Category Archives: Morning Thoughts

Morning Thoughts (Isaiah 28:9-10)

Morning Thoughts,

Isaiah 28:9-10, "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"

This morning, our mind inclines once again to the wonderful topic of the doctrine and bedrock principles of God's Holy Book.  Considering the modern religious world at large, it is readily apparent that fundamental truths of the Bible get pushed aside to "make room" for enticements by many flavours of churches nowadays.  Recently, I had opportunity to chat briefly with a co-worker who attends a mega-church in town.  He recounted how their church was either stagnant or dying until about three years ago when their new, young pastor came in.  My co-worker continued to declare in grand fashion how this new, young man brought the church out of the doldrums it was in.  With his energy and fire, he ignited an interest in a lot of youth and young families in that area.  However, to do it, his energy was spent arranging for the church to be everyone's "self-help" on topics such as marriage, finance, etc.  While my co-worker did not use the word doctrine in his declaration, it was obvious while listening to him that the new, young pastor completely neglected the bedrock areas of the Bible to cater to the interests of those he sought to bring into the church rolls.

While every word, principle, and lesson in the Bible is important, Scripture shows – by its own commentary – a certain structure of teaching.  What is the foundation?  What is the building?  Paul teaches Timothy that doctrine sets the foundation, reproof builds on it, correction builds off that, and instruction in righteousness completes the structure. (II Timothy 3:16-17) What happens without the first point of doctrine in the foundation?  The entire structure has no solid footing upon which to rest.  Without that, the best instructions in life will come to no long-term fruition as the heart will grow faint and the soul become weary.

In the conversation with my co-worker, his subject shifted slightly from talks about the church he attended to his personal walk and discipleship.  Even though he belongs to a "lively" church full of young people with plenty of opportunity to learn from Bible studies and seminars about marriage, finances, etc., his entire tone of personal discipleship was despondent.  He could not figure out how he was supposed to study his Bible.  Large portions of epistles (that are heavy on the doctrine – such as the first half of Romans) were so foreign to him that he could not begin to put the puzzle pieces together.  That anxiety in study led to anxiety in prayer, and anxiety built upon anxiety to the point where he questioned a lot of things that he tried to do in life.

In our study verses, we see the paramount need for fundamental doctrine and the way that this knowledge comes.  When considering the best practical – duty – sermons that could be preached, the structure will not last long in our lives unless we see the sure foundation that such teachings are built upon.  Why is it that reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness are important for us to do?  How do they prove successful in the long haul for us?  To apply them correctly, we have to live them with the understanding and correct focus of why it is that we do them.  We do them out of love and devotion for One that loved us beyond compare.  Any other reason is feigned, and eventually the efforts will droop away in the face of life's heat and trial.

Doctrine does not come in one big wallop.  As much as we would like to hear something one time and understand it completely, that is not the way that such vast and rich subjects like election, predestination, justification, sanctification, redemption, and many others come.  Notice in verse 10 above that "precept upon precept" and "line upon line" is repeated.  The repetition is neither redundant nor a clerical error.  Rather, the repetition shows and teaches us that these subjects not only come piece by piece and bit by bit, but they come piece by repeated piece and bit by repeated bit.  The repetition is necessary as the understanding comes to full bloom here a little and there a little.

Most modern day Christians fit within the scope of the prophet's language of those that have not been weaned away from milk.  Failing to understand the doctrine and move out from that is like the starting gun going off in our life's race with us still planted in the "ready" position but never taking off.  So many people feel to have answers today only to lose them tomorrow.  Happiness presently, yet leading to anxiety in the future.  True hope and assurance for life's race can only come with a developed knowledge and understanding of fundamental Bible truths.  Those truths can only be developed and maintained through regular, consistent declaration of them.

Even as a young boy, I heard some of the complaints by some that they heard too much doctrine preached in the Old Baptist pulpits.  While I do allow that ministers can lean on certain subjects to the neglect of others, I will always try to remember hearing a repeated sentiment from my natural father for years on this question.  His sentiment is summarized in the next paragraph.

