Scripture Reflections – November 2024
11/30/2024 Good morning,
When we wonder what God’s will is for us…2 Peter 1.5-11
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We tend to look for specific, really specific, directions and guidance for our lives which can lead some folks to constantly wonder if they are “in God’s will”. So we seek to go to the right school, date the right person, take the right job, and so forth. But what if the Bible shows us that God’s will is more about who we are and what we do in the midst of every decision we make? In 2 Peter we are taught to supplement faith with a list of characteristics from virtue to love. What if God’s specific will is to supplement faith with all these attributes in whatever decisions we make in life so that God’s will is fulfilled in whatever job we have or other “major” (and minor) aspect of our lives? What if God’s will for our lives is to pray without ceasing no matter what direction we have taken? What if God’s will is to simply love God and neighbor in our work, school, service, or other endeavors? It is not so much that we have applied to this job or that job, but that in either job we are working in faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, etc. We are to pursue God’s will by faith and through sanctification in such a way that we are constantly led to discernment by God’s Spirit. So, we should… “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12.2). It is God’s will not to be conformed to this world. It is God’s will to renew our minds that we might be transformed.
God has a will for all who believe… “For this is the will of God, your sanctification (1 Thessalonians 4.3). God’s will is all about living like Christ, obediently, faithfully, with gratitude and love. God’s will is for us to “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5.18). There may indeed be specific decisions that may conform more closely to God’s will in a profession or in a some relationship, but it seems to me that when we look back over our lives, God uses whatever circumstances we are in to reflect His character in faith and love and to glorify Him in all things in every choice we make.
Certainly we should cover all we do in prayer and continue engaging in God’s Word so that every decision made is in accordance with God’s Word (Luke 1.38). Another verse that does not necessarily speak to God’s will specifically, but it is certainly God’s will that we have eternal life… “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17.3). This is God’s will, that we know God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent. Get to know Jesus and in that knowledge and relationship, we will grow closer to God’s will every day. We will fall short sometimes, but part of the will of God is the pursuit of the will of God.
Remember the prayer of Thomas Merton:
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Pastor Ed
11/26/2024 Good morning,
Romans 12.9, Let love be genuine…
Paul begins this section of Romans with a long list of marks of the Christian life. Not surprising, he starts with love and letting love be genuine. One of the most faithful things Christians can do is remove the masks that hide genuineness. Love with sincere hearts. Love from the authentic self. Love in the love of Christ. We grow in that love by knowing and experiencing the love of Christ in our own hearts. To know that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. To know that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. To know that Jesus loves us through His death and resurrection. To know that Jesus loves us by forgiving our sins. To know that we are called to love one another as Christ has loved us. Christ has loved us, sinners, not worthy, not first loving Him, but a people falling short of the glory of God, and yet, Christ loves us. Therefore, meditate on His love for us and let love be genuine.
Pastor Ed
11/25/2024 Good morning,
Psalm 95.6-8a, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts…”
Psalm 95 is one of the great calls to worship. Verses 1-5 begin the call to sing and worship for God is great and the Creator of all things. Verse 6 gives another call to worship before the Lord in humility (bowed down, kneeling) for He is our God and we His people (7). At the end of verse 7 is a shift in the call. Rather than the positive call to worship, here we see a negative – do not harden your hearts. “If you hear His voice…do not harden your hearts…” His voice is the Word of God. His voice is the Holy Spirit. His voice is that whisper that we sense from time to time (1 Kings 19.12). We may not recognize that voice except in retrospect. “I thought the Lord was trying to tell me something!” But the Word in Scripture is much more direct, visible, living, and our primary source of authority and revelation of what God requires of us. When we read the Scripture, we are hearing the voice of God and the call of the Psalm is to listen and obey, that is, do not harden our hearts to what God is revealing. We cannot say in our hearts that we refuse to listen. That is what Israel did in the wilderness. The Word is for our great benefit and yet we sometimes fail to heed the lessons and blessings revealed precisely because of our hardness of heart.
