INSTRUCTION FROM THE BIBLE ABOUT ANGRY SPEECH AND HUMBLE APOLOGY...

     THIS PASSAGE INSTRUCTS ALL OF US ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ANGRY SPEECH. WITH SOCIAL MEDIA SO PROMINENT, IT IS MOST APPLICABLE IN THIS DAY OF INTEMPERATE POLITICAL, PERSONAL NON-ENDING COMMENT.  READ THIS CAREFULLY AND THOUGHTFULLY. LOOK FOR THE MEANING: 

     Act 23:1-5......(THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS BEING TRIED AND ABOUT TO BE WHIPPED FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL) The passage says:

     "Paul, looking intently at the Council, said, 'Brethren, I have lived my life with a perfectly good conscience before God up to this day.' The high priest Ananias commanded those standing beside him to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, 'God is going to strike you, you whitewashed wall! Do you sit to try me according to the Law, and in violation of the Law order me to be struck?' But the bystanders said, 'Do you revile God’s high priest?' And Paul said, 'I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of A ruler of your people.’” 

     There are two negatives and one positive for the Apostle Paul:

Negative 1 - He spoke proudfully (1,2) 
Negative 2 - He lashed out negatively (3) 
Positive 1 - He responded respectfully (4,5) 

     NOW, apply to yourself and to the politcal personalities and chatter of today.

- Dick Christen

A BRIGHT FAITH IN LIFE'S DARKEST HOURS......

A VERY STRONG FAITH is brightest when circumstances are darkest. What did Job learn when he experienced a devastating and multiple swipe by the Evil One? What dawned upon him when he had lost his enormous wealth and ten children? Well, this was his response: He fell on his face, worshiped and said, "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." The Scriptures report that "through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God." (Job 1:21,22).
     Do I BLESS God when tough times come? A MATURE FAITH EVEN WONDERS WHAT POSITIVE AND SANCTIFYING THING GOD IS UP TO IN SUCH EXPERIENCES OF LIFE. DO I UNDERSTAND WHEN I ASK GOD TO CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT HE IS USING THOSE TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES TO CHANGE ME?
     Admittedly, this handling of difficulties is easier said than done. But consider further 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 where Paul, after God refused to heal his physical malady, responded with such a trusting faith, saying "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
     Such a faith is a dynamic and implicit trust in a God Who wisely engineers our lives. And, we rest in the fact. 
     Matthew Henry knew this wisdom when he remarked, "Sometimes Christ sees that we need the sickness for the good of our souls more than the healing for the ease of our bodies." 
     And the inimitable Spurgeon put it this way, "I venture to say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness. Sickness has frequently been of more use to the saints of God than health has." 
     May God give His people this insightfulness along with its special faith (wrought in us by the knowledge of the Scriptures) that when struggling with the realities of life here below a certain brightness still shines because ours is a bright faith during life's darkest hours. Many of God's children have experienced this. 

- dick christen

WHEN I OPEN MY BIBLE.....

This following passage sets forth the intrinsic place God's Word should have in our lives.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. (Psalm 119:9-16).  

WHAT IS THE KEY AIM OF THIS PORTION OF SCRIPTURE?

It is to instill within our hearts a holy respect for God’s Word and the necessity of compliantly responding to it. WE MUST READ OUR BIBLES WITH A VIEW TO:

1. OBEDIENT CONFORMATION (9b)
“By taking heed according to Your word.”

(To take 'heed' is more than merely reading or  memorizing the holy Scriptures. It is to understand and put it into  action.)

2.WARY ANTICIPATION (10b)
“Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!” 

(The human heart easily opts for and delights in alternatives. The old hymn declares: "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; prone to leave the God I love....")

3. DEEP-DOWN APPLICATION (11a)
“Your word I have hidden in my heart.” (11a)

(An elderly person says, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks. The problem with this thesis is, YOU are not a dog." A busy young person says, "I'm too busy." Too busy to tuck a treasure away in the heart?)

4. SOUGHT-FOR EDUCATION (12)
“Teach me Your statutes.”

(Read Proverbs 2 and notice the intense and striving verbs for finding God and the Words He has spoken.)

5. READY DECLARATION (13)
“With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.”

(When we share the truth of God's Word we reinforce it in our own lives. "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so."

6. HAPPY CELEBRATION (14)
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.”

(To learn that discovering truth in the Bible is like discovering a large nugget of gold.)

7. CONTINUED MEDITATION (15a)
“I will meditate on Your precepts…”

("Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself the various things that one knows about the works and ways and purposes and promises of God" - J.I. Packer)

8. SEARCHING CONTEMPLATION (15b)
“…and contemplate Your ways.”

(Applying God's Word to my life and making the necessary adjustments thereunto?)

9. HEART-FELT GRATIFICATION (16a)
"I will delight myself in Your statutes…” 

(Reading, memorizing and meditating upon God's Word should be the greatest thrill in life. The Almighty and eternal God is talking to me and wanting to show me the way?)