People who think too much doctrine is being preached should be able to prove it by being able to expound and declare it at length.  If one is incapable of declaring at length what they believe about rich truths like redemption, atonement, and eternal security, then they could stand to hear those things one more time.  Furthermore, most of the best practical sermons come without people really realizing that duty is being fed to them.  Much like the Apostle Paul in his epistles, the doctrine flowed to duty so freely that at times the transition was hard to spot exactly when it happened.  If that foundation is laid correctly, it will connect beautifully to the building so that one may not easily detect the start of one and the end of the other.  So should good preaching flow.  Doctrine flowing sweetly to our responsibility with the order of the structure intact.

When I was involved in organized sports, I had a coach that would always use a term when we were down.  If we came into the locker room at halftime in the hole and needing to climb out, he would say, "This is what separates the men from the boys.  How are you going to answer that bell?"  What separates the men from the boys in our race of life and walk of faith is a grounded understanding of the doctrine of our Lord and Master. (I Corinthians 14:20) How we answer the bell when life gets us down and we find ourselves in a hole depends on how firmly we see the beautiful grace of God, finished work of Jesus Christ, security forever in His hand, and knowledge of the better world to come.  Knowing those things, and knowing that shortly this our body must also be put off to one day be fashioned like unto His body, we are better equipped to fulfill the injunction of being steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:58)

The church of Christ should be a help to us in this old world.  We should learn within her halls the right course of life.  But, what separates the church from all the glorified helps of man is that her instructions in righteousness are but the roof of our building that rests upon the solidity of God's doctrine and fundamental truths.  We can get good practical teaching in many places, but the practical teaching that will provide long-term success is the teaching that keeps the cross and God's work firmly in view.  Therefore, let us not be weary in well doing but always abound in the work of the Lord.  Knowing His doctrine, we know that our labour and struggles are not in vain.  Because of His work, we shall shortly be with Him, and that makes the journey sweeter and the race lighter.

In Hope,

Bro Philip

Morning Thoughts (Galatians 6:9)

Morning Thoughts,

Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

This morning, life is a constant tangle of toil and care.  Without concerted effort on a regular, consistent basis, we fall victim to sorrow, anxiety, and heartache.  Even though grief and loss are unavoidable circumstances in life, that does not necessarily require that we inevitably fall prey to them.  As the old adage declares, "It is not about what you go through but how you go through it."  One way or another, we will go through life, but the course is not to simply get through it but to go through it honourably and with grace.  When considering what life consists of, some things change while others do not.  By considering the changing circumstances in light of the absolutes, we see a brilliant backdrop by which life should be viewed and equip ourselves to fulfill the injunction of our study verse.

Looking at our lives, what changes?  What does not?  What is important?  What is not?  More often than not, the things that change are going to fall into the not so important category, while the unchanging things are going to fall into the more important category.  However, more often than not, the unchanging things are noticed and thought about less than the changing things.  For example, every 24 hours, day comes with night to follow, then to be repeated again and again.  How often do we contemplate the resolute steadfastness with which the universe operates under the design of her Maker?  Within those 24 hour periods, different things happen every day and night.  How often do we think of those changing events that occur within daily patterns?  Doubtless, most of us consider the changing events more often than we consider the absolute steadfastness of creation's patterns.

As Paul closes the Galatian letter, he encourages the brethren toward the mark that he eventually defines in verse 14 of this same chapter.  At the end of the day, the only thing truly worthwhile that we should glory in is our Lord Jesus Christ and what He has done for us.  The other aspects are trivial compared to that.  However, Paul understands that encouragement is necessary toward that end.  Therefore, we see the injunction from our verse not to be weary in well doing.  Paul understands both intellectually and experientially that trying to do the right thing will get tiresome and seem laborious at times.

This injunction comes on the heels of an illustrative analogy that compares life's decisions to planting and harvesting crops.  By sowing a particular seed, we expect particular crops.  Yet, even that analogy has some intrinsic aspects to it that apply to our verse.  For example, how much time elapses from sowing to harvest?  What other factors become involved during that time?  Truly, no man has ever sown a field simply to walk away and expect a crop.  To get the crop desired, consistent labour must be exercised to ensure that the fruit comes forth as bountifully as possible.  Weeds must be driven out; field scavengers must be driven away.

