Made Useful by the Master

“If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” -II Timothy 2:21

As I sit beside this rushing mountain creek near Pine Mountain in Kentucky, my mind is filled with the wonder that every raindrop, every bead of dew has been gathered by God’s hands to form this mighty brook. Droplets united in a rushing creek has great force with it, and its loud surge makes beautiful music.

To be a worker approved by God, the Christian is to rightly handle the Bible which leads to godliness, not to use the Bible to promote ungodliness like godless chatter (II Timothy 2:15-16). Such ungodly misuse of the Bible winds up in conversations in the church which upsets their faith (17-18). The community of God’s people is encouraged and built up by the Christian who is useful to the Master.

We tend to think of our usefulness as being needed. This seems to be a real temptation for a pastor like me. Yet, here I am on vacation, away from the flock I love and am called to lead. The church family gathered and was fed His Word rightly handled (thank you Pastor Stephen!). God does not need me, but He still uses me. God does not need you, but He still uses you. Much like former slave Onesimus’ return to his master Philemon, we have become useful by God’s hands and gathered into His church as family much like His gathering of droplets to form a mighty brook.

I want to be a useful pastor to you all in the service of my Savior. I pray you would like to be a vessel for honorable use and useful to the Master, as well. Our usefulness is not in our perceived neededness, but in our obedience to God. God sovereignly called us together, gathering us droplets and making us useful. Our usefulness is our readiness to serve Him in His church, and our readiness is found in His Holy Spirit’s fruitfulness in our holy character of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let us be made useful to our Lord by our love and service to one another.

Spurgeon once said, “The most useful members of a church are usually those who would be doing harm if they were not doing good.” Whatever holds us back from His good service is to be repented of. Let me not grow weary doing good, Lord. By the might of Your hand, let us all not grow weary. I pray He blesses us with rich mercies to continue our obedience in His “one another” commands. Such a force of gathered saints has a loud surge making beautiful music to the glory of God.

Heavenly Father, You have called us to be holy as You are holy. Fit us for heaven by fitting us for useful service here, Lord. Thank You for Your precious Word where You feed our souls hungry for righteousness. Bless us, O Lord, for Your name’s sake. Amen.

Turning from Dead Idols to the Living Christ

“Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.” -Jeremiah 10:5

The sights and sounds are familiar to me. Joyful singing with shouts of “amen” and “hallelujah” fills the air. A pastor prays and opens the Bible, explains the text and helps his people understand and apply what is read. There is baptism and taking the Lord’s Supper together. Yet, as I sit here in the front row of Nepali Revival Church, I am overwhelmed with the thought that the multitude around me rejoicing in Christ’s gospel together were not long ago devout Buddhists and Hindus. For a few of them, just hours ago.

We sinners have become master idol makers in our running from God. We either craft and carry ornate statutes like Hindus or craft a god with our opinions and emotions. Either way, such idols must be informed of identity and cannot walk or speak. Idols have no quality to be feared; however, idols are dangerous.

The Apostle Paul commands the church in Colossae to put to death the earthly desires in you “which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). What makes idolatry dangerous isn’t simply the moral failure, but that idolatry is the reason the wrath of God is coming (vs 6). Our covenant making God has a holy, pure jealousy demanding our singular devotion and joy (Exodus 20). And Christ’s gospel welcomes those who are far off, no matter their nation or language or tribe, into the Lord’s salvation that the nations would be glad (Psalm 67:4). 

Whether I sit in this room filled with Nepali Christians, or I am back at Allison Avenue, I am surrounded by former idol crafters, carriers, and worshipers. As Paul says “you too once walked” (Colossians 3:7). When our Nepali brothers and sisters call for Hindus and Buddhists to smash their idols and turn to the living God, calling for repentance, they are speaking of the Way in which they have found: Jesus is alive. He does not need to be crafted and carried. He is to be feared. He can do harm or good. Turn to Him and have everlasting life enjoying our gracious God forever.

When we tell the world and each other to smash the idols of “sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness,” we speak as those who once worshiped and carried those idols. Allow me to encourage you, my beloved church family, with the boldness and joy of our Nepali church family. Much like the church in Thessalonica, be encouraged of seeing how they have turned from idols to the living and true God (I Thessalonians 1:9-10). Be bold and joyful as you speak Christ’s gospel to idol worshipers around you. Jesus saves. His gospel is the power of God to save.

Heavenly Father, how we rejoice in Your salvation we enjoy through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! How You have called us to turn from our idols and worship You, the living and true God. Grant us boldness and joy as we proclaim this good news in Christ to the idol worshipers around us that they may turn from their idols and escape Your holy wrath and be invited in to enjoy You forever. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Peace From, In, and With God

“Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -Romans 5:1

What could win peace for my anxious heart which is riddled by so many demands and plagued by inability to hold it all together? We tend to think of peace as something we must work on or perform. “Peace with myself,” or “if I can only find some peace.” We also think peace is simply something between people in relationships. Yet our need for peace is deeper; by grace, His peace is deeper.

Paul says we enjoy peace with God through Jesus. All our wrongs are made right, or justified, by Jesus and we receive this by faith. Oh, but there is gained for our anxious, broken hearts everything in heaven by this faith! We not only are relieved of the burdens we carry, we have an active peace! Peace to rejoice in our sufferings and persevere by His grace to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-5).

Jesus left us this peace, not as the world gives, but a peace which gives this word: "Let not your hearts be troubled" (John 14:27). This is Christ’s peace given to us! This peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7), in Whom we have peace with God. This peace, sovereign to Christ, is commanded to rule in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Christ’s peace is not something He gives when we need it beyond our own works, but a peace to rule in our desires and to make His church one.

This peace belonging to Christ which rules our hearts and rejoices in all things is learned (Philippians 4:11-12). Paul said he learned the secret to this satisfying peace. We go through trials, afflictions, and day to day life beyond our abilities to hold it together to learn this secret of Christ’s peace.

The peace of Christ which rules the hearts of His united people is the secret to forgive and be forgiven, turn away from captivating sins, learning patience, courage, boldness in speaking the truth in love in the bond of peace given by the Holy Spirit.  

How is this peace won for us and learned? It isn’t in finding peace with ourselves or finding peace in circumstances such as better paying jobs or managing relationships so I don’t become anxious or angry. This peace is found only in God, and this is won for you and given to you through Jesus Christ who justifies the wrongdoers. What marvelous grace our God has for us!

Heavenly Father, forgive and heal our anxious hearts. We let preferences or opinions rule and determine our peacefulness and peaceableness with others. Heal our anxious and broken hearts by Your sovereign peace given to us, not by our works, but by Christ. May we drink fully of Your grace and be satisfied and enjoy Your peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.