10. DETERMINED RECOLLECTION (16b)
“I will not forget Your word.” 

(Is it not amazing the God instructed holy men of old to write His Word down and then He made sure to preserve it for all time?)

The shortest road to an appreciation of the Bible is the acceptance of the idea that God is speaking in every line, yea, in every word.

- Dr. Dick Christen

BE READY, HERE COMES THE DEVIL......

WHEN APPROACHED OR TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL…….FIGHT!

When Satan comes after us, God says FIGHT (“Whom resist stedfast in the faith – 1 Peter 1:9).

HOW ARE WE TO RESIST OR FIGHT THE DEVIL?

Answer: We FIGHT him like Jesus fought him, being studied in God’s Word (the sword of the Spirit) and using it to offset him and make him flee.  MATTHEW 4: 1-10:

​¹ THEN Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

     (Satan tempts us at our most vulnerable spot and time. Jesus was hungry after so many days fasting. And, sure enough along comes the Evil One and in effect says, "If you're the great Creator, turn these stones into bread." The imagery projected was that of steaming hot loaves of fresh bread, smothered in butter, and with an aroma to die for. But, Jesus responded perfectly (of course) and said in effect there is more to living than only satisfying the physical yearnings of the flesh.)

⁵ THEN the devil *took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and *said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE will command His angels concerning You’;
and ‘on their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against A stone.’” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

     (FAITH looks to God trustingly but refuses to lazily use Him to do for us what we need to do for ourselves. Faith believes God knew what He was doing when He gave us brains and brawn. He expects us to use them. Not to do so tests God (strange concept) and unfairly attempts to use Him. This is always wrong. A present day example would be someone who refuses medical and medicinal care and rather puts God to the test saying, "I'm just trusting Jesus to take away my ailment." This is foolishness, as if God didn't equip scientists and medical personel to invent medicines and learn the best ways of diagnosing and caring for the physically needy.)

 
⁸  AGAIN, the devil *took Him to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus *said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”

     (Perhaps a man's most vulneable area of temptation is his ego. Egotism can be defined as a person who is his own best friend or as obesity of the head. But, a man all wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package. And a foul smelling one at that. The Bible pronounces pride as "abominable" to God. Thomas Manton said, "Pride not only withdraws the heart from God, but lifts it up against God." And, this is exactly what Satan desires in order that man will follow him. As Al Martin descriptively remarks, "Every breathing of pride in its first stirrings, if it had its way, would run and tear the crown off God's head." Satan's cravings to be God are so strong he tries to get God's Son to go against His Father and instead worship him. What desperate self-worship. 

MAN IS A TRIPARTITE OR THREE-FOLD BEING consisting of body, soul and spirit. Scripture says, ^“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete…” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). FORMULA: “I am a soul (self consciousness), I have a body (world consciousness and I have a spirit (God-consciousness).

THE DEVIL’S TEMPTATON WAS THREEFOLD, AIMED AT JESUS' TRIPARTITE BEING: 1. AT HIS SPIRIT, by messing with his relationship with God. In essence, Satan says, test God foolishly. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down..." Behave presumptuously! Don't believe God knows best. Rather impose your notion upon God. This is a faux faith which in reality is a "no faith." This is an attempt to get man to think he knows better than God. 2. It was aimed AT JESUS' SOUL attempting to get him to behave egotistically or psychotically wierd. Satan promised him the world forgetting that he himself had power only temporarily. Satan said, "All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me." 3. The temptation was also aimed AT HIS BODY, Satan knowing Jesus at not eaten for 40 days. He's hungry. And so Satan challenges Jesus with these words:  “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” Jesus could have! He could imagine those round stones to be piping hot loaves of bread with the savory aroma wafting upwards. But Jesus countered that there is much more to our earthly existence than things physical or material. Rather, firstly, we must ever pursue the Kingdom of God and His will. 

In each instance Jesus wins! Amen! "Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him" (Matthew 4:11). 

-       Dr. Dick Christen   

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

REPENTANCE is not an idea, it is an action of the mind. The mind thinks again, or differently. It sees something anew or in a fresh light. And so, there is a marked change in understanding. 

Through the ages God's people have wondered why He has not yet handily dealt with evil once and for all. It can get pretty awful down here but where is He? Why hasn't He come and straightened this mess out? Peter knew exactly how Christians might think. And so he wrote as follows: "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:8,9). In other words, Peter was saying the way you question God's timing and cast doubts on God's ways needs to be understood more accurately because you are reasoning like mere men and must see things as God sees them. 

REPENTANCE principally has to do with a CHANGE OF MIND. When it comes to the salvation of my soul, whereas I have long considered the cross of Jesus merely a religious symbol, I now ponder it and realize that on that cross Jesus the Christ bore my sin, paid for it in full and now, believing in Him, I am set free from the guilt and penalty of that sin, past, present and future. He prolongs His second triumphant return in order that more will be saved. Of course in all this it is the Holy Spirit, who enables us always to think with a godly perspective.  

