start where we do - "born blind!"
This man had had his eyes wonderfully opened to see Jesus. Truly to see him, and not merely to judge him by outward appearances, is nothing short of of a divine miracle. Some in Galilee wrongly took Jesus for Elijah. Now Elijah was a prophet of action who faced opponents with courage and vigor, and the Lord Jesus displayed just such a decisiveness of action. When he found men defiling God's house of prayer with merchandise, he forcibly cast them out. He was a true Elijah.
Others mistook Jesus for Jeremiah. Jeremiah was a figure of divine compassion, a weeping prophet; and Jesus fits in here too. He ate at a table with publicans and sinners; he allowed a sinful woman to cry at his feet; and when he saw Mary weeping, he also wept. He was a true Jeremiah.
Nevertheless when people mistook him for either of these, they showed that they knew him only by appearances. It is the Father's revelation and that alone, that shows us who the Son really is. Praise God - the man who really saw Jesus could start where we do - "born blind!"
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