datethewordtest

Tag: Jan 6

  • It Will Be Good For The Righteous; Bad For The Unrighteous

    Psalm 1:6 “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

    Psalm 1 concludes with verse 6 telling the opposite final destinations of the two life travelers of Psalm 1. This beginning Psalm is not just first in position but is the foundational Psalm for the entire book and a person’s life.  We are introduced to two opposites in who or what influences them in verses 1 and 2.  The first person is influenced by the wicked to live a wicked, ungodly, unrighteous life. Verse 1 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. This person is on a downward path where they move from being prompted to sin to practicing sin to promoting sin.  He will be known throughout the Psalm as the ungodly.

    On the hand is a man who is going to be influenced by the Word of God. Verse 2 says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.”  This decision allows this man to learn what is right and what is wrong.  Because he is making decisions according to the Word of God verse 3 tells he shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”   He not only is fruitful, but he is also flourishing.  

    Having told of the bountiful blessings that come to the righteous man we read in verse 4 of the utter useless life of the ungodly as he is described a chaff.  Chaff is the covering for a grain as it develops but when the grain is harvested it is blown away. Verse 4 says, “The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.”

    Coming to verse 6 the Psalm tells that God knows the way of the righteous which means he knows his life decisions and final destination. The righteous man is on the narrow path that leads to life.  On the other hand, the ungodly will perish.  

    Perish.  Let that word sting. Perish. It is the horrible conclusion to a terrible life. Perish.  To be sent to outer darkness. To be in hell.  Perish.

    But it does not have to end this way.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish (SHOULD NOT PERISH) but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16).  Make no mistake there is good news for bad people!

    Continue Strong living the righteous life, 
    And Remember to Date the Word  

  • Commended for Contributing to God’s Missionaries

    3 John 1:6 “Who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well”

    3 John is a letter from the Apostle John to a man by the name of Gaius.  Gaius has been living out the Christian life by walking in truth and by helping missionaries who are on their way to share the gospel with Gentiles.  John wants Gaius to know how proud he is of him.  In hearing that he walks in truth, he tells him that he has “no greater joy than to hear his children walk in truth.”  (3 John 1:4). In hearing how he faithfully supported missionaries, he lets him know that what he is doing is, in essence, to be commended. Furthermore, John will reinforce with Gaius that he is doing well when he does send them on their journey in a manner that is worthy of God and concludes in verse 8 with “Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”

    With our summary of the first few verses of 3 John, I would like to now ask what would fellow servants of the Lord, missionaries, say of you if they passed through your town and visited your church?  John heard from missionaries about the love shown to them by Gaius.   Do you show love to those who are serving as missionaries?  Would you be commended for contributing to their journey?  

    In considering the subject of missions, I believe every believer is to be involved in missions. I believe you are either sent or you are sending.  For the vast majority of us, we fall into the category of sending.  

    What, then, does sending look like?  May I share a few thoughts that hopefully will stir your heart?

    The long and the short is you should first and foremost know some missionaries.  In knowing them you get on their e-mail list to get their newsletter.  This allows you to know how to pray for them.  It allows you to also know how to give to them.  This giving can be a financial gift that comes to them monthly and/or it could also be providing some type of equipment they need. Knowing missionaries allows you to know how to encourage them.  Sending a card and/or a text message or sending a care package speaks volumes to the missionary on the field.  There may be a need for you to go visit them and by that, I mean just go visit them.  There may be a need where you go to see them and sever with them on a special project.  There may be the need that when they are at “home” you open your home for them to stay in and/or you provide a meal for them.  

    At this point, I pause for the list can go on and on.  There are numerous ways to be a sender and I am sure you are thinking of quite a few I did not mention.   The bottom line is John commended, challenged, and confirmed to Gaius that supporting missionaries is the right thing to do.  

    If you are not sent, then you need to be sending.  How will you be known for sending?  

    Continue Strong as a Sender of the one’s God has Sent,
    And remember to DATE the Word.