In other words, when I truly understand God's salvational intent in sending His Son to buy redemption for sinners, I see it and seeing it in a new light, I repent, believe in Jesus' death for me (He was my substitute on the cross) and am saved from my sin.

We sinners either repent NOW or we will repent FOREVER in hell. In hell the true meaning of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ will be abundantly clear. But, it will be too late. C.H. Spurgeon declared, "Sin and hell are married unless repentance proclaims the divorce." 

In the book of Acts the Apostle Paul characterized his ministry as "solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." And that is our commission too. Not just belief in Jesus, but repentance and faith. They are the two sides of the same coin. 

Repentance and faith (the twin sisters) are necessary in order to become a Christian, and, as seen in the text above, repentance often must be exercised by Christians in order to put away erroneous thoughts and think God's thoughts on any given subject. Paul said the Corinthians would acknowledge their sin if "God peradventure would give them repentance to the acknowleging of the truth." And so, we pray for erring brothers to repent and return to the Lord (James 5:19.20). 

- Dr. Dick Christen

THE GOOD FATHER, GOD, DISCIPLINES HIS CHILDREN.....

Have you ever heard a Christian admit his affliction is from His loving heavenly Father? Usually we blame circumstances, others, ourselves or whatever, and will even shake our fist in God's face if deeply disturbed. We know the familiar line: 'If God would do this to me, He isn't a God of love.' Rare is the child of God who admits he needed it! But, the fact is, we do and ought to admit God doesn't begin to give us what we really should get. In this fun-loving age we need to remember GOD IS MORE INTERESTED IN OUR HOLINESS THAN OUR HAPPINESS! (cf Hebrews 12:4-11).

"My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord
or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights" (Prov. 3:11,12). Read further in Hebrews 12:4-13.

I once read this insightful story: There was a group of women in a Bible study on the Book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, the came across verse three, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Puzzled, the women wondered what this statement meant and what it said about the character of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week she phoned a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. Then, she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that “yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. It the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed." The woman was silent for a moment. Then, she asked the silver smith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s when I see my image in it.” 

If I’m presently feeling the heat of the fire, I know that God has His eye on me and really does love me. He may seem far away but He's right 'here'! He's looking ever so closely at me, looking to see His Son in me. 

- dick christen 

WHEN SINNERS ARE FINALLY JUDGED....

I recently listened to the beautiful tune MAKE THE WORLD GO AWAY, by Floyd Cramer. Just those words will make some start humming it (all day long). 

     It brought to mind the following verse of Scripture. When, at the end of time, God sets up THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT SEAT where Jesus Christ will judge all unregenerate sinners, the scene is described with these words: "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them"(Revelation 20:11). 

     Often when leaving 'home sweet home' we feel nostalgic and lonely as the old homestead fades in the rear view mirror. But just imagine all earth and heaven distancing themselves, fading into the far reaches of the eye. All unsaved people will experience this! It will be awful. They can't go back. Their destiny is decided. They stand before the Judge of all judges, Jesus Christ, devoid of His salvation. And here is what happens..."Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.    And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." When this happens it will be Jesus who makes the world go away. No pleasant tune will sound forth from the glorious angels of heaven. Only the agonies of hell will become louder and louder as the lost near hell. 

     Oh, be saved now! To avoid hearing the words of condemnation at the Great White Throne, right now hear and heed the words of the Gospel: "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).

     Sir Winston Churchill is reported to have said: "All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a simple word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy and hope." At heaven's gate just one word gains admission: JESUS! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." And this, not just to escape hell but to know God and enjoy Him forever.

-Dick Christen

MUSIC NEEDN'T DIVIDE A CHURCH....

     MULL WITH ME..... When we all insist upon MY kind of music, others invariably are 'turned off', even to the point of animosities and church splintering. A fair BLENDED FORMAT seems best. 
     A blended  approach includes in equal proportions the 'oldie-goldies' with their substantive expressions of truth (may the Church ever value them) along with newer styles with meaningful LYRICS , not just frothy empty and worn expressions. And there exists a growing body of such. May the Church welcome them. 
     It doesn't take a genius to put such an agenda together. It does take leadership that values ALL the gathering saints, refusing to cater to just one segment of a congregation. Such an approach allows ALL the saints to gather at any stated service. This makes for cohesiveness and oneness among God's people. And such is what Holy Scripture enjoins. Ephesians 4:1 - 4:6 states it clearly. The Apostle declared....

     "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." 

     In keeping with the above passage, the divisive tactic of different services for different tastes can happily be laid to rest, and hopefully, a many measured long rest. (Pun intended). 

- Dick Christen

WE WILL TRUST AND NEVER DOUBT......