Lord, forgive our hardened hearts. Wash away that stone cold heart and transform our hearts to welcome Your Word and be continually reformed that we may be more like Christ. Hear our prayer and have mercy. Amen.
Pastor Ed
11/23/2024 Good morning,
Time to eat!
Daniel 1.8-16, 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, 10 and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” 14 So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. 16 So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
Daniel resolved to not defile himself with the king’s food. Some people take this story as a dietary principle for life. Books have been written about the “Daniel diet” as if this were a biblical mandate for us. But what is the main goal of the text or the main point of this part of Daniel’s story? Verse eight is about not being defiled by royal provisions. It is about following a way of life and perspective that is not tainted by the worldview of the earthly king and his kingdom. Daniel was seeking the King’s Way, God’s Way, the Kingdom of God that sees everything in a different way than that of the world. It is not that Daniel could not eat the king’s menu, we are free to do so, but there is a better way. We need not depend on the kingdoms of the world for our life and provisions. We need only to seek the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6.33) and everything we need will be given. We need not trust in horses and chariots (Psalm 20.7), but in the name of the Lord. We shall not place our lives in the hands of princes/government (Psalm 146.3), for our help is in the Lord (Ps 146.5-7) the Creator.
Daniel is simply putting his trust in God alone, not in the care of a kingdom of the earth, but solely in the Kingdom of God – not in the care of a prince of the earth, but in the care of the Prince of Peace. How might such a mindset affect how we relate to the worldly things around us whether it be government (princes), power (horses and chariots), or even food (the royal menu – Burger “King”)? That is not to say that we will never eat the things of the kingdom of the world, perhaps we cannot avoid it, but let us be aware of the seduction of the world in “royal” foods, entertainment, riches, fame — all that is in the world. Daniel would not be swayed from his God. Daniel would not be seduced by the royal menu. Instead, he may have prayed something like, “give me this day my daily bread”, or in this case, a plate of veggies. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox and hatred with it” (Prov 15.17).
God provides! Let us trust in Him alone.
Pastor Ed
11/20/2024 Good morning,
2 Timothy 3.16-17, 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
I was listening to a teaching on the app REFNET (Reformation Network) the other day and Sinclair Ferguson spoke on this passage. He used the phrase “sitting under the ministry of the Word of God” in reference to being trained in righteousness (if I remember correctly). This is a good phrase to think about in our intention to read and study Scripture, to attend worship and hear a sermon, and other ways we might be trained in righteousness. To sit under the ministry of the Word is to yield to its authority and power, to give ourselves over to obedience to it, and to let it reform our being in such a way that it changes the way we think and therefore how we go about our lives.
I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha when Mary sits at the feet of Jesus while Martha is busy showing hospitality with “attitude” (Luke 10.38-42)! While hospitality was necessary (but without attitude), Mary has chosen the better portion, listening to the teaching of Jesus. We need to show hospitality, but even more, we need to sit under the ministry of God’s Word which will lead us to even greater acts of hospitality and so much more. We will become complete, equipped for every good work. Sit, therefore, under the ministry of God’s Word and may God equip all of us for works that give Him glory and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ed
11/19/2024 Good morning,
2 Timothy 3.16-17, 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
I was listening to a teaching on the app REFNET (Reformation Network) the other day and Sinclair Ferguson spoke on this passage. He used the phrase “sitting under the ministry of the Word of God” in reference to being trained in righteousness (if I remember correctly). This is a good phrase to think about in our intention to read and study Scripture, to attend worship and hear a sermon, and other ways we might be trained in righteousness. To sit under the ministry of the Word is to yield to its authority and power, to give ourselves over to obedience to it, and to let it reform our being in such a way that it changes the way we think and therefore how we go about our lives.
