Today, the first Lord’s day of 2021, God has endowed blessings upon each of us through His Word. In order to keep the messages today in our hearts, it would be beneficial to reflect upon them before we sleep. Three words to remember: Sabbath, suffering and Supper.
Sabbath
To profane the Sabbath is to rebel against the authority of the LORD.
The LORD's day keeping is a measure of the life of the church. God has authority over our time and day.
Our absenteeism on the Lord's day is a reflection of our rebellion against God's authority.
Isaiah 58:13-14
“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
These verses provide promises to those who keep the Sabbath by not spending it as they please and by honoring it. Another interesting promise that it brings is that we will take delight in the sabbath if we call it a delight.
This is not simply a mind game but a sure provision of delight and true joy given to those who humbly submit their will to the LORD of the Sabbath in His appointed day of worship.
The enjoyment of the world is vanity, it is exhausting and intoxicating; but the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Did you take delight in the LORD today?
Suffering
Romans 8:18
” I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Continuing on the expository series on the book of Romans, the morning message was about the reckoning, reality, reasoning, and reassurance of suffering.
There are Eight Principles in Christian Suffering that we can glean from 1 Pe 4:12-19:
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- It is normal – 12
- It is necessary – 13
- It is a blessing – 14
- It is not deserved – 15
- It is noble – 16
- It is now – 17
- It is distinguishing – 18
- It is nurturing – 19
We know for a fact that suffering, afflictions and trouble in life is real. Any sensible Christian will attest to this reality. We do not want to play the game of prosperity preachers who say that this is our best life now. Suffering is a present reality.
However, our suffering grows dim when they are compared to Christ’s unparalleled suffering and to the future glory that awaits us.
Ironically, the future glory that awaits us is obtained through suffering. Suffering is the path to glory (Acts 14:22).
This reality is not easy to accept. So we need to reason with our minds that suffering is worth nothing compared to the glory that is to be revealed. That is why “Christian life is not to be lived in careless and thoughtless manner, it is to be lived in constant reasoning through the word of God.”
Supper
Matthew 27:20-31
In order to tune our hearts aright before we participate in the Lord’s supper, the meditation on the afternoon message was about Christ’s suffering. What a fitting sermon after we heard a message about our present suffering!
Proofs were given that the scriptures testify to the wickedness of man’s heart. First, the multitude preferred Barrabas to Christ. They preferred the murderer rather than the life-giver, in shouting “crucify Him!” Second, the band of soldiers mocked and scourged Christ. They blasphemed the royal dignity of the LORD of glory.
No matter how severe Christ’s suffering under the hands of the soldiers was, it cannot be compared to His anguish when He drank the cup of His Father’s wrath against our sins.
Yet it was for us. He was crushed for our transgressions, it was for our atonement. Christ’s death is substitutionary. The innocent dying for the impenitent. The life-giving lamb for God-cursing lips. His eternal blood for the finite humanity. Its message is powerful to save. It is the only message that can save us. He is willing and He is able. Come to Him you burdened ones.
What is the Word of God for you today?
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
HERALD OF GRACE COVENANT BIBLE CHURCH OF CAVITE 