      FAITH, for the believer in Christ, is the sight of the inner eye. It sees what the physical eye cannot. When sight cannot confirm it and when the mind cannot fathom it, faith stays positive and says 'all is well.' And, this which is my present difficult experience, 'is as it is,' but comes from a God too loving to be unkind and too all-knowing to be wrong! The character of God can always be trusted. He cannot fail. 

     Faith follows God implicitly, albeit with trembling on occasion; while sight calculates, considers, cautions and cringes. Faith declares: God said it, I believe it, that settles it! Where God speaks, faith is dead to doubt, dumb to discouragement and blind to impossibilities.

     Spurgeon expressed it this way: "Faith is reason at rest in God."

     Proverbs says it like this: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own" (MSG. 3:5).

     Years ago I read this from Oswald Chambers. It was deep to grasp, but thinking about it gives insight to the root substance of faith:

     He said, "The real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that (seemingly) contradicts Him. I WILL REMAIN TRUE TO GOD'S CHARACTER WHATEVER HE MAY DO!" 

     Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him." 

     God cannot and does not fail, even though He allows loss, disappointment, hurt, sorrow and hardship to touch me. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones put it this way: "Faith is a refusal to panic." It has the characteristic of remaining firm, no matter what.

     A lady in one of my congregations once gave me the following poem when I was traversing a difficult period in my life. It has meant so much to me. And this, because in life, try as we may, situations arise which we just cannot figure out. And in such a season, we must simply believe God, accept the situation, stay engaged and never doubt the essential character of God or any of His ordained experiences. The poem is by Hannah Hurnard:

In acceptance lieth peace, 
     O my heart be still;
Let thy restless worries ceae
     And accept His will.
Though this test be not thy choice,
     It is His....therefore, rejoice. 

Cease from sighs and murmuring,
     Sing His loving grace,
This thing means thy furthering
     To a wealthy place.
From thy fears He'll give release;

- Dick Christen        

YOU MUST BE 'DEAD' AGAIN......

Each of us must be born twice or we will die twice. Jesus once said to a very religious man, "You must be born again." He was telling Nicodemus that religion alone is not enough to enter heaven. This leader of the Jews stood before Him dressed 'to the nines' in all his religious garb. Jesus was not impressed and cut through all the laudatory comments, saying to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). Born again? Whatever does that mean?  

     And, while sinners must be 'born again' to have eternal life, the write of Hebrews tells us another opposite but equally intriguing gospel truth. He declares, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (9:27). In other words, you must be born again, but, if you are not you will die again. Yes, after physical death you will stand before your Maker and without Jesus as personal Lord and Savior you will die spiritually. Unsaved, you must die again!  Revelation 20:11-15 describes the place and the dreadful assignment of all sinners to eternal hell. We understand that all humans die physically but to what does 'after this comes judgment' refer? Does this raise the specter of a judgment that could result in another death of sorts? Yes, it does! Just as we are born once bodily, we must be born again spiritually in order to see eternal bliss. And likewise, we will die physically once and will die again if we are judged and found wanting. We will fall short without Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord. He took the judgment of sinners on Himself at the cross. "Christ died for our sins." He paid the price God demands for sin, and that is death. Accepting His death personally as 'my' death satisfies God's righteous demands and the believing sinner is set free. In other words, the believer's judgment place is Calvary. The person without Jesus' judgment credited to him will then be judged at the Great White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ and suffer a second death, being consigned to an eternity of without God the very source of life. Read the Apostle John's account:

   "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.    And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and  books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.    And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.    Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.    And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).

     And so, we can emphatically say, "You must be born again" OR you will die again at the final judgment of the ages. You 'must be dead again' without Jesus Christ.

     How is a sinner "born again?" Jesus answered that very question from Nicodemus the very religious but lost man in John 3. What was Jesus' answer? Here at His exact words:

      “For God so loved the world, that He gave His  only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.    For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.    He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-19). 

     So, we sinners must be born again or we will die again in the great resurection of the unjust. We will have nothing to plead without Jesus. We will pay forever in hell for our sins, having rejected the payment Jesus made on His cross. 

     Again, this is why the Savior said to that religious leader, "You MUST be born again." Be saved, now! Put this article down, bow your head and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

     God invites you to His salvation found only in His Son. He says "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:9-13). "Where you die, when you die, or by what means, is scarcely worth a thought, if you do but die in Christ."


-dick christen

DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS...

WHEN JESUS COMES FOR HIS PEOPLE, THE TRUE CHURCH, He will take their dust from graves, the seas and urns and reconstruct them into living, breathing, physical persons. 1Cor. 15:51 — 1Cor. 15:54 declares: "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"

In vivid detail, as told to Ezekiel, He will do the same for His people the Jews. In Israel's spiritual declension they were pictured in Ezekiel 37 as very dry bones in a valley. Of them Ezekiel said, with VERY DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE, "Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Perhaps the process, happening instantaneously ("in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye"), will be similar for both the Church and Israel, though happening at different times. Amazing! God can and will do it and then bring in His everlasting kingdom. And He shall reign forever and ever. Take heart, dear believers. All will be well!

d. christen

GRACE FOR IMMEDIATE SALVATION AND ON-GOING SANCTIFICATION...

