The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

“He sent redemption unto His people: He commanded His covenant forever: Holy and Reverend is His name” (Psalm 111:9).

The young minister came to the platform and knelt at one of the chairs. The area pastors came to the platform as well. The local church invited these men to examine the young minister as to his doctrinal beliefs, character, convictions of life, and ministry. The young pastor passed the ordination council’s questions, and upon the recommendation from the council, the local church was now ordaining their young pastor. As the men surrounded the young kneeling pastor, one of the older pastors prayed for him and his ministry. He prayed for the pastor’s wife and asked God’s blessing to be upon her as she would serve the Lord with her husband. He prayed for the family that would come in the years ahead. He asked the Lord to help this pastor to always trust the Lord. He prayed that the young pastor would remember to Whom he belongs and that he would represent the Lord well in ministry. As the older man prayed on, the young pastor sensed his total inadequacy and his profound unworthiness. He had an overwhelming sense of gratitude. It really struck him that the Bible speaks of his holy God and that His name alone is Reverend. From that day on he would prefer to simply be called Pastor because only God’s name is Reverend. That preference followed him throughout his lifetime as a pastor. It’s good for us today to fear the Holy and Reverend name of our great God. What a great blessing it is to belong to our great God.

For today: Isn’t it wonderful to serve the Holy and Reverend God?

“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).

The sovereign God of all the ages speaks through Jeremiah the prophet as He reaches out to the nation of Judah who was still rejecting Him. God speaks of His great love for His people. It is an everlasting love. It is a love that is manifested by His lovingkindness. The aspect of God’s lovingkindness is one of the great themes of the Old Testament. The word “lovingkindness” is the Hebrew word chesed. This precious word is translated in several ways. It is translated “mercy” 149 times. It is translated “kindness” 40 times. It is translated “lovingkindness” 30 times. In a precious way it speaks of God’s covenantal love that is loyal and kind. How wonderful to belong to such an amazing God!

For today: I rest secure in the arms of my great and loving God. How about you?

“Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).

The apostle Paul writes to the church at Corinth and deals with many situations and subjects. He also explains to them the characteristics of those who have the genuine love of God operating through their lives. These characteristics are set forth in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. What a striking statement to make to the church in Corinth. Paul taught that those who have the genuine love of God do not find joy in wickedness but rather rejoices in discovering the truth. The application of this would be readily understood as the Corinthians lived in a tremendously wicked culture and society. Come to think of it, this is exactly what we need today!

For today: We need to ask the Lord to help us keep our focus upon Him and His truth.

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

I told you yesterday about the disheveled stranger who barged into the pastor’s office. Sobbing under the heavy weight of his sin and the dreadful consequences he bore, the stranger asked the pastor if there was any help and hope for him. As you will remember, the pastor shared with him the gospel and introduced him to the Lord Jesus Christ. Over the next two months one of the men of the local church met weekly with that man for a Bible study. It was a wonderful time of watching the Lord’s transforming grace at work in the man’s life. While there would still be consequences for his past actions, the Lord was changing him on the inside as well as on the outside! Finally the day came when the estranged wife came to the pastor’s office and asked, “What have you done to my husband?” She continued, “Whatever has happened to him, I want it to happen to me! You can’t believe the change that’s taken place in my husband!” It is always amazing to watch the Lord change people as He takes them from the bondage of sin to the privilege of being a servant of righteousness. How about you? Have you experienced this wonderful transforming grace?

For today: The Lord is still in the business of changing people!

“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

He came into the pastor’s office without an appointment or any warning that he was coming. He walked straight past the church secretary/receptionist and paid no attention to her words. Stepping into the pastor’s office he asked, “Are you the preacher?” The somewhat startled pastor stood up from his desk and extended his hand to the disheveled stranger and replied, “Yes, I am. My name is Pastor Will. Please come in and have a seat and how may I be of help to you today?” The stranger introduced himself and took a seat facing the pastor. Over the next two hours he poured out his heart of bitterness, sinfulness, and deep grief. He had lost his business, his respectability, and worst of all his family. In bitterness of soul he laid it all out before the pastor and concluded with the sobbing question, “Is there any help and hope for me? Can God ever forgive someone as terrible as me?” That day the pastor had the joy of explaining the gospel and introducing him to Jesus Christ. The change did not come immediately, but it was well underway as the man attended the service that next Sunday. More about this tomorrow!

For today: How has the gospel changed your life?