Category: A Word With Friends

In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation–having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.   Ephesians 1:13-14  

Our word today is found in three Scripture references.  Each is a reference to the Spirit of God being given to those that believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.  [See also 2 Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5]

The term translated here “a pledge” is ἀρραβὼν (arrabōn). It is translated “earnest” in the KJV and “deposit” in the NIV.  It is a term likely borrowed from Phoenician traders to indicate an advance payment that guarantees full payment on delivery.  There also seems to be a later association of this term with an engagement ring (though not the common use when Paul wrote this).

Today my wife and I celebrate what we call “Impatience Day”.  Having received the blessing of Kitty’s father and having purchased the ring, I was waiting for Valentine’s Day to pop the question.  In the words of my own father, the ring was “burning a hole in my pocket”.  I just couldn’t wait another week.  So after an evening of Bible teaching and music at a local prison for youthful offenders, I asked Kitty to be my life partner.  The ring that I gave her that night she still wears today as a symbol of my pledge to be her husband.

The pledge that the Lord has given to the believer is not purely symbolic.  It is the real, indwelling presence of the Living Spirit of God. This “pledge” points to the promise of “redemption”, yet another financial term.  Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us”.  – Ephesians 1:7-8a The Spirit is given as the guarantee of not only the full payment of our salvation, but of a relationship to the Person of the Son of God.

We, the Bride of Christ, await the Coming of the Bridegroom to take us to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  We have His Spirit as the pledge of His promise.  Even so come Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

John 10 provides much information about sheep and shepherds. The focus of this short study is the Shepherd’s voice. I recall reading about a group of shepherds gathering to water their flock. An observer asked how they could tell which sheep belonged to which flock. The answer came when they were rested and refreshed and the shepherds called out to their sheep. Very quickly the sheep divided into their various flocks simply by hearing their shepherd’s voice.

“… and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”  John 10:3b

In John 20 we read that Mary (Magdalene) arrived early at the tomb of Jesus and found the stone rolled away. She told the disciples of her discovery. Peter and John rushed to the scene and confirmed her observation. John looked inside the tomb and Peter actually entered and saw the empty grave clothes. They left the scene but Mary lingered behind. She also stooped down and looked inside but now at the head and foot of the place Jesus had body had rested were angels. She spoke with them and with Jesus (supposing him to be a gardener). Through her grief and tears she did not recognize who she was talking with. But then she heard a single word – her name “Mary” (John 20:16). She immediately recognized Jesus and clung to him.

“…the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” John 10:4b

In 1 Kings 18 Elijah the prophet had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. He called down fire from Heaven and killed the false prophets with the sword. Following this great victory he was pursued by the wicked queen Jezebel. He found himself alone in the wilderness and cried out to the Lord to take his life. God sent him a messenger with food and instructions to go to Mount Horeb where found a cave for shelter. It is there that he met with the Lord and once more pleased his cause. The Lord instructed Elijah to stand upon the mount as He (The Lord) passed by. First there was a strong wind, followed by an earthquake, and then by a fire. Each time the phrase is repeated “but the Lord was not in the (wind, earthquake, or fire)”. But then came a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12), and this was the voice of The Lord.

“…And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice;”   John 10:16

Perhaps you are like Mary. The Lord is close by but you do not recognize Him. Or could it be that like Elijah you are looking for Him in the wrong places. Whatever may be your situation, The Lord may very well be speaking to you right now. Listen as He softly calls out your name and offers you the opportunity to live forever in His presence.

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish” John 10:28a

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:” James 2:8 (KJV)

This phrase occurs only here in Scripture.  James chooses a term for the Law that usually refers to the Law as a whole rather than a term for an individual command.  This is in keeping with Jesus’ response to the question, “What is the first (great) commandment?”  [Matthew 22:36, Mark 12:28]  His two-part answer included a commandment regarding man’s relationship to God and this command which covers man’s relationship to his fellow-man.

This same commandment was also part of the response given to Jesus by a certain lawyer. [Luke 10:25-27]  It is here that Jesus links “love thy neighbor” to the well-known story of the Good Samaritan.