Dear fellow believer: This is heavy but important. So, put your thinking caps on and bear with me. At salvation we are given a new position, namely, that of being placed IN CHRIST JESUS. (Actually this was determined before the foundation of the world but made personal to us in this life time when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, Ephesians 1:4.) Now, God no longer counts our sins against us! Hallelujah! Christ received our condemnation at the Cross and by faith alone we are thereby freed from the "law of sin and death." In fact, at salvation, He additionally credits (imputes) to us His righteousness and thereby justifies us or declares us absolutely righteous for time and eternity. This is our privileged position IN CHRIST JESUS, by grace alone, through faith, plus nothing. . How GLORIOUS!

But, further, and practically speaking, for the sake of His glory and the fashioning of each of us into Christ's image in this life time, His grace continues to work on us. The Apostle said, "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). He will then, BY CHRIST and through the Holy Spirit, continually deal with us about our daily sins. Those He loves, He chastens (child trains) and "scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:6). And so, though grace forgives and makes us perfect in Christ at salvation, it continues to discipline us towards Christ-likeness. This is a kind of on-going grace. We are to "grow in the grace and knowlege of Christ Jesus." This discipline of grace can be severe. Those whom He loves, He chastens. If such doesn't bring us around, He will scourge. This can really hurt. Do read Hebrews 12:4-13. This process in no way impinges upon the justification we have IN CHRIST. That is a constant! But this day by day sanctifying work BY CHRIST is for the purpose of making us in the here-and-now more and more like Jesus. Paul said to the Philippians, "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (1:6). Our loving God is doing this in the life of every true believer!

Why am I saying all this? Because, generally speaking, I sense an imbalance in today's Evangelical world between, on the one hand, a glorying in God's saving and forgiving grace (which makes us immediately perfect IN CHRIST at salvation), and, on the other hand, the necessary daily growth in the "grace and knowledge" of Christ. The first is frequently mentioned. The second rarely so. We must freely preach salvation by grace alone and the immediate blotting out of all sin at the moment of salvation in the eyes of GOD THE JUDGE, but must then loudly teach the New Testament emphasis of an on-going sanctifying GRACE in the life of every believer in the eyes of GOD, the sinner's newly found FATHER. We must BEWARE of the age-long danger of Antinomianism, or, the habit of so reveling exclusively in saving grace as to excuse and consider trivial our daily sins and God's on-going work of sanctifying grace. Perceptively, the Apostle Paul anticipated this in the first century when he said, "What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1). It is possible to so gloat in saving grace, to the exclusion of sanctifying grace, that we glory in the precious truth of 'grace alone' BUT use it to assuage or mollify our consciences into a care-free and reckless continuance in our present sins? 

Is it even possible for a truly saved person to entertain such an imbalance? Apparently so or the Apostle would not have warned the Roman believers of the danger thereof. So, let us heed the heads-up Paul gives us and reject a lop-sided view of grace that produces emaciated and worldly Christians. I speak out of concern and in love, burdened for the health of Christ's twenty-first century Church.

-Dick Christen, D.D.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHEN NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE......

Proverbs 14:10
     "The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy."

     Most 'others' have a rather meager capacity to empathize or feel my sorrows or joys. They try, but we all are so limited and/or busy and preoccupied. Love seeks to break through this but is often so very faint. And so, to a great extent, we live our lives pretty much alone. At the same time we should remember the words of John Milton: "Loneliness is the first thing which God's eye named 'not good.'" Thank the Lord for a spouse who is also a best friend. But, sadly, this is not always the case. 

     BUT, "what a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!...... Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.... Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge - take it to the Lord in prayer! Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there." He is the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Praise God, every child of God can say, "I have a very dear friend and I am the undeserving object of His constant and unfailing love." And, remember, Christ understands loneliness; He's been through it. 

- dick christen

THINK AHEAD BUT DON'T FORGET.....

THINK AHEAD, BUT DON’T FORGET!
HEBREWS 13:1-25

     It is wrong for Christians to obsess about the past. The Apostle Paul gave us the phrase "forgetting those things which are behind." But this passage underscores certain behaviors we must strive to live out all the days of our lives:

     SO, REMEMBER TO….

     1. KEEP PRACTICING CHARITY TOWARD BROTHERS IN CHRIST (Hebrews 13:1)
“Let brotherly love continue.” (This is a 'thinking' kind of love that considers the well being of others and takes beneficial  action toward them, according to truth.)

     2. KEEP EXTENDING HOSPITALITY TOWARD STRANGERS (v 2)
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (We live in a fearful and wary age. Wisdom considers this realistically and exercises care. But, nevertheless, a 'thinking' kind of helpfulness and goodness should not be neglected.)