Looking at our lives now, what happens when we sow to the Spirit: start down the path of well doing?  It takes time (sometimes longer than we would desire) to see the fruits of our labour.  Many obstacles will arise, and many dangers will loom on every hand.  To make it to harvest, we must dedicate our minds and hearts to seek those things above rather than become downcast at the daily toils. (Colossians 3:1-2)

God does not change. (Malachi 3:6) His promises are sure and steadfast. (II Corinthians 1:20) His mercy endureth forever. (Psalm 135) No matter what happens today, tomorrow, or ever, these things never change.  Since God and His actions never change, His relationship with us remains just as absolute.  He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) He will not allow us to bear something too great for us. (I Corinthians 10:13) His grace is always sufficient for us. (II Corinthians 12:9)

Knowing these absolute truths and never changing aspects of God, His person, and His interaction with us, there should be no reason to become weary in well doing.  Yet, we still struggle and stumble so often.  Things get us down that are lesser in magnitude than the glory of any of these absolutes.  How often do we get our feelings hurt, get down and depressed, worry about life, or find ourselves the victims of any number of troubles?  Considering those things that "get at us," how do they compare with a never changing God that has surely promised to always be with us, give us grace, and not allow unbearable things to come our way?  There is no comparison.

How does a farmer not get down and out about weeds in the field or theft from the crop?  He keeps his mind on the harvest time.  How do we keep our minds from becoming clouded by the weeds of life or the thieves of this world?  We must keep our minds focused on the beauty of God and His work for us.  Weeds that are here today will be gone tomorrow if we conduct ourselves honourably in the field of our life.  Thieves that attempt to break through our lives and steal our joy will be put out if we keep diligent vigil in the affairs of life. 

There is a promise made at the end of our verse that says we shall reap if we faint not.  The farmer knows that putting forth his best effort – trusting the Lord for the increase – that the harvest will come.  The farmer cannot control all of the particulars no more than we can control all the aspects of our lives.  Yet, if he puts forth his best efforts, he trusts that harvest will come. (Mark 4:27-28) So is our service to God.  We trust by putting forth our best efforts that harvest will come.

There are things that the farmer needs to grow crops that do not change.  He needs sunlight for his fields, water for the crops, and regular patterns of temperature and weather.  The patterns of seasons, sun coming up, and rain upon the earth are patterns that the Lord set forth and established to continue in that fashion. (Genesis 8) These patterns – though not controlled by the famer – are used by the farmer for his crops.  We cannot control the fact that God does not change and has made bedrock promises for and to us.  Yet, we should use these promises in our lives to sow and eventually reap in blessings of honour and glory for this life.  Our weariness will fade when we see One that is bigger than we are who can do more than we can who is always there with us.

Finally, consider that sometimes the time between sowing and reaping can get long.  With many hours spent in the between time being diligent and steadfast, the harvest time might be months from initial seeding.  So also, we may go many years before seeing the results of initial seedings in our lives.  Raising children is not done in a day, month, or a year.  Yet, we labour hoping and trusting that harvest time comes when our children stand on their own in an honourable way due to the instruction that we gave them at home.  Other endeavours in life are the same.  It takes time.  Sometimes, it takes a lot of time.  Pastors labour for years hoping to effect good improvement over the particular corner of the Lord’s vineyard that they serve.

It is an unavoidable fact that the older one gets the quicker they tire.  Have you ever seen people that laboured for so long that they seemed to finally give out (faint)?  Due to the burden, length of time, etc. they just got to a point of fainting.  Sometimes, it embitters them against life and things in it.  Sometimes, it depresses them to despair and throwing up their hands.  Yet, to avoid the fainting (despair) and bitterness that could ensue, we must steadily eat of those same things that we sow. (Deuteronomy 12:7) By eating the same substance that we sow, we maintain strength to plow for the duration of life's efforts.  Therefore, whether old or young, just starting out or in the twilight of our field service, may we consistently eat of the good corn (pure truth of Christ found in His word and heralded in His church), while faithfully labouring in sowing that same good seed in all aspects of our lives (living out the religion that we so dearly love).  It is a promise – by One much greater than the writer – that harvest time will come.  May we seek that goal, focused on the absolutes and looking less at the changing weeds of life.

In Hope,

Bro Philip