Paul further explains “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:14.

The importance of this commandment is unquestionable.  But what makes it “Royal”? Several explanations have been offered.  Here are two of them.

Jesus – King and Priest

One of these links the Royal Priesthood of Jesus (after the order of Melchizedek) to the Royal Law [Hebrews 7:17] and that to the believer – also of the royal priesthood [1 Peter 2:9].

Roman Law

There is a lengthy explanation available that offers that James borrows from Roman law a phrase referring to the “sovereign law” of the Emperor.  Hence it speaks of this law as the will of the Sovereign King (The Lord God) for His people.

And finally, what is the scope and purpose of this Royal Law?  To answer this we must look at the question that the lawyer asks Jesus in Luke’s gospel.

Who is my neighbor?

Is it our brothers and sisters in Christ (fellow believers)? Brotherly love is one of the marks of the believer.  In the upper room Jesus spoke to his disciples “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35  Paul writes often about caring for each other.  But is this the limit (scope) of this commandment?

These words of Jesus are found twice in the Gospels, “For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that love them.” [Luke 6:32, Similarly in Matthew 5:46]  Here is the part that is quite simple to speak but more difficult to do.  The Lord would have us to be His representative to lost people.  The fact that the world hates us (Christians) should not be any surprise. [1 John 3:13].  Again in the upper room Jesus warned the disciples that the world would hate them (and us) because the world hates Jesus [John 15:18-19].  But our command is to love them!

While it is not within our natural ability and strength to follow this Royal Law we have this to comfort and strengthen us.  Our Savior is praying to His Father on our behalf. [John 17:14] Let us be diligent to show the world His love in us that we might win some to Christ.

We sing a song at camp that begins “in my weakness, you always make me strong.”   The promise that God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9) encourages me to face that which I feel ill-prepared for and to do that which I could never imagine possible.   A small band of the people God began the task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple.  It should be no surprise that they were opposed by the enemies of God.  However, their own people were of no encouragement to them either.  A messenger from the Lord brought words of promise and encouragement. 

For who has despised the day of small things?”  Zechariah 4:10

Another translation of this phrase might be “So, where are those folks that said that this cannot be done and who are you to think that you can do it?”   The temple would stand as testimony to the power of God.  God used those that were willing and made them able to do what others thought impossible. 

We just completed our summer staff roster for 2012. One thing that I have learned in my tenure at Camp Horizon is that the Lord often works by taking the willing and making them able.  I have seen the Lord turn an ugly duckling into a swan.  I have seen the Lord give a timid new believer bold faith and an insatiable desire to win souls for Christ.   I have seen hearts and lives changed (and not just the campers).  Our staff application process does not focus on ability but availability.  The souls that come to faith in Jesus Christ this summer will stand as testimony to the power of God as He builds His Temple (the Body of Christ), the habitation of His Spirit, a light unto the world! That is why I expect great things this summer.

My office shelves are filled with tokens collected during our years of service as camp director (#summercamp #camphorizon ).  Each is an object with a memory and a lesson.  Adult visitors to my office rarely comment on these treasures.   However, children are much more curious and frequently ask to hear the story behind each artifact.

I am often asked about a pink pig that is proudly perched on an upper shelf.  It reminds me of how good and kind our summer staff can be toward one another.  It began when a staff member received the pig with an encouraging letter in mail call.  It was such an encouragement to them that they passed it along to another.  This tradition continued through the summer. By the end of camp a second pig surfaced.  I was the final recipient of one of those pigs.

That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying,  What mean ye by these stones?  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.   Joshua 4:6-7

The purpose of memorials is not just to remember the past.  Memorials help us to recognized how the past is being repeated in the present.  This in turn helps us to look forward to the future.

For example, this past weekend we saw flags and crosses to remind us of those that gave their lives for our freedom.   It also reminds us to pray for those that are serving in our military right now.  Some of these will add their names to future memorials.

Parents, when your children ask “what mean ye by these ________”, use that teachable moment to share your memories, your history, and your faith in God with them.   This is the time-tested method that the Lord often uses to ensure that faith and practice are passed from generation to generation.