     3. KEEP EXPRESSING EMPATHY TOWARD THE SUFFERING (v 3)
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” (Empathy is two hearts tugging at the same load. "Empathy is your pain in my heart.")

     4. KEEP RESISTING IMMORALITY IN MATTERS SEXUAL (v 4)
“Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Many deem marriage unimportant. God talks about it as an important covenant relationship. It entails uncompromising commitment. Proverbs 2:17.)

     5. KEEP LIVING CONTENTEDLY IN LIFE (vv 5,6)
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” ("Covetousness is a dry drunkenness." Proverbs says that the human eye is never satisfied.)  
                                                            
     6. KEEP BEHAVING SUBMISSIVELY TOWARD LEADERSHIP  (vv 7.17)
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (v7)
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” (v17) 
     (In 1859 multitudes accepted Darwin's theory of evolution, thereby rejecting the authority of God's Word. It's been downhill ever since rejecting not only Bible's authority but all other authorities too. Acts 5:29 is how the early believers retained respect for civil authorities and absolute submission to God's authority.)

     7. KEEP TRUE DOCTRINALLY, IN THE FAITH (vv 8,9)
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines.” (When steadfastness to the truth is most difficult it is most necessary.)

     8. KEEP PRAYING INTERCESSIONALY FOR OTHERS (vv 18,19)  
“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.” ("Talking to men about God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.")                                                                 
- Dick Christen

IS THERE ROOM IN THE INN OF MY LIFE?

ROOM IN THE INN

     "And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn" (Luke 2:7).

     How could one, even such a One as Jesus the Christ, the Son of the Living God, suffer such a lowly birth? The wealthy of that age didn't sleep in the inns, they stayed with friends or had special abodes reserved for them. Commoners stayed in the inns. There wasn't even room for Jesus in such a place. Rather, it was out in the barn and He was probably placed in a wooden feeding trough.

     But the more important personal question is, do I have place for Him, a real abiding place, in the rooms of my heart?

     One commentator remarked: "Without a doubt it is the same today. Every chamber of the soul is so filled with human interests that there is little room for Christ. There is little vital interest in Him. There is little, if any, time for Him. And this is so, simply because our time is demanded by a thousand other things, our interest in drawn off in a thousand other directions, and our life is crowded to the full with possessions and pleasures until, strange though it seems, there is no room for the Savior except in the stable." 

     So I must ask, is Jesus merely in a stable in my life? Have I failed to make Him the core of my earthly existence? Until He has entered the door and reigns upon the throne of my life I cannot regard myself as being in any better position than those who slept comfortably while Mary gave birth to the infant God in a stable.

     - Dick Christen

DON'T JUDGE, BUT DO JUDGE....

 "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

     In this verse the Apostle issues a stern warning! He tells us to be on the alert because error and false propagators are prolific. He says "many false prophets" will be on the scene.

     We Christians must reject an easy and widespread indifference to proven wrong. We are to be willing to warily judge in this way: Statements or professions of faith must be held up to the light of Holy Scripture looking for cracks and dark spots of error. We must relentlessly maintain this readiness. And we must remember that when Jesus said "judge not," He was not speaking contrary to such a process or John's instruction in the above text. 

     It is true that we limited humans must not judge motives (we just don't know what is in the heart of another person) and must also refuse to impose upon others an unrealistic kind of perfectionism which in this lifetime is impossible to attain. And, if the fundamentals of the faith are intact, we readily agree that there are areas of doctrine wherein honest differences exist.The Almighty knows this and is often more patient with us humans than we are with our fellow humans. For instance: In Psalm 103:14 we are told: "...He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." And, of course, we are 'dirt dust', not gold dust. God knows the limitations of His creatures, especially since sin entered the world. Therefore, we most certainly are not in the position to judge others with a haughty judgmental spirit. And so, Jesus warns us against such. We must not play God. He alone knows all and the Judge stands at the door. He's looking after everything perfectly so. 

     But, on the other hand, we must judge in this way: Check out all ideas and philosophies, especially those purporting to be Christian doctrine, by holding them up to the all-pervasive searching rays of Holy Scripture. We must reject the practice of judgmentally going after others but at the same time accept the need for judgment or judging in the light of Scripture, it being the very mind of God. So, interpreting Scripture carefully we let them, in effect, do the judging. God has spoken. Here is what He says about this and that. If anything is contrary to His clear Word, it is wrong. Using such Scripture we then proceed to "prove all things" or put them to the test, even as the Bible so instructs.

     Yes, this makes for tensions and conflicts but the clash of ideas is the sound of freedom and price of doctrinal purity. 

- dick christen

BIG EARS... SMALL MOUTH...

     There's much wisdom in what Mr. Buffett says. It brings to mind the words of St. James.... Jam 1:19:

     "This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, SLOW TO SPEAK and slow to anger..."

     It is true that whatever moves the heart wags the tongue. And so, we must keep our hearts with all diligence. But then, there are even good things that shouldn't necessarily be said. Someone remarked, "What is in the well of your heart will show up in the bucket of your speech." True enough, but we can refuse to 'let down' the bucket. 