I am reminded of the story of Mary and Martha when Mary sits at the feet of Jesus while Martha is busy showing hospitality with “attitude” (Luke 10.38-42)! While hospitality was necessary (but without attitude), Mary has chosen the better portion, listening to the teaching of Jesus. We need to show hospitality, but even more, we need to sit under the ministry of God’s Word which will lead us to even greater acts of hospitality and so much more. We will become complete, equipped for every good work. Sit, therefore, under the ministry of God’s Word and may God equip all of us for works that give Him glory and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ed
11/14/2024 Good afternoon,
1 Corinthians 15.1-11, Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Those of you who worship at PPC will recognize the verses that we occasionally use in worship for our Declaration of Faith. Paul reminds the church of the gospel he had preached to them. We might assume that hearing the gospel once is enough if we have received it and believe. But we are prone to forgetting things! One of Israel’s sins throughout the Old Testament story was their amnesia about God’s deliverance from Egypt. Over and over we see the call to remember what God had done for them. So too in the New Testament we have calls to remember. At the Lord’s Supper, for example, we are reminded to “Do this in remembrance of me.” Here, in Paul’s letter, is the reminder of the core message of the gospel that Christ died for our sins, was buried, was raised, and appeared to many people. Note also the connection to the Old Testament as Paul uses the phrase “in accordance with the Scriptures” two times. This is a direct reference to the Old Testament witness to Jesus Christ. Paul emphasizes the appearance of Christ to many witnesses. This is crucial to the validity of the resurrection in Jewish thinking. Not only are there two witnesses, but there are many witnesses that corroborate the miracle of Christ risen from the tomb. Now, we are part of that on-going testimony of the gospel message as it has passed down through the Word and through preaching, teaching, and believer testimonials. We are the “witnesses” to what God has done in Christ. We are His ambassadors (2 Cor 5.20).
Pastor Ed
11/12/2024 Good morning,
1 Corinthians 12.26-31, 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
As we saw in the previous reflection and Scripture, we are deeply connected by our sharing in the work of Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in the power of the Gospel. In that connection we suffer when one suffers and rejoice when one rejoices. Such a connection helps us to keep the commandment not to covet when another is honored and to practice grace and compassion when another suffers. Paul wrote in Galatians 4.19 that he was “in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” Imagine sharing in the pain of those who do not fully know the blessing of Christ and living toward teaching and discipling so that Christ might be formed in them. So too, in this Corinthian epistle, Paul speaks of pain and joy with one another in Christ.
Paul then lifts a variety of gifts and that all these gifts lead to growing the maturity of the church. The final verse in this reading encourages us to desire the higher gifts. There is some debate as to what Paul meant in this verse. Some believe that it refers back to verse 28 and others believe it is a lead into the next chapter in seeking love in all things. I don’t think it has to be one or the other but to seek all the gifts that build up the church (1 Cor 14.12). In fact, all of chapter 14 is an encouragement to pursue love and desire spiritual gifts (14.1) and includes some warnings against that which does not build up the church. May we all be blessed with gifts from above, for, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1.17)
Pastor Ed
11/11/2024 Good morning,
1 Corinthians 12.12-25, 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
Having played team sports throughout my younger days, I cannot help but recognize the need for every part of a team. Paul shows us the importance of every member of a church having a role, a place of belonging and of importance in the church. Just as each member of a football team has a role and a job to do, so too for the vitality of the family of God. The quarterback may get the glory (or the blame) most of the time, but the quarterback depends on the linemen and the coaches and the support staff for winning, even the fans will play a role. (But yelling at your television does not help.) So too in the church, not about winning or losing, but about worshiping God, giving witness to Jesus Christ, growing in faith, and bringing glory to God in all things. We all share in the Holy Spirit, drink the same living water, and we are connected in the name of Jesus Christ.
