PROFITABLE PROVIDENCE

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28 NKJV).

One of the greatest comforts in adversity is to realize that the troubles and trials that one is experiencing are not by chance but are controlled by the hand of a loving Father for our good, our benefit, and our blessing. Our verse emphasizes this truth, but also qualifies this blessing. It limits the blessing to certain people. Things do not work together for good for everyone. It is only for the qualified – those who love the Lord and who are led by the Lord.

Love the Lord – “To those who love God.” The blessing of our verse is for those who love God. There is not much love for God today. If one loves God, he will honor God; but our society is not much for honoring God. If one loves God, he will worship Him; but many seldom, or never show up at any church services. If we love God, we will abhor evil; but today rather than hating evil, we enjoy and embrace and excuse it. The Psalmist states, “You who love the Lord, hate evil” (Psalm 97:10).

Led by the Lord – “Called according to His purpose.” This phrase refers to those who are walking in the “purpose” or will of God. It is referring to those who are led by the Lord and who are following the Lord. If we are not walking obediently with God, the promise of this verse does not apply to us. Obedience does not exempt one from troubles and trials, but it does mean that the troubles and trials are going to work out for our good. This means obedience to God in our life: in our habits, in our marriages, in our morals, in the way we use our time, money, talents, our activities and associations. Disobedience brings troubles that are outside the promises of our verse. Instead of working to our good, these troubles will work to our ruin. Thus, we need to ask ourselves, do we qualify for the blessing of this verse? Do we love God? Are we being led by God?

(Adapted from Butler’s Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestations of God’s grace, power and love!”

James Hudson Taylor 1832 - 1905)

British Protestant Christian Missionary and founder of the China Inland Mission

Word Study

Few / little

In 1 Peter 5:10 we read, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you” (NASB).

“Few / little” is the Greek word olígos (ὀλίγος = ol-ee'-gos). It is an adjective which can have several meanings depending on the context. It can mean small in number meaning few; small in regard to the amount of time meaning little or short; small in terms of distance; and small in relation to size. In classical Greek olígos carries the idea of little, small, short, few. In the Septuagint olígos is used to refer to size, quantity, degree, or time. In the New Testament olígos also carries the idea of little, small, short, few. Thus, in context, “little while” refers to duration or degree of sufferings. Our sufferings may not feel “little” to us, but we can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is of short duration and that there will be an end to the suffering. In comparison with eternity, suffering will only last “a little while.”

Did You Know…

By offering the burnt offering to God, a job for priests, Saul broke God’s law and ensured that his descendants would not reign after him (1 Sam. 13:9-14).

Bible Quiz

According to the Book of Proverbs what will happen to “Whoever rewards evil for good?”

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz

According to Matthew 21, out of what did the Lord Jesus say God perfected praise? “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise” (Matt. 21:16).

Prophecies Fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ

His Kingdom is everlasting (2 Sam. 7:13) – Prefigures the Lord Jesus’ Everlasting Kingdom (cf. Heb. 3:3-6; 1 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 1:11)

"He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:13 NJKV).

David wanted to build God a house for God, but God told him that He would build a house or dynasty that would be a royal dynasty for him forever. In fact, David could not build the Temple because he had been a man of war and had shed blood (cf. 1 Chron. 22:8). So, in context, God had just promised to make David’s name great (v. 9); now He explains that David’s name would become great because of the dynasty or kingdom God was going to establish for him. This is the heart of God’s covenantal promises to David. This prophecy had a ‘near’ and ‘far’ (future) fulfillment. The ‘near’ fulfillment would be with David’s son Solomon who would build a house for the Lord, but it would be destroyed. Immediately after his death, Solomon’s kingdom was torn apart, being split into two nations. The ‘far’ (future) fulfillment would be in the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Messiah will fulfill this prophecy completely, for only the throne of His kingdom will endure forever and ever. David would have a house forever (vv. 25, 29), a kingdom forever (v. 16), a throne forever (vv. 13, 16), and would glorify God’s name forever (v. 26). Today, Christians are the “house” of God, built and ruled over by the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of David (cf. 1 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 1:11; Heb. 3:3-6).

Did You Know – Christian History

Sebastian was born around A.D. 255 in Gaul, France. He was an early Christian martyr.

Not much is known about Sebastian’s early life, but in A.D. 283, he went to Rome and joined the army of the emperor Carinus, later becoming a captain under Diocletian. Although he was not a clergyman, Sebastian used his many contacts to spread the story of the Lord Jesus. When the army persecuted Christians, he secretly encouraged the converts to stand firm. Two of the prisoners that he helped in this way were the twin brothers Marcus and Marcellinus. Under torture, they were about to give in to the pleas of their families and deny their faith when Sebastian urged them to stand fast and die for Christ.

In 286, Roman persecution of Christians grew severe. The bishop of Rome and many leading Christians went into hiding, protected by a court officer who had become a Christian. When it was discovered that Sebastian was a Christian who had helped to convert many soldiers to Christianity, Diocletian ordered his Mauretanian archers to kill the bold soldier. They shot Sebastian many times with arrows and left him for dead. When a widow named Irene, whose husband had been martyred earlier, came to bury Sebastian, she detected his faint breathing. She took him home and nursed him. Sebastian recovered.

Most men would have seen all they wanted of the cruel emperor. But Sebastian realized that Diocletian needed to be warned of his soul’s peril. Bravely, he placed himself near a stairway where he knew the emperor must pass. When Diocletian appeared, Sebastian called to him, charging him with wrongdoing toward Christians. Diocletian was startled at seeing Sebastian still alive. For a moment he could not speak. Then, recovering himself, he ordered the Christian soldier beaten to death. This time Sebastian’s body did not survive. He was thrown into a sewer. A Christian lady named Lucina recovered the corpse and buried it in the catacombs. Sebastian’s bravery and unwavering commitment to Christianity led to his second execution. Less than a century later, Damasus who became bishop of Rome in 366, built a church at the site in Sebastian’s honor.

A Little Humor

After his sermon on honesty, a couple came up to the pastor and said, “We love your sermon on honesty, which is the reason we decide to tell you that we are only in this church until we find a better one.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“The darkest hour is just before dawn. God’s light is coming!”