     Forgive me, heavenly Father, for thinking I have to say something about everything. May my ears be more prominent than my mouth. Amen.

- Dick christen

CHILDREN IN CHURCH????

     I'VE ALWAYS FAVORED children being in public worship with their parents or caring adults (at least when they can read, even a little, if not before). My parents did this and looking back, I learned so much, even unwittingly so. They did this in ancient Israel. In Deuteronomy  31:12 - 31b Moses commanded:
     "Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the Lord your God..."
     Nurseries? Yes. Children's church? Yes. But even at these early stages leaders and teachers must always remember that tiny humans learn so very much, much more than we think. Even seeing a teacher with a Bible in hand or hearing an adult pray speaks volumes to tiny eyes and ears. They'll even go home and emulate such.         But, at five or so take them to big peoples' service. And the parent (and others) may not think they're learning much, but they are. The prechurch experience continues. Otherwise, in the above narrative,  God would have told the people," Leave the kids at home. Get a baby sitter."
     I once preached a sermon on the doctrine of sanctification. It pertains to positive holiness as different from the daily cleansing when we confess our sins. I illustrated using a dirty apple. Washing it was the daily cleansing of confessing (1John 1:9). Rubbing it til it shone was Sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4:1-7).A mother told me the next week that her young son upon taking an apple, washed it, shined it and held it up to his mother and said, "Mom, that's sanctification." That kind of report is enough to make the preacher 'dig in' and prepare another preachment.
- Dick Christen

JUST A NOBODY? THE APOSTLE PAUL??

     PASTORS have a heavenly calling... but still have clay feet. The great Apostle said, "For in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody" (2 Cor. 12) He thought of himself as "a NOBODY" but who really was a SOMEBODY who affected EVERYBODY in the Church of Jesus Christ. But, nevertheless, he unbelievably refers to himself as a "nobody." 
     This same Apostle warned all of us about the ever present danger of thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3). 
     When we do exalt ourselves God has His ways of reminding us (and sometimes crushingly so) that He "knows our frame and remembers we are but dust." And this means dirt dust not gold dust. He knows it and wants us to remember it: 
     "Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust" (Psalm 103:13,14).
     St. Augustine remarked: "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humilty that makes men as angels." I guess it's better to be a humble worm than a proud angel.

     - dick christen

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO HIDE FROM GOD....

GOD knows all; GOD sees all! He is omniscient. Down south they use to sing "He sees all we do; He hears all we say. My God's a' writin' all the time."
     Proverb 15:3 declares: "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good." THE MESSAGE paraphases it like this: "God doesn't miss a thing—he's alert to good and evil alike."
     Doesn't this fact instill in us the healthy "fear of the Lord" so often referenced in the Bible? We can't hide anything from God. Our sins will find us out; He makes sure they do.
     "It had been an unusually hectic weekend, and I decided to put off doing housework until Monday", so a housewife tells. "As I was curling up with a book, old friends phoned. They were in town and wanted to stop by. I tore around the house, dusting and vacuuming. Time was running out when I grabbed ples of dirty dishes and put them in the oven. The doorbell rand. THERE STOOD MY FRIENDS ......WITH A FROZEN PIZZA.

- Dick Christen

THE CHRISTIAN'S EARNED CROWNS. WHAT IS THEIR SIGNIFICANCE?

THE CHURCH NEEDS TO RAISE A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE FIVE CROWNS WHICH WILL BE BESTOWED IN HEAVEN ON CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE EARNED THEM BY THEIR GOOD WORKS IN THIS LIFE. 

The salvation of a sinner's soul is not at all BY self-works of righteousness but it is UNTO works of righteousness when performed obediently in the Holy Spirit's strength. 

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; NOT AS A RESULT OF WORKS, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus FOR GOOD WORKS, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

     Salvation from sin is free, it being all of God's unmerited favor (grace) . "Jesus paid it all! Ephesians 2:8-10 says it clearly but also emphasizes the place of 'good works.' We are saved by grace "for (unto) good works." It other words, just because our efforts don't contribute to being saved from our sins this does not mean they are unimportant. 

     In fact, the Bible sets forth FIVE CROWNS potentially awarded at a Christian's appearance before Christ's BEMA JUDGMENT. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). 

     At least part of our recompensing will be in the form of a crowns bestowed upon the deserving. What will they be? Here are the five mentioned in the Bible.....

1. THE CROWN OF REJOICING (OR, THE SOUL WINNER'S CROWN)  

1 Thessalonians 2:19,20:

"For who is our hope or joy or CROWN of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His  coming? For you are our glory and joy."