There was most likely a sense of entitlement among some in the church at Corinth. There was a lack of humility among them that caused Paul to address an issue like this. Humility is one key aspect of church membership and leadership. None of us have superiority or rank or stature over others. We may have different roles, but we are equal in the eyes of Christ, in fact, Paul notes that greater honor is often given to those we might think less honorable. Let us give thanks for all who fellowship together, prayer together, and worship together. We are encouraged and strengthened in our shared faith in Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ed
11/6/2024 Good morning,
1 Corinthians 12.1-11, Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
One of the ongoing discussions and divisions among church folks is whether or not spiritual gifts still apply to our time. The technical terms are cessationism versus continuationism. Opinions vary within the EPC and other denominations today. Cessationism is the belief that the spiritual gifts ceased during or after the apostolic age, after the death of the last of the twelve apostles. Continuationism is the belief that the gifts continue to this day. I believe that the gifts continue but not in a charismatic or pentecostal sense that we all have certain gifts that must be practiced to show that we are true believers. I believe that God uses all kinds of gifts in the Church for its edification. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, all our gifts come from the Holy Spirit. We do not all speak in tongues nor do all interpret. God gives spiritual gifts to those whom He chooses. God gives spiritual gifts where they are needed. God gives a variety of spiritual gifts that may not all be “listed” in the Bible. All that God gives (and notice the three terms used), gifts, service, and activities, all are for the common good. The graces God gives are not to prove belief or to set anyone above another, they are for building up the church. The Holy Spirit empowers us for gifts to encourage, to comfort, to heal, increase knowledge and wisdom. Some may have a gift for hospitality, another to prayer, and another to teaching. But not all the gifts we see in the Bible are necessarily going to be in all churches. We will see later in this chapter that Paul encourages us to seek the spiritual gifts of God, but we will not all have all the gifts. In my experience, the spiritual gifts are still at work in the church because the Spirit is still at work in the church. Let us use the gifts God has given to edify and encourage, and to glorify the Lord.
Pastor Ed
11/4/2024 Good morning,
1 Corinthians 10.23-33
23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” 27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks? 31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.
There are situations in life when we are unsure if we should do something that is okay to do but may still be inappropriate or not the best direction. Paul tells us that all things are lawful but even what is lawful may not be helpful or edifying. He uses the situation of eating food in the home of an unbeliever to show that if we are unaware of the food and its sacrificial status, then eat. But if we know, don’t eat. In our time this is not a situation we would normally face as it was then, but we still have questions from time to time. For instance, should the church (or any of us) receive funds from a lottery winner? Should we purchase an item that we may or may not know was stolen? Paul says that our freedom is determined by our conscience, not anyone else’s.
In one sense we “redeem” foods or situations by giving thanks to God and doing everything to the glory of God. Giving thanks is not only an act of gratitude but also an act that gives God glory. In the end, we are seeking to glorify God whenever possible through our freedom of conscience that is also bound by God’s Word. Sometimes that is an easy decision, other times a struggle.
This portion of Scripture can be summed up with Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor. We love God in giving thanks in all things and by giving glory to His name. We love our neighbor in looking out for his/her interest before our own and by standing upon the truth of Scripture, sometimes accepting what the neighbor offers and other times rejecting it. So, keep this verse in mind always, “do all to the glory of God”.
Pastor Ed
11/1/2024 Good morning,
1 Corinthians 1.26-31, 26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
It is no wonder that the Reformed Faith attributes all things to God alone. Our salvation, God’s work. “Our” choice for Christ, God’s regenerative grace. Our faith, gift from God. Verse 30 affirms this theological view that we have no measure of self-boasting before the Lord. Three times Paul speaks of God choosing: God chose what is foolish, God chose what is weak, God chose what is low and despised…and for what purpose? To bring to nothing things that are! That is, those things of the world and of human invention and “wisdom” are brought to nothing by the smallest measures of God’s power. The foolish chosen to shame the wisdom of the world. The weak to shame the strong. The lowest to shame what is perceived as the highest by the world’s standards.
God has chosen us in Christ Jesus to know and receive the wisdom of God, to share in Christ’s righteousness, to be sanctified and redeemed through the work of Christ on the cross and out of the tomb. Because of all that God has done, we boast in nothing of ourselves, but solely in God. Boast in the Lord. Give glory to God. Praise Him for His mighty deeds. Give thanks to the Lord! Amen.
Pastor Ed
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