Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.
—Proverbs 22:17—19 NKJV
A question to self: “Do I trust in GOD?” As a younger man I would have said, “Yes, I trust in GOD!”
I’ve stumbled along this Christian journey. I look in Life’s rearview mirror. I admit I’ve not always trusted GOD. Maybe I could say, “I trust You, LORD; help me overcome my distrust.” But that’s a mask GOD sees through.
“LORD, I want to trust in You.” Now that’s better. That’s getting closer to honesty in self-examination.
For the last month or so I’ve enjoyed listening to a series of sermons from Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans, delivered in the mid 1950s by Pastor Martyn Lloyd-Jones, M.D., at Westminster Chapel, London.
This past week I got through the Doctrinal portions of the Letter, arriving at the first verse in which the Apostle begins to encourage his readers in their new lives as Citizens of the Kingdom of G-D. [Yes, it has taken that long even though I’ve listened to at least five sermons each week.]
But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:13,14
While Pastor Lloyd-Jones elaborates the scriptures a verse at a time, he often spends the hour on a key portion of the verse, moving on in the following sermon to complete it. The series of sermons I’ve been listening to took place on Friday nights, and must have gone on for several years.
Most of Pastor MLJ’s sermons begin with a recap, often an extensive retelling, of previous sermons. He says all good teachers offer their students repetition to order to enhance learning. On several occasions, Pastor MLJ takes most of his hourly sermon to elaborate on a single word, or two, to ensure that he is clear on the meaning and its usage.
The word “unto,” for instance is used in the statement that we are dead unto sin. It is also used in the alternate, that we are alive unto Christ. Pastor MLJ wants us to understand that this word, which one particular dictionary states is archaic, does not mean “to,” despite that meaning given in another dictionary.
Anyway, Pastor MLJ could seem to belabor a point. And in today’s culture of the six-second sound bite, he would probably have only a few people willing to endure his preaching.
My point for today is that if we are not going to be deceived as we arrive at the very door to the End Times, we are going to need to refocus and delve much deeper into the Word of G-D.
I recommend the following great articles to stir us up:
It is the world in which we live that slowly dies. We live and we live on beyond all we now see, as beautiful or corrupt as it may be. And yet there are these things I hold dear. Things like mugs and items procured for their looks or comfort or utility, that I don’t want to part with as the world dies. These I hold as if holding on I may prevent the death of the known as I move toward an unknown no matter how wonderful and beautiful it may be beyond this day.
Destroyed section of Jerusalem’s Old City (c) Wil Robinson 1986
Relics of a world that is for me passing away. For I am just passing through on my way to another world another place beyond time and space. Yet here I am wandering as a stranger in this world, in this time, in this piece of space. I wait.
While this is not my home, as Apostle Paul said, I am content in all situations as I await my destiny, my life in another Home, which is a Heavenly Home with Messiah YeshuaJesus. I wait for You, L-RD.
In the Garden, it is like Ham Radio and not always talking but listening, and listening carefully. Listening with openness and intent to the Words Spirit speaks to my heart.
Jonah’s Song 