(Those the apostle won to Jesus are Paul's "glory and joy" or "crown of exultation." Heaven rejoices when one sinner is saved. Apparently the rejoicing continues into eternity. Will I receive this crown. Who have I brought to Jesus)

2. THE INCORRUPTIBLE CROWN (OR, THE CROWN OF DISCIPLINED CHRISTIAN LIVING)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.   And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible CROWN; but we an incorruptible.   I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air:   But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

(Personal discipline is important to God! To live for Jesus in this world and for His glory, requires a holy stringency that most shy from. It requires personal suffering. Peter said, "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin" (1 Peter 4:1). It IS real suffering to reject what displeases God but necessary for this crown.)

3. THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (OR, THE CROWN OF OBEDIENT LIVING) 

2 Timothy 4:6-8:

"For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.   I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:   Henceforth 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."

(A righteous act is an obedient act in accordance with God's directive or principle. The sum total of these obedient acts equals our 'personal righteousness' status before God. (To be distinguished from the imputed righteousness every believing sinner receives at the time of salvation.) Think this way: all of our acts of personal day by day obedience = our personal 'righteousness status' before God. The sum total of our righteousnesses = personal holiness status before God. (To be distinguished from imputed holiness at the moment of salvation.) On this basis of this reading the CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS will or will not be awarded.)

4. THE CROWN OF GLORY (OR, THE FAITHFUL PASTOR'S CROWN)

1 Peter 5:1-4

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:   Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;   Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.   And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a CROWN of glory that fadeth not away."

(Pastors should strive to be the kind of pastor Oliver Goldsmith describes in THE DESERTED VILLAGE. In his depiction of the village preacher he says:
     Truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway,
     And fools who came to scoff remained to pray.)

5. THE CROWN OF LIFE (OR, THE OVERCOMER'S CROWN)

James 1:12; Revelation 2:10:

James says, "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the CROWN of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
To the suffering at Smyrna, Jesus says, 'Be faithful until death, and I will give you the CROWN of life."

(All true Christians go to heaven when they die. All will appear before the BEMA rewarding stand with the books open. All will be recompensed for their deeds done in the body while on earth. Some will suffer loss. This can't mean the loss of salvation so we must ask "what does this mean?" Will there be degrees of enjoyment or privilege in heaven? All will undoubtedly rejoice in heaven and enter into its goodness, but will we do so at differing abilities to imbibe or appreciate?  Perhaps all will rejoicingly take in the wonders of eternity but at differing levels of appreciation and while each will enter into their personal level of enjoyment, such, however, will be unknown to others. It will be very personal. But again, heaven being heaven, all will be in a state of glorification and rejoicing but, I believe, each person will 'take it in' at his or her personally assigned quotient determined at the BEMA seat. The award or crowns MUST have some significance, perhaps more than we want to acknowledge. Anyhow, this is how I try to understand it. 

- Dick Christen

DRINKING DEEPLY OF GOD'S WORD, THE BIBLE...

       REMOVE THE FIVE GUMBALLS SO YOU CAN DRINK THE MILK


     If a mouth is full of food (like five gumballs at once) it would be most difficult to attempt drinking a glass of milk at the same time. In this passage of Scripture five evils must be set aside in order to imbibe the milk of the Word.

     "Therefore, laying aside all (1.) malice, (2.) all deceit, (3.) hypocrisy, (4.) envy, and 5.) all evil speaking,  as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious..." (1 Peter 2:1-3, NKJV, numbers and parentheses, mine).

     The Amplified NASB Bible renders the text like this:

     "SO BE done with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all deceit and insincerity (pretense, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy, jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind.
   Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,
   Since you have [already] tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord"  (1 Peter 2:1-3, NASB - AMP).

A. THE FIVE SINFUL GUMBALLS TO BE REMOVED...

     1. Malice (baseness)
     2. Deceit (guile)
     3. Hypocrisy (hypocrisies)
     4. Envy (envies)
     5. Evil speaking (defamations)

B. THE DRINKING OF THE MILK OF THE WORD...

      1. Related Passages: 1 Corinthians 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12-14)

     2. Context: Cf. 1:3, 23 (This pertains to the doctrine of regeneration set forth by Jesus to      Nicodemus, John 3.)

     3.Literal translation: "as new born babes" = "as just-now-born babies"

     4. Phrase: "desire the pure milk of the word" (Cf. "pure" = reasonable as found in Romans 12:1 (the only other reference in N.T. where the word is used which means reasonable, sincere and "it makes all the sense in the world." All of which adds up to the practicality and usefulness of the  Word.)

     5. Cross reference: "My soul breaks with longing for Your judgments at all times" (Psalm 119: 20). Catch this: the Psalmist LONGED for this Word.

     6. Peter writes and uses the decisive aorist imperative exactly as he did in 1:13,17,23. These aorists (verb tenses) are used because they are stronger than present imperatives would be. The implication is: long for this milk and for none other. Even Christians often hanker after the fleshpots of Egypt and grow tired of the simple, wholesome, saving Word, which is manna for the soul. Such a condition is the most serious sign of spiritual decline.

- dick christen