EXAMINING OUR SERVICE

“Each one’s work will become clear; for the day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13 NKJV).

The focus of this verse is on the examination of our Christian service. The verse is not speaking about salvation but about service. Thus, we want to note the manifestation in the examining, the method of the examining, and the measure in the examining.

Manifestation in the examining – “Every man’s work will become clear.” Our service for God will be examined and made manifest. That is, the nature and motive for our service will be revealed by God. This may be quite embarrassing to some whose service may prove to be unacceptable. If our service has just been a performance for the praise of men, this will come out when God examines our service.

Method of the examining – “The fire will test each one’s work.” In context, the apostle Paul speaks of service in terms of gold, silver, and precious stones and also in terms of wood, hay, and stubble. The “fire” here represents the severity of the examination. If our service is done in the flesh and is more of show than substance, it will burn up in the examination like wood, hay, and stubble. But if our service is sincere and genuine, it will withstand the fire just as gold, silver, and precious stones do.

Measure in the examining – “What sort it is.” The word “sort” puts emphasis on quality. God is interested in quality more than quantity. He is not interested in the artificial or the superficial, but wants the real thing. Further, “sort” is also more important than size. In their quest for numbers, some local churches have often sacrificed quality for quantity. God is interested in substance not quantity or sizableness. We will do well to apply this principle to every area of our lives.

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“It is our best work that God wants, not the dregs of our exhaustion. I think he must prefer quality to quantity!”

George MacDonald (1824-1905)

Scottish Author, Poet and Christian Congregational Minister

Word Study

Fight

In Rev. 2:16 we read, “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth” (NKJV).

“Fight” is the Greek word poleméō (πολεμέω = pol-em-eh'-o). It means to make war or to fight. Figuratively poleméō means to be in opposition to, to treat in a hostile manner, to quarrel or wrangle with someone. In classical Greek, poleméō means to make war or do battle. In the Septuagint, poleméō also carries the idea of to make war or do battle. In the New Testament, poleméō is also used to mean war. Here in Rev. 2:16 poleméō is used to describe the activity of God in the execution of judgment against the church of Pergamum if the members do not repent.

Did You Know…

The Lord gave the names for Hosea’s three children, names that symbolized God’s divine Judgments against the nation of Israel (Hosea 1:2-8).

Bible Quiz

How old was Samuel when his mother took him to the temple to live?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

How did Abraham receive the promise that he would be the heir of the world? “Through righteousness of faith” (Rom. 4:13).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

The Crucifixion, Resurrection and Reigning of the Lord Jesus alluded to (Psalm 2:8; cf. Acts 13:29-33)

"Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psalm 2:8 NJKV).

Because of His sacrifice on Calvary as the only begotten Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ is to inherit the earth that He died to redeem (cf. Isa. 53:12). God the Father has committed it to Him, and it will be His, exactly as the Father has decreed. The Gentile nations of the earth will find blessing in the heir of David who will makes them His subjects. This matter of the resurrection and reigning of the Lord Jesus was alluded to in the apostle Paul’s sermon at Antioch in Pisidia (cf. Acts 13:29-33). Indeed, the Lord Jesus will become the supreme Lord in the millennial kingdom. As a consequence, He has sent us preach the Gospel to every man (cf. Matt. 28:18-20).

Did You Know – Christian History

Following the death of tyrannical Domitian at the hands of an assassin, Nerva became emperor. He was an old man when he came to power in A.D. 96. Believing in the Republic, Nerva vowed never to assassinate a senator, and he kept his word. He reduced taxes, brought exiles home, ended persecution of Jews and Christians and generally boosted Roman morale by his mild behavior.

On October 27, 97, he adopted Trajan as his son, making him emperor apparent. Trajan, absent with his army, is said to have been unaware the adoption ceremony was taking place in Rome at the Temple of Jupiter. Nerva died suddenly three months later on January 25, 98, and Trajan became emperor. When he entered Rome it was on foot with a show of humility as if he were a private citizen. His first winter as ruler of the far-flung empire, he spent not in Rome, but in Dacia, completing a military campaign.

Historians generally rank Trajan as one of the noblest-minded and effective of the emperors because of his friendliness, his readiness to go unarmed into homes where he might have been killed, his fair treatment of the senate and his mildness toward enemies who plotted against him. Nonetheless, he was pleased to have his family members elevated to godhood, loved glory, was proud, and a thorough autocrat.

Trajan has a place in Christian history because in correspondence with Pliny the Younger, he addressed the issue of how to handle the faithful. This is one of the earliest mentions of Christians in pagan literature and is often quoted. Pliny was governor of Pontus and Bithynia (in Asia Minor) for three years beginning in 111. He wrote to the emperor explaining how he had dealt with Christians. This included requiring them to worship the emperor or the Roman gods; and if they refused, to execute them. But he wondered if he should execute youngsters and whether it were enough for a Christian to sacrifice to idols or if such a one should still be executed. Trajan responded to Pliny’s concerns with a policy that outlined a measured approach. He advised against actively seeking out Christians for prosecution but affirmed that those who were denounced and refused to recant should be punished. He also told Pliny to continue to prosecute Christians, but not to accept anonymous denunciations in the interests of justice as well as of “the spirit of the age.”

And while Trajan did not initiate a formal empire-wide persecution like some of his successors, the environment during his reign remained hostile towards Christians. Trajan’s approach was characterized by a lack of systematic persecution; instead, he allowed local authorities to enforce policies against Christians, particularly in response to public unrest or accusations. Further, although Trajan did not carry out persecution on the scale of Domitian and other emperors, he did execute several Christian leaders including Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, and Simeon, Bishop of Jerusalem. Ignatius is considered one of the three Apostolic Fathers, together with Clement of Rome and Polycarp.

A Little Humor

A small child with a bad cough was taken by her parents to a hospital emergency room. A nurse, examining the child’s lungs with a stethoscope, told the child, “I have to see if Barney is in there.” “I have Jesus in my heart,” the child replied. “Barney is on my underwear.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Try Jesus before